When you see the world through the eyes of an artist, you will spot art all around you…
We came around the back side of Notre Dame, and I spotted this lovely bride having some wedding photos taken by the side door of the famous cathedral. The photographer taking the pictures was smart enough to see the art inherent in that simple red door, the fixtures on it and the carvings around it…
But as the groom sat down beside her, my eyes were drawn to the three French security troopers walking by. A young couple in love, a building erected on the idea of peace, and three heavily-armed men in body armor… and… wait… I knew I smelled crepes…
Oh yeah… that’s what I’m talking about… that is an artist at work right there…
Work those colors and flavors and textures…
Make me a masterpiece…
Even as I ate my delicious snack, I had to pause to take a picture of three more soldiers… or maybe it was the same guys… it is weird how people in body armor carrying machineguns all sort of look the same… and how quickly, after seeing dozens of them over a few day’s time can make the sight of them seem commonplace… and yet these men were prepared to risk their lives to protect me and my family and other strangers from harm by other men who worship in another kind of church… also built on the idea of peace…
Okay, I sort of veered off my ‘seeing the art around you’ premise for a moment, but hey, life happens… and that is some pretty artistic camouflage…
I think Mollie took that picture. She also has the eyes of an artist.
Of course there are your everyday works of art all around Notre Dame.
And who doesn’t like a nice statue of guys with awesome facial hair… especially if it has a horse in it?
But still, we can never overlook the true artistic master… mother nature… and her incredible palate of colors, her intricate shapes and delicate textures.
But it is when nature and mankind combine their talents, and a quiet moment of real life moves harmoniously around the ambling river tossing back glimmers of sunlight that it all comes together.
There is art in and around this fabulous structure…
But I am self-absorbed… so my favorite kind of art to see is always that kind of Art… oh yeah…
Pouring My Art Out 
The sad part is that I am all too well aware that a photograph canNOT capture the moment so well.
I never did ask: why all your trips, and how far do you still have to go?
well, I am always trying to go somewhere… but this is just one big tip. And I’m back now.
Gorgeous – the armed soldiers were a bit of a surprise but on second thought, totally logical.
Love Mollie’s pic of the flower with Notre Dame in the background.
A Boat Art! A Boat! How come we’re not on the boat? 😀
It might have been the same boat we already went on.
Oh. Ummm, is there only one boat?
well… no…
Beautiful pictures. I especially like the first one, with the bride through the gate. It makes her look inviting.
I think they picked a good photographer and a good spot.