Study of an overripe banana

The goal of my watercolor practice is to one day have the skills and confidence to paint a subject accurately but compellingly "with the fewest strokes possible to express a fact" as John Singer Sargent once said, explaining his technique. I am learning, I am practicing and I'm looking and thinking so hard sometimes by brain hurts. Every now and then I have a magic moment where it all just works and comes together in a way that surprises even myself. And I know that it's not magic, but the sign that my efforts are paying off and that the years of work to develop this skill are starting to prove worthwhile. Painting this banana was one of those experiences and this single overripe banana is my best piece from this latest group of watercolor studies. I was able to apply what I'd tested and observed from attempting to paint bananas before (two of those studies are in this sale painted May 12th and 22nd), and I did this painting without overworking the paint. In watercolor, the beautiful aspect of this medium includes some of the details created when the wet paint moves out of control. One such area of this study is the yellow 'bleeding' that occurs near the top of the banana, where the yellow bloomed into the white surface because it was painted while the white area was still wet. Overall, this was painted loosely and confidently and I shocked myself when it was done. 

Size: 9"x12"

2025-06-P

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