Julian Merrow-Smith's paintings of figs

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svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1279599730	Reply with quote #1

Julian Merrow-Smith is a still-life artist living in France. He paints a small painting every day and puts it up online for a 24-hour auction. I've been following Julian's daily paintings for a couple years now. I even broke down and bought a couple originals (figs) and a couple litho's (figs). I love his work! Today's painting is of 2 figs...I love this painting and thought I'd share a master artist's rendition of a still life of figs: http://shiftinglight.com/2010/07/figs_and_green_confit_pot.php When he paints figs, he usually paints Noire de Caromb as his neighbor has a couple trees of this variety. Realize that his paintings are SMALL but packed full of depth and reality. Just look at how the light plays off the figs and the bowl. Look at the depth of the shadows, beautiful! A true artist. I love his work. Sue __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

nhardy

Registered:1241204265
Posts: 102

Posted 1279600685	Reply with quote #2

How beautiful!!! Breathtaking texture! __________________ StL 6a (My biggest problem is humidity with the heat during the summer here.) Potted Violette de Bordeaux - EL, 2009 Roots pruned 2016 Potted Mary Lane - Durio, 2010 Roots pruned 2016 Potted Celeste - Freedom Tree Farms, 2014 OTP Roots pruned 2016

lreiley

Registered:1274750321
Posts: 83

Posted 1279726238	Reply with quote #3

Thank you for sharing! I think I found prints for my breakfast nook!

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1280166499	Reply with quote #4

...and yet another one... http://shiftinglight.com/2010/07/nature_morte_aux_figues_et_faisselle.php Sue __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1280179939	Reply with quote #5

http://shiftinglight.com/2010/07/nature_morte_aux_figues_et_vieux_pot_a_graisse.php Must be fig season in France. ;-) Sue __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

nhardy

Registered:1241204265
Posts: 102

Posted 1281913587	Reply with quote #6

I thought someone might like this one too. Even though it is not nearly as the paintings by Julian. http://www.surlatable.com/product/fig+ornament.do?keyword=ornament&sortby=ourPicks But it looks upside down to me, but that might just be me. __________________ StL 6a (My biggest problem is humidity with the heat during the summer here.) Potted Violette de Bordeaux - EL, 2009 Roots pruned 2016 Potted Mary Lane - Durio, 2010 Roots pruned 2016 Potted Celeste - Freedom Tree Farms, 2014 OTP Roots pruned 2016

noss

Registered:1244523274
Posts: 2,122

Posted 1282030301	Reply with quote #7

It IS upside down! How could they do that to us!!!!! :( That is a cute idea, but it would bother me. Probably wouldn't bother other people. noss __________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1282096647	Reply with quote #8

Well now, that depends on one's perspective! :-) When I eat fresh figs I split the fig in half at the ostiole with my thumbs. What ends up in each hand is a view of the fig as the ornament shows. It's just a freshly opened fig, ready for that first bite. Sue __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

noss

Registered:1244523274
Posts: 2,122

Posted 1282104082	Reply with quote #9

Hi Sue, You're definitely right about that. When I eat a fig, I hold it by the stem, which puts the fig upside down, but when I see a fig hanging on the tree and it's ripe and ready to eat, it's hanging with the eye facing downward and if it's going to hang on the Christmas tree, I'd like it to hang the other way. :) However---you don't usually see just half a fig hanging on the tree---On second thought, after the birds get ahold of them, there's often even less left hanging on the tree, so I still gotta get me summa those ornaments..... nhardy, thanks for posting the site for the ornament! :))))))))))))) noss __________________ noss/a.k.a. Vivian Lafayette, LA Zone 9a Wish List: Col de Dame Blanc, Col de Dame Noir, Scott's Yellow, Tony's Brown Italian, any other fig that is good in the rain/humidity and has a real figgy flavor.

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1282139016	Reply with quote #10

Thanks, Sue! How small are those paintings? I'm an artist also, and realism takes a long time to accomplish...many layers. Is his medium oil or acrylic? Acrylic would not take as long! Are they on canvas or masonite boards? I'd like to see one he's painted on the inside with all those juicy seeds!! Just curious..... I've had one ripe fig on my only bearing tree, and am waiting for the rest! Thanks! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

svanessa

Registered:1189292564
Posts: 905

Posted 1282148405	Reply with quote #11

Hi Suzi, Julian's paintings are oil, on boards and are 3"-4" to 6"-8" in size. That's what makes them so amazing, the depth of color and realism he gets in such a small space. Attached are a couple open fig paintings of his. Sue __________________ Sue Zone 9B, 1946' Ramona, CA San Diego County

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