Fruit Seller
6x4in Ink line on bond paper. Not for sale
Day 22 in the 30 in 30 Days Challenge
My personal goal for this challenge - to paint only
what I have never painted or thought of painting before.
I went to the dentist in Juarez, Mexico, on Monday
(saving money!) and as we waited in the line of cars to
cross back over, we watched many individuals selling wares
of great variety. This young pregnant woman cleverly
carried fruit on her head. She had netting over it
to keep it all from falling out of the ingenious little
shelf/hat she had made. I presume she had more
fruit in her bag. It took us more than an hour in line
so I happily kept drawing different people. After crossing
the border for 8 years to see this dentist I now
have enough sketches to paint a series from them.
Artist Note
Hope a drawing counts for this challenge. True to my own
goal I have never drawn a person carrying something
on their head before.
It is the first time I have used a pen to sketch with in the car.
Usually I count on something I can erase - like a pencil!
The marks you see under the drawing are an erased
pencil drawing from a previous attempt. I liked the subtle
difference it added to the paper.
I think this will be a wonderful series, Julie.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an excellent sketch!!!
Glad you liked it Hilda. I enjoy sketching and do it all the time but not with pen.
DeleteI love the fluent line in this. I can't sketch and I wish I could capture something like this. I love the beauty in a line, and these are just that.
ReplyDeleteI like that "fluid" line expression. I know what you mean. I used to use a quill and it gave me a beautiful line which would develop fine or full lines in such an elegant way.
DeleteIt's a very sensitive lovely drawing. I too like the smudgy pencil erasure under it. I say it counts as one of your 30!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathleen. How is Roxy doing?
DeleteLove your tequila bottles.
Ink is a respectable medium, of course it counts. I like the erasures in the back ground too. Your details tell us it must have been some long wait in traffic. You put the time to good use. This would be fun in color.
ReplyDeleteActually the sketch was very fast. Ink does that to me. No shading so I would say about 10-15 mins, tops... details and all. Honest!
DeleteGood luck with your surgery tomorrow.
l always like very much your peinture of huile,but also this sketch of ink! It's very lovely! l'm happy to see it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. Your beautiful painting of the Louvre has got a lovely feel to it.
DeleteThere is such a sweetness in this drawing. Lovely. And of course it counts! And it spreads motivation for drawing to me. Always on my mind.....haven't made time yet. Maybe I need to get stuck in a line!
ReplyDeleteI draw most nights as I sit with my hubby. Mechanical pencil is my fav as I do not have to sharpen it. I draw nonsense stuff but I find my hand needs to be occupied.
DeleteMy hands always need to be occupied so I need to get over it and just do it. I think the drawing is one reason I love Nora's blog so much.......
DeleteI love this sketch! And I think it would make a great painting or a series with your other sketches. I find people very interesting subjects. Good one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great compliment from someone who does people so well. Thanks, Linda.
DeleteWonderful sketch Julie! It makes me want to get my pencils out and draw more! Do you use a chamois do rub in the figure first? I learned that in my life drawing classes years ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to Mexico soon and might have some tests done to save money. It's good to hear from someone who has been going there for 8 years. That must be a long drive though!
No chamois - mine is too full of charcoal. I just use the eraser on the end of the mechanical pencil. That is why it did not all come off and left marks.
DeleteEnjoy Mexico when you go. How great you got a commission there. (It only takes an hour for me to get there from here.)
Thanks Julie! Oh! Only an hour! Lucky you! I have to drive then fly then drive again. I'm not looking forward to that but when I get to the beach it will be well worth it!
DeleteI can't wait to see the others Julie! This one is great:) Have a nice evening xx
ReplyDeleteSo nice of you Renate. Thanks. Love your new painting.
DeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan. Awesome is the word I use for your latest drawing.
DeleteLovely sketch, I love to use a pen myself as you can't rub out anything....hoping to see some more
ReplyDeleteYOU are good if you do not need to erase. I love to to get rid of a difficult area several times by erasing each time and the shadowy area it creates is quite satisfying to me.
DeleteLove your new painting. the spoon is great.
A figure made very well, as vivid as the words that accompany it,dear Julie.
ReplyDeleteThe Art tells the story of people ...
Hi Rita - all is well in your wonderful snowy world. I loved seeing those photos and the beautiful painting.
DeleteOh this is really something different, but the artists hand can't help but shining through , a very lovely sketch. xx
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Jane on winning third place and such a handsome son to go with you to collect it.
DeleteVery beautiful Julie...
ReplyDeleteThank you - I think your birds are beautiful too
DeleteI love this sketch...she is elegant. I can't wait to see what you do with your series...I presume you meant you will paint a series? Or no? I have been to Juarez...but not to the dentist.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa - yes, she may look a little more elegant in black and white than she was because her clothes were clean but worn. She looked very young, pretty with a beautiful long neck and very pregnant.
ReplyDeleteNot an easy way to try and make money walking between smelly cars and cold weather.
Love your pics of the studio. Did not take you long to fill it up@
Now, I have heard of this...(dentists in Mexico!) but I have always wondered how on earth you find one...do you get a referral?? I love my own dentist but any time he works on me it seems like I am paying for his kid's college education (all of it! haha!)
ReplyDeleteAs for your drawing---very lovely. Great strong, clear and beautiful shapes..!
The dentist we go to came via a friend's (a doctor) recommendation. My husband had been given an estimate of $17,000 for work that had to be done. The next dentist said $18,000. Now... you have to understand that you can buy a car for that... with an engine,body, seats etc and the mouth is a measly 6inch square box...go figure! He had all the same things done, and done well in Mexico for under $5,000. This was 8 years ago and we have been loyal ever since. This time I sat next to a woman who had flown in from ALASKA of all places because it was that much cheaper than her estimate of $22,000.
DeleteI've crossed the border from El Paso to Ciudad Juarez a few times. Once they nearly refused my entry back into the US (another story, another day).
ReplyDeleteI love this drawing - the first thing she reminded me of, don't know why, is the street sellers scene in 'Oliver'
Who will buy my sweet red roses?
Two blooms for a penny.
Who will buy my sweet red roses?
Two blooms for a penny.
Will you buy any milk today, mistress?
Any milk today, mistress?
Ripe strawberries, ripe!
Ripe strawberries, ripe!
Now John - what on earth was a nice English Gentleman like you
Deletedoing in El Paso and Juarez?
Love the poem from Oliver. Thanks.
Goodness! This is fabulous, Julie!
ReplyDeletethanks and I love your watercolor too. Thanks also for replying about your hair. I am looking forward to seeing a photo when you are ready.
DeleteThe lines are so free flowing making her come alive, stunning, Julie, feels like coffee painting to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such nice words,Padmaja but what do you mean by coffee painting, please?
DeleteNice choice of subject matter... love spontaneous sketches.
ReplyDeleteThanks Roseanne. I thought your copy of a Mancini painting was quite wonderful.
ReplyDelete