In trying to figure out what to paint for the prompt of “miniature,” the only thing that kept popping into my head was bite-sized food. Most likely because I’m starving and need to eat soon. Well, more precisely, what I was thinking about was just how much I miss the different types of petits fours, canapés, and amuse-bouches we have when we go to Paris each year. These tiny little pieces of amazingness are incredible. So, that’s where we landed for this super fast Friday doodlewash. Here, in the States, you might see them at a fancy restaurant, but in France you can grab little desserts and appetizers that look like pieces of art right in the local grocery. As an American kid, the fanciest hors d’oeuvres I might see would be a plateful of mozzarella sticks, and pretty much anything you could fry and turn into the shape of a stick. My finger food never look like culinary art that came from a 5-star restaurant, it just looked like actual fingers.
On a side note, I’ve also switched to a new miniature sketchbook for this doodlewash! The fine folks at Hahnemühle sent me this new little watercolor sketchbook to try. I was super excited because when I was in Paris last, I saw several sketchbooks by them that looked really cool, but there wasn’t a one with watercolor paper in the shop I visited. This is my first test in the new book, and the paper is really lovely. At 200 gsm it’s a lighter weight than the one I was using previously, but it seems to handle water really well. Granted, this particular sketch doesn’t have a lot of wet washes, so I’ll have to test that out in the future. But the cover is gorgeous and the prettiest and most elegant I’ve seen on a sketchbook of any kind. I’ll let you know what I think about the new book as I use it more, but wanted to mention it for those of you who noticed the change in the About The Doodlewash section below.
Going back to this miniature food, well it’s really just the best invention in the world is all I really have to say on a Friday night (did I mention I was hungry?). These little treats provide all the decadence you’d ever want in a single little bit of food so small it’s impossible to feel guilty about it. What’s not to love about that? I’ve always loved food like this. Actually, I’ve always just loved all things miniature and small. I think that’s why I prefer to keep my doodlewashes small. Not only does it mean it takes me less time, but also because I get to blast through something and start each day out with an entirely new painting! I have a rather shot attention span, so it’s just really more fun that way! I’ve always imagined that one day I would have the time to create a larger painting, spending days on getting just the right amount of color and detail, but today, I’m just happy keeping it small each day and serving up these little bites.
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About the DoodlewashSennelier L’Aquarelle: Indian Yellow, Quinacridone Gold, Red Orange, Opera Rose, Perylene Maroon, Dioxazine Purple, Phthalo. Green Light, Phthalocyanine Blue, and Payne’s Grey. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in an A6 Hahnemühle Watercolor Book. |
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Wonderful painting, as always, Charlie. I just had dinner and now I’m wishing I had one (or more) of those little sweets. Which reminds me….not that I’m counting or anything, but have you actually painted food for every prompt so far this month? 😉🍽
Thanks so much, Ellie! 😃💕 I wish I had these sweets as well, they were unfortunately not live and sitting in front of me. Which was probably a good thing! And yeah, I’ve managed to make most of the posts of the edible variety, but I did have some sneakers, a light bulb, and a trumpet. hehe
Yes, you’re quick ‘shot’ McGraw, the fastest watercolour sketcher in the West! 😎👌🌟🎈
I always used Hahnemühle paper in my photography wet darkroom. Simply the best. Luv those petits four, yum. 😋
Thanks so much, Janina! 😃💕 hehe… I’m going to get that new title printed on a t-shirt! lol And this is my first time using Hahnemühle, but I’m loving it so far!
What a great idea Charlie! Make it available in your store. 💋
Wonderful little sketches! They look delicious.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Glad you you liked these!
Beautiful! Wayne Thiebaud, watch out!
Awww what a great compliment! Thanks so much!! 😃💕
These miniature are very inviting and they looks delicious! I did enjoy painting miniatures during our month of December my 31 Winter Wonderland paintings were all miniatures my mini sketchbook was 5×3″ it was fun to paint that small! Btw I sure want to know how works your new sketchbook it seems really nice I know Hahnemühle does great paper! Looking forward to know…. <3 😉
Thanks so much, Carolina! 😃💕 Happy you liked this one. Yeah, I tried a small Moleskine early on, but didn’t like the paper and 3×5 is still a bit too small for me. This one is just a touch smaller than the one I was using but is closer to 4×6 so it’s really a great size. So far I’m really loving it, but am just a couple sketches in so I figured I’d report back in a future post after I’ve had more time to play! hehe
Small sizes are good for like you said “Miniatures” It was fun to try for me too, but I prefer a bigger size sketchbook for my usual painting 😉 <3
Yeah, I tried larger, but I just don’t have the time to complete them like I like when they get too big. So I keep it small! 😉
Yours are a great size and you’re doing so well with all the details! 😉 <3
Aww thanks!! Appreciate that! 😃💕
Good Post
Thanks so much! 😃
Soo cute 😃
Thanks! Glad ya liked this! 😃💕
You often get me thinking about food…time for lunch…(but nothing as beautiful as these are in my refrigerator!) (K)
Thanks, Kerfe!! 😃💕 And if it makes you feel any better, these weren’t sketched from life as I don’t have any of these in my fridge at the moment. Actually, they never end up there as they are eaten immediately and with haste! lol
So scrumptious looking – which one do I start with? That’s the problem with miniature food, whether dessert as pretty as costume jewelry or clever things like pigs in a blanket – tiny hot dogs wrapped in dough – oh yum! Who stops at just one? My absolute favorite were always petit fours, those four layer wedding cakes small enough to fit on an appetizer spoon. How does anyone but a fairy godmother make those?
So here I sit, hungry, reading this post, and gobbling bite size brownies because the calories don’t count, right? Bad, Charlie, altogether bad. Tomorrow better be a painting of baby carrots. (Doesn’t she have any self control? No, she doesn’t.)
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Lol… yeah, I don’t think miniature food was invented to help with dieting but more as a cruel trick! Deliciously cruel at least! I think we’re even though… now you have me thinking of those little hot dogs wrapped in dough… YUM!!
Yummy!👍
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕
Ah-ha! “Bite size” doodwashes 🙂 I know what you mean about the pretty food – you see that a lot in Japan too. It is so cute (including the container they give you to take it home) that you get stressed out trying to decide whether to actually eat it or just freeze it for eternity! I am with you – i like the small portion as most of the time that is all you really need! We happen to force ourselves to eat more here in the US as we tend to like “a deal” and unless our plate is the size of a tray, we do not feel like we got “a good value” – no wonder most of us carry a few pounds more than we should! I love the doodlewash – got my mouth watering just to look at it! Have fun with the new sketchbook – what a “treat” 🙂
Thanks, so much, Yvonne!! 😃💕 Yeah, I’m totally loving the new sketchbook… it’s impressive how it seems to hold washes even though it’s lighter than the paper I had previously. And so true on “big plate” food here in the States! hehe… my dad used to only want to eat at a buffet because otherwise he didn’t feel he was getting his money’s worth! Lol
[…] you may have seen in earlier posts (here and here), I was sent a lovely watercolor sketchbook to try from Hahnemühle and I’m loving […]