As it turned out, painting a Brazilian kitchen was one of the hardest locations ever. It took many hours before the kitchen was free and everything quieted down. Sitting on a stool, I carefully sketched out the perspective elements, holding the paper up to check for accuracy. Next, I filled in the detailed objects with a small brush. On the left is a common water filter system that uses several layers to purify the tap water. Center left is a coffee making stand that uses gravity to pull hot water through a sieve full of ground coffee and into an urn. Central is the gas stove, a key focal point of the Brazilian family. Above it is a hole in the wall with a fan to exhaust the stove fumes to the outside. Center right is the fruit stand with limes, bananas, and caqui on the bottom rack which is kind of like a cross between a tomato and a pear. On the right is the new fridge that Cilei and her sister bought for their parents.
To paint a Brazilian kitchen I had to wait for it to be free of family members. I also had to infuse the shadows with light. Soft shadows were created with neutral purple and blue mixes, and neutral beige where warmth was indicated. A dark strip of carbon black (PBk6) under the stove provided the necessary contrast. It took awhile but in the end the painting was worth the effort. Just imagine the smell of beans, chicken and garlicky rice in the air with plenty of boisterous conversation and you get the full picture.
A Brazilian Kitchen, 8x10" watercolour rough press, May 2023 (No. 3606)
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