![\"eggplant\"](\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6149\/5947955705_1f54da50ba.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAcross several states in the central and southwestern US, this has been one of the hottest, driest years on record, with no sign of improvement any time soon. South Texas is no exception to this trend, and I don’t venture outside, even for a few minutes, without SPF 50+ sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. That includes walking to and from my car in the parking lot at work.<\/p>\n
In spite of the heat and drought, I’ve managed to grow a few edibles in my backyard raised bed gardens, but I won’t claim that they constitute more than about 10% of my diet on any given day. However, the vegetables and herbs have a secondary function: posing for still life drawings, or serving as print blocks. Here are a couple of examples:<\/p>\n
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Eggplant, prior to being peeled, sliced, and stir-fried for pasta topping. Pen and Prismacolor pencil.<\/em><\/p>\n The kale became tough and bitter once the weather turned extremely hot, so I inked a few of the leaves, and used them to make prints.<\/em><\/p>\n I’ve also been harvesting tomatoes from my friends’ garden on the weekends, and combined with the peppers I’ve grown in my backyard, as well as some spices, garlic, and onion, they make wonderful sauce for pasta, or (with pinto and red beans) a base for chili and tacos. I’ve got several quarts stored in the freezer already.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Across several states in the central and southwestern US, this has been one of the hottest, driest years on record, with no sign of improvement any time soon. South Texas is no exception to this trend, and I don’t venture … Continue reading ![\"kale\"](\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6017\/5947955785_4e52d169a9.jpg\")
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