We’re having a heat wave.  In French it’s called a canicule.  Regardless of what language you use, it means hot and humid and we’ve certainly got that.  I blame myself.  I spent so much time whining that I couldn’t go sketching because winter wouldn’t end that, it seems, someone from down south sent us a dose of hot.

Stillman & Birn Alpha, Pilot Prera, Lex Gray ink

In spite of the heat, though, this sketcher marches onward.  I was to meet sketching buddy Claudette at Place d’Youville, a busy area just outside the St. Jean Gate into the old city.  While I waited for her I did this sketch of the entrance toan Italian restaurant.

When Claudette arrived we headed into the old city to find something to sketch.  Our goals were a bit atypical because what to sketch took a back seat to finding a shady, cool place to sit.  It wasn’t easy.

Eventually, though, we found ourselves in Carmel Park, a tiny little park (you can easily throw a stone across it) that’s up on a hill within the walled city.  Trees gave us shade and our altitude gave us access to a nice breeze that kept us comfortable.  Claudette sketched church steeples while I fixated on the back porch of an apartment building that was probably 30-40 feet below me.  Mostly I got caught up in the gorgeous flowers, flowers I didn’t do justice to I’m afraid.  Nevertheless, we had fun and stayed cool.

Stillman & Birn Alpha (9×6), Pilot Prera, Lex Gray