Carl Norac

Fabrice Moireau

Books on Paris are legion, but there is virtually none devoted to its rooftops and the vistas they look out into. Rooftops of Paris is an invitation to travel to a new and unfamiliar territory in a city filled with time-honoured historical and cultural icons that many are so familiar with. This volume of quirky but charming artworks provides a view of Paris as seen from its rooftops by illustrator Fabrice Moireau and writer Carl Norac. Moireau undertakes a close study of Paris, surveying it at rooftop level with an entomologists eye for detail. In this book, he captures in watercolour the citys lesser known nooks and crannies, alongside the famous landmarks, offering unusual angles and new ways of seeing an iconic city. This other side of Paris this levitated, almost unreal world is an extravagant mass of ingenious shapes and forms that give protection from rain, wind and architectural monotony. The captions accompanying the paintings are rendered in Moireaus own handwriting while the evocative and poetical text was crafted by Norac, an award-winning poet, playwright and author of childrens books. The writer goes beyond prosaic description to capture some of the wild and poetic imaginings inspired by these rooftops.

Rooftops of Paris

Yann Queffélee

Surrounded by the English Channel to the north, the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Bay of Biscay to the south, Brittany is a picturesque region of France renowned for its beautiful coastline and stunning architecture. Brittany is steeped in history and legends. It is closely connected to the tales of King Arthur, in fact Merlin_s tomb is said to be in a dolmen located somewhere in the region. Granite rules the area; churches, manors and farms are often built with this material, sometimes carved as intricately as lace. The Pink Granite Coast is famous for its blush coloured rock and sand. Fabrice Moireau roamed across this land from the Pointe du Raz to the Landes de Lanvaux and from the Morbihan to the Mont Saint-Michel Bay, to discover the most stunning and intriguing landscapes and buildings of Brittany, all of which he captured with his brushes and pens.

Brittany Sketchbook

Monet fait jaillir la couleur, fait vibrer sa toile. Délaissant le détail, il peint des émotions, des impressions. Par dérision sa peinture est qualifiée " d'impressionniste ". Après Bougival, Louveciennes, Argenteuil... Il est toujours en quête d'un lieu où poser pinceaux et chevalet, un havre de paix, un jardin de fleurs. Ce sera Giverny pour lequel il se fait jardinier, paysagiste, architecte, coloriste. Son jardin se confond avec sa peinture, ses fleurs deviennent sa palette. En contrebas, de l'autre côté de la route, il acquiert ce qui deviendra son " Jardin d'eau ". Sur l'étang, il édifie un " pont japonais " et fait pousser des nymphéas... Le jardin de Giverny, reflet de sa passion et de son génie, est devenu l'un des jardins les plus connus au monde

Le jardin de Claude Monet à Giverny

Philippe Testard-Vaillant

John Bundett

Provence Sketchbook takes the reader through this historically rich region that also boasts some of France's most breathtaking landscapes. As the first Roman province outside of Italy, Provence has a wealth of architectural styles stretching back through the millennia, and as such, is a fascinating study for visitors. Evocative watercolours and illuminating commentary combine in this book, bringing to life a variety of Provencal scenes that will prove equally delightful to those familiar with or new to the region.

Provence Sketchbook

Dominique Fernandez

Rome Sketchbook transports the reader to the magnificent centre of ancient Europe, the home of breathtaking cityscapes and inspiring architecture such as the Trevi Fountain and St Peters Basilica. Inspired by this hub of art and historical heritage, Fabrice Moireau, the artist behind some of the other books in this acclaimed series which has covered such cities as Paris, London,Venice and Amsterdam presents a timeless collection of watercolour paintings and sketches that will be equally delightful to those already familiar with the city as well as visitors discovering it for the very first time. From glorious monuments to intimate street scenes, Moireaus deft brushstrokes beautifully capture the atmosphere of the eclectic, romantic and vibrant Italian capital.

Fabrice Moireau

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