Last Tomatoes

"Tiny Tomatoes"

6x12 watercolor

Summer is officially over but you wouldn't know it on this 96 degree day. I'm off tomorrow for a "Jeep Trip" with my two Amigas. It will be a leisurely drive to Provincetown to paint. See you back here. Stay cool.

Banyan Tree block in 6x8

hour and a half in

At this point the colors are starting to work second stage and the pre mixes

The pattern

The Bully

I went out this morning with the Naples Outdoor painters to a private home with about 2 acres of lush tropical gardens. As I strolled about trying to choose a location I heard over and over, the complaint, "there's too much green" and, "I'm overwhelmed". And so was I. BUT, I decided on the banyan tree which had some sunlight on it, thus some contrast. I spent 20 minutes doing a value sketch to find shapes and place my darks. Then I did the premix, mapping out the colors so that when I started, I wouldn't run out of anything. This is making a huge difference for me. So much so that I wish I'd done it years ago. I worked for an hour and a half to get to this stage, where I decided to leave it while I plan the finish. It was 88 and humid and with sweat running down my neck, I rewarded my carefully planned and executed block in with a trip to the pool :) I wasn't able to get the photo right tonight but I will make up for it when I post the finish.