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
Blue-gray zinc. Rows of chimneys. Sloping roofs. Tiny windows. Skylights catching the sun. Pigeons perched above streets we can't see.
The rooftops of Paris create one of the city's most recognizable visual identities and also hide another world above the city.
In the final atelier of our Fall chapter, we'll explore the shapes, materials, architecture, and stories of the Paris roofscape, including what lies beneath those familiar sloping roofs.
Then we'll step back, both literally and creatively, to make our final Sense of Place Story Collage of the season.
After weeks in our series of looking closely at Parisian details, this is our chance to change perspective and see the city as a whole.
The Paris Roofline
Why the skyline has such a recognizable visual rhythm.
Zinc + Chimneys
The materials, colors, shapes, and repeated details above the streets.
Life Beneath the Roofs
The hidden spaces tucked into the top floors.
Changing Perspective
What happens when we stop looking at individual details and step back to see the broader city.
Your final Fall sketchbook spread might include:
Zinc rooftops
Chimneys
Skylights
Attic windows
Pigeons
Clouds
Distant views & Paris skyline silhouettes
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 PARIS ROOFTOPS Online Sketchbook Atelier.
November 17 • 1 Hour
Time: 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern/7pm Paris
Small Group • All Creative Levels Welcome • Collage Materials Included • Explore Your World with Creativity™