Red Onion Recipe and Why I Make Lunch For my Students

Happy Daylight Savings Time! Now that we’ve made it through the first few days of the time change, I’m ready to wander and admire the daffodils, camellias, and blooming trees. Spring is right around the corner. :)

 

After a long and super-rainy fall and winter, I know so many of us in the Pacific Northwest are really looking forward to sunnier days. Here is the March story and recipe from my 2017 Vegetable Calendar, in which the surprising and summery combination of red onion and watermelon make a wonderful salad.

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Red Onion
12" x 12" oil on 1" cradled panel
$285

Click here to purchase

Red Onion and Watermelon Salad

As someone who doesn’t eat any animal products, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, so I’m always coming up with new ways to pair flavors together. In this recipe, I wanted to make something really interesting for my monthly potluck that would really tingle everyone’s taste buds. You might not naturally mix watermelon with onions, but this one is always a big hit. I love making this salad when I have watermelon coming out of my garden in summer.  

—Katharine Nilbrink, www.katharinenilbrink.com

Red Onion and Watermelon Salad

Serves four

4 cups seedless watermelon cubes

1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. fresh mint, finely chopped

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a salad bowl and toss to mix. If possible, chill before serving.

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DIY salad bar

Why I LOVE Making Lunch for My Students

For the past several years, I've taught beginning and intermediate painting classes either at my house or right down the street at the Village Gallery. 

And on one of the class days, I like to invite my students over for lunch. Below are my painting class members recently gathering around my dining room table.

Now, this might seem out of the ordinary for a painting class...

Painters at lunch

... but why I love it is that it gives us a chance to: 
- sit and talk
- laugh
- bond
- see my studio
- appreciate each other
- learn more about our families and what we do.

My home studio

Our day-to-day, digital world can be so fast-paced and disconnected. The times we actually linger and connect with people we enjoy are rare. I treasure these gatherings and love making these lunches an important element in my painting classes and my life.

I am teaching again in April, Thursdays, 6-9pm. Click here to check it out or register.

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  I need a new one....any suggestions???

Podcasts: 

Building a Story Brand, hosted by Donald Miller

Milk Street Radio, hosted by Christopher Kimball

American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Bridget Lancaster

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Beyond the To-Do List, hosted by Erik Fisher

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

Splendid Table, hosted by Francis Lam

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Pack Your Mics, Top Chef 

Music: 

My iPod
Pandora - Music makes a difference on these dreary days! Spending time alone, I need upbeat, happy songs, like "Thanksgiving Radio", "Bing Crosby Radio", "Maroon 5 Radio", "Stevie Wonder Radio"...

Gray Skies, Carrots, and Lemons

Gray Skies, Carrots, and Lemons

It’s a dark and stormy day in Portland today. Surprising, huh?  I have to tell you, Oregon in February and March can be pretty grueling for this Southern Californian. While these winter days are cozy in my studio, I'm getting ready for some sunshine.

Here's a little bright spot. February is the month of CARROTS, according to my 2017 Vegetable Calendar, at least. 

Carrot
12"x 12"

oil on 1" cradled panel

$285

Click here to purchase

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed recipes and purchased a 2017 calendar. I’m pleased to announce I sold out—and am starting to plan the 2018 edition. More to come on that soon!

In the meantime, I’d love to share this month’s recipe and story with you. 

The recipe comes from my friend Pamela Dussault’s cookbook. It’s a collection of all the recipes she’s created in her catering business, Almatierra Catering. When a big group of us gathered on the beach for a February retreat year after year, Pamela always made our meals. As we bustled in from cold sunset walks, we’d find the table set with bright tablecloth, glowing candles, fresh cedar boughs. Pamela pulled fresh, golden loaves of bread from the oven and hurried them to the table with potholders on her hands. She’d glance to make sure everything was there—and then play guitar nearby as we ate. Her artful soul showed in everything she made—whether art, music or food. Warm, nourishing stews, curries, soups. But, oh, the nights when she brought out this salad. So simple, so complex. The bite of vinegar; the sweet, crunchy carrot; salty seaweed; woody sesame… Whenever I make it, I can taste love. 

- Madeleine Eno, www.inthewriteplace

Carrot Hijiki Salad

6-8 large carrots, grated

¼ cup hijiki, soaked (Find hijiki, a sea veggie, in health food or Asian food stores)

Dressing

1 T. rice vinegar

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

1 ½ tsp. sugar

1 tsp. tamari or soy sauce

½ tsp. crushed garlic

1 T hot Thai garlic sauce

1 T toasted sesame seeds

Soak hijiki in hot water until soft or bring to a boil and remove from heat. Let set until cool.

