Written by So many fruits that we refer to as berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries aren’t technically berries at all. But foods we’d never refer to as a berry such as watermelon, eggplant, chili peppers, and these bananas, are actually the real thing. Thankfully, if you’re not a botanist, and simply someone who likes to eat, like myself, you can keep referring to all food in culinary terms. Like the word “vegetables,” which is strictly culinary and has no scientific value whatsoever, or “veggies,” which is the cuter term, has even less scientific value, and is often used by those who aren’t really in the habit of eating a lot of vegetables. I’m not really sure where I’m going with all of this, I just find little trivia like this fascinating. So much of what we think we know in life is actually something quite different. Which is probably why it’s always best to ignore what’s in our minds sometimes and simply choose to pursue life with a lot of heart.
Following your passion is one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. Each time I discover something new that will become a lifelong or just a momentary obsession, I get almost a tingly feeling with the thrill of it all. Each day, I’m excited to hop out of bed and do whatever that new thing is. This feeling for photography and piano lessons lasted about 3 years each, which was a really good run. Painting and sketching has taken hold in a much deeper way, however, and I really can’t imagine ever stopping now. When it comes to art, the possibilities for exploration seem endless, sometimes to the point of being overwhelming, but always with something new waiting around the corner to try. And as silly as some of these little posts are, it’s been incredibly fun to write one each and every day. Or at least blurt out what comes to mind while typing, which is the only type of writing I really know how to do. Since I have no idea what I’ll end up creating, mostly because I’m horrible at planning anything, it’s been such an exciting journey.
After trying some experimentation with full-page paintings this month, you might have noticed that I still never strayed from my single subject without a lot of context in the background. I love letting the viewer add in that context themselves, without planting them into any specific location. Whether they do or don’t read my rambling text, they can always add whatever story they like when they view it. Hopefully, putting themselves in the story and reliving a memory. This is my style, done most often with the help of my fountain pen and a tiny tin of watercolors. And when it comes to painting, I break more rules than I follow. Not on purpose, but just because learning rules has never motivated me. I just want to play and paint knowing whatever comes out need only resemble the subject in question. Some may be awesome and some less than awesome, but they’re all part of my journey and part of my story. Some call them paintings and others call them sketches, but I know that these classifications are not quite accurate. To me, they’ll always just be doodlewashes. But in the end, it doesn’t matter, as classifications can often be confusing and unnecessary, like banana berries.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Indian Yellow, Dioxazine Purple, Phthalo. Green Light, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon with black ink and second pen with sepia ink in a little red cloth hardbound l’aquarelle journal I found in a Paris shop. |
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Banana berries? I would have never guessed – but your Doodlewash catches them perfectly. I love them with a dollop of sour cream, hubby likes them plain out of their wrap. Yellow is such a happy fruit.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m continually amazed at the differences between chefs and botanists! hehe Glad you liked this!
I like the idea that bananas are berries. “Peel me a berry” has a nice ring to it! Another delicious painting, too. (K)
Thanks, Kerfe! 😃💕 Lol… love it… I am now going to start using “peel me a berry” in everyday conversation.
Who knew? I love learning new facts. Your writing is chock full of interesting facts, wit and of course yourself, that is the treasure I see Charlie 🙂 I am glad that you do break the ‘rules’ ha….who cares for rules anyway? I truthfully rather go with what moves me or expresses me and that is what I think that you excel in, just being you. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend and do something fun and relaxing on Sunday.
Thanks so much, Margaret! 😃💕 What a wonderful and encouraging comment!! I really appreciate it! Yeah, rules don’t make life fun. It’s way more interesting to do what moves us most!
Uhh… I didn’t know bananas as berries! I like banana I eat them for breakfast with some Almond butter to add a great kick! So these (bananas) berries have lots of benefits for our health! 😉 Beautiful painting Charlie! <3
Thanks, Carolina! 😃💕 Yep… berries… but nobody would ever really call them that from a food standpoint I guess. hehe… still fun to think about!
Well I have learnt something today, a great big yellow berry! More to the point you have painted a fantastic bundle of muddled yellow berries.
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 😃💕 Yeah, I love this little bit of trivia! hehe Glad you liked my banana berries!
Thankyou for your inspiring blog – I love learning new things and never knew bananas belonged to the berry family. I learned recently that the beautiful Wisteria plant is a member of the pea family!
Bananas are part of my everyday life and I think they are in my genes thanks to my dad, now 86, who has always reminisced at how much he yearned for one during the war years when everything was rationed and bananas couldn’t be had in the UK for love nor money!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment! 😃💕 Didn’t know that about wisteria… love finding out these bits of trivia. And I love that story of your dad!
Very nice “banana berries” 😉
Thanks so much! 😃💕
Tally me bananas, mon! LOL! I’m glad you chose banana because even though they’re not my favorite fruit, I love their happy, sunshine-y yellow. <3
Thanks so much, Teresa! 😃💕 hehe.. not a fan? I love them, but even if I didn’t there color is lovely!
Goodness, they look incredible and just so real!! Yet again, you have me pining for something I don’t even like that much. I liked them when I was little – I’m not sure what they did to taint that love 😛 I remember being mind-blown when I discovered that bananas were berries, though – fun fact, that!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 hmmmm…. that’s quite a mystery to solve now isn’t it? Exactly what did bananas do to you in the past. I’m totally intrigued now. hehe
Nice post….☺☺
Thanks so much, Eliza! 😃💕
Ooh. Give me a handful of chocolate chips and I’ll throw those bananas into the blender with them and some ice to make a smoothie. Best way to eat berries of any kind – whether real berry or not! I think from the moment man started pointing to things and giving it a word, we’ve tried to control what it is by what we call it. Some kind of security blanket. We’re so silly sometimes!
hehe… yes to that, Sandra! 😃💕 Man always wants to control things and words have been the way for ages. Thankfully, artists have learned to exercise their own sort of control in the images we produce.