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Market Scene

Purple Umbrella
watercolor on Arches paper
5"x 7"



Quick sketch of an umbrella while at market, I love the chaos!

The inspiration for this painting comes from my local market. Italian markets are like no other. It is a full sensory experience. The purple stripe pattern on this umbrella reminds me somehow of a painted Easter egg.
This is the first time I use Arches paper. It is a beautiful paper and it turns the whole painting process into an even more pleasant experience. My colors look as intended and are very easy to rub out. Some artist choose to only work with Arches even if it is quite pricey ... now I fully understand why. Thanks to my generous friend Joan Tavolott for giving me a couple of sheets when she visited  Rome last September!
Please check out her blog or even better, enjoy watching her while she shares her art story on You Tube . She will inspire you to grab your supplies and sketch!

Much like Joan does, I also stopped yesterday and did a quick sketch. I have discovered a great place where no one notices me. For the past month I have abandoned my pencils and am keeping up a daily pen only sketchbook in order to try and improve my drawing skills.

I wish everyone who celebrates,
a peaceful and happy Easter! 


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Comments

  1. martine paquet4 April 2015 at 14:36

    Such a joyful little painting, Happy Easter Celia!

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  2. hmuxo4 April 2015 at 15:17

    A lovely watercolor Celia! Wonderful colors! Happy Easter to you and your family!!

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  3. Manon,Stéph♡Mia4 April 2015 at 18:01

    Elle est magnifique et toute en couleur ton aquarelle, je l'aime beaucoup!

    -(\(\
    ( =':')
    (..(")(")BISOUS ET JOYEUSES PÂQUES

    Manon

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  4. Jane4 April 2015 at 20:54

    Hello Celia. I love your colorful market scene ! You are right , italian markets are such a wonderful and special experience , I love the hustle and bustle too ! Wishing you and yours a Happy Easter. xx

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  5. Carol Blackburn4 April 2015 at 21:25

    So lively and spring-like.

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  6. Debbie Nolan4 April 2015 at 22:09

    Dear Celia - your sketch brings an Italian Market to life. Love the purple umbrella. So glad you shared your experience with Arches. I love this paper. Also Fabriano Artistico is lovely too. Here in America through Cheap Joes - he sells a lovely Kilamanjaro which is more comfortably priced and works well. So fun to try out new supplies. Your friend Joan is a delight. I love reading her posts. Have watched her on You Tube too. Hope you have a beautiful Easter.

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  7. Lorraine Brown4 April 2015 at 23:21

    A great idea to do more sketching Celia, something amiss with me. love your Easter colour umbefell a, Arches and Saunders Waterford are all I use even if the work ends in the bin, cannot blame it on the surface as it really is lovely paper

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  8. r garriott5 April 2015 at 02:12

    So very lovely!

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  9. Wendy Barrett5 April 2015 at 15:49

    Great to hear you are sketching daily Celia - very impressive! Love your watercolour and sketch - both very lively!
    I hope you have a very Happy Easter!!

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  10. Joan Tavolott6 April 2015 at 02:28

    Love the market sketch!!! You are right about the stripes on that umbrella resembling an Easter egg. Markets are such fun places to sketch with all their color and shapes and people. Ours here never seem to have the ambiance they have over there. lol Thanks for mentioning me. I'm glad you like the Arches. I have also tried Fabriano Artistico in a journal lately and like that too. I'll have to try it for a larger painting soon. Happy Easter! I hope yours was great!!

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  11. Helen H Trachy6 April 2015 at 12:53

    I love market scenes . Your painting is happy and colorful , that paper seems really nice to work with. Hope you had a beautiful Easter! Bisous

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  12. Sonia Aguiar7 April 2015 at 21:43

    Very beautiful watercolor. Congrats!
    A hug :)

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  13. Catharina Engberg7 April 2015 at 23:02

    We all have to practise our drawings don´t we. Without drawingskills it´s not easy to paint. It practise the eye. I love Arches too. Try the fine Arches,185 gr. too.It is reall smooth and so nice to paint wet in wet. Very nice watercolor. Springcolors.

