After a busy weekend (is there any other kind?), and an equally busy Monday spent running errands, it was really nice to settle down at my art table today, turn on the CD player, and with the sound of ocean waves rolling onto the shore in the background, dip my brush into paint. Something about art that deeply satisfies the soul.
For the first time, this year the pecan tree in our yard has produced a pretty good crop. Only the pecans are not edible. Not sure what the problem is, but they're pale, instead of light golden brown, with a moist, almost spongy texture inside that's yucky. Plus, they have no flavor. Since we can't eat them, I might as well paint them!
This is my latest TMC (Twenty Minute Challenge) and I can tell these little paintings are making a difference. Having only 20 minutes in which to draw and paint, I'm starting to look at a subject and pick out its defining characteristics... distilling the subject down to its essence. I can see this being a lot of help in future paintings. Here's a link for the TMC if you'd like to take a look at it.
A big "Thank You" to Teri Casper of Painted Daisies blog for the time and effort she puts into moderating the TMC!
20 comments:
Another mini-masterpiece!!! x
Great 20min pecan drawing and thank you for the deatailed conclusion about the challenge!
Isn't it disappointing when a crop 'fails' for whatever reason.
This year the best of our apple trees produced no more than 10 apples where in previous years it has given us unlimited supplies from late August till late October - and the horses benefitted from any apples we salvaged after that.
Never mind.
You painting is beautiful so the pecan wasn't wasted :o)
Your description of sitting down to paint sounds so nice and relaxing. It does have a way of soothing the soul, and helping to shut out the busy-ness of the world. Nice colors and textures on this.
Looks good, Teresa!
this is so delicately beautiful!
20 minutes? That would take me 20 hours! Nice job!
Oh, very nicely done!
Amazing how you get so much detail in 20 mins. well done Teresa.
Shame about the Pecans. Hope you do better next season.
The CD sounds very relaxing and WTG. Yes Art does that for me. Definitely satisfies my soul.
It may appear to be a simple pecan but I think this is your best TMC yet!
Are you letting your pecans dry before trying to eat them? We have about 50 trees in differing varieties and some are spongy like that at this time of the year. They don't get really edible until about Thanksgiving & by then the squirrels and crows have pilfered many of the nuts! Some varieties are just later than others.
Gorgeous.
marvellous just marvellous and thank you again for all you wonderful help.
Sounds like you have been busy - the pecan hull is beautiful, so delicate:)
~ahh...yes~ i know that soul-satisfyin' feeling.
Great quick work on these intimate studies! I like the leaf one too. Just peaked out my studio window to spy a bit of Fall color, but no raking required!
Hi Teresa, sorry I've not got back to you before now.
What lovely paintings. Gosh only 20 minutes? You're amazing! And you're always pushing yourself towards new challenges.
Hi Teresa, nice to hear from you. You've been busy yourself.
I'm glad to see that you're making lemonade out of lemons (or maybe paintings out of bad pecans!)
Nice paintings (both here and at TMC). -Joe
I can really see the difference! I agree, your picking out the elements you need and I like the way your picking out the colors and making them work together!
Great looking!
I'm dying to get back to painting again!
Vicki
great quickies Teresa.
Who wants to eat pecans when you can paint 'em.
What a Nut! ;)
I love how you showed the shape Teresa.
Thanks,
Irina
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