Now radishes have not been my favorite vegetable. Loved the various colors, texture and the bright green leaves, but eating them, I remained uncommitted. Radishes USED TO BE a staple in our lettuce salads. However they have been replaced with sugared almonds, Craisins, fresh strawberries or blueberries...hmm, I see a bit of a sugar connection.
Then I ran across a very intriguing recipe, conceived and beautifully photographed by Helene Dujardin, Turkey, Brie and Roasted Radish panini sandwiches!!!! You will find it here on a fabulous website Tarteletteblog. Helene's photographs alone changed my mind about the humble radish!
Once again thinking Provence (HMMM does one buy radishes in southern France?) I headed to our local fruit and vegetable market, purchased the freshest, most colorful to be found. Later I wrapped them in faux-French newspaper and pretended I was sketching in the sunny warmth of Arles.
 |
| Start with a light pencil sketch. Lightly outline around sketch in thin, waterproof marker. (Micron) Try to be uneven, sketchy, curvy and disconnected. |
 |
| Next an underlying color wash with thinned watercolor. Vary colors on each radish, and radishes next to one another. |
 |
| Wash shades of gray, magenta and blue on the faux newspaper. Leave some white of the paper showing. I used a waterbrush. |
 |
| My favorite part is going back and intensifying colors, adding new color over previous color and really mixing it up. Time to dribble in a bit of dark blue for shadow. |
 |
| Shadows were placed on the French cloth under the bouquet of radishes. Re-ink for strength, texture and interest. Really can't wait to create this sandwich....Helene's blog is worth a visit if you love to cook and love gorgeous photographs. I just purchased her new book, Plate to Pixel the art of food photography. Not into food photography, you can apply her very accessible techniques and information to other photography genres. I am half way through reading her book and have learned so much. |
| | | |
|
