Friday, April 15, 2011

What's in My Sketchbook?

If you’ve read my trivia post last week, I mentioned that drawing and painting had turned my life upside down (No. 45).

Here is an example:  I bought some Corella Pear to draw and paint!

Alright, you might scratch your head and wondering if I’m being a drama queen here.  Maybe.  But let me tell you this:  When it comes to fruit, I’m very particular.  The fruit needs to fulfill these criteria:

1)  Has to be sweet
2)  Not too soft, not too crunchy
3)  No preparation is required (i.e. no peeling, no cutting etc.)

(O.K. I’m a drama queen in the fruit eating department!)

So it was a surprise when I found myself standing in front of the fruit section at the supermarket staring at the Corella pears.  But more shockingly, I started to ooohs and ahhhhs all over the pears. I must look like an idiot to my fellow shoppers.  But the Corella pears were just too beautiful to walk away.  And here is the sketch of it.

20110403 Corella Pears

20110403 Corella Pears CU 2

20110403 Corella Pears CU

20110403 Corella Pears 3


As much as I was bewitched by the vibrant colors of the pears, I think I had failed to capture it on paper.  Plus I don’t think the elements, like the colors, composition etc, worked together.  Actually, the sketch sort of looked boring to me.  But then I remember that I’m still learning and practice.  It’s o.k. to make mistake.

So my fellow creatives and bloggers, any ideas how I could improve it the next time? 

The sketch is also for Paint Party Friday (hosted by Eva and Kristin).  All are welcomed!  Do join in to share and support each other!

Cheers and have a fantastic weekend!

P.S.  I read somewhere (but forgot to copy the link) that Corella Pears are named after the colourful Australian Corella parrot.

38 comments:

Tammie Lee said...

wow, i have never seen these pears, they are beautiful and I would have oohed with you! I like your painting, it is fun, colorful and i like the squares next to the pears. I have never done anything like this, so no advice. Except be gentle with yourself and we are always learning.

GlorV1 said...

I like your journal pages. Good work, just have fun. I like the way the pears look and their soft color. Happy PPF!

Deanna said...

That's the great thing about art, it doesn't have to be true to life and still looks beautiful. I love your sketch and think it looks great with the blocks of color and the journaling. Keep up the good work. :)

BTW, the pears are gorgeous. And I'm much like you. I like sweet, little to no work involved type fruits too.

Cameron said...

I think you got the shapes of the pears down wonderfully...maybe not such a distinct dilineation between the colors? Look at you thinking like an artist at the Supermarket! You'll have to admit it soon enough...you ARE an artist....therefore, think anything and everything is inspiration to create :D

Love it!!!

Anonymous said...

I'd never heard of these pears either but i love your journal pages. They are so wistful and nostalgic looking if that makes sense-like something i imagine beatrix potter would have done with the script all around the drawings!

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Pears look yummy and so does the sketchbook. :)

Jenny said...

oh wow! I thought they were mango's at first look..never seen pears like this before..but yes I think I would have been ooohing and aahing over them too! Yummmm, and so is your sketchpage...delicious! :)

Barbara/myth maker said...

What a creative page of color! You were smart to get those pears!

Netty said...

Terrific journal pages and such a great reference for future projects. Love your whimsical style. Annette x

Heather said...

Oh I actaully LOVE your painting style...it's light and free, mixed with hapiness!...I also like seeing how you journal around your work! This is very sweet...stay true to your style! I like it!
Those pears do look beautiful! YUM!
have a great friday -

Yvonne said...

I've actually never painted pears, but I did a fiber art pear once. It had many different shadow colors in it. I love these pears and they are new to me. Just lovely. I think yours is fine, as it never has to look just like a photo. I like what you did here. Happy PPF.

SHERI COOK said...

I love your Journal pages! I agree with an earlier post...just have fun! Your stuff is so NEAT! Happy PPF!

Melisa said...

I don't think it's boring at all. I'd add a little yellow to the green of the pears, me. I don't think I've ever seen this kind of pear. I recently bought some squash just to sketch, so you are not alone in your craziness. :)

Crystal said...

I agree the pears are just beautiful in reality and in your art! :-)

Pam Tucker said...

I love your sketchbook and your painting style! I really like how you have your squares of color on the other page and write all around it. Just keep doing what you're doing!

