On a 2018 visit to Barcelona’s indoor Boqueria Market, my camera was clicking away madly, capturing all the stalls overflowing with gorgeous fruits, vegetables, candy and every manner of foodstuff. Yes, I do love a market, especially when the merchandising is clever and beautiful as it is in Barcelona!

However, it was a stall stacked with cans, bottles and jars that really grabbed my attention. There was nothing clever or beautifully displayed in this stall – actually it looked like items were haphazardly stuffed in wherever there was room. Maybe that’s what made it stand out to me!

I spent more than a few minutes exploring what was on the shelves before I started taking photos. Many of the products I had never seen before, and then the odd familiar one would appear, like a lone bottle of Clamato juice with a Spanish label. It turns out that most were imports from Central and South America – places I haven’t been so it was exciting to explore.

In 2021, I painted this stall from one of my photos (“Boqueria Essentials” – sold), and found out in conversations with you online and at shows, that I’m not the only “grocery geek” out there. Many of you have shared with me how you like to grocery shop while travelling too, and that sometimes it’s more interesting than going to a museum. It sure can be… depending upon the store!

I’ve been longing to paint another version of this stall from another of my photos, so in November after 3 years, I finished a new smaller painting of those packed shelves. Based on our conversations, I named it after how you’ve often described your experience with foreign food shopping – dazed and delicious!

Happy exploring!

This painting is a 5″ x 5″ ink and watercolour original, comes in a 16″-square white mat, and is available from me directly – more information is here.