Exploring Paris as an Artist: Paris Through an Impressionist Lens

Turning a stroll in Paris into a fun Artistic Immersion

As a designer and artist, keeping my creative skills sharp is a mission close to my heart. Whenever I have a free day, I love combining leisurely activities with artistic education. This time, with a day to myself in Paris, I planned a creatively fulfilling solo day.

Growing up in France and having a partner from Normandy, I often passed through Paris but rarely immersed myself in its rich artistic history. Paris? That’s for tourists! It’s noisy, crowded, and people can be rude! But today, I've grown wiser and decided to give Paris the attention and love it deserves.

Designing Your Perfect Parisian Art Date

Design your day however you want, but I find that having a theme makes discoveries more consistent and new information more digestible.

Pick a Theme: What Is Your Favourite Art Period or Movement?

Parisian art history is incredibly rich, from Versailles to modern art. It was THE city where Western artists came to showcase their crafts, find patrons, and thrive. But with so much to see, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. My tip? Choose a theme. Whether it's Renaissance, Impressionism, Expressionism, or Art Deco, focusing on one period makes your day more immersive and enjoyable.

Find Places That Fit Your Art Period

Once you’ve chosen your art period, your options will narrow, making decisions smoother. Here are some places to consider:

Museums
Architectural landmarks
Art galleries
Art stores
Coffee shops & restaurants
Antique shops or concept stores

Depending on the period, some options may be more available than others. For example, finding a Renaissance-era coffee shop might be a challenge… But who knows?

You are in Paris, so… Drink, Eat and Walk

Once you’ve decided on a few places you could visit, don’t forget to map it out on Google Maps to make sure that you can do it within the tie that you have.

I suggest not going overboard and cramp more than 3-4 places into your day. Taking things slow means having time to truly immerse yourself in the period.

Drink, Eat, and Walk

Plan your route on Google Maps to ensure you can visit within your available time. I suggest not cramming more than 3-4 places into your day. Taking things slow allows you to truly immerse yourself in the period. But if you like the marathon-style visit, I can’t say much… I swear, I’m not judging!

My Impressionist Day Plan in Paris

Impressionism greatly influences me, so I decided that this day would be an Impressionist Art Date.

My initial plan included a morning walk in Montmartre and an afternoon at the Musée d’Orsay, home to the world's largest Impressionist collection. It sounds fantastic and enriching, doesn’t it?

However, December is busy, and without a pre-booked ticket, I faced a long queue and missed my chance.

Plan B was the Musée de l’Orangerie for Monet’s Les Nymphéas, but again, the queue was too long. Lesson learned: book your tickets in advance, Tich!

Fortunately, I had visited the Musée d’Orsay a few days earlier when there was no queue, which led me to believe I could repeat the experience. During that visit, I saw with my own eyes some of the most beautiful Impressionist paintings, including several I hadn’t known before. If you’re curious about these hidden gems, I have an upcoming article on the lesser-known Impressionist paintings I’ve discovered.

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Impressionist Morning: from Saint Lazare to Montmartre

Paris has several train stations, and Gare Saint Lazare is the one connecting to Normandy. This station, dating back to 1837, was immortalized by Monet in his 1877 painting La Gare Saint Lazare, capturing the bustling, smoky atmosphere of Parisian transit.

From Gare Saint Lazare, I took a 30-minute walk to Montmartre. Though public transport is an option, I recommend walking if the weather permits. Along the way, you'll encounter stunning Art Nouveau buildings, street art, and cute little Parisian shops.

Depending on your route, you might be greeted by the iconic Moulin Rouge or the magnificent Sacré-Coeur. For me, it was the Moulin Rouge, standing in stark contrast to the quieter streets behind me. And yes, the haunting "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi" song played in my head!

From this point onward, prepare for a workout, Montmartre is quite hilly. While not alpine-steep, it's enough to get your heart pumping. But the effort is worth it. The neighborhood's creative energy is palpable, with its less imposing, more colorful buildings and a laid-back, festive vibe.

