Saturday, January 19, 2013

Day 18 - Avocado

Today is Day 18 of the 30 in 30 Day Challenge!

Okay, I admit it I am getting a little antsy.  I like painting a variety of surfaces and sizes and subjects.  For this challenge I have narrowed my painting to still life paintings on 6 x 6 canvas panels.  I thought well small size can be quick...not too much detail right...wrong.  It seems to take longer for me to paint smaller...guess that is because I am using a smaller brush.

So I thought, okay there must be a solution.  Today I painted a single Avocado which changed it up for me.


"Avocado"
6 x 6 - oil on canvas panel


There are a lot of facts about the Avocado I found interesting and I would like to share a few of those
Wikipedia facts:

  • The avocado (Persea americana) is a tree native to Central Mexico,classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel.
  • Avocado or alligator pear also refers to the fruit (botanically a large berry that contains a single seed) of the tree.
  • Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. Commercially, it ripens after harvesting. 
  • Trees are partially self-pollinating and often are propagated through grafting to maintain a predictable quality and quantity of the fruit.
  • About 75% of an avocado's calories come from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat.
  • On a 100 g basis, avocados have 35% more potassium (485 mg) than bananas (358 mg). 
  • They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K.
  • Avocados have a high fiber content of 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber.
  • High avocado intake was shown in one preliminary study to lower blood cholesterol levels. 
  • Avocado is under preliminary research for potential anti-cancer activity.



1 comment:

  1. I agree - the small size is harder in so many ways. I love this avocado, Maria. You captured the light on its surface so well. The colors you chose are great too!

    ReplyDelete