Monday, July 14, 2008

Shiitake Mushrooms, Pinot Noir, Polenta...


I'm trying a new recipe tonight for dinner - polenta with a Pinot Noir sauce composed of shallots and shiitake mushrooms, served with roasted asparagus. Check back tomorrow, if it's tasty I'll post it at my food blog, Kitchen Canvas.

I LOVE using the hot press Fabriano Artistico paper. Although most of what I paint looks like crap on it, it forces me to work quickly, which result in a looser watercolor, always my goal. (Although I seldom achieve it.)

Update: It was delicious and I've posted the recipe at kitchen Canvas.

15 comments:

Jennifer Lawson said...

Beautiful. I love the looseness of this and the way the paint just flows around the object and the wonderful shadow color. It is what I am trying to achieve these days as I continue to explore this medium—I'm so new to watercolor. What brand of watercolors do you use?

Sharon said...

Jennifer, Thanks for your comment. I'm also fairly new to watercolor. It's such a challenge! II use a mix of different paint, predominantly Daniel Smith. The big difference for me is the paper. Hot press forces me to work quickly and not overwork.

Virginia said...

Oh, Sharon, you're doing just fine in the looseness department. Lovely work, and I'm looking forward to the recipe...

seesue said...

Flowing perfection Sharon. The working quickly is so working for you. The colour in your shadow is wonderful

Deb said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Deb said...

Sumptuous shitakes!

(...is what I meant to say on my previous deleted post, but not what came out ) Sorry 'bout that!

Spinneretta said...

I think your paintings look great- and FUN!

MaryO said...

Aw, these are great! We had shitakes last night for dinner, but I didn't think to draw them!

Margaret Ann said...

What gorgeous rich browns! WooHoo! :)

Tess Kincaid said...

Your painting is lovely and I'm really interested in how the new recipe turns out...all my favorite ingredients!! I'll check back...

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

beautiful job on the mushrooms...so loose

paris parfait said...

Wonderful watercolour. And I am a fan of polenta. How was it?

Anonymous said...

You have such nice washes on that top mushroom Sharon! the're hard to paint,to give some character and you did great!
Ronell

A Brush with Color said...

I think these mushrooms are excellent! I always liked Fabriano--and I like hot press paper--it's a neat experience, I think. I always think it's harder to find hot press as most people don't use it, but I enjoy using it.

Laura Frankstone said...

I thought I left a comment about these glorious mushrooms---maybe it was on your Flickr account? I love what you've done here and in the pepper sketch above. You're really working in the flow of watercolor!
I'm interested in your observation about hot press paper and working quickly. I find that I work quicker and looser in cold press---it's probably because I draw very little with cold press, working directly with paint and no pencil.