Oreo contest | Beverly Shipko, Artist

A Fun Oreo Cookie Contest!

April 30, 2017 by Beverly

This year’s Oreo Cookie Contest started off quietly enough, with these three boys carefully plotting their strategies and taking their bites.

The contestants kept on coming, and the bitten Oreo Cookie Contest entries rapidly piled up on our kitchen table.

Then on Sunday these two biters arrived, Jill and Rick. This was Rick’s first visit to my Open Studio, and he was a willing participant. He had talked about coming since last year, so he was ready, as was Jill.

After taking a look around, Rick sat down at the table and started chomping down, holding his plate under his chin to catch the crumbs. (Notice he didn’t have an audience yet…)

He was so disappointed in his first entry, that we encouraged him to try again. He got fancy with this cookie, and basically crushed it… and let all the crumbs fall out of his mouth. Clearly he knew I liked crumbs.

As Rick was assessing his entry, and writing his name on the plate so I would know which bite was his (as if I could forget!), he described his entry as regurgitated crumbs (spoken like a true doctor!).

The regurgitation comment really caught us by surprise. You can see his wife Jill laughing hysterically in the background at that comment.

It was a very funny moment that had us all belly laughing, including Rick.

Bonnie was having a hard time holding it together at the other end of the table.

All of this biting worked up Rick’s appetite for carrot cake, and he suggested I sponsor a second contest…

Rick certainly has a knack for biting Oreo Cookies, which you can see here (maybe carrot cake not so much…). How he got all that icing to hang out is a mystery to me. So to Blake, the 2015 Oreo Cookie Contest Winner, I say, “Watch out!”

I’m definitely not declaring this cookie the winner – especially since I haven’t painted any of the Oreos yet. I am suggesting that it’s interesting, along with entries from many other contestants. It was a good contest and I am inspired to get to work.

However, I will say that Rick won my Funniest Contest Participant Award! And for that, there wasn’t even a close second.

Rick, you should be proud!

Oreo Cookie Contest 2015

April 30, 2015 by Beverly

Part of the fun of the Oreo Cookie Contest is officially unveiling the winner from the previous year. Here it is. Congratulations to Samantha who took a funky bite out of this Oreo! (And it sold too!)

“Samantha’s Bite – 2014 Oreo Cookie Contest Winner”, by Beverly Shipko, Oil on cradled panel, 8 x 8 inches.

This year, the annual Oreo Cookie Contest was an overwhelming success. As you can see, we got a lot of participants. Now it’s time to get to work photographing these entries, and whittling down the finalists.

I love to watch people as they take their bites. The expressions on their faces before and after are priceless. Here’s Blake, who comes back year after year, and arrived this time with suggestions on how to market my work online. His entry which has a lot of potential – teeth marks and all!

And these are the girls who couldn’t stay away. Their enthusiasm was contagious – and they kept coming back for more (more for the sugar than the art).

For the first time, this event was featured in two online calendars.

http://rivertowns.dailyvoice.com/events/kids-family/906537/oreo-cookie-contest

Annual Oreo Cookie Contest

By popular demand, the Oreo Cookie Contest will return next year. And I’m already looking forward to being inspired by the entries as I am this year.

Time to get to work!

Oreo Cookie Contest

May 8, 2014 by Beverly

To all of you who came to my Open Studio and enthusiastically “took a bite” to enter my Oreo Cookie Contest, I want to thank you for your participation and wish you good luck!

Now the process begins to select the top Oreo Cookies finalists. It will be particularly challenging this year since there were so many contestants with creative ideas on how to bite an Oreo. There are almost too many great choices – if such a thing is possible.

The first step is to perfect the lighting across the Oreos. My favorite paintings usually have dramatic interplay of lights and darks along cracked surfaces – and lots of extra crumbs! Then I photograph each cookie for safe keeping.

After many years of painting Oreos, I have found that having a visual record of the initial concept is important. The light in my studio changes dramatically from morning to afternoon, shifting the highlights and shadows, which is not optimal. I have new empathy for the French Impressionists who started their outdoor paintings in a particular place at a specific time of day, and then went back daily at the same time to the same spot until they finished.

Indoor Virtual Studio Tour: Oreo Gallery

September 30, 2020 by Beverly

I could never have a Studio Tour without Oreos. I just couldn’t.

Before the pandemic, I struggled with how to display my smallest Oreo Cookie paintings on 9 foot walls in an open apartment layout (not to mention how to host the Oreo Contest with limited space…).

My Oreos felt too intimate to be floating on huge walls – even the largest one, Cosmic Oreo, at 24 x 30 inches. They needed a more defined space, like the front stairs of my old house in 2018, where Oreo prints and paintings greeted you when you walked in.

Finally, one night the solution came to me after I fell sleep, and just relaxed. Give the Oreos their own gallery! Their own room. A room that was dry enough to hang prints, and where guests would see them.

My Oreo Cookie Gallery featuring *Cosmic Oreo*

I just needed to reframe the issue – and think outside the box. I had an extra room. Not a closet, but the guest powder room! (I bet the toilet paper roll above gave it away…)

When you walk in, this left view, showcases two of my favorite Oreo prints.

And here I am taking a photo in the mirror on the right, re-creating a childhood dream of endless Oreos with the reflections. Ok, it was a nice try…. Using the mirror is the only way to photograph this room without a wide angle lens.

My Oreo Gallery is a work in progress. As I inventory all my paintings in storage, I’m still finding little Oreo paintings that I can’t do without.

Last week I uncovered Stack of Oreos. I knew the perfect spot for this little gem (all 5 x 7 inches of it, oil on panel) was above My Oreo Cookie (6 x 6 inch drawing, unframed).

*Stack of Oreos* Oil Painting and *My Oreo Cookie* Drawing

I hope one day you’ll be able to see the Oreo Gallery in person, and its anticipated additions. With 9 foot ceilings, there is still room to grow upwards as I unwrap more paintings.

Until then, enjoy this virtual tour!

P.S. Did you notice that Cosmic Oreo is a blown up version of My Oreo Cookie?

Day 29. Gina’s Oreo

January 29, 2017 by Beverly

Practice makes perfect. So here’s another Oreo drawing, this one bitten by Gina.

Like Margie’s Oreo, Gina’s Oreo was bitten as an entry into my Oreo Cookie Contest held during my Open Studio. I’m considering doing a painting of this too. Maybe you’re even looking at the contest winner!

I first met Gina Thorne when she walked through the door in 2015. Gina was in charge of programming for the Scarsdale Artist’s Association, and asked me to do a Just Desserts Talk and Painting Demonstration. It sticks out in my mind because I enjoyed speaking in front of a group, especially about art and niche marketing, which you can about in The Sheer Joy of Just Desserts. At moments like these, my yearning to be an artist history professor re-emerges.

This particular Oreo was chosen because of the way it split into 3 pieces, yet it still looks like a classic bite. I’m almost finished with it, but I have to put it down tonight since I’m getting up at 6am tomorrow morning. – and it’s already past midnight. I’m going to the Awakenings Fair in Manhattan.

When I come home from the city, I’ll darken the craggy edges but lighten the dark “hotspot”, put in a little shadow on the white filling, and add more contrast to the rest (aka darken it with a