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Posted on April 2, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

I would simply have to snap my finger and…

…. strawberries would always be in season…

….chocolates would never make you fat…

….aspararagus would be available all year round….

…. onions wouldn’t give you a smelly breath…

….coffee would be considered a health food…

….my purse would always have money in it…

….my house could self-clean by the push of a button…

….I would have a chauffeur to drive me where I want….

….I would never again have to fly economy class…

In a perfect world, I suppose I would never have to snap my finger…

🙂 Silvia said…: Great ideas – and wonderful paintings!; April 2, 2007 5:30 PM
jill said…: i am right there w/ you on these things. way to go! great way to look at the challenge and achieve!; April 2, 2007 5:48 PM
platitudinal said…: Oh, Ronell, I pray for your perfect world to materialize. Then, I’ll come a knockin’ and a beggin’ for you to let me in. Everything look so delicious, even the onion! Superb paintings.~Luci.; April 2, 2007 5:54 PM
Carole said…: What lovely loose watercolour illustrations! I like your perfect world, too.Those lifedrawings are impressive as well. Your lines are so sure and cleanly drawn. Must take years of practice to achieve.; April 2, 2007 6:47 PM
Teri C said…: WONDERFUL!!! I love every painting and every word you said!! Ronell for President!!; April 2, 2007 7:07 PM
nik said…: Ronell, your paintings are fantastic. I love the box of strawberries. What watercolor brand do you use?; April 2, 2007 7:07 PM
Lin said…: OH MY GOSH!!! I SO AGREE — AND TO ADD TO THIS FANTASTIC SNAPPING OF WISHES — I’D ADD — TO SKETCH AND PAINT AS WONDERFUL AS YOU!!! GLORIOUS SKETCHES!!!!; April 2, 2007 7:11 PM
MrsSnowy said…: Oh, I wish these were mine! Fantastic – and the final tea is just beautiful, Ronell.; April 2, 2007 8:53 PM
MrsSnowy said…: Sorry! It was coffee not tea. And I agree about economy class travel – from Italy to Australia is about as bad as it can get!; April 2, 2007 8:55 PM
caseytoussaint said…: What a great post, Ronell! I agree with you about everything, and these paintings are really marvelous.; April 2, 2007 9:00 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for all the lovely comments, everybody..
Nik, I’m almost embarressed to confess – I don’t have a specific brand of watercolor…I use everything that is on the market, so I have half pans and tubes and full pans of this and that and there isn’t one that I can say I truly don’t like or particularly prefer. When a color is finished, I just replace it by whatever I feel like buying when I’m in the store…not very artist-like, I suppose, sorry..!I do favor Arches and Fabriano papers though.
You are actully spot on, Robyn, it is Rooibosch tea in the last image(which is ironically, a very healthy tea!!) but I was too lazy to draw the coffee and I WANTED coffee on the list, so I just used this image…forgive me for cheating there!
Ronell; April 2, 2007 10:45 PM
gabi campanario said…: very clever concept for ‘snap’ and great watercolors, love the light and brightness of the strawberries; April 2, 2007 10:56 PM
Emma Pod said…: Really wonderful paintings! I especially like the asparagus. I love your ideas…could we have someone do our exercises for us too??; April 2, 2007 11:36 PM
Kristin Saegaert said…: I’m all for the self cleaning house! And I love your illustrations – wonderful watercolors and drawings! Very interesting – every one of them! Thanks for sharing your creativity!; April 2, 2007 11:36 PM
Alison said…: This is a lovely set – great idea for the topic. An inspiring blog.; April 3, 2007 1:11 AM
Felicity said…: Beautiful paintings! So lovely and juicy looking!Can you read my mind – this could almost be my list! And is that Lindt chocolate?; April 3, 2007 9:46 AM
why said…: these are beautiful!!; April 3, 2007 4:15 PM
Sandy said…: Oh – Please let it be so!!!! Great post and I love your whole blog!!; April 3, 2007 5:22 PM
martha said…: ….and I could spend all day sketching! Wonderful drawings; you have a great touch with watercolor.; April 3, 2007 10:08 PM
Susan Cornelis said…: Oh! You’re making me so hungry. I think you’ve manifested the perfect world by painting it.; April 3, 2007 10:41 PM
Peceli and Wendy’s Blog said…: Discovered your blog today. What a prolific artist you are – with such fresh paintings of everyday subjects and your life drawings are so animated with great poses.
Lovely work.
w.; April 4, 2007 3:32 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for the lovely comments everybody, once again, I appreciate the time you take to comment here. Thanks
Ronell; April 4, 2007 9:08 PM
Jana Bouc said…: Spectacular. I’m just loving these collections of words and pictures. Great work!; April 6, 2007 7:39 AM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: Wow Ronell,
these are absolutely stunning. I’m in awe. The lovely loose style, the colours are fantastic – just all of it really!
My own favourites; the onions, I just love the way you can almost feel that papery skin, amazing. The bottom one is just brilliant too, as well as the asparagus……; April 6, 2007 11:25 AM
ksklein said…: May I join your perfect world? 🙂

Posted on March 25, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

Spot the differences

Play along and spot the differences between the two pictures.

