Monday, July 9, 2012

Illustration Friday: Suspend


Prismacolor colored pencils on Strathmore Bristol Vellum

In my garden, ripening blackberries are suspended from their stems, 
waiting for the birds—or me—to pluck them off. 

 
My blackberry plants are out of control—in a good way. They have razor-sharp thorns, and they grow like weeds, but I love them anyway. Maybe it's because I can never pick them without thinking of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, in which Peter's sisters obediently pick blackberries during his misadventure in Mr. McGregor's garden. 


It's great to be participating in Illustration Friday...it's been a little while! I'm reserving judgement on the new format—maybe it'll just take some getting used to. (I'm not so good with change.) I hope to visit some old favorites as well as some new faces this week! (Update: After actually posting my first time in the new IF  format, I have to admit that it's nice to not have to make a thumbnail—even though I miss the "surprise" element of clicking on them—and the "sharing" capabilities are amazing!)
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22 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 9, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    Those berries are so very juicy! Beautiful!

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  2. LiaJuly 9, 2012 at 11:39 PM

    I hope they are as delicious as they are beautiful.

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  3. Linda HensleyJuly 10, 2012 at 5:27 AM

    Beautiful! Such a nice idea for "suspend". I put up with all those razor sharp thorns, and the birds got almost every one of my berries. I'm still adjusting to the new IF format. I agree with you that it used to be fun to click on a thumbnail and see what popped up. Oh well, the new format is nice too.

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  4. LuTiJuly 10, 2012 at 6:04 AM

    Amazing what you can reach with colored pencils!
    Beautiful work!

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  5. Sarah MellingJuly 10, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    Thanks! Actually, these are almost like wild berries...pretty seedy, and imperfectly shaped, but still sweet (and warm, on a sunny day). My chickens have acquired a taste for them as well, so we snack together.

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  6. Laurie A. ConleyJuly 10, 2012 at 7:13 AM

    This is beautiful! Your work is one-of-a-kind. I find whenever I see any kind of botanical illustration these days I compare it to yours!

    I tasted a wild blackberry last week and it was yummy! There are bushes in the wild areas of my neighborhood and my mom picked a few while she was here on a visit. I see people out picking them all the time.

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  7. Michele ThomasJuly 10, 2012 at 8:24 AM

    this is gorgeous and so exquisitely drawn. i adore blackberries.

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  8. Mardi SpethJuly 10, 2012 at 9:58 AM

    Sarah, your drawing is absolutely stunning! You achieve such depth and intensity with your colors. Do you add anything to the pencil to dissolve the color? I am in awe.
    PS - I like that our illos for this week both revolve around berries.

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  9. Sarah MellingJuly 10, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    Mardi, I occasionally use a blending pencil, and very occasionally, a blending marker. But usually, and in this case, I just burnish by pressing hard with the final color used. Thanks for asking!

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  10. Cathy HoltomJuly 10, 2012 at 2:09 PM

    A beautiful piece of work Sarah, I love the leaves as much as the berries.

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  11. PattiJuly 10, 2012 at 3:37 PM

    beautifully rendered.

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  12. dosankodebbieJuly 10, 2012 at 4:36 PM

    Mmmmm, I love love love blackberries but they're almost impossible to get where I live. We do have an old, tangled raspberry bush, but the bugs always beat me to the fruit. Love illo!

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  13. RitaJuly 10, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Gorgeous! My mouth is literally watering...they look THAT good!

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  14. Lucy Autrey WilsonJuly 10, 2012 at 7:03 PM

    Beautiful!

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  15. Jane MasseyJuly 11, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    Another beautiful illustration. I love all the different colours in the fruit.
    I know what you mean about the change in format. I'm not good with change either!
    Especially with anything technological...

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  16. Elizabeth Rose StantonJuly 11, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    Sarah, your paintings just get better and better. I LOVE this one. It's beautifully composed and a gorgeous balance of color. Just gorgeous!!

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  17. Creations By MitJuly 12, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    Beautiful. Masterfully rendered.
    And I'm having difficulty with the new IF - not the uploading, but the browsing of other artists' work. Which I find to be the best part of IF. Sigh.

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  18. jenniferJuly 13, 2012 at 6:59 AM

    So beautiful! I was just out the other day picking the wild berries for breakfast. Sour and delicious. Your drawing captures them perfectly!

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  19. ShirleyJuly 13, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    Gorgeous work, Sarah!!! Your illustrations just pop off of my computer screen..truly. I am with you on my initial reaction to the IF change..I have yet to post so hope I cahnge my mind! : ) Thank you so much for your recent visit..you are so sweet!

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  20. elizabethJuly 15, 2012 at 6:57 PM

    Wow, these blackberries are lovely. I adore Peter Rabbit!

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  21. Amanda DilworthJuly 19, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    Beautiful, could pick them straight off the screen :)

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  22. UnknownJuly 28, 2012 at 3:45 AM

    Beautiful work Sarah!
    Stew.
    stewcrowther.wordpress.com
    _________________________

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