Watercolor cookbook illustrations included in the debut cookbook “Voila Vegan” (Avery) by Amanda Bankert

Welcome to the La Vie en Watercolor newsletter, a deep look into the creative mind through the lens of watercolor. As a professional illustrator and artist, creativity isn’t this eureka, struck-by-lightning, kinda phenomenon. Obtaining the tools to achieve (hopefully) great creative work requires deep reflection and channeling complex emotions at a moment’s notice.

What do the French do better than anyone else? How do you adapt the French joie-de-vivre to your own life? Ajiri Aki shares it all in her new book Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life (Clarkson Potter).

A look inside the real essentials of French babies : the gear, clothing and accessories