I celebrated the end of “crazy week” (too much driving, too many demands!) by starting to crank out some more corn paintings. Thursday I’d stopped at Meijer’s to find a couple ears of sweet corn with that “fresh from the field look”. Instead, all they had were nasty-looking — brown and shriveled. Some woman was rifling through the pile, ripping the husks off, examining the kernels for shrinkage. But never mind — I can fake things a bit (up to a point).
All three paintings were from that same ear of corn. I yanked the husk back a little more for each painting and turned it slightly. Every so often I’d leave my brush in the turpentine can and dash out to adjust the water sprinkler. We’ve had a very dry week and my flowers were looking sad and wilted. Walking away from a painting is a good thing, anyway. You come back in with “fresh eyes” and instantly see what’s wrong.
One ear of corn remains in the fridge. I tossed the used ear into the compost pile – a gift for the raccoon. Hoping to do a corn-painting-marathon today. And don’t worry — the backgrounds will all be white.
Margie Guyot Art 
Very interesting about the corn paintings. Inquiring minds would like to know – why do you paint the corn before the background – instead of painting the background first?
BTW, last night my 8-year-old niece did a pencil drawing. It was quite intricate. As she was explaining why she liked to do “drawings that look endless” – and how she focused the eye on the object, etc. – I wished you could hear her. I know you would have comments I could not give.
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I paint the corn before the background because the corn is going to dry out and die. That’s my rule: if it’s gonna die, paint it FIRST!
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Yes, I have heard you say that before.
I was wondering if it had something to do with not wanting to pain on top of white paint. Thanks for teaching me.
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Well, yes — white paint takes a long time to dry and it’s a disaster to try to paint over it.
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