Here are the colours I can get with my (mini) limited palette – this time less greens and more blues and reds.
Tue-21-Apr-2026
118-3464 – Fruit in limited colours
FruitSketch
117-3437 – Tangerines
The day before this, I missed a sketch as I was busy making my next sketchbook. I was also feeling a little lethargic – so a sketch of fruit seemed like a good easy subject. Tangerines are almost too simple to sketch but I enjoyed the colour contrast and reflections on the white plate. I was channeling my inner @paschpaint when I sketched this one (check out that account and the work of Rachel Grossman if you really want to see fabulous bright paintings of citrus fruits).
Thu-2-Apr-2026
117-3423 – Confession time
I confess that one of the first things I thought when we were buying some fruit in the supermarket, was “that would be nice to sketch”. I do like to eat watermelon too of course…plus I admit I have sketched watermelons before (see sketch No.768)…but I enjoyed having another go!
Tue-17-Mar-2026
113-3347 – Bananas on a wash
In this sketch I followed the suggestion of Koosje Koene, and Draw Tip Tuesday by starting with a wash of colour before drawing. This helps to loosen up when starting a sketch and facing a blank page.
Wed-14-Jan-2026
113-3346 – Two avocados
Why not kick off a short break in sketching (I missed a day), with some fruit? I picked the simplest I could find – some avocados. Mostly for this one, I used watercolour pencils.
Tue-13-Jan-2026
111-3298 – Fruit bowl on a gloomy news day
I missed an evening sketch the night before this, so I started my day with a coffee and a sketch of fruit on the coffee table in front of me – keeping it bright and cheery as I listened to the gloomy news on the BBC world service. I always find sketching a good way to relax and put aside work and worldly worries.
Sat-27-Nov-2025
110-3270 – I bought them to eat also
I bought these persimmon at the wet market…I confess partly just to sketch them! I’ve drawn one before (see sketch No.69-2283 in Jan 2023) but also took it an an opportunity to test my new paper. It buckles a bit (only 220 gsm after all), but lets the watercolour mix fairly well and doesn’t pill…so far…so good.
Sat-1-Nov-2025
109-3266 – Calamansi
A colleague of my wife gave her a huge bag of calamansi (apparently they are rejects from his farm). I spent the evening squeezing the juice out of the same amount as shown in this bowl. We are freezing the juice in ice cube trays. I am going to turn the remaining lot into marmalade. Calamansi are a small citrus fruit that is native to the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia. It look like a small lime and has a slightly sweet and sour taste. Apparently its a hybrid fruit – a cross between a kumquat and a mandarin orange.
Tue-28-Oct-2025
109-3252 – An apple to keep me sane
Here is a simple sketch I did one the evening while my head was so stuffed with information that I couldn’t think. I can only manage so much thinking in a day!
Tue-7-Oct-2025