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How to Save Money at Whole Foods

Whole Foods Oakland, ink & watercolor, 5x7"
Whole Foods Oakland, ink & watercolor, 5x7"

It’s easy to save money at Whole Foods! Just draw the food, don’t buy it! šŸ™‚

We met at the fancy Oakland Whole Foods for Tuesday night sketching and I had trouble settling down from a challenging day at work. After a couple of false starts outdoors on the patio I moved indoors and found a table with an interesting view.

I decided to start in pencil instead of my usual ink since I was feeling insecure after the first two fails. I was still drawing when everyone wanted to meetup for our show and tell, which I ended up missing so I could finish in ink. I added the paint at home the next day.

18 replies on “How to Save Money at Whole Foods”

Nice sketch and it answers a question I have had and that is, do you always do these sketches seated or are you sometes standing, such as at an outdoor spot?

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Hi Wendy, Thanks for the good question. I stand maybe 1/3 of the time. It depends on whether there is seating facing what I want to sketch or how tired I am, or whether I’ve dragged along my folding stool. Sometimes I start by sitting on an available bench and just sketch what I can see from there. Jana

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Too funny, Jana–just draw food, don’t buy it. Made my morning. And, as
always, such lively sketches that we feel we are there with you.
annie

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Nice work, Jana! Everything about Whole Foods intimidates me – been there once, and the sample was ample. Way to simplify and yet still capture the essence of glorious abundance.

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Ha “The sample was ample!” I like that saying! This Whole Foods is near my office so we sometimes walk over there for lunch. I get overwhelmed by all the choices–a football field-sized food court with a salad bar, a hot food bar, a seafood bar, a deli section, a pizza counter, Asian noodle counter, soup bar, soul food section, even a granola and desert bar.

Usually my workmates get sandwiches and are ready to go while I’m still circling trying to choose my items! Jana

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I love Whole Foods and this colorful painting you composed. And what a great money savings idea — I may have to try that next time I am in a fabric store. Once I touch the soft, silky fabrics, I have to bring them home and that gets expensive!!

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Hi Kathy, I know that feeling at the fabric store too. Last time I went, looking for a couple nice fabrics to use as still life backdrops I came home with a stack of fabrics in a lovely rainbow of colors! Jana

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Love the painting and your sense of humor. I love Whole Foods but it can be very big and busy! and definitely intimidating for someone sketching.

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It wasn’t too intimidating because it was fairly late in the evening and sitting in an out of the way spot so nobody was paying any attention to me. On the other hand the scene itself was rather intimidating–so much there! Jana

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Thanks Raena, I’m fortunate to have an excellent non-chain store natural foods market walking distance from my house, while the Whole Foods is a much longer trip so I only shop there for lunch since it’s near my office. Jana

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Loved this entry. I’ve heard it called “Whole Paycheck” which isn’t far from wrong.

I live in Southern California and you brought to mind when we visited Oakland 3 years ago and on New Year’s Eve day we went shopping in this store and I, in the electric cart, managed to wipe out a whole display. It was mortifying and I noticed that thereafter my husband walked at quite a distance from me out of his own embarrassment. Thanks for the memory (I think).
Jane

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Oh that must have been awful (though if done intentionally it could be fun–sort of a grocery demolition derby!). I didn’t realize it’s been 3 years since they built that store. Time flies! I’m from southern California (Santa Monica and San Diego), was down there visiting earlier this month and realized how much I missed the beach. There’s nothing like a morning walk on the beach to start the day. Jana

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