Thursday, June 28, 2007

Life Is Just A Bowl Of...


'Glacier' - Unfinished - Acrylic on stretched canvas

The EveryDayMatters challenge no.24 was to sketch a piece of fruit and this week seemed like the ideal time to tackle it after my purchase on Tuesday...A big, plump bag of cherries!

The painting at the top of this page was one I started last year for a Wet Canvas project that I have yet to finish. The second is an early artist trading card (2.5x3.5 inches) that I traded with another artist soon after painting it. I approached this painting using just the 3 primaries in acrylic paint.

The third goes all the way back to my first year in painting, 2003. I started my painting journey in watercolours and remember feeling rather proud of my little group of cherries and thrilled to bits when they sold!


'Primary Cherries' - Artist trading card - Acrylic on watercolour board.


'Cherry Trio' - Watercolour on Bockingford

These are my attempts from today. I decided to experiment a little, I seem to be doing alot of that lately!


First is my official EDM entry into my 'Little book of challenges'.

The second is a pen and wash that I personally feel got a little too dark, however, I am loving those loose splashes of colour!


EDM Challenge 24 - Pen & Wash in W&N A6 sketchbook


Pen & Wash in W&N A6 sketchbook

...Finally, I was brave and attempted one without a preliminary sketch going straight in with watercolour direct and aiming for a loose, painterly feel.


Watercolour (direct) in A6 W&N sketchbook

I used three of these delicious fruits as models this week but I consumed handfuls...BLISS!


Sometimes life is just like a bowl of cherries!

22 comments:

"JeanneG" said...

I like the brightness and almost see-thru look of the first one. I am finally going to start playing with watercolors. Just working up my nerve.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Of course the first three are very good, Anita but I do love the loose expressive style of the final three - I think 'pen and wash' takes the prize! Lovely work.

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Wow stunning Anita. I'm seeing a whole new side of you here!! The finished piece is really stunning but my personal favourite is the pen and wash. Brilliant.

Kristin Saegaert said...

They look to me to be so sweet! Beautiful!

juj said...

I'm with you on the second one - I LOVE that big splash of color behind the single cherry - but these are all absolutely delicious. Thanks for showing the unfinished one too - it will be fun to see it completed.

Anonymous said...

Making my mouth water! Fascinating to see your different approaches to the same subject.

Emma Pod said...

These are all beautiful. The top painting is especially nice. Great work!

Serena Lewis said...

All are fabulous.....they must be because now you have me craving cherries! lol

My favourites are the unfinished one at the top and the bottom one where you took the plunge with watercolour only. I love the painterly feel with that one.

Anita said...

Juicy juicy! Utterly delicious! You have inspired me to do something different to my current work. As light relief! I seriously envy you the cherries - one of my favourite fruits!

Leslie said...

Anita, I just love these, especially the last three. I have come back to look again several times. Just wonderful!

Leslie

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Jeanna. Good luck with the watercolours and be patient, they are tricky little devils.
I started with watercolours and being the determined soul I am I persisted but I do think they are a media that could break a less confident person. Why they tend to be the first media people pick up for hobbies I'll never know.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Robyn. I am stepping out of my comfort zone in search of a middle ground between loose and control freak...I'm gradually leaving the control freak behind, HUGE step for my personality, glad you feel it's paying off.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Andrea! :)

Anita Davies said...

Thanx Kristin!

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Judy. That splash is yummy isn't it.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Dave, I found it interesting too, it's fun going through old files.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou Emma.

Anita Davies said...

LOL...Thankyou Serena!

Anita Davies said...

Anita I am thrilled to have inspired you, thankyou for your kind words. I would send you a cherry but I'm afraid they didn't last long in this house.

Anita Davies said...

Thankyou so much Leslie!

Anonymous said...

I am so not worthy! These are beautiful! THat first one is so luscious and the colors are just perfect. I am truly in awe. You are inspiring. Now I need to go create!

Anita Davies said...

LOL...I was going to suggest you clean my shoes while you bow but wondered if my sense of humour would carry well over the internet and hesitated...Hell, I took the risk and said it anyway! ;) LOL!
THANKYOU! :)