Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Sketchbook Tuesday - At the market

Here's a watercolor sketch of some onions that I found at our local farmers' market last Saturday morning. The vendor where I purchased these had two stacks piled high with these colorful onions. I knew I was buying them primarily to sketch and hunted through each pile until I found an assortment that visually pleased me, while the Professor and Kiddo patiently waited. When it was my turn to pay, the Professor asked if I had looked through both piles of onions in order to find the perfect bunch. I mentioned to the vendor that I was choosing the onions based on which would make a good still life for painting. He smiled and then began discussing their rich color variations with me and how he peels back the outer layer in order to expose more color and loves the deep reds and violets in this variety. Then we had a good laugh about choosing vegetables based on aesthetic qualities.

21 comments:

Kate (Cathy Johnson) said...

LOVELY, Ann...what is it about onions??

christina said...

they are beautiful!!

Ann said...

I don't know Kate, but these were so appealing. And that farmer was a kindred spirit!

Thanks Christina!

MaryO said...

These are beautiful, Ann! I think we'd be surprised at how many farmers have a great sense of aesthetics.

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Luscious, Ann! You've given me my first afternoon smile :)

bettyfromtexas said...

How gorgeous!! I LOVE these!!

E*phi said...

Makes me believe I *AM* at the farmers market! Wonderful. I also love how you used purple for the shadow.

Beach Cat ! said...

They are definitely too pretty to cook ... you did a lovely job capturing them.

debra morris said...

Lovely work Ann, you're not alone in choosing vegetables that way!

Dan Kent said...

What a wonderful story, to match a beautiful painting. I love how he reacted - that he understood immediately. It is two people who understand beauty in the ordinary.

Anonymous said...

I think that fresh vegetables are wonderful things to paint - and you have certainly done justice to these! (I wonder why it is that supermarket vegetables don't have quite the same appeal...?)

Alex said...

I am pretty sure you've made a new friend there. Perhaps the next time you go there he'll show you some tricks on how to reveal colors on other vegetables again.
By the way, the drawing is amazing, and the colors are beautiful.

Autumn Leaves said...

Oh so pretty, Ann! Those colors are exquisite indeed.

Unknown said...

Actually it makes sense to choose vegetables for their color and their shape, and the little flaws that might make them special. It's all part of the experience of enjoying them! Your painting is great! I like the little root tendrils drifting around.

Ann said...

Thanks everyone for your kind comments! It is something about the farmers' market, all the pretty displays, the supermarket just can't come close...

Cathy Holtom said...

I can almost smell them, great sketch. I always think onions are beautiful too!

Timaree said...

Very pretty onions. No one but me likes onions in my house. Maybe I should find some to draw and hang just to be a pest! My groceries have nothing as lovely as yours though.

kazumiwannabe said...

They're really beautiful - and sure, it's important that what we eat looks good!

BARBARA WEEKS said...

Great sketch! I particularly like the shadowl

Tee McNeil Art said...

Well you got a good bunch.. they are beautiful!

Tee

nanke's stuff said...

Your painting captures the beauty that so many of us overlook. Well done! nancy

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