Farmers Market: Apricots!
Ah summer! Farmers markets and farm stands are abundant now with beautiful fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers. People stroll relaxed and chatty, stop for coffee or a bakery treat, pet dogs, smell the flowers, compliment the growers and makers. What a pleasure. I’m ever grateful to have a small but robust weekly farmers market and several lovely farm stands nearby. The apricots are just in, and this piece pays tribute to the bounty and my good fortune.
Tips & Techniques- So many decisions go into making a piece of art. You must make choices about subject, composition, and color, as well as materials, lettering style, and final finishing touches. A sketchbook gives you the freedom to experiment with all of those choices. It lets you practice, build skills, and let go of feeling like the result has to be perfect. I certainly tried a lot of things on this page, but the thing I most wanted to try was making the small white on black sign for the apricot bars. I did it using a Micron 005 pen to work around the letters with hatches and scribbles and then added a layer of purple watercolor to fill the space and simulate the chalkboard type of signs you often see at the farmers markets. (Materials: Fabriano CP140lb paper, Micron 005 and 02, watercolors: Nickel Azo Yellow, Pyrrol Scarlet, and Ultramarine Blue for the apricots and Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, and Quin Gold for the bars)
Join me for Fun Farmer’s Market: Creative Layouts and Lettering online starting this Thursday, July 10 and add some fun to your sketchbook this summer combining creative layouts and lettering with colorful farm fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Drawn In 
Wow, i thought the apricots were real! Great work on it all, and thanks for the tip on how you rendered the “chalkboard”.
Thanks much! I wish I had a white ink that would really flow smoothly and cover over dark watercolor, but I haven’t found one yet that will do what I want. The white on black was pokey, but for just a few short words, it works.
You captured the translucent quality of the apricots – they look juicy!
Thanks. Apricot skins lend themselves well to watercolor because you can build up some nice layers of color.
Jean, those apricots absolutely glow! So lovely!
Thanks Trina! I always have to remember to leave some light and white areas at the beginning of the painting. Otherwise, you lose the light.
love the luminosity!
Thanks Sue!
Hi Jean, Wonderful apricots! And thank you so much for not only including which paper you are using, but also which pens and paint colors. I really appreciate it!
How soon is the big ride? I hope you have good weather!
Thanks again,
Thanks Dory. Glad you found those details helpful. I went with better paper here because it works best for negative painting. We leave for the ride next Saturday, then ride Sunday to Sunday. I share a few pages of my cycling journal next week. Thanks for your good wishes!
I could almost smell the luscious fragrance of your summer apricots which we grow each summer. It is the middle of winter here in Australia and so your beautiful apricots were most welcome to remind me what is to come. I was interested in your use of Ultramarine blue which I presume you used on the apricots as well. I am trying to expand my colour mixing skills rather than relying on pre-mixed colours. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful paintings.
So glad to bring you a bit of summer. When mixed with yellow and red, or with burnt sienna, UB gives you lovely darks. Much more interesting mixes than if you use black or gray from the tube.
Very beautiful color selection to show that velvety blush!
Thanks Janet. I was pleased by how well these colors worked together. I used to struggle with warm reds and oranges, so I was pleased with this combination.
Thanks for the tips on the chalkboard. I’ll be putting that to good use.