Stand on your head to read the answer at the bottom.

casey said…: My, you are productive! I really like this one too. I’m running out of adjectives here!; March 25, 2007 5:43 PM
Teri C said…: Good thing I have a laptop:) because the only difference I see is the lighter one on the bottom.Wonderful painting!!; March 25, 2007 7:18 PM
Lin said…: I must be blind but I don’t see a difference — but I LOVE the sketch!!!; March 25, 2007 8:03 PM
aPugsLife-laserone said…: I can’t see any differences, but I’m not awake, LOL! But I do love the painting! 🙂; March 25, 2007 9:04 PM
🙂 Silvia said…: There are 7 differences??? My oh my… and I am only able to spot 2 of them…
What a creative idea :)!; March 25, 2007 9:41 PM
Ujwala said…: Spotted 2 too and if you’re counting the colour difference then one more 😀 neat idea for the ilo.; March 26, 2007 6:01 AM
Africantapestry said…: Hi everybody…thanks for the comments and playing along…there are really 7 differences(lines), maybe a bit more subtle than expected..it is actually hard to see on the small image and not easy to flick between the two images..but thanks, it is more about the idea anyway.
ronell; March 26, 2007 8:20 AM
phthaloblu said…: This is such a cool idea. And the paintings are wonderful even tho I can’t see the differences.; March 26, 2007 2:45 PM
Fanta said…: I only spotted three differences.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, your works are wonderful, and so glad I found you through Casey’s blog.; March 28, 2007 11:40 PM
MrsSnowy said…: Wow – there is so much that pleases me here. First of all, I love the simple but so effective style of this sketch – now I’m going to bookmark your blog and enjoy it when I’ve done some housework! ciao Robyn; March 29, 2007 1:16 PM
Carole said…: Well, I found 3 plus the colour difference! Lovely paintings. I like your pen and wash of the fisherman too.; March 29, 2007 7:49 PM
Africantapestry said…: Again, thank you for the wonderful words, everybody, I really apprecite it!
Ronell; March 30, 2007 12:37 AM
Marilyn said…: really don’t see any differences. See, we always see our own “differences” and think everyone else sees them.
I love your blog. You’ve done some mighty fine art.

Posted on March 22, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

I love the doorknobs in my home. There are many. All the rooms have french doors that open onto a balcony. I counted all the doors – 12 of them. So I decided to draw them. I also enjoy hanging stuff on to the doors, as you’ll see and that changes with every whim.
In the guestroom, always a flower glass with something from the garden, in this case a daffodil.

In the bathroom, an old star made from recycled tin, which I bought from an old retired farmer, when we lived in South Carolina…I can still hear him say with a long, southern drawl: “Oh, lordiee, lordiee..” What a fun old man he was!

Then the market basket is always on the ready at the living room door.

And here comes a little cheating as well…a door yes, but not really a doorknob, only a huge, beautiful old key. I used an old door I found at the back in one of our caves and made a bulletin board out of it, on which I hung this key and a wooden “Bonheur” heart, which really does give “Happiness” above my desk.

OK, so maybe they aren’t all doorknobs, but purely for my enjoyment here, I depict them as such

…a pretty porcelain handle to the bathroom and last but not least, the heavy brass handle from the large green painted wooden gates. It is always tarnished but looks glorious once it is cleaned. Which happens only when I need to get rid of bad energy. Then I’m stuck with a tennis elbow for the next 6 weeks.

