Day 17: Cut your Own Apple

Day 17

This is my first time working with watercolor pencils. I went over it with actual watercolors. Below is a quick colored pencil sketch on how to make attractive apple slices. Like the pineapple, I learned this from a college friend. I only do this when I'm sharing an apple with a friend and want a nice presentation. Otherwise, I eat apples whole.

Day 17: how to cut apple slices

How do you cut your apples? With an apple corer, with a knife, or do you eat it whole like I do?

Day 7: My Art Process

Day 7

In case you cannot tell what this poster is about, here's a message for Wahl Clipper Corporation: call me. I love your product and will gladly make a poster for you. I get giddy when I use your product every two weeks--it means I just saved $40 on a haircut.

I am planning a lengthy post about haircuts and its effect on my personality so we can skip that today. Instead, let's talk about my art process. My current process is thinking of a phrase that's been useful to me or I find funny. Then I sketch ideas while riding the morning train to work and paint after work at night.  While sketching for Day 5's idea, I ended up with a derivative sketch for hair. My doodles are below.

Day 5 sketches

It seems a bit early in the challenge to recycle ideas but I did not feel inspired this morning. I decided it was better to make a poster based on a defined idea than make a poor poster based on a uninspired idea. Once I started the poster, I had fun. Since the idea was simple and there was more time today, I refined the typography. Edges were straightened and made to be crisp rather than blurring as seen in the previous posters. I also tried to paint "OWN" as a serif typeface. Since I decided on serif after painting "own", there is not much difference between the thick and thin parts but the "O" turned out rather nicely. As a sidenote, I'm still learning the correct usage of typeface versus font. So feel free to correct my usage.

The text and hair was black because my hair is black. Also I get a thrill from the inkiness of black paint and applying it to blank paper. The bow tie added color for visual interest. The tie is blue because I like blue. The dots are orange because blue and orange are complementary. To use up extra paint that would be wasted, the text was highlighted in a light wash. The wash also added balance to the poster so the color was not at the bottom only. The main lesson for today is: if you're reluctant to do something, just start. Once you start, it'll be fun and you may be pleasantly surprised by the result.

What item on your to-to list are you procrastinating on today?

Day 5: Cut your own Pineapple

Day 5

Pineapples look intimating. They are spiky and hard. How can you tell when they're ripe? The only form pineapple was eaten in my household was from a can. Moving to California exposed me to fresh pineapple.  It was love at first bite. Fresh pineapple is sweet, juicy and tastes nothing like its canned counterpart.

I also love pineapples because they remind me of friends. A college roommate taught me how to cut a pineapple and I think of her every time I do so. My amended instructions are below.

Day 5: How to Cut a Pineapple

The same friend taught me to soak it in water for a bit to reduce the acid in the pineapple. Another friend taught me how to pick pineapples. Turn it upside down and check the bottom for mold. No mold is best, a little is fine but a lot is not fine. A lot of mold means the pineapple is too old. Then pluck a leaf from the top. If it comes out easily, then the pineapple is sweet. If it does not come out easily, then try another pineapple. My information may be scientifically inaccurate but they're tradition. Also, I've chosen and eaten some darn good pineapples over the years.

This poster was inspired by a pineapple purchase this week and the fact I really enjoy pineapples. It seems straight-forward but I felt as though the poster was about self-reliance and the phrasing seemed familiar. Then I remembered this wonderful article about the owner of Trouble Cafe. On the menu, there's an item called Build Your Own Damn House. It's a cup of coffee, a whole coconut, and toast. The menu may seem like a gimmick at first but the story behind it is compelling. It's about building connections and stability while living with a mental illness.  Each item represents something that has sustained her over the years. Pineapples remind me of friendships and knowledge sharing.


Do you have a memory associated with a particular food or food preparation? What is a favorite skill you learned from a friend?