This painting was made for the Summer in Europe swap. One of the items had to represent summer in my country, in my case Sweden 
I knew I wanted to create something using my aquarelle kit, but I was less clear on what to paint… As I was sitting outdoors, not selling a thing on the garage sale, I brought my art supplies and started browsing reference pictures.
My first few ideas didn’t really work well as a small painting, but then I remembered an iconic summer snack from my childhood. Picking a bunch of lovely wild strawberries and threading them on a straw of grass.
I think this was the point where I put the brushes down and decided it was done. It’s tempting to keep going (because it’s fun), but it’s so easy to ruin a painting that way.
Sketch and in progress straw. I added several layers of greens and browns before I was happy with it.
Cut down to 10x15 cm and signed version, in much worse lightning. Slightly cloudy outdoors light was very good for showing the true colours. I’m just glad I remembered to take a photograph before packing it up and sending it off
