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If Life Gives You Lemons




 IF LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS
watercolor on Fabriano Artistico paper
30 x 23 cm

Now that it is summer, Amalfi lemons are in season at my local market. They are grown on the hills of the Campania  region, around Sorrento and Amalfi. They have a characteristic sweetness, a consequence of the volcanic soil, year-round warm temperatures, and perfect amounts of rain.

After rinsing the lemons, I set them on a kitchen towel to dry. As I went about, I would pause often to take in the soft delicate pastel colors. My purpose became to convey the soft light that comes in, with many variations of whites and neutrals to highlight the sunny yellow skin of the lemons.

It has also been helping me to do a warm up sketch before painting. I keep this sketch beside me to test colors before actually applying them.

 my warm up sketch

When all of this is over, I have a whole book of baking recipes devoted to the fragrance of these lemons ... I need to get to work!











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Comments

  1. Laura6 July 2016 at 15:46

    Yes indeed Amalfi lemons are the best. Fab studies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deborah Nolan6 July 2016 at 17:09

    Dear Celia lovely and fresh painting. The title is appropriate too. Now for those bars- will you share?? They look delicious. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco9 July 2016 at 07:44

      I would to!!. Thank you so much for visiting me!💗

      Delete
    2. Celia Blanco9 July 2016 at 07:45

      I wrote- I would love to, sorry.

      Delete
  3. Salty Pumpkin Studio7 July 2016 at 03:49

    Lovely watercolor. Lemons are perfect or summer.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cora7 July 2016 at 11:58

    Beautiful and fresh. I like those lemon bars.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joan Tavolott7 July 2016 at 13:29

    Beautiful job on the tones and textures of the lemon skins! I remember seeing all the lemons growing when we were in the Amalfi region. The lemon bars look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Judy7 July 2016 at 16:53

    I love the lemon paintings! It always amazes me how many colors there are to see in these yellow objects.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celia Blanco10 July 2016 at 16:20

      It is a tricky color, I have so much to learn!

      Delete
  7. Manon,Stéph♡Mia8 July 2016 at 17:48

    Bonjour Celia,
    Ton aquarelle est pleine de fraîcheur, je la trouve très belle et tes barres aux citrons on l'air délicieuse!

    Bisous

    Manon

    ReplyDelete
  8. laura10 July 2016 at 00:34

    This is the whole package! The little study idea is a good one--I have to try it.
    Lemons are one of my favorite, and most at-hand, subjects. Yours are wonderful, as is the cloth!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Christiane Kingsley19 July 2016 at 02:19

    You did a beautiful job with these lemons.The blue in the towel makes the yellows even nicer.
    Enjoy those great-looking lemon bars. They are making me hungry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. martinealison22 July 2016 at 12:56

    Bonjour chère Celia,

    Je savoure du regard et des papilles tes citrons... J'adore la tarte au citron !! Ton aquarelle est très belle et les couleurs aussi acidulées que ces merveilleux citrons.

    Gros bisous ♡

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jane20 August 2016 at 14:12

    Lovely and fresh watercolor , and your lemon bars look delicious ! Recipe please ! xx

    ReplyDelete

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