Combine dressing ingredients. Pour over veggies and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 

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ANNIE’S MINI-PAINTING LESSON:

Conquering fear of the “blank panel”

Today, I want to use a current commission I’m working on to teach you a fear-conquering trick. This is a big panel, measuring 70 x 40 inches. It’s a commissioned painting – a fun one—of three big lemons that I'm painting for client’s large dining room.

I’m using water-soluble oil paint and a cradled panel. Now, it can be intimidating to start in on such a big project, so here’s what I did to make the process a little easier. 

First, I made a grid on the panel.

Then I projected the lemons onto the panel. That way I could make a decision about where to place them. 

Next, I sprayed water on the panel, then proceeded with a very watered-down version of the color.  I then painted my shapes with a two-inch brush.

I found this Speedy-Carve by Speedball, and use it to spread my paint around. 

This pink eraser-like material is designed for block printing, but I love it for painting. It's pliable and moveable, and I can easily move it around the shapes.

With paper towels, I then removed some of the paint, especially on the lemons. That way I can quickly get a basic value study for the work. 

The Speedy-Carve presents some lovely, interesting shapes that I can work with as I continue. 

Working this way is not so intimidating as just diving in and painting on a blank panel. 

Stay tuned for more lessons as I work on this project!

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobook:  

Podcasts: 

Building a Story Brand, hosted by Donald Miller

American's Test Kitchen, hosted by Bridget Lancaster

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Beyond the To-Do List, hosted by Erik Fisher

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

Splendid Table, hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper

Online Marketing Made Easy, hosted by Amy Porterfield

Pack Your Mics, Top Chef 

Music: 

My iPod

Pandora - Music makes a difference on these dreary days! Spending time alone, I need upbeat, happy songs, like "Thanksgiving Radio", "Bing Crosby Radio", "Maroon 5 Radio", "Stevie Wonder Radio"...

Annie

Always Together

"Always Together"

12"x 12"

acrylic on canvas

SOLD

I did this commission for a very dear friend who's children were 8, 5 and 1 years old, and are now 36, 33, 29.
Growing up, we were neighbors and I was best friends with her little sister. I hadn’t seen them in over 20 years, and then they paid me a surprise visit at the hospital right after my stroke. It meant so much to me! I was thrilled to do this commission for Colleen and her husband, Jim, knowing that every time she looks at it she is going to remember that time in her life 
and think of me.

             "We had just moved to Honolulu and were staying in the Hale Koa, right next to the Hilton, which is the military hotel where we stayed until housing was available. I would take the kids to the beach in the morning, then nap time and when Jim came back from work we would go back down on the beach. It was not posed-they just ended up sitting like that and Jim just happened to have his camera with him. I think he just always loved the innocence and sweetness of it. We are so fortunate that they have grown up to be close as adults and it would not be a surprise to see them sitting together on the beach today. I should have added that the specialness of the picture is the reminiscing of a magical 3 years - the beauty and wonders of living on the island, the magic of kids growing up on the beach, and the memories of the making of lifetime friends! And all created by a very special lifetime friend of whom Jim and I have very dear memories!!”

Listening to while I paint:

Audiobooks:
The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum, narrated by Scott Brick

Podcasts: 
The Alton Browncast, hosted by Alton Brown
The Lede, hosted by Jerod Morris

Artists Helping Artists, hosted by Leslie Saeta

Social Media Examiner, hosted by Michael Stelzner

"Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me!", hosted by Peter Sagal

Music: 

my iPod

YouTube: Daryl's House

I am having a Pet Sale! From now until the end of August 2014,  I will do any pet painting for 15% off the regular price. Just send me your photo of your pet and then we can decide on the size! I will take requests and photos all month long....To see more pets click here!

Really helpful: 

I am continually checking a dictionary, thesaurus, spell check, but one thing that has been particularly helpful is the grammar check! Please excuse any errors that I make and tell me! :)

NY City

NY City

12"x 12"

acrylic on gessoboard

$375

Click here to purchase

This was a challenge for Daily Paintworks. 

I haven't been to New York since I was 11? ... I remember this one thing... my family and I were sitting at this cafe and this homeless man walked up to us and asked us for change. I smiled at him, with my mouth full of braces and he smiled back, removed his teeth, and said, 

"take care of them"! :)

Listening to while I paint:

Audio books:  "Someday, Someday, Maybe", by Lauren Graham read by the author

Podcasts: The Nerdist, by Chris Hardwick

                Social Media Examiner, by Michael Stelzner

                     The Splendid Table by Lynne Rosetto Kasper

                    Artist Helping Artist by Leslie Saeta

Music: my iPod