Part 1: Discovering Paris
Join any time, fill your sketchbook and learn to notice.
8 ateliers ~ 8 Paris stories ~ 8 creative journal spreads
Bonjour • Café Table • The Baguette • Paris Doors • The Bouquinistes • The Métro • Green Chairs • Paris Rooftops
Paris does.
Those familiar green boxes lining the Seine aren't simply charming scenery...
They represent a city with a deep affection for books, ideas, browsing, walking, and the unexpected pleasure of finding something you weren't looking for.
In this online atelier, we'll explore the world of the bouquinistes and the role books and printed ephemera play in Parisian cultural life.
We'll wander creatively through old postcards, maps, magazines, paperback covers, prints, book pages, and tiny treasures and imagine what our own riverside stall might contain.
Then we'll build a richly layered Sense of Place Story Collage celebrating discovery, storytelling, and curiosity.
Books + Paris
Why reading and literary culture feel so present in the city.
The Green Stalls
The visual identity of the bouquinistes along the Seine.
The Pleasure of Browsing
Walking slowly enough to discover an unexpected treasure.
Your Imaginary Stall
If you were a bouquiniste, what would you sell?
Your journal spread might include:
Vintage book pages
Old postcards
Paris maps
French magazine fragments
Classic paperback covers
Green bouquiniste boxes
Prints and illustrations
Small Paris trinkets
A bookseller reading beside the stall
Duration: 1 hour (replay available after online session is complete)
Creative Level: All levels welcome
Materials Included: 1-2 pages of downloadable collage materials and/or step by step drawings. (Materials provided 1 week prior to the online atelier through email.)
SUPPLIES YOU NEED (not included):
sketchbook or watercolor paper ~5"x5" or larger (varying formats, or sizes are fine!)
1-2 black pens (waterproof like Micron is preferable)
watercolor set (simple)
scissors, glue stick, tape
color pencils (if you like.)
pencil if desired.
Bonjour, I'm Betsy. I'm an artist, author, educator, and creative guide living most of the year in Paris. I've been bringing people together online to explore the world creatively since 2020.
What began as a way to keep my wanderlust alive, teaching online became one of my favorite ways to form community and share creativity. My online ateliers are approachable, inspiring, and easy to follow. Through stories and visual inspiration, followed byguided step-by-step making - we sketch, layer, collage, experiment, and create together in an inclusive setting. I encourage students to follow along, yet also love seeing individual interpretation and creating in your own manner.
You don't need to be an artist. You don't need to know where to begin. Just bring your curiosity and your supplies and I'll bring the stories, the creative prompts, and plenty of encouragement.
Together, we'll turn an hour online into a little creative escape to Paris.
Sign up Now & Create Your Own Paris
Each online sketchbook atelier is a new invitation to look closer, discover another side of Paris, and transform what you notice into a creative Sense of Place story. Join one atelier or collect them all—your Paris sketchbook is yours to create, one story at a time.
SIGN UP NOW and join me for the Bouquinistes Online Sketchbook Atelier.
October 20 • 1 Hour
Time: 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern/7pm Paris
Small Group • All Creative Levels Welcome • Collage Materials Included • Explore Your World with Creativity™