Written by Believe it or not, this doodlewash was originally sketched as part of my #DrawingAugust virtual tour of France I’ve been doing on Twitter. I was looking for something very different to draw, and Philippe suggested a banana tree in Guadeloupe, which is a French territory, in the southern Caribbean Sea.
I realized I had yet to sketch either a flower or even a real leaf since I’ve started this art journey, so I figured I would give it a shot. I was more enamored by the banana trees before they sprouted fruit, so decided to try one of those. The initial sketch was so full and complete with lines, that I wasn’t sure if I would doodlewash it. But since I can’t seem to resist doodlewashing every sketch in sight I decided to go for it.
The palette is pretty limited in this one with just Sap Green, Hooker’s Green (they really need to give this one a different name! It makes my inner 10 year old giggle), Indigo, Quinacridone Gold, and Alizarin Crimson. I just sort of attacked it with green and then came back with bits of indigo and gold, saving just the area of the blossom for a touch of watered down crimson.
Bananas were the first exported products from the island of Guadeloupe and I wasn’t even aware that you could get French bananas, but apparently you can! Over 260,000 tons of bananas are exported each year from the French West Indies, for a value of over 150 million Euros.
I have just one more sketch left to go today, so the final doodlewash in the virtual tour of France will likely be tomorrow. I’m still not sure what I’m going to sketch! For some reason it feels like saying goodbye. But at least I have comfort in knowing that one day soon I’ll be back in France, sketchbook in hand, reporting to you live!
Greens of nature are notoriously hard to render with pigment; you did an awesome job with it! We have 4 indoor banana plants but none look as lush and good as yours. The poor fellow whose last name is Hooker gives us modern artists such giggles…LOL!
Hehe…I know right? And this little guy was just watered with doodlewash, but I guess he likes it as it did turn out pretty lush. Glad you like it too! 🙂
Great sketch–as always, You really know your stuff. And, well, Hooker Green!
LOL…see? It just never gets old (*giggles*) Thanks Kirk!!!
Looks good, Charlie! Except now I want to eat a banana! LOL! 🙂
Haha! Thanks Jill! I think you should treat yourself to a banana then! 😉
I like hearing which green you used. Thanks! Awesome plant doodlewash
Thanks!! Glad you like hearing about the colors… been trying to share that bit more!
I think this is really great, vibrant and dimensional. N.
Thanks so much Nina!! I really appreciate the comment! Wasn’t sure how this one would turn out as a doodlewash. Glad you like it! 🙂
Yes, wonderful texture. I like how it fills the page. (K.)
Thanks Kerfe!! Hehe…I ended up putting a ton of lines in this one. 😊 Glad you think it works!! 🙂
Nice job once again, Charlie. It looks like you enjoyed it. 💙
Thanks so much Laura! I did actually! It was fun to break away from buildings and try sketching something more organic. 😉
Wonderful depth!
Thanks so much Beverly!! 🙂
Patterns of the lines on large leaves, such as bananas, make for interesting compositions, depending on the light. This one has depth, Charlie…Liked.
Awww thank you SO much Janina! I haven’t painted leaves like this yet, so I wanted to try! So happy you like it!! 😃
You have a good eye for detail…love this!
Thanks friend!! I get a little too lost in the details sometimes though. Trying to loosen and lighten up! 😊
This reminded me about my plans on sketching trees and grass to train my mixing-green skills! Excellent greens here!
Thanks! Green can be tough…I always struggle a bit trying to get them to look natural. Glad you like it!!