Sunday, September 09, 2007

Weekends

I've hardly had any time this weekend to draw or paint. Life seems to have taken over in one way or another. I've been trying to make some inroads on these little ATCs that I promised to do. I have seven, more or less, with another two to go. I can't say that I like working on this scale. Miniature drawings are challenging to compose and execute. Animals, as always, flow better than other subjects.

The pigs were sent off yesterday and it took an hour or more longer than anticipated to load them into the trailer, poor things. Like most animals, they don't enjoy change and walking up a ramp into a trailer for them is big change with lots of different sounds, sights and smells. However, I said my goodbyes to them and they are gone.
Very few people really acknowledge where their food comes from or the process, people and animals involved in it. I think if more people did know, conditions of how animals are raised would improve dramatically. I won't get on my soap box about animal rights, except to say the next time you buy meat or poultry or eggs or milk in the market, give a silent thank you to the animals who provided it.

I found a new fruit today. When I'm shopping I seem to have one eye looking for things that would make interesting drawings and today I found some. Prickly pears. These are very new to me and I've never seen them before here. The taste is fairly nondescript, but the colour of the flesh is a beautiful blood red, perfect for a painting. So those and a bag of large, bright lemons went into the cart and hopefully I'll be able to make a start on some painting tonight or during the week.

7 comments:

Cyril Kesten said...

you are without question the most mindful and perceptive person I know. You are aware constantly - the rest us just let the time, the scenery and life pass by

Manuela Valenti said...

I've eaten prickly pears since I was a child while living in South America, and there are three more varietys, the white, green and some that are peach like color inside. Can't find them where I live now.

I wish the way animals are raised for human consumption would change once and for all. Seems to me the more advance we go in technology the worse humans we become.

Respect for nature and all the animals that live in this planet is all it takes for a great balance.

Anonymous said...

Aahh, poor pigs. You know, I love bacon, but I don't think I'll be eating it for a while. Prickly pears grow just down the road but I've never tried them: it's time for something new . . .

Thanks for posting the James Brown / Pavarroti clip.

Making A Mark said...

Now I know what they look like inside.

I've been drawing them because they have such nice colours and interesting ways in which they grow. Who would have known that the flesh would be so red?

I have to echo what Cyril says - I look at meat in the supermarket with new eyes now.

Jeanette Jobson said...

I believe that an individual sees what they want to see, whether its a global view or something up close and intricate.

Yes I strongly believe in the rights of animals, whether raised as pets or for food. They have the right to comfort, clean food and water, good shelter, companionship and kind treatment. In fact, even more so if they are destined for the food market. If we are what we eat and how we live, so are animals.

Manuela, I would love to see the other varieties of prickly pears, but doubt that I'll find them locally. I think this was a fluke to find an exotic on this island in the Atlantic.

Aren't they an amazing colour Katherine? I just love them.

Tracy Hall said...

I love your little drawings, Jeanette - I think pencil at that size would terrify me!

I absolutely share you views on the rights of farm animals to a little dignity and respect. Sending piggies off has had me in tears in the past! I believe happy meat tastes better in every sense.

Anonymous said...

Your ATC's are beautiful but I am of a like mind with you. I don't like drawing in a small format and my work looks terrible.

My mother used to buy two prickly pears every Christmas for the after dinner fruit bowl. I still remember her cutting it open. Naturally, as children we refused to touch it. I'll have to look for some this Christmas and have it ont he table.