Resident Sketch Artists Cindy Rosenheim, responsible for last month’s cover design, lends more of her charming takes on the Ferry Building Marketplace and Farmers’ Market.
Published: September, 2004
What photographer, artist, or gourmand can resist the temptations of delectable cheese piled high at the Cowgirl Creamery booth in the Ferry Building? I stood for nearly three hours, amidst the jostling crowds, to try and capture the chunky and buttery impression portrayed by this great shop.
Cruising the Saturday Market for subject matter, I am normally drawn to lively booths, pulsating with people and produce. This particular morning, however, I stopped dead in front of a singular, simple display. A crate and two wood baskets. And the dry and pungent sweetness of local lavender, bunched and tightly snuggled into place.
Standing and sketching seems to invite comments. One older gentleman stood by for quite a while before he attempted to compliment me on this piece. ”Yeh,” he said, ”That’s real good. That really looks like the lady there. Those oranges and grapefruit look like real fruit too.”
”Thank you,” I said, politely.
”Yeh,” he continued, “None of this Picasso, Thiebaud, Diebenkorn crap! This is real art!”
”Thanks, again,” I answered weakly.(Roll over Pablo and Wayne, here I come.)
The winter months at the Market interest me as much as the bountiful summer ones. Here, the strawberries-gone-to-jam and the hearty artichokes broadcast February’s cool weather fare.
This wonderful stand celebrates the beauty of Autumn at the Market. When I showed the painting to an art director in New York, he said the voluptuousness of it was nearly pornographic. Sexy squash? ’Tis in the eye of the beholder. And, lucky for us San Franciscans, in the contented belly of the shopper as well!
Love for the Market and the new Ferry Building has this illustrator adorning chalkboards as well. Salut!
