Quirky: Red Radish Trio
Oil on Board 5×5
The Story of Quirky | Three Ruby Red Garden Radishes
$125.00 set in a gold/black floating frame
My love affair with vibrant veggies started at a CSA near Walden Pond, Massachusetts. Every week, we’d fill baskets with a riot of colors—deep greens, fiery oranges, ruby reds, and the occasional surprise splash of purple or yellow. The vegetables were lined up proudly in oversized baskets, freshly harvested that morning. It was like a farmers' market meets an art show, and I was hooked.
Radishes? Oh, they were next-level. Bunches of reds, alizarins, blues, and purples, their wispy roots giving them a constant state of bedhead. I was mesmerized.
Now, in my own garden, I stare at those ridiculously tiny radish seeds, wondering how something so minuscule could possibly become food. Then—bam!—tiny green crowns push through the soil, and I’m filled with cautious hope. Of course, I pull them too early. Every. Single. Time. Gardening is desperately trying to teach me patience. One radish season at a time.
But radishes aren’t just some crunchy afterthought for a salad. At their peak, they’re best eaten fresh from the ground, still dripping from a rinse, maybe with a sprinkle of salt or a sliver of smoky cheddar from the farmers’ market. Watermelon radishes, Diakons, Purples, Easter Eggs—I need them all. Isn’t it our duty as curious humans to experiment, taste, and discover every variety we can get our hands on?
That said, I’m easily distracted. Come summer, I’ll step outside with a solid intention—weed the carrots, plant the garlic—and 20 minutes later, I’m repurposing a broken flowerpot into a toad mansion. Or snapping photos of bees on blossoms like I’m on assignment for National Geographic. And the eggplants? Their deep purple glow has officially landed them on my “must-paint” list. I will take 37 photos trying to capture them just right.
Time in the garden? It’s like my mornings in the Studio - it doesn’t exist. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My Oil Painting Process for Radishes
This little 5x5 oil painting came to life during a stressful week—one spent anxiously watching my daughter evacuate from yet another hurricane in Florida. Each morning, I’d dive deep into the studio, letting the deliberate mixing of colors pull me in. Layer by layer, I’d push pigment forward, pull it back, coaxing each bulbous shape out of a flat board.
Oil painting feels more like sculpting than, say, watercolors or such to me. There’s a physicality to it, a process of shaping and forming, almost like working with clay. And those wispy, hair-thin radish roots? They’re the details I love most, delicate yet full of movement, even in a tiny composition.
Where to Find Farm Food in Freeport, Maine
When visiting Freeport for a weekend getaway, it might be tempting to stock up your Airbnb at Shaw's as you arrive in town. But if you're looking for a true taste of local flavor, here are my four favorite spots:
Bow Street Market: A beloved local grocery offering a wide selection of fresh, local, and gourmet foods, perfect for stocking up with high-quality essentials.
Royal River Natural Foods: This natural grocery focuses on organic and local products, making it an excellent spot for healthy and eco-friendly options.
Freeport Farmer’s Market: Open seasonally, this market offers a variety of local produce, meats, and artisanal goods from local farmers and makers.
Crystal Spring Farmer’s Market: Located just outside Freeport in Brunswick, this vibrant market features an array of fresh produce, flowers, and handcrafted items, connecting you to the community’s rich agricultural heritage. ( You will find me here on most given summer Saturday mornings.
