A
DAY with
Fashion illustrator and painter Laura Gulshani creates vibrant, expressive and joyful artworks, collaborating with some of the best of the fashion world. Some of her clients include Chanel, Burberry, Guerlain, Missoni, Adidas and Escada, as well as publications such as Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, Vanity Fair Italy, British Vogue and Marie Claire.
Based in Paris, she is endlessly inspired by the city’s streets and architecture, and also cites Henri Matisse as her favorite artist and ultimate inspiration. While Laura usually spends hours painting at home, now that summer is here she spends as much time as possible outdoors enjoying the city, and invites 74 readers on a tour around her Paris locations.
An Idyllic, Inspiring Day in Paris
8 AM
Before a day at the market, which are my favourite days, I’ll stop at one of the boulangeries on my “tovisit” list for a little treat.
Today, I stopped at Poilâne for an apple galette. Paris has re-inspired my love of baking and cooking with the variety of fresh produce and creative pâtisseries available.
9 AM
My foodie friend and I head to the Bastille market.
Here, I find affordable and very beautiful flowers, along with the most delicious strawberries I’ve ever eaten. We sit to eat our breakfast before shopping and watch market go-oers pass by; inspiring scenes that I capture and save for future painting references.
We also were pleasantly surprised to come across an antiques market! I always keep an eye out for ceramics/homewares, especially pieces that have been hand painted. It’s interesting to see what previous French glazing designs look like, and I think about how I can repurpose those designs in a modern way when I paint on my own bisque. If not at a market, there’s always good inspiration at second-hand shops such as Emmaüs Paris.
Whenever to and/or from home, I take time to be present and absorb what I see on my way.
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Years ago, a friend told me to always look up, as well as to what’s in front and to the sides of you on the street, because you may miss something cool that no one else sees.
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Years ago, a friend told me to always look up, as well as to what’s in front and to the sides of you on the street, because you may miss something cool that no one else sees.
3 PM
I’ll make a late lunch with what I have lying around. I re-heat some homemade lasagna from yesterday’s meal, and whip together a fresh salad with ingredients from the market. This one features peaches and cherry tomatoes. Dessert is a simple plate of strawberries and mint!
Back to work, and these are the albums I’m currently listening to. I’m a huge fan of soul/blues music, and I especially love Charles Bradley. I am also a devoted Lamb, which is the name of Mariah Carey’s loyal fanbase. And I don’t agree with everything Kanye West does and says, but his Sunday Services are visually inspiring and emotionally moving, at least to me, as a Catholic.
12 PM
I return home and continue painting. Right now, I’m working on a personal travel diary of my recent escape to the centre of France with my boyfriend. This work-in-progress shot is of a scene I captured in Lyon, created using oil paints.
3 PM
I’ll make a late lunch with what I have lying around. I re-heat some homemade lasagna from yesterday’s meal, and whip together a fresh salad with ingredients from the market. This one features peaches and cherry tomatoes. Dessert is a simple plate of strawberries and mint!
Back to work, and these are the albums I’m currently listening to. I’m a huge fan of soul/blues music, and I especially love Charles Bradley. I am also a devoted Lamb, which is the name of Mariah Carey’s loyal fanbase. And I don’t agree with everything Kanye West does and says, but his Sunday Services are visually inspiring and emotionally moving, at least to me, as a Catholic.
6 PM
Now that summer is here and the days are longer, I like to go out as much as possible and take advantage of the sun, only when I don’t have a pressing deadline. I’ll take a book to Parc de Belleville, which is really beautiful in the summer, and offers a just as good, if not better view of Paris than what is seen at the Sacré-Coeur (and also there’s less tourists).
The scattering of people on the grass and the unique assortment of plants spark so much inspiration for me.
Another thing I like to do when possible is visit a church I haven’t seen before. The mosaic and stained glass designs of churches which tell a story very much inform my own colour choices and composition designs. This particular church is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Médaille-Miraculeuse, located in the 6eme.
Another thing I like to do when possible is visit a church I haven’t seen before. The mosaic and stained glass designs of churches which tell a story very much inform my own colour choices and composition designs. This particular church is the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Médaille-Miraculeuse, located in the 6eme.
“The scattering of people on the grass and the unique assortment of plants spark so much inspiration for me.
You feel like Alice when she fell down the rabbit hole; the interior is so enchanting and immersive with art deco colours, tiles and greenery all over. Most of the time I choose to walk or bike home from a night out, so I can take in the city as the sun sets into darkness and get a shot of views over the river.
9 PM
The rare instances I go to a restaurant for dinner, I try to choose a place with interesting interior design. This time it’s Pink Mamma, near Pigalle.
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I am more into painting from real life sceneries over fashion scene these days, as life in Paris is too vibrant not to be inspiring.
I am more into painting from real life sceneries over fashion scene these days, as life in Paris is too vibrant not to be inspiring.