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  14. Cora8 April 2015 at 16:05

    Beautiful sketch of an Italian market. So lively colors. I hope you had a happy Easter. I am intrigue with Arches paper, so I might try it soon. Greetings

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  15. Manon,Stéph♡Mia14 April 2015 at 19:02

    Gros bisous et bonne semaine Célia ♥

    Manon

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  16. Manon,Stéph♡Mia14 April 2015 at 19:02

    Gros bisous et bonne semaine Célia ♥

    Manon

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  17. Wildflowerhouse18 April 2015 at 22:07

    I love your color choices. Very exciting painting!

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  18. Unknown20 April 2015 at 02:48

    I can see why you were drawn to this scene, all the bright colors, movement, and the cheeriness of the umbrella... you are one of the few people that can really bring all that to life on paper and convey the vitality of the scene through your painting. Love how you captured it! :)

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  19. Carmella Tuliszewski21 April 2015 at 19:18

    Hi Celia! Your colors are always so much fun. The purple set against the lime green background is just perfect.

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  20. juliefordoliver.blogspot.com22 April 2015 at 23:33

    How wonderful is this market scene. Always a favorite in my heart, the life of a farmers market shows through perfectly in your lovely painting and I admire the sketch too. Hope to see it finished.
    Everyone loves arches paper...except moi!

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    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco25 April 2015 at 01:32

      I think of you Julie when I see market scenes. I didn't know you don't like arches, how interesting! THank you for your comment!

      Delete
  21. Laura24 April 2015 at 02:54

    Sorry I missed this post for some reason Celia. I hope you are enjoying your pen sketching. I am getting quite addicted to mine at the minute. There is never enough time to do it all. Love this market sketch. It brings back lots of lovely Italian memories. Take care. xx

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    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco25 April 2015 at 01:30

      No need to apologize Laura, thank you for your visit and comment! I found it frustrating at first but now I love it. Aah,perseverance is a wonderful thing!

      Delete
  22. art by Michael Perchard24 April 2015 at 04:50

    Ciao my dear art buddy Celia! I so love this wonderful work! The purples and lavenders are breathtaking! Of course I so love the way you handle watercolor! A joy!
    Also love your narrative!
    Love everything Italian! (I have too my wife's family is from Italia!!!)
    My shoulder is still on the mend! I soooo miss painting!!!!
    Keep on making great art my friend!
    Huge hugs!
    Michael

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    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco25 April 2015 at 01:27

      I'm sorry to hear you are still healing, Michael, muscle injuries are so tricky to heal. The warmer weather will surely help you. We miss seeing your artwork but your health is more important, take care and thank you for your lovely comment! A big hug!

      Delete
  23. Celia Blanco25 April 2015 at 01:31

    Thank you for the follow and comment

    ReplyDelete
  24. martinealison8 May 2015 at 19:13

    Bonsoir chère Celia,

    Un grand merci pour votre gentil commentaire, il me touche beaucoup.
    Je n'avais pas visité ce joli petit billet et combien adorable.
    J'aime l'atmosphère des marchés... Les couleurs, les formes, les lumières, les parfums et les blablas qui font le charme !
    Une très belle capture à l'aquarelle... Tout comme vous j'aime travailler avec de bons supports à l'huile... cela compte beaucoup.

    Je vous souhaite un excellent weekend.
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
  25. martinealison8 May 2015 at 19:13

    Bonsoir chère Celia,

    Un grand merci pour votre gentil commentaire, il me touche beaucoup.
    Je n'avais pas visité ce joli petit billet et combien adorable.
    J'aime l'atmosphère des marchés... Les couleurs, les formes, les lumières, les parfums et les blablas qui font le charme !
    Une très belle capture à l'aquarelle... Tout comme vous j'aime travailler avec de bons supports à l'huile... cela compte beaucoup.

    Je vous souhaite un excellent weekend.
    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete

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