Red Fruit on Prickly Pears

[KreativeK]

]
5.5×8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on paper, sketched quickly with color added. This is in Masters Touch sketchbook 80 lb. paper.
C&C welcome!

 

[bethany]

I like the soft background that contrasts with the bright fruit and sharp thorns- well done!

 

[KreativeK]

Thanks bethany!

 

[Bartc]

Nice one, Kay.

 

[MurrayG]

I really like the contrasting sharp and soft edges, no need to comment on the colours, lovely tho.

 

[Bongo]

ingenious composition - love it.

 

[Joy]

Love the composition and freshness. All the more impressive that it is only 80# paper. The only (very) small nit I have is the needle that leads directly out of the corner, bottom right.

I remember that you don't care for masking fluid. How do you manage to paint around the needles while still maintaining a loose look?

 

[Triduana]

I love those bold colours and sharp spines against the soft background!

 

[Jo Castillo]

Fabulous!!

 

[Artyczar]

Oh wow! Makes me miss the spring around here. This is gorgeous! VERY well done! (As usual)

 

[snoball]

Very well done. Have you ever eaten one of those fruits?

 

[Terri]

This is beautiful, Kay! Your reds are popping here - your entire palette is just gorgeous. You're a master of watercolor!

 

[KreativeK]

Thanks all of you. I’ve not ever eaten the red parts but have tasted the green “leaves” pads or pods.

 

[JStarr]

NICELY DONE! Excellent approach, nice needles and your use of the medium is well suited! Good stuff!

 

[Shane]

Oh wow, I love this one Kay, excellent work.

 

[KreativeK]

Thanks so much J and Shane!

 

[ntl]

So realistic! Kinda makes me homesick...
Nopalitos are made from the paddles (leaves). The fruits are called tunas (one is a tuna) and there are recipes on the web for both...
So well done, Kay.

 

[KreativeK]

Ntl, thanks for sharing your info about what the parts are called.

 

[Jo Castillo]

This is super. Your beautiful painting brings memories. When I was young riding horses and working cattle in the hot summer in New Mexico, we would pick the pears and wipe the stickers off with gloves and eat them to quench our thirst. Something like a kiwi inside. Nice and juicy. Jelly made from them is excellent.

 

[ntl]

Kay said "Ntl, thanks for sharing your info about what the parts are called."
I meant to add that that cactus was (and maybe now is) a basic food source for the Indians. When they became accustomed to the standard American diet, their rates of diabetes increased. The prickly pear helps with that and has other health benefits [https://aihd.ku.edu/recipes/tepary_bean_prickly_pear_caserole.html ]
[ https://www.botanical-online.com/en/food/prickly-pear-nopalitos ]