Aging Gracefully
What is it about this moment in time that made me think of aging gracefully? Hmmm…perhaps just the fact that we all are? Or perhaps the luscious brown aging spots that appeared on this artichoke as I painted it? But before I continue, here’s a bit of a reminder.
Favorite Things
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Aging Well
So why in the world would I paint an artichoke and conjure up the words aging gracefully? The short answer is that it just happened. I describe the process of naming what I paint in this blog post here. Fact is, over the days that I painted and studied this prickly vegetable with the delicate flavor, it changed!
When I first started to paint it, everything on this vegetable was a variation on green. Technically, I really really wanted that! What you may ask? Yes, I chose this soft green artichoke because I wanted to study and paint and think about green. Why? The main reason is I have not painted many green things. In fact, I rarely use green straight from the tube.
But with this painting, I wanted to see green on my palette. And, so I did.
Palette
Here are the colors I actually used: Burnt Umber, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Scarlet, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Green Pale, Cadmium Green, Viridian, Ultramarine Blue and Cremnitz White. My latest observations about these particular colors are as follows.
First, I absolutely love Burnt Umber. It is my new ‘go to’ oil paint for my block-ins. For you new kids who don’t know what a block in is, that’s the first drawing of the painting. Over the years, I have used Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine Blue, mixed, for the block-in. Now, I use Burnt Umber and I’ll mix Cremnitz white to establish a value range right away.
I missed not having Cerulean Blue this week! Given the soft greenish blueish appearance of the artichoke leaves, I would have loved to have used this cool, opaque blue. But I decided to leave it off the palette as a challenge. Plan B? Viridian my friend, Viridian. It is a luscious green that plays well with other colors especially Cadmium Green Pale and Burnt Umber.
Ode to Aging Gracefully
The best thing about taking time to paint this artichoke? Even though I refrigerated said artichoke in the fridge each night after painting it, the leaves started to turn brown. At first, this natural process bothered me because it interfered with my original plan to study and focus on painting green.
But then I realized how helpful and wonderful the browner sections of the artichoke were! The brown tips created visual cues so I could check my drawing more easily. Plus, as a result of my new found love of Burnt Umber, I got to use it more than I anticipated.
And, I came to love seeing the transitions from brown to brownish green to olive green to green as a result. So, I feel lucky that I actually took the time to study this wonderful artichoke and to see the aging process manifest on it and the painting, too.
Ode to an Artichoke
There’s a wonderful poem written by Pablo Neruda entitled “Ode to an Artichoke.” I love the way he references the artichoke as a warrior here:
The artichoke
With a tender heart
Dressed up like a warrior,
Standing at attention, it built
A small helmet
Under its scales
It remained
Unshakeable
Wouldn’t it be great if we all had helmets, like the artichoke, to protect ourselves from this mad world and to help ensure that we age gracefully?
For Sale
Thank you for reading today, dear reader. This painting is for sale for $375. You can see more details including a larger version of the painting here. Please share your thoughts and wisdom on aging gracefully in the comments below.
8 Comments
Beth Dyer Clary
August 20, 2020This is a fascinating painting to my untrained eye. I love the paradox that is the artichoke. As you say prickly but delicate in flavor. Somehow you’ve captured its complexity here. Could it be that Burnt Umber? Hmmm. Maybe. Is it the primary color of the background? I find myself staring at that color – so rich.
Enjoyed staring at this painting a lot. Thanks.
Julie Holmes
August 20, 2020Hiya Beth,
Isn’t an artichoke a crazy combination of prickly and delicate? I had to have one for dinner before I started this painting. Yummy yum!
You have a discerning eye! Why? That background has definitely been modified too. So I’m glad you were drawn to it. I simplified it quite a bit and so there are a few layers underneath the warmer neutral color you can see now. Doing this created some textures …especially in the upper left hand corner.
Thank you for looking, reading and commenting.
Denise Todloski
August 21, 2020Hi Jules! Love looking and reading. Nicely done, again!
So happy for you to have the time and space to be creative.
I enjoy your introspection that comes with painting, much like with gardening, my go-to therapy these days. My garden mixes my paint, coloring the landscape with the richness of new blossoms and leaves. Maybe you’ll inspire me to paint them soon. : )
Julie Holmes
August 21, 2020Hey Denise, Thanks so much for taking a look and reading here today! I would love to get a virtual tour of your garden sometime? Maybe it will help generate some ideas for mine! I hope to get outside in the fall when (hopefully) it will be cooler. And, it would be great if you painted again but totally understand the benefits of hands in the dirt, too! Take care and thanks again for commenting here. I really appreciate it!
Kathy
August 21, 2020Lovely painting Julie
I particularly like how your light source allows the contrast on both the leaves and the plate.
Julie Holmes
August 24, 2020Hi Kathy, Thank you so much! I am glad you noticed the impact of the light on the leaves and plate; an artistic observation!
Alexandra
August 23, 2020Beautiful work! I like how you captured the fibrous quality of the artichoke leaves and the colors. I enjoyed learning how you resolved the changing colors of the artichoke as it “aged,” which worked really well. It looks like the artichoke was exactly those hues and values the whole time.
I love using Burnt Umber, too! I use it for all of my block-ins. It’s very forgiving and I prefer using one color to block in. For me, mixing colors during the block-in is distracting. Using one color also helps me work out the drawing before I get going on the painting.
I also enjoyed Pablo Neruda’s poem!
Julie Holmes
August 24, 2020Hi Alexandra, Or should I say “Hi Comrade Artist who also loves Burnt Umber!” Thank you for reading and making such a thoughtful observation about the fibrous quality of the artichoke. The darker edges really helped me to sense that while I was painting it.
It’s interesting that you use Burnt Umber for your block in but no other color or value. I, too, use the under painting for the drawing. I also use it to make sure I see the full value range which is why I also use cremnitz white. What’s interesting is that there are plenty of times after the block in where I lose the drawing. So I tend to have to double check that with subsequent passes of painting. As the artichoke aged and browned, I was so glad to have the chance to reassess the drawing within the painting using the brown tips as mile markers or visual cues! Whew!
I loved that Pablo Neruda poem tooooo! Thanks again for reading and commenting, Alexandra!