I've never seen this type of pear either! I can see why you were wanting to draw them. I bet they taste even better! ;)

Anonymous said...

I like your pears too. And the way you wrote around them. Now you can take this inspiration and information from your journal to the next level, and make a painting. Thanks for sharing your adventure at the store. I was right there with you. Happy PPF. :-)

Kristin Dudish said...

Lovely post - it's fun to learn more about your inspiration :)

Ooooh - I love to draw and paint pears too (and then cut them up and put them in a salad)!

I can relate to your produce buying experience - I have been known ogle fruit too ;)

xo
Kristin

Unknown said...

These pears are so beautiful, I love the overall feel of your sketchbook designs- they're just so warm and inviting like a book I'd keep on my bedside table to visit again and again.
Lovely worrk!
Happy PPF,
Stephanie

Christine said...

good job with the pears, I think.

Anne Butera said...

I totally get what you mean about fruit. I don't really consider myself much of a fruit person because it has to be just so. And I agree that these pears are gorgeous! Definitely inspiring. I think your sketchbook page looks great. I really like the addition of the squares/rectangles of color on the side.

WrightStuff said...

Not really any ideas for improvement friend. I am too busy salivating over those pears!

Marlene said...

Wow those pears are gorgeous and I also have never seen them. Are they as delicious as they look?
Your painting is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with it the way it is, but you asked and so I will say. If you want to deepen the color after the watercolor is dry you can always add another layer of color and keep layering until you get the depth you want. You can even wash over it with a different color to get a different effect.

Ileana said...

Lovely pears! I could see this beauty hanging in my kitchen. Love the colors and effect! Great job!!

Jaime Haney said...

Having fun and being creative is the name of the game. I think your page is great. Happy PPF!

Theresa Plas said...

This is something I'd like to get into the habit of...journaling with a paint chart that is. I think you've captured the shapes perfectly and your handwriting is lovely!

gatheringwonder said...

awesome post

Cynthia Schelzig said...

ok I was reading your cute comments on picking out the pears but then when I scrolled down and saw themmmmm....welll wow, they are beauties!! Too pretty to eat, you just HAD to paint them that is understandable. Your work looks fabulous too!
Have a great weekend. OH you will love this,,,my verification word is "Perish"..how cooool is THAT!

ger chouinard said...

just love it here! Great photos and I believe I said it on my last visit ... GREAT sketchbook. I used to have one, but if I didn't like something I had done, I would rip out the page (my sketchbook had very few pages back then). The pears are awesome! You are quite the perfectionist with your pear picking - but it was worth it. I love the words too ... I'll be back!

EVA said...

I think these are lovely!

Watercolours rarely capture vibrancy well though it seems. During CED2010, I did a bunch of fruit and found oil pastels did a great job. I doubt they would have made for such and interesting sketchbook page though!

Wonderful, J!

Victoria said...

Beautiful!! i love seeing the wonderful work you create..so gorgeous..and yes those pears are lovely! Happy PPF..always wonderful visiting here...
Victoria~

Carola Bartz said...

It's always o.k. to make mistakes - ALWAYS. Those pears are looking really yummy - btw, I can understand your "drama queen" feelings about fruit. I'm probably a fruit drama queen as well.

Gerri Herbst said...

I do like the pears. I also took the time to look at your other pages in your sketch book and they are beautiful. You have such a wonderful style, I love the words with the images and how they portray your stories. Quite lovely.
thanks for your comments on my sea shell painting at PPF. take care,gerri

Lynn Stevens said...

And here I thought all pears were green or yellow, Shows what I don't know!!! they really are beautiful and art dosent have to be true to life. did you see my purple horse? LOL , keep up the Great work!
Lynn

Annabelle said...

Your sketches are always intriguing. I think those pears are absolutely gorgeous and the notebook page wonderful.

Annabelle : )

Priti Lisa said...

Beautiful. Pears are a personal favorite of mine!
xo

Carrie Martinez said...

As always, I love the composition of your works. I like the different shapes. I think they came out great...maybe you could warm the colors up a bit and add more dots, but really I think your sketch looks perfect :)

Carrie Martinez said...

Oh, and nice banner! I like your style :)

Leone said...

I've never seen these kinds of pears before, they are beautiful. I like the idea of putting your colours at the side of the page, I can never remember my colour mixes. You did a great job of painting them but maybe you could have used darker colours. Keep up the great work.