Fruit on Shirts

This vintage colored pencil painting I intended to become a series of fruit on shirts but it never happened.  The hours it took me to finish each piece killed my enthusiasm for colored pencils.  This one took at least eighteen.  People generally wanted to commission large pieces and I was tired just thinking about it.  The size of this piece is about 9″ x 12″

It is true that I could keep my love of the medium and just strive to make prints available.

Customers Can Get Any Size Print They Want

In this digital age, a print of almost any size is feasible, and not too expensive to be a good option.

The prints I offer have the artist’s original signature, are printed on archival paper, and I don’t have to lose my composure when someone says they are interested in a 36″ x 36″ size piece.

Vintage Colored Pencil Paintings are Time Intense

Even though to build up layers of color with colored pencils is time intense, it doesn’t take as much time as pointillism.  After about eight hours, I find it difficult to keep looking at the same piece.

It often takes more than eight hours to finish a colored pencil work.  Having more than one work in progress developing at the same time helps with boredom.

Water Soluble Crayon Solution

Twenty years ago there were no water soluble crayons.  Now that they have been invented, they could provide a quick under-painting for colored pencil work.  I will have to experiment and see how much time this process can save.

Maybe the fruit on shirts theme will continue despite the fact that over 20 years has passed.  I can see myself at the thrift store picking up oxford shirts.  Twenty years from now there could be a series of vintage colored pencil paintings.