bonheur: DIY Painting A French Tomate

So it's happened again like clockwork.

On Sunday I fell in love again...

This time I fell hard for a box of French tomatoes.

I've been admiring them for a while now...not a good thing in France. If you wait too long they may be gone when you're ready to buy. Then you'll have to wait till next year. By the way this is a 'coulis' or package of tomatoes. Nothing like falling in a Big way for something. I'll be eating tomatoes morning, noon and night here - Coeur-de Boeuf, Ananas, Noire-de-Crimee,Sicilienne.

Just so you'll know next time you're in the marché this is a 'barquette' which normally holds raspberries or some other delicate fruit (never tomatoes or cherries/cerises).

And this a 'boîte' or a bunch (not a box).

Coeur de Boeuf from Brittany pretty well describes the shape of this tomato.

Though I'd prefer another name (as a semi-vegetarian) but nobody asked me...

Something to look forward to and plan on your calendar - a grand festival de la Tomate at the Chateau de la Bourdaisiere on the 7, 8 of September. Owner, Prince Louis Albert de Broglie is also the savior of fabulous Deyrolle on 46, rue de Bac 75007.

If you're nice to the sellers in the marche you may get a guide to French tomatoes - the varieties are endless.

Time to wet your brushes PBers and tackle painting some tomatoes plus a cherry and tomato-red nail polish I couldn't resist in Monoprix. First trace your drawing on top of your photo on the iPad. Then lay in some cool shadows.

A wash of water and drop in some warm Scarlet Red. Tilt your board to get the paint to move around.

Same thing with the cerise/cherry. Lay in some Cadmium or any yellow on top of the water puddle

Before you drop the red on top. Let it runnnnn! The paint will move on it's own if you let it. Just sit back and watch the action.

I probably should have stopped here while I was ahead. That's the tricky thing to watercolor. Not doing/tweaking/fiddling too much and knowing when to stop.