1. We will be in Paris for about 5-6 hours in September while on the Constellation. Where can we find some local artists selling their artwork? I know that they are up at Sacre-Cour, but can we find any around the Seine near Notre Dame, or along the banks?

2. If we were to go up to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur from the Champs-Elysees, what is the best transportation and how long would it take to get up there? We have limited time and are not sure we will have the time to get up there and back.

I believe you can find some local artists around the Seine, but most of the shops on the Seine are stalls selling souvenirs and postcards (sometimes old maps).

You can take the Métro to Sacré Coeur by taking the Line 12 to Abbesses or taking Line 2 to Anvers. You can walk a few blocks to the funicular that can take you to the top of the hill. Save your Métro ticket from the ride getting to the Montmartre for a free transfer to the funicular.

Montmartre is a good place to find a large number of artists in one place. There are indeed artists along the Seine as well, but their presence is irregular and they are quite spread out, so it's more of a roll of the dice as to what you might find.

The easiest transportation from the Champs to Montmartre is the Métro. Get on line 2 at the top of the Champs, go towards Nation, get off at Anvers. Walk up the short rue de Steinkerque and you'll see Sacré-Cœur. You can take a funicular most of the way up the butte with a regular Métro ticket. Allow about 30 minutes from the Champs to the butte by this route.

Bonjour

Re your question 2. For hints see no.1 on this thread http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...ick2&fid=2

Au revoir

Thanks so much for the information so far. Please keep the advice coming....

We will be in Paris for a few days in ealy March...will there be any artists out during this time of year?

glsebs, yes, no problem. As others have cited, one of the most consistent places to find a lot of artists in one place is near Sacre Coeur at Place du Tertre. (You can also expect to be approached by a number of them who want to draw your portrait for a fee.)

Artists are about all year long. They have to earn a living like everyone else.