Farmers Market #8
Watermelons!
8x6in oil on canvas panel $125. SOLD
My hubby absolutely loves watermelons. Our fridge
is never without one during the summer. He was not with
us at the farmers market and does not know about this
painting. I know he will love it.
Artist Note.
Below is the photo source for this painting. You can see
I changed the angle because I was all excited about the
cut watermelon on top. The man has another one in his hand
cutting taste samples. I found him to be a little bland in brown
so I went through my reference material...see sketchbook below,
and found a sketch of the guy in the painting. I loved his striped t-shirt.
It was a bit of fun deciding to place him with the striped watermelons.
A page from my moleskin book showing the guy in striped t-shirt
mixed in with other figures. These are only an inch or so high.
I like the preggie lady! I can remember holding my back like that.
Those watermelons are clearly the stars of this painting. I think you balanced the figures very well and there is a lovely balance in the painting, the composition feels very secured.
ReplyDeleteGlad you think the design is okay. I had to do several thumbnails to get it balanced. I like your sunflowers - really neat, and berries are next?
DeleteYour husband is like my son KC, a watermelon lover and he could probably eat a whole one all by himself. Your painting of them is the real deal and I love that you clothing shopped from your sketchbook. How clever! I always want to eat produce when I visit here lately.
ReplyDeleteYou will most likely be using some of your wonderful little sketches in future paintings, Lisa.
DeleteGlad to hear KC is a watermelon lover too. My hubby has eaten a whole one by himself...no problem. he is a slow eater though and it can take a couple of hours.
We are a family of amateur melons and watermelons ... melons are good with ham ... I think it is my salvation when you do not want to stand in front of the stove!
ReplyDeleteWatermelon is the joy of freshness at any hour of the day and sometimes even the night!
How mysteriously come to life your works of art for me is a wonder to discover! Your way of associating ideas and the realization that follows,is absolutely great,dear Julie!!
Always a beautiful comment from you Rita. Thanks. Your grapes are amazing.
DeleteJulie, I am LOVING this market series! You have an eye for possibility in a reference picture - quite inspiring and a lot of fun to see how far you can take the subject, light and composition from an okay snapshot to an incredible painting. I'll be looking at my library of photos with fresh eyes - thank you!
ReplyDeleteNice of you to say - thanks Karen. Love your beautiful garden arbor. You captured the overcast sky colors really well.
DeleteLove the movement you created through the painting.......it leads me right up to the bright loveliness. Fun painting all the way!
ReplyDeleteHi Helen - it is rather bright and I neutralized the green a lot.
DeleteYour water and reflections of the old pilings create a lot of atmosphere.
just brilliant! I love those watercolor sketches too---I love how you move things around to make the composition what you want it to be....excellent!
ReplyDeleteThanks and I think your boat painting creates a wonderful emotional feeling.
DeleteThis series is one of your best, Julie! These watermelons are painted so beautifully and love the shirt on the man.. Wonderful painting!!!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying this series so I appreciate your comment, Hilda. Your landscapes have been a pleasure to see and the dog is a keeper!
DeleteI love watermelons too!! I love these market paintings.The color harmony is fabulous and the composition! The big melons on the right lead my eye up to the figures. Wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteGreat comment - thanks my dear. You know your composition so well as your shoes are fabulous.
DeleteI always love your pieces and this is no exception. Great choice to change this guy's clothes! And I like the stripes over stripes idea too. The only thing that I loved about being pregnant was when the babies moved and I tried to figure which part of their anatomy was causing my belly to have odd shapes. LOL I was very sick for the first few months of each pregnancy and then uncomfortable for the rest! Still, I'd do it again if it was possible.
ReplyDeleteI would not go through that again. Glad to hear you would. I love this time of my life when the kids are grown and my time is for ME!
DeleteYour portrait of Michael is a definite keeper. Great job.
The mark of a true artist! You are able to really use the photo as a reference, changing the angle, inserting figures. Now that is what I call "Creative"
ReplyDeleteThanks carol and CREATIVE is truly what you are doing with your wonderful abstracts.
DeleteThis might be my favorite so far though it is hard to beat the scene featuring the scale. But those watermelon shapes and patterns! And then you captured it again in the man's shirt. Just wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteNice of you, Libby. Thank you. I enjoyed playing with the different stripes.
DeleteYour latest painting is really great.
This turned out fab and I love the way you changed things around. I find this same approach works best for me too. It's best to take about a zillion reference photos and piece them together to create your composition. Well done. I know your hubby will love it!
ReplyDeleteI wish I did take a zillion shots. I would have had a better go at this one. I take one each of the different places and try and sketch the ones I really like. I came back from the trip with only about 20 market shots. Made more sketches.
DeleteYour watercolor give-a-way is very generous. I have my fingers crossed.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteI love all the different stripes! Beautiful!
I do too. Lots of stripes in clothes at the moment.
DeleteYour painting, "As the Crow Flies" is wonderful.
Mmmmmm! Give me a slice of this one!
ReplyDeleteGreat painting, Julie! Love how you use different sources and "bring it all together"!
I love how you made it all work! I haven't had watermelon for awhile and I think I might just have to pick some up now. Lovely painting.
ReplyDeleteLove this post. Love your sketch book and that you let us in on your process. My husband loves watermelons too. This series is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLove these watermelons. They have weight and presence. Wonderful and interesting composition too.
ReplyDelete