Written by I’ve mentioned café gourmand in a previous post, but since I’m a total fan of this multiple dessert and espresso delight, I decided to doodlewash that for today. There’s just something amazing about getting to the end of a meal and simply refusing to make a choice of desserts. Unless someone at a nearby table is already eating this, you have absolutely no idea what you’ll get when you order it so it’s a plateful of surprises. I will also admit to looking ahead on the menu to see if the restaurant offers this fabulous concept so I can make sure I don’t each too much and can enjoy it properly. Since café gourmand is one of those little things I treasure most, I thought it was the perfect subject to start one of the new sketchbooks I just purchased, which was a type I’d never seen before, so I snapped a photo of it which I’ve included below.
This little find is a red and black cloth hardbound watercolor sketchbook. I went to look for the brand, but there’s nothing on it. If I recall, there was some writing on the cellophane I enthusiastically ripped off of it, so I’ll try to look for it again while I’m here so I can add that bit. (UPDATE: the wrapper just said Aquarellbuch, but here’s a link I found to the sketchbooks, which come in three sizes). The paper is a bit smoother than my Pentalic Aqua Journal but equally thick which I like for heavier washes and layers. It’s a rather fat little book with over 200 pages (approx. 4.5″ x 6″) so it will take me quite a long time to fill it. This is good because I love it! The book lays flat no matter which page you turn to and loving the way the paint behaves on the paper.
This little sketch is the beginning of this new book, which is always a terrifying thing as I don’t want to screw up the first page. I thought about only putting my food sketches in this book, but I love it so much I’ll probably just put every little random thing I make next. I wish I were in Paris long enough to fill it with great memories of France, but we’re just here until Saturday and I only make one doodlewash a day. I thought about saving this one for Paris trips only, but at just 10 days a year for a visit, it would take me around 24 years to fill it and I simply don’t have that kind of patience, though it’s an interesting thought. I’m just hoping that at 70, I’ll still be doing watercolor every day even on trips to France and, whenever possible, indulging in a little café gourmand.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Quinacridone Gold, Perylene Maroon, Indian Yellow, Ultramarine Deep, Burnt Sienna, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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I had not heard of this:)
Love the art and the book..I am not far from 70 now..wel..l 7.5years away..maybe less..and it’s a shock because I am 25 inside.I hope I am painting every day also.
Thanks so much, Monique! 😃💕 hehe… I hope we all can stay 25 on the inside, where it counts! And keep right on painting forever!
love the tasty looking dessert doodlewash, and wishing i was in paris to enjoy my own.
your new sketchbook sounds perfect – i like thick paper and leaves that lie flat at each turn, so if you find the brand, please pass on.
now you get to enjoy all the yummies on your plate and i – don’t. oh well
Thanks Sharon!! 😃💕I just updated the post to inlude a link to the sketchbook (https://www.kunstpark-shop.de/skizzen-und-aquarellbuch-rosso-60-blatt-230-g.html)… it’s German, but still can’t decipher the brand. I’ve been enjoying way too many yummies on this trip… we’ll be eating various soups and dieting upon our return! Lol
Ugh! Is “diet” even a French word?
I don’t think so! Lol
Oh how yummy looking! That goes for your new sketchbook too – love it!
Thanks so much! Loving the new book and loving the food even more!! hehe… I’m going to be sad to leave!
Fantastic and yummy…I would be interested to know who made the sketchbook, it looks and sounds wonderful …happy new book painting 😀
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕 Just updated the post with a link, though I still don’t really know what brand it is other than its German. Really nice book and I love the paper a lot!
What fun!! Knowing you and how prolific you are it won’t take long to fill that lovely little sketchbook up! Maybe get two?? he he
Hehe… way ahead of you! I actually went to the art store today to look for the next larger size, but that store didn’t have it. I may grab another this size though, as I really like the small format. (my trick to remaining prolific!😉 Lol)
Yay!! 🙂
Yay! Postcards from charlie…I think I’ve seen that book somewhere recently…
I confess to some serious sketch book envy here! 😉Looks really cool. Enjoy filling it up with fab paintings.
Thanks so much, Bill! 😃💕 Updated the post with a link, but still totally confused as to what the brand might be. It’s German I think… and that’s about all I can figure out! lol
What a great looking plate of food and drink. You do such a great job sketching food!
The sketchbook looks and sounds like I definitely need one. You may have to ship a boatload back so we can all have one 😄😄😄
Thanks so much, Teri! 😃💕 I want to take everything back with me!! hehe… but now I’m just hoping we don’t get charged for a heavy suitcase. 😊
Well what a delectable start to your gorgeous new book. Both the painting and the dessert look delicious.
Thanks so much, Laura! 😃💕 Loving the new sketchbook! I think I’ll be using it more moving forward. And might have to grab another before I leave. hehe
I hope you are still blogging at 70!!! Oh – but what would that make me?! No worries! We got this! 🙂
haha… we totally got this!! 😃💕 I also hope to still be drinking wine while I paint. Forgot to mention that! Lol
👍👍😉
Good Morning Charlie. Your café gourmand is quite appetizing ! I take it with tea in place of cofee, but you’r right, those “mignardises” are always a good surprise when a full desert is too much ! (yes I know, 1+1+1+1 seem to be a full desert too !!!