There are still more doorknobs and handles and levers and keys, but I’m done now with doorknobs being a thing of art.
24 comments:

Sue said…: I agree with you about the door knobs. How wonderful you get to have all different doorknobs! Great drawings. Nice touch including the things hanging on the doorknobs.; March 22, 2007 5:51 PM
Teri C said…: What a MARVELOUS collection of door knobs and accessories! I loved reading about your experiences with them and the drawings. Just wonderful!; March 22, 2007 5:55 PM
rful post, Ronell. Your watercolors are really good – and I had fun trying to recognize each doorknob.: March 22, 2007 6:47 PM
Susan Cornelis said…: I enjoyed the tour of your doorknobs. What a wonderful home ful of art you’ve created!; March 22, 2007 9:45 PM

Carole said…: Oh my goodness, you have been busy! I love how you’ve done this as a series of doorknobs. Beautiful lively illustrations – I love the way you’ve used the watercolour wash so loosely.; March 22, 2007 9:53 PM
Dave said…: What a great house you must have! I love these.; March 22, 2007 10:50 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you everybody, for the kind comments…they are much appreciated, like always.
Ronell; March 22, 2007 11:18 PM
Shirley said…: Ronell,
What a wonderful collection and fabulous watercolor paintings of them. Thanks for sharing your house with us.; March 22, 2007 11:49 PM
Lin said…: What a WONDERFUL doorknob study — to say NOTHING about your FANTASTIC rendering of them!!! WONDERFULLY DONE …exquisite execution!; March 23, 2007 12:18 AM
Anita said…: Such an enjoyable collection of sketches!; March 23, 2007 1:29 AM
aPugsLife-laserone said…: Wow, what wonderful doorknobs. We once lived in an old house (a run down leaky monster that had been condemned, when we were poor) but it had really neat antique glass doorknobs. The doorknobs you drew are awesome, I really like them! 🙂; March 23, 2007 5:35 AM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: Ok these are good – very good. A fabulous collection of doorknobs. Your style works so well with the subject. Great colour. Lovely work.; March 23, 2007 10:39 AM
Laura said…: Ronelle, these are AMAZING!! I love seeing all the variations and plays on form and color. The green door is my favorite, though I like every single one of them. You and Casey must have such fun together–I’d love to come and sketch with you! Maybe on one of my next trips to France…; March 23, 2007 12:23 PM
Laura said…: Oops, sorry I added that extra ‘e’ to your name, Ronell. Old spelling habits die hard ;D.; March 23, 2007 12:24 PM
🙂 Silvia said…: I just don’t know what I like better, your watercolor paintings of your door knobs or your ideas how to decorate and style them. Both of them wonderful!; March 23, 2007 2:16 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thanks so much for the beautiful praise on what I’ve done here, it is so encouraging!
Ronell; March 23, 2007 5:33 PM
Christeen said…: These are SO COOL! Each painting is unique, and beautiful, and kudos to you for deciding to do a series about the humble doorknob. Love them!; March 23, 2007 7:31 PM
“Maggie” said…: What a lovely door handle series! What a lovely home you must have and the door handles are so unique. What year was the home built?; March 24, 2007 2:46 PM
E-J said…: They’re all wonderful, especially the last one with its gorgeous colours.; March 24, 2007 10:41 PM
phthaloblu said…: How cool! These are beautiful paintings and such interesting subjects.; March 26, 2007 2:41 PM
nik said…: Ronell, this is wonderful. I love the watercolors. They are so bright and brilliant.; March 30, 2007 6:39 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for the great encouragement and praise..I appreciate it!
Ronell; March 30, 2007 9:13 AM
Sandy said…: wow wow wow

Posted on March 19, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

A bowl is a bowl…is a bowl

According to most dictionaries a bowl is a round container, wider than it is deep and holds foods or fluids….That is apart from all the other meanings…shapes, sports, etc. So I took to searching my house for bowls. There are many. But then I also found other “containers” which I find have no boundaries in terms of their function.
I often use this big platter for meat dishes, salads, but I have also used it as a bowl, since it is just deep enough to prevent sauces from dripping over the sides…platter…or bowl?

Next I thought of, was my mother’s silver sugar container, I now use as a spoonholder. Since I grew up never asking :” Please pass the sugarpot/caddy/bowl”, but simply: “Pass the sugar”, I still don’t know what it really is, and should I now maybe ask to be passed the spoonbowl?

The third find in my home was the bird bath. Although it is frequented now by the birds for bathing and our cats for drinking, it did in its newly bought years serve us humans of the house well as a fruit bowl al fresco style.

Birdbath, spoonholder, platter, bowl…it is all in the eye of the beholder.

