Friday night one of my neighbors who works on a local farm knocked on the door. He had a truckload of freshly picked sweet corn and wanted to know if we wanted any. He did this last year too. He refuses money, just spreading around the goodness. We got 2 dozen ears so Saturday Marc and I shucked them and Sunday I processed them for the freezer. Blanch in boiling water for 5 minutes, dunk in cold water to stop them cooking, cut the kernels off the cob (you can freeze the whole thing but we don’t have room in our freezer for that), and bag up in vacuum sealed bags. I got 11 2/3 cups out of 18 ears (I kept six back for immediate consumption).
He’ll have more in a week or two and I’ll repeat the process so that we have corn for as long as it lasts. I don’t buy corn at the grocery store. I don’t know the farmer, I don’t know where it’s grown, I don’t know how long it’s been picked, and most the corn grown in this country is genetically altered. As the farmer who I used to buy my corn from said, if a worm won’t eat it neither will I. Turns out he was the brother of another neighbor and he died. The same neighbor has another brother who grows corn but I missed his harvest this year.
I did finish the zucchini part of the painting. I don’t know if it would pass for a botanical illustration but I’m happy enough with it (so she says but I may darken one area) and more than ready to be done with it.
I did the flower part first in glass as part of the botanica erotica series and then I did the drawing where I included the zucchini.
And I started on a new little painting, a pomegranate, 4” x 4”. It is also from the botanica erotica series. I thought some of them would make nice little paintings to put in the market at Hesed House.
Here’s the glass version. 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".
I got the proofs for the notecards. There are 7 designs but I’m going to package them in groups of five. Ten copies will give me 14 sets of cards. The bee will be turned so it’s horizontal on the card.
I have another follow up appointment with the ophthalmologist today and I hope that she will discontinue the drops.
I love the notecards! Beautiful! And the zucchini turned out well too. I haven't had fresh corn in ages.
ReplyDeleteThey turned out pretty well. Now I have to figure out what to charge.
DeleteThe proofs are fabulous! of course the bee is the star of the lot! Wonderful! Corn is my downfall- not good for anyone really but so tasty with butter- Corn Rice and bread are not to be consumed anymore . Also the pod and skull card is stunningly gorgeous! Very cool, Miss Ellen!
ReplyDeleteThe bee is fabulous even if I do say so myself.
DeleteGlen just brought home about twenty ears of corn that someone gave him. They're all out in the refrigerator in the garage. I just don't have the energy to deal with them right now. I'll get to it, I guess.
ReplyDeleteYour botanicals look terrific and those cards are going to be very popular, I think.
I have another 18 ears in the fridge that Jose brought like two days later. Still haven't dealt with them. Must do this weekend.
DeleteCodex: It would take you 10 minutes to fix the zucchini. Feedback?
ReplyDeleteThe purple bud is botanical and you got the shading and the 3d right. It's good enough to submit to a professional exhibit.I think that's your only problem, because you always get the proportion right.
The cards turned out surprisingly well.
Yes, always, the only way I'm going to learn and I appreciate you taking the time out to help me.
DeleteThe cards are scans of colored pencil drawings.
Codex:
Delete1. Along the bottom of the Zucchini, like a rounded off triangle add some thinned ultramarine. So first parallel to the bottom then it goes up about a third to the right where the bottom is.
2. Invent light source from upper left, add a little white highlight.
3. Not necessary, but zucchinis have little yellowish white and dark green flecks, add at random small oval shapes. Done.
Codex: A little history
DeleteThere are three different schools of thought in botanical watercolor
Traditional/old fashioned are highly detailed and sometimes very flat illustrations (what I learned). There is no room for personal style (for purists)
Representational is a more accurate, vibrant almost photographic representation (what I do)
Looser and more modern, but the species has to be identifiable
So there is no right or wrong, style develops later. Meant to recommend. Buy a tube of Winsor Newton Series 1 professional paynes gray gouache. The mix of ultramarine is superb.
Haven't worked on the zucchini yet. Still working on the pomegranate. I have no idea what category I fit in since I'm mostly self taught with some help from you. I don't know if I mentioned but the paints I have were all given to me by a friend who no longer used them, various brands. I'll have to look for the gouache next time I'm at Michael's, the closest art/craft store to me. I hate having to go into the city.
DeleteCodex: I remember. Dickblicks has a great delivery service. Doubt Michael's has them.
DeleteWith practice you could easily do professional traditional. Niche market, but lots of collectors.
Gouache is like watercolor less transparent, more vibrant, light-fast in my experience but you need the good stuff. Will let forever. *last* (here we go again; fighting about words with an AI)
I really like the cards. The variety of subjects is as interesting as their appearance is pleasing. The bee is a favorite, but of course I remember the lotus! Art imitating nature in the very best way!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I've saved several more of your photographs but haven't drawn them yet.
DeleteYour cards are lovely and having neighbors bring over fresh picked corn, what a blessing 🥰. I'd say life is pretty good and your neck of the woods. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks! and yeas, life is pretty good in my neck of the woods.
DeleteGreat work. You have obvious talent. And kudos to the farmer donating his corn, a kind gesture much appreciated by many, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. I imagine that the corn is part of his pay, take as much as you want.
DeleteLovely work, Ellen!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen!
DeleteBoy that corn looks good! And so does your artwork. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt is so good. And I have more to process this weekend.
DeleteI like the actual zucchini at the bottom as a reference, like in a botanical textbook.
ReplyDeleteLast week I almost had an argument with a seller at the farmer's market who insisted that cougette is the proper name.
I stopped trying to argue with stupid people. Let them be wrong.
DeleteThe thought of fresh sweetcorn makes my mouth water. Memories of growing my own and having the butter run down my chin!
ReplyDeleteI've only tried to grow corn once and was less than successful. No reason to really since I live in an agricultural county.
Delete