Saturday, March 14, 2009

Pumpkin Soup

Its coming up to pumpkin soup weather. Well, soon I hope as its still been quite warm and muggy the last couple of days. If you are going to buy a pumpkin to make soup why not use it for a painting first. This one is a Queensland Blue pumpkin and its my favourite type for soup. Funny thing is you do get to know the object of your painting so well that you feel rather remorseful when its time to cut it up :(. There is of course a story behind my painting. Many years ago Bob and I lived in the country. The locals put together a cookbook of their favourite recipes. The simple but extremely delicious pumpkin soup recipe in the top right hand corner of the painting is Barbara Pym's recipe and I think of her whenever I make it. She still cooked and baked amazing food on a wood burning stove even in the middle of summer, and took out a lot of prizes in the cooking section of the local show. Of course that's not the only pumpkin story I have. I remember endless drawings in art school with a pumpkin as a model. Tonal drawings, contour drawings, drawing on coloured paper adding the highlights rather than the shadows. Yeah well they do have interesting shapes don't they?

Pumpkin
mixed media on canvas
50.8x60.9cm (20"x24")

13 comments:

Julia said...

stop showing off :P lol

Uta said...

I'll take that as a compliment J :)

april said...

A Queensland Blue - how special it is! Your painting of it is just lovely, Uta. I love pumpkins (squashes, gourds, etc.) too! And I love the addition of the recipe. I need to do that with some of my Mom's.

Laura said...

Uta, this one just jumps right out there at you it's great, love the effect it creates. Another one well done. you go girl, waving the paint brush for you in a cheer!!

Anonymous said...

I like the colours... so peaceful, I could look at it all day. We live in the pumpkin dark ages here... we only have orange! I didn't even know there were blue ones. I love the way you've painted the stalk, the flakiness and woodiness. Your exhibition is going to be marvellous Uta.

Anonymous said...

If you believe it or not - I know the Queensland Blue - I bought it - I made soup. Here is a farm and they are only growing pumpkins - seeds of all over the world - pumpkins all sizes all shapes all colours. I needed one for soup and I had chosen the Queensland Blue.
The painting is sooo wonderful!!!

Uta said...

April, It would be lovely for you to include some of your mum's recipes in your work and if they are in her handwriting it would make it all the more special.

Laura, I can hear you cheering :)

Julie, Our pumkins are all orange on the inside too but the outside is a different matter. There are even beautiful speckled ones. Do you have those??? Don't know why they call it Queensland Blue, it looks green to me. Red headed people are called blue or bluey over here so go figure.

Biggi, I thought Queensland Blue were only available in Australia. I love that there is a farm growing only pumpkins from seeds all over the world. It must look fabulous with all those different pumpkins growing.

butterfly woman said...

I've never heard of a blue pumpkin either.Looks like something from a fantasy book. Still it's so delicately created here.Even the stalk has a wispy quality to it. Love how the word pumpkin just peeks from behind. Such a soft touch you have, Uta!

Unknown said...

Oh, I wish I could come to your exhibit!

april said...

I do have all my Mom's original little recipe cards in her handwriting, Uta.

Tatiana Kuzyk said...

That's just stellar! Colors, composition, I absolutely love it! The details of the pumpkin are unbelievable.
Wonderful Piece of Art, Uta.

Uta said...

Deborah,
I wish you could come too :)

April,
You should photocopy those handwritten recipes and use them in your work April.

Tatiana,
Thanks for your lovely comments. I'm glad you liked it :)

Doris said...

What a wonderful piece! Coming from your heart!