17 comments:

karen said…: Very nice line and wash, Ronell!; March 19, 2007 10:10 PM
phthaloblu said…: These are really nice! Great job!; March 19, 2007 10:15 PM
Teri C said…: Really nice bowls! You did a great on all the bowls.; March 19, 2007 11:04 PM
Linda said…: Great, great, and great! Wonderful highlights, which makes them just zing! 🙂; March 20, 2007 1:02 AM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: osh these are good but I especially love the top one. It’s funny how you can see the skill involved more clearly in the most simple of images. Gorgeous. What medium did you use?; March 20, 2007 2:30 AM
SCquiltaddict said…: Very nice work…love the wash; March 20, 2007 3:00 AM
Christeen said…: These are so beautiful- nice work!; March 20, 2007 5:07 AM
Sydney Harper said…: Nicely done! They are all lovely but my favorite is the third one.; March 20, 2007 5:32 AM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for all the wonderful comments..
Andrea, my mediums were pen and just plain old black watercolor.
Ronell; March 20, 2007 8:33 AM
caseytoussaint said…: wow, you’ve been busy! I love these ink and wash drawings you’ve been doing – I agree with Andrea – they’re all really good, but the first one is a stunner!; March 20, 2007 8:58 AM
Emma Pod said…: These are all beautiful! It’s amazing what can be done with variations of just one color.; March 20, 2007 7:43 PM
Lin said…: GORGEOUS! Those washes are just scrumptiously done!! BRAVA!; March 20, 2007 9:52 PM
aPugsLife-laserone said…: Beautiful Bowls! There’s just something about the first one, the simple one, that I really like. 🙂; March 20, 2007 10:30 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thanks again for the encouraging comments…they really inspire me to keep working at it!
Ronell; March 20, 2007 11:08 PM
Deb Salter said…: Your use of wash is just magical!; March 21, 2007 5:28 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you, Deb…”magical” does make my heart go completely wild!
Ronell; March 21, 2007 8:36 PM
“Maggie” said…: I just love this sketch of the spoon bowl-beautiful. I have one too sitting on my table filled with silver spoons we use every day.

Posted on March 18, 2007July 6, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

Mood in a flame

After having glorious days last week, the rain settled back in yesterday, with a daring chill after the warmth of those perfect days. That drove me to a long, luxurious bath last night. As I watched my candle’s flame flickering mysterious images against the wall, I thought I’d post a drawing of this mood in a candle…

Ink and wash on Arches water color paper.

I made so many mistakes in this one – once again misjudged the size of my paper, tried to correct an off-centre line by putting in more line, thus accentuating the problem(left side above), keep on fiddling with the flame so it became completely without ambiance, and left too few “lost edges” by continuing coming back and doing more lines. The learning process is an uphill journey all the time….

7 comments:

SCquiltaddict said…: LOVELY JOB …sweet candlestick…; March 18, 2007 6:53 PM
Sandy said…: Maybe you had problems with is flame but I love the cherub and the overall structure and depth you achieved (yes we are all on the same journey uphill 😉; March 18, 2007 7:20 PM
phthaloblu said…: So beautiful! And I think the flame just adds a mysterious prescence to the overall piece. I love it!; March 19, 2007 2:41 AM
Emma Pod said…: The cherub candlestick is exquisite! Great job. And all of your vine drawings/paintings are beautiful. This is my first visit to your blog – lovely! Thanks for visiting mine.; March 19, 2007 3:16 AM
aPugsLife-laserone said…: This is realy beautiful. 🙂; March 19, 2007 8:22 AM
Lin said…: This is incredibly beautiful! Such wonderful shading!; March 19, 2007 12:00 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you everybody for visiting, I appreciate all your comments!
Ronell

Posted on February 7, 2007June 27, 2008 by Myfrenchkitchen

Sprout – Ill. Fr.

I chose the Brussel sprout, but now it looks more like a broccoli to me. Well, they’re both green and healthy….

Watercolor on paper

7 comments:

Nina Johansson said…: Hi, welcome to the EDM! Love your drawings and paintings, they are great! Hope to see more of your work in the future!; February 7, 2007 6:41 PM
Casey said…: Ronell, this is absolutely stunning! I love all the work you’ve posted here, but this is my favorite.; February 7, 2007 7:24 PM
Kunya said…: Hello, welcome to EDM. Lovely watercolors.; February 7, 2007 9:15 PM
Christeen said…: HIya, welcome to EDM- I really like your paintings, and this sprout is my favorite 🙂 Hope to see more!; February 7, 2007 10:35 PM
Africantapestry said…: Thank you for your warm welcome and the kind comments;I feel like it’s Christmas and I’m receiving one great gift after another!; February 7, 2007 11:01 PM
andrea joseph’s sketchblog said…: Wow this is such a great drawing. love the composition. The fork is just great. Fabulous and welcome! I look forward to seeing more.; February 8, 2007 12:19 AM
Sandy said…: I’m so glad I found your blog..I am loving ALL your art work.. sandy

Africantapestry

Category: home

I would simply have to snap my finger and…

Spot the differences

A doorknob is a thing of art

A bowl is a bowl…is a bowl

17 comments:

Mood in a flame

Sprout – Ill. Fr.

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