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
Underground!
Every day, the Métro carries people between neighborhoods, jobs, homes, appointments, dinners, museums, friendships, errands, and ordinary life.
But there's much more to notice than the train itself.
Art Nouveau entrances. Station tiles. Line numbers. Maps. Tickets. Names whose stories reach back into Parisian history.
And, of course, everyone eventually develops opinions about which lines they love and which ones they would happily avoid.
In this online atelier, we'll explore the Métro as both a transportation system and a visual language of Paris.
Then we'll create a dynamic Sense of Place Story Collage capturing movement, connection, and the rhythm of city life.
How Paris Connects
The Métro as part of everyday city life.
The Visual Language of the Métro
Maps, tiles, entrances, signs, line numbers, and trains.
Station Stories
How names connect journeys to the larger story of Paris.
Métro, Boulot, Dodo
The rhythms—good and bad—of the everyday commute.
Your spread might include:
Métro tickets & maps
Art Nouveau entrances
Station names & tiles
Line numbers & colors
Ticket booths
Different Métro cars
Signage & history
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 MÉTRO Online Sketchbook Atelier.
October 27 • 1 Hour
Time: 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern/7pm Paris
Small Group • All Creative Levels Welcome • Collage Materials Included • Explore Your World with Creativity™