I have the same sketchbook, mine is from Vang (the brand is written on on a labell, on the other side of the back cover. When I began watercolor, many years ago, I bought a Vang pad, not expensive, but I must say not good quality. This sketchbook is really better quality and it’s so pretty with this deep and bright red with some touch of black. I’ll wait your 70th ( even I ‘m too old to see your 70th years old watercolor :)). So don’t wait this age to show us how you fill it !
Thanks so much, Laurence!! 😃💕 I looked it up and Vang came up looking like the same sketchbook. Mine doesn’t have that name anywhere though and on some sites, it doesn’t show up as Vang at all. I guess that’s the unbranded version I picked up, but it’s the same one. I love it! I’ll definitely be using it more going forward so it will fill up fast! hehe
Bonjour Charlie,
A very goog beginning of the day though I am already hours awake.
This café gourmand looks appetizing to me and never saw this before.
My hairdresser is a French woman and comes from Paris, I will ask her.
The sketchbook I like because you can lay it totally flat that’s so much more convinient isn’t it?
Never saw it here either. Laurence wrote that it’s from the brand Vang which I never heard off but perhaps from now on.😊
Jam looking forwards to your next dessert or any other delicious food in your brandnetels sketchbook!
Thanks for sharing Charlie!
Thanks, Margriet! 😃💕 Actually, we only ran across café gourmand on our last trip when we had it in Amboise, France. It’s such a brilliant concept and so we always look for it on the menu, but not every place has it. And yes to the sketchbook… Laurence and I have the same one, but mine appears to be an unbranded version (I added a link to this post). Vang came up on my searches for it though. Never heard of that either though! hehe
Great sketch.
JP
Thanks so much, JP! 😃💕
Love your new book! Yay, what a find! 🙂
Thanks, Jessica! 😃💕It’s so cool!! hehe… I love it! I updated the post with a link to what I found, and Laurence said it’s Vang brand, which also came up, but this one doesn’t have a brand name on it. It’s in a few shops here though. I may have to grab another before I leave… the paper is awesome!
I love the Little Red Sketchbook! Sounds perfect (I have trouble finding sketchbooks that lay flat) I hope you’re having a wonderful time!
Thanks so much, Harrison! 😃 I updated the post with a link, but it’s all in German. Apparently it’s also made branded under “Vang” but haven’t run across that version.
Hmm. I’ll Have to do some research. Maybe I could order one!
Cool! I’m about 3 doodlewashes in and loving it, so I definitely would recommend it!
Oooo La La! I love your doodle washes from Paris- makes me want to go there (again) to eat, paint and experience life in a place where I don’t speak the language. Your work inspires me to keep on painting.
I’m loving your French stories! And your amazing doodlewash of course. I had my first cafe gourmand in Avignon several years ago, and thought it was the best thing ever. I know what you mean about wanting the first sketch in a new book to be a really good one, and you’ve certainly achieved that here. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Thanks so much, Georgie! 😃💕 Yay! Glad you liked this one. It’s nice to start the book with my favorite French dessert! hehe
Ohh, I can’t wait to see what wonderful Doodlewashes you fill in your new journal!! Cheers to new Doodlewash adventures! 👍🍷😄 Your desserts look delish!! 💜💕💙
Thanks, Jill! 😃💕 Loving this journal! It’s a great format. It’s been a fabulous trip, but I’ll be equally happy to be back home with Phineas again. hehe
Yes, it’s good to get away but hard to be away from our furry friends! 💖😄
I have a friend who always says, piously, ‘No dessert for me’. Then he pauses, and says, ‘Oh well, maybe a café gourmant’, which is like three desserts! So yes, veggie soup upon return!
The sketchbook looks cool, I’ll check it out.
haha! Your friend is very wise indeed! Lol I love that! But yeah… soup every day and only vegetables when I get back home! 😊
One must have room for dessert, every time! 🍨
Yes!! I totally agree!! Hehe!
Fantastic doodlewash – where to begin with that lot, blimey!? And yay for bagging another sketchbook! Aw, I like the idea of having a Paris-only journal. I wonder how many daily doodlewashes you’ll have notched up by the time you hit seventy, though? Quite a few!!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃Haha! I don’t even want to think about it if I make it to 70. Not sure whether it would feel like an accomplishment or just make me feel really old. 😊 But will be interesting to see what happens! lol
It will indeed! I hope doodlewash is still going when you’re seventy!
I just bought the same sketchbook in a store in France. The book is 60 sheets, so 120 pages. Paper looks of good quality. I found your site while looking for an online store to buy other ones.
Nice site, nice paintings. I’ll come back.
Awesome, Jose! 😃💕 So glad you found Doodlewash! And yeah, it’s a rather large and daunting sketchbook, but I managed to fill it somehow. hehe Hope you’ll enjoy it as well!
Your Le Café Gourmand meal looks totally delish! I followed the link to look for your red Parisian sketchbook, but if it is still available they’ve changed the look. As well, as if I really need another watercolor book (but I always want one…)
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕 yeah, that might not be available anymore. It was tough to track down to even find a link to it. I’ll have to check next time I’m in France to see if it’s still there!
[…] favorite dessert is le café gourmand, which is a sampling of multiple tiny desserts served with espresso. Mostly, I love that everything […]