Pink Muscat Grapes
These grapes from the market begged to be painted. Their delicate blush and golden plumpness hinted at juicy sweetness inside and they did not disappoint!
I am practicing my technique and wanted some additional fruit to put in my sketchbook for the course I am taking with the SBA. As I worked on this piece I referred to Rose Pellicano’s excellent article in the ASBA’s newsletter (Volume 15, Issue 4) on painting translucent subjects. She pointed out the three types of light in a cluster of grapes–the highlight, translucent light and reflected light. Translucent light is warmer and brighter as it travels through the skin. Her description helped me understand how to depict this glowing cluster of juiciness.
I think I’ll go have a grape!
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
Lovely Janene
Thanks!
I don’t blame you Janene, these are delightfully plumptious! Gorgeous technique with the light and shade.
Ha–great word “plumptious”–and very fitting! Thanks for your comment and for visiting.
These are beautiful, grapes are hard to get ‘just’ right, you nailed it!
Thank you very much, Cathy! As I worked on them, I was surprised at all of the subtle differences in light on the round, transparent surfaces. Grapes may be common but they are not simple!
Fabulous! Perfection….
Thank you so much!
Fabulous work. I completely understand you with the light. I wish I had had a book like that when I was doing my grapes. I ended up finding out about the light after a vivid dream!
Jessica, That is so fascinating about your dream! I have long thought that one of the functions of dreams is to work out problems. Often I go to bed thinking about a thorny issue and wake up with more clarity about it. Anyway, thank you for the compliment. It did help a lot to have Rose’s take on the light issue even though I could observe it myself. She helped me interpret what I saw.
Lovely. You have caught the plumpness and colours perfectly.
Thanks, Sue!
That is a beautiful painting! I now want to eat some grapes. Unfortunately, that means going to the store at 10 pm which isn’t going to happen.
Ha–I guess you’ll have to wait but sometimes anticipation is the best part, right?
Lovely work, Janene!
Thanks Marie!