Eggplants. Purple with Purpose

Aubergine is a fancy (mostly British) word for eggplant. I first saw this word in my European cookbooks and was intrigued by it. Truthfully, I'm actually not much of a recipe follower. I mainly throw everything into the pot and hope for the best. I'm certain that is why my baked goods never turn out quite right. 

I remember my mother trying to get me to look at recipes she wanted to try when I was a teenager, and I just couldn't be bothered. She still has a rating system in which she uses 1 to 5 stars to determine the validity of each recipe that she's tried. She also writes notes in the margins about feedback the family gave, substitutions she's made etc... I think cooking, nutrition and food are her art.

Now I find myself loving to look at cookbooks and recipes for inspiration. The combinations, the illustrations and the comfort of the infinite possibilities make me happy.

With a nod toward cookbooks, in the picture above, I put a little layer of texture behind my eggplant painting in Photoshop to create a faux cookbook cover or kitchen poster design.

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Since I've been fascinated by eggplants (and since they have that great, shiny, reflective skin) I decided that they would make a good subject for studying highlights. With watercolors, you primarily preserve the white of the paper rather than using white paint. In my classes last week, we learned 3 different techniques to present highlights. 

I snapped a few photos of the students hard at work. Most of these women have never painted with watercolors until taking this class! I'm amazed at their progress and growth.

This past Wednesday, one of my students brought a little cutie to class, and she entertained us all with her expressive faces. She provided a fun distraction from eggplant painting.

Here is the young artist in training!

It is a joy to learn alongside my students as we paint together, laugh at our mistakes, challenge and inspire one another.

We are taking a break for the summer but are picking up in August with the following classes: 

Tuesday evenings from 5:00 to 6:15pm
Runs August through Mid-May
Open to middle schoolers through adults

Wednesday afternoons - 2:30 to 3:30pm
Open to elementary-age children 6 to 10 - supplies included

Wednesday evenings - 6:30 to 8:00pm - 12-week class held at Metro Church*
Adults

Friday afternoons - 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
Runs August through Mid-May
Open to middle schoolers through adults
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I hope you'll think about joining in on the learning. All skills levels are welcomed.
Learn more about the art classes here...