L'artiste et l'espresso

L'espresso kept this artist warm at Place du Tertre, as only the heartiest of souls were out this cold, damp day.  During peak tourist season I stay clear, but in the colder months, I've enjoyed strolling this area of Montmartre.

French Stranger # 82 - L'artiste

Place du Tertre in Montmartre is usually packed with artists and tourists,  but in January with snow melting on the ground, only a few hearty souls were set up, most waiting and waiting like this gentleman.  The photograph on the left shows he was a bit skeptical as I walked up clicking away. I gave him a smile and a "bonjour".  I almost got a smile back in the top photo. Merci Monsieur!

L'artiste - Place du Tertre

Bless Peter's heart.  He trudged up to Montmartre with me for probably his 100th time so I could explore a little more, and did it cheerfully I might add.   It was cold and damp and a bit slippery in places as Paris was melting from their latest snowfall ( that managed to elude my lens), but I found a few hearty artists braving the cold, sketching away.  I note the Greek on the back of his easel, but he's doesn't appear to be Greek to me. Any thoughts?

Paris Rouge XXIV - Où Sont Les Touristes?

It was January. It had snowed recently. It was cold. It was damp and foggy at Place du Tertre. Not a good time to be trying to entice les touristes. This hearty artiste was one of a very few that braved the inclement weather that day.

100 French Strangers - L'artiste

French Stranger #56

I'm cheating a little on this one. I knew this artist at Place du Tertre even before I spotted him that cold, damp day. You see, I'd already "met" him when my friend, American ( living in Paris) photographer Meredith Mullins , featured him in her terrific book, In a Paris Moment. I walked right up and in my broken français I told him I thought he was famous because of Meredith! When I said her name, he smiled and it was easy after that. In this photo he is telling a fellow artist why he's "famous"! I wish I'd had more time with him and could have gotten a shot even half as good as Meredith's portrait in her book. Quel dommage. But it was a special meeting. I'm satisfied with that.

For the record, I tried to take the neighboring artist's photo and he said, "Non, I don't want to be famous." His loss don't you think?