It’s A Fudgy Kinda Day: Daily Art Practice
Couch Talk
Brownies are one of those staples in the American diet that I didn’t grow up with. My mom preferred “gourmet” desserts, so we rarely had cookies, cupcakes and brownies.
My only memory of brownies when I was younger was when I was in elementary school. A dear lady in our church allowed us to swim in her pool. My brother would mow her lawn every week or two and as a bonus to his pay, she made him a pan of brownies with the most amazing frosting. To this day, I wish I had her recipe. I remember my brother asking her for it and she whispered, “It’s from the back of the bag.” If only I knew what bag she was referring too.
Above is a picture of my favorite Sourdough Discard Brownies. I made these frequently during COVID when I started making sourdough.
Travel Journal: Daily Art Practice
I really enjoy eating, baking and painting food, so what better way to document a favorite family recipe than to paint it. I painted this recipe earlier this year for my StencilGirl column, using mostly StencilGirl stencils. The first two pictures are some pages where I practiced some of the elements before adding them to the final piece. If you would like to see the stencils I used, check out my post HERE.
A different layout than the final.
I sketched everything onto Arches watercolor paper and used washi tape as a border to ensure I kept everything centered.
Here is the completed painting before I added digital text.
I added digital text for this recipe because my ink pen went dry and I couldn’t letter as I originally intended. I am debating whether or not to include specific measurements or just general ingredients.
What do you think?
Tea Day
I am joining the tea day ladies, hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard. I am still enjoying this Numi Organic Tea Gunpowder Green Loose Leaf Tea.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Brownies are the yummiest. I’m sorry you missed them growing up , but it is good you make them for your kids. Your photo looks yummy and I’m loving your journal page about them. It’s nice to see your steps. Now I really want a brownie-smile. Have a great T day Kate. hugs-Erika
Hi Kate, your new watercolours are fabulous and yummy, great idea. They would be wonderful in a glossy magazine or cookery book! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
Cute story of your childhood!
We only have Spanish burning brownies which means someone has a very important meeting!
Took a bit to figure that out! LOL.
Great paintings again!
Happy T-Day t o you!
I think you should add measurements in case your kids or someone wants to make them one day (like you remembering the lady with the brownie frosting). Lovely page, Kate, your food painting is wonderful and whimsical and super well done. The picture of brownies in your header looks really fab too.. Yum!
The tea sounds like some great green tea that I need to try!
Happy Tday, Kate. Hugz
Hey, Kate! Love the paintings of the food- great idea! I think you should definitely add the measurements- come to think of it, and entire cookbook made like this would be totally awesome- I’d buy it! How much more engaging and fun would THAT be?! An entire watercolor paitning cookbook- you’re a genius, girl, an absolute genius ❤
You are my foodie hero! LOL I love brownies, Mr. M. doesn’t. I don’t understand that. 🙁 The food art is just fabulous. Have a great day today.
Dear Kate,
oh my god I think your post today is VERY high in calories – I hope I’m not gaining weight reading this! ;-DDD
I have a suspicion: Maybe the lady with the pool didn’t mean the back of the “bag” but the back of the “box” in which the brownies mixture was sold… Such ready-made baking mixtures sometimes (unfortunately) taste sensationally good, but you know never quite what’s inside 😉
We also like to bake with sourdough (especially my husband) but I didn’t know that you can also make brownies with it.
Your brownies graphics are great. Of course it’s a matter of opinion, but if you would also add dimensions to the last graphic, we would have a finished recipe… 🙂
All the best from Austria and happy T Day,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/09/strudlhofstiege-gartenpalais.html
PS: We made our first kimchi this week. I’m curious how it tastes when it’s fermented (I’m afraid a bit spicy, although we used a lot less chilli than in all the recipes from the internet 😉 ) but I really hope it’s good for our health. Thanks for the suggestion!
Well i just love your painting! I’d say i t depends on what you are doing with the painting.. If its going in a recipe book then put the amounts in . if its just decoration to hang on the wall or some such then i think its fine without it… Happy T day! Hugs! deb
That’s a lovely memory and too bad you don’t know from which bag she got the recipe for her brownies. I doubt though that today they would still taste as good as they did when you were children. Maybe it’s good this way so you won’t be disappointed.
sourdough discard brownies sound like a great idea — all I ever do with discard is make pancakes. I like your watercolors and I think putting the exact amounts in the images would be wonderful. Then it is a real recipe.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Brownies, yum! For some reason, I can never seem to bake a scratch batch of brownies. They just don’t turn out so I stick to a box. I love your recipe layout. I’m taking a class and illustrating a recipe is to be our final project. Happy T Day
I love brownies and I love your brownie page Kate. As for specific or general ingredient information, depends what you will use it for – if as a recipe then it needs quantities but if it’s just a general “brownie appreciation” page then it looks great just as it is. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx
You can never go wrong with brownies. Those sound good. I’ve never had gunpowder tea, though I’ve read about it. Happy T Tuesday
How amazing to depict a recipe through your painting – so beautifully painted too, that brownie looks so real and good enough to eat 😊. Of course the real thing would be delicious with a cup of tea – yum! Happy T Day wishes! Hugs Jo x
Beautiful brownies and great watercolor ones, too. I bet the bag the woman was talking about was the chocolate chip bag, but I;’m not much of a baker, so I’m not sure. I sure love the drawings and even the digital additions. These are stunning and I could make these based on your drawings.
I’ve never heard of gunpowder green tea, but it sounds quite unique. Thanks for sharing your art and your tea with us for T this Tuesday, dear Kate.
Oh, Kate, I love this sweet story about your mom. I assume she isn’t around anymore. I can think of so many things I wish I could ask my mom but can’t anymore. Love your painting of the recipe and brownies. I think this is a great idea! But, maybe somehow include the full recipe for your daughter! Happy T Day, sweet friend.
Brownies! Yum! I never grew up with brownies either. I only made my first choc brownies recently. My Irish d-i-l taught me to make them. In fact, they are so easy that my grandson (8) showed me how to do it. I shall make them more often when I am going somewhere where I need to bring something.
Your painted cookbook is beautiful. Yes, I would definitely put the measurements in too. Of course you know the measurements but I think this will be for posterity and the measurements should be included.
Happy T-Day,
Lisca