Montmartre has evolved since the 1800s, but it's fascinating to imagine Monet, Renoir, or Picasso wandering these same streets.

To get my cardio ready for all the slopes, I decreed it time to indulge in a morning coffee at The Beans on Fire. As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, I appreciated their coffee. The baristas were friendly and quite cool. Way cooler than I’ll ever be. If you like light roast, it’s worth noting that most of their beans were medium-dark roast. I also wished for more focus on French pastries, rather than cookies and scones.

Impressionist Landmarks in Montmartre

Here is a list of all the landmarks I visited during my Impressionist walk.

If you want more details about each place, I invite you to watch my very fun and entertaining video of that day :P

Moulin de la Galette

The windmill place that inspired one of Renoir’s most iconic paintings «Bal du Moulin de la Galette».

Galerie Butte montmartre

A very cute souvenir / art gallery selling prints and postcards from Impressionist and Art Nouveau periods.

Le Consulat

Le Consulat was THE cafe where all the famous artists used to meet-up and socialise. Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Utrillo, they all came here.

Le Billard en Bois, Van Gogh - 19th Century

La Bonne Franquette

This place used to be called Aux Billards En Bois, which was also represented in one of Van Gogh paintings.

Place du Tertre, Montmartre Art Market

A busy square filled with artists painting and selling their works, though busy, the square has a lively atmosphere.

La Maison Rose

A coquette dollhouse-like pink café, famous which became famous through the paintings by Maurice Utrillo.

View of Paris from Montmartre , Raoul Dufy - 1902

Rue de l’Abreuvoir

This little street offers a Wes-Anderson style pictures, with pastel Parisian houses and beautiful trees on the foreground, le Sacré-Coeur on the background.

Le Lapin Agile

An unmissable orange cabaret where Picasso once was a regular and painted the world-famous “Au Lapin Agile” after his friends deadly quarrel at the bar.

Ending the Day at Magasin Sennelier, Quai Voltaire Branch, 1887

Not to be confused with the French art supplies brand, Magasin Sennelier has been around since 1887, making this store perfectly on-theme with my Impressionist Era day.

Inside Magasin Sennelier

If you've ever dreamed of having your own classic art atelier, surrounded by wooden easels, floor-to-ceiling drawers, and hundreds of brushes, with the scent of varnish and pigments filling the air, Magasin Sennelier is your dream come true. The interior really inspires me to spice things up with antiques in my own workspace.

Calligraphy Supplies on the 2nd Floor... With a View Over Musée du Louvre

On the 2nd floor, you will find all things calligraphy. As a bonus, there’s a huge window overlooking a bridge, le Pont du Carrousel, and right next to it is the Musée du Louvre. Such an incredible view right from an art store, I must say. But this is Paris, after all.

Linel Gouache & Turner Acryl Gouache

If you, like myself, are always in search of the greatest gouache to grace your artworks (pure poetry here), Magasin Sennelier sells gouache from both the Japanese brand Turner and Linel by Lefranc Bourgeois.

I’ve been a long-time loyal user of Linel, and this was my first time finding Linel in a physical store, so I was really happy. As I just got back from Japan and already had a crazy spree on Japanese gouache there, I took note of Turner for the next time I need to restock.

If you want to buy gouache from Linel, sadly, you can only choose them through the price list. I’m not sure why exactly, probably too precious? I didn’t ask to see any because I already have most of the colors. Also, for the next time, I’m all for supporting local businesses, especially an art store as beautiful as this one.

Have I convinced you to watch my Parisian artistic stroll video? If not, I still hope to see you very soon. Bye-bye!

Watch my Impressionist immersion below!

Free Printable Portrait Art - “Osaka People”

I recently went to Osaka and painted cool fashionable people. Here are the digital versions of what I painted in Japan. Printable up to A5 format. I hope you enjoy!