Tomatoes and Greens
Several years ago Betsy Blair started painting a series of heirloom tomatoes and greens from the Durham Farmer’s Market.
After so much cutting and sewing for the collaged seasonal pieces, it’s freeing to sweep over the paper using large brushes with lots of paint on them. I wanted to keep the images whole and simple, in contrast to the collage pieces. I think of each of them as a touch of the cosmos.
Ironically, I am somewhat allergic to fresh tomatoes, but they inspire me!
The greens came about as a contrast of color to the reds, yellows, oranges of the tomatoes. I started with the spring greens, trying to keep the brush strokes loose and light. Then I moved on to the larger lettuces and cabbages, working my way back to stronger edging with sewing and/or deep prismacolor pencils.
After so much cutting and sewing for the collaged seasonal pieces, it’s freeing to sweep over the paper using large brushes with lots of paint on them. I wanted to keep the images whole and simple, in contrast to the collage pieces. I think of each of them as a touch of the cosmos.
Ironically, I am somewhat allergic to fresh tomatoes, but they inspire me!
The greens came about as a contrast of color to the reds, yellows, oranges of the tomatoes. I started with the spring greens, trying to keep the brush strokes loose and light. Then I moved on to the larger lettuces and cabbages, working my way back to stronger edging with sewing and/or deep prismacolor pencils.