Friday 7 January 2011

A few Scampi and prawns

I had some scampi and prawsn that I started preparing for dinner and then I remembered that they are indeed water animals? So I put the rest back in the fridge and kept five out to sketch. Normally grey and translucent in color, I quickly sauteed one or two to get that lovely warm red color. Then it was pick up and turn around and upside down, look this way, count their magnitude of "pattes".. and attachments...and all the while they looked at me with those big black eyes.. I did some in a "plume pen" with sanguine ink from Sennelier and a wash which bled some of the ink, as well as my own watercolor washes and some were done in the same pen with sepia ink and a Grey wash. Blots and dots for some water suggestion and there you have it. Prawns and scampi.
..scampi and prawns..
...in watercolor, Sennelier ink and dip pen in watercolor sketchbook, 18x26cm...


Of course, afterward they were gently discarded of...I couldn't get to place them back with the others for our delicious dinner...lemon and butter, chopped dill, the works...it felt too close to cannibalism...after all we did spend some hours or two up close and personal..
I was inspired by these Crustacea and then went for a walk by the Loire in my raincoat and hiking boots. It was actually lovely out...not cold except for a slight rain drizzling on my cape. On my way back I picked up (and nicked) some foliage and twigs and seeds, which I sketched in the warmth of my atelier, with my chickens by my feet.
All in all...a pleasant WATERMARKS day!

If you're interested, you can see the other skerches sketches in January 2011 Flora of the Loire I don't post them here, becasue they are more foliage than watermarks, even though they root in the Loire...

7 comments:

Making A Mark said...

Great idea!

Feel free toi lob in the odd recipe. :)

I was just about to cook my smoked cod - I think I now need to go and draw it!

Laura Frankstone said...

We are on the same wave length, Ronell!! I just told David that I want to go to our local fishmonger tomorrow and get some blue crabs and shrimp to paint! I lOVE yours! I'll post mine here when I've done them---isn't this kind of playing just the best?

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Oh Laura, it will be great to see your crabs and shrimp...and all other kinds of others. I'm also bitten by the "fishmonger" treats (as subjects) and have planned to pass by to for some "araginee de mer and oysters etc...you're right, they are fun to play with(in paints)! looking forward to you post!
And Katherine...I DO hope we see your cod here? Just have it linger for a few minutes longer before it gets devoured...after all, you sketch SO fast!
OK, you two, lets have those fishies...
Ronell

Jeanette Jobson said...

Wonderful shapes and colours in your nearly dinner Ronell!

I've been printing some as you know but having sketched them much as they do affect me after awhile so I limit my time with the little fellows.

I wish we could get blue crab here Laura, they'd make such a wonderful painting! I'm envious.

And smoked cod, yummy, one of my favourites Katherine.

We could indeed have a very fish post or three about all the creatures in the sea.

vivien said...

great! lovely sketches, lively and free

I can never eat dishes that have them whole, with those little black eyes looking so reproachful

debra morris said...

Beautiful sketch, love the colours

Sarah said...

I would have eaten these, they look great in your sketches, very interesting subjects