Autumn in Paris was an unexpected delight!  I love Paris in all weathers but when the sun is shining it does make photography so much easier with a better overall result.  If time was no object i would love to paint en plein air although, with regard to the figures in the frame, it is not possible to capture more than a quick sketch of the activity.  The urban sketchers tend to create speed sketches in a journalistic kind of way.  As a rule I do keep an art journal when I travel but last September time was tight and so I gathered lots of photographic reference material for future studio works.  I had expected dull weather and experienced the opposite.  Jardin du Luxembourg had so much going on when I was there and, even though I was alone, I didn't feel alone.  Pony rides, boating, leaf shuffling all around me with a general mood of well-being!  Today I had an unexpected visitor for morning tea, but I have still managed to fit in a couple of hours work in the studio!  I am pleased with the work so far as it is capturing the mood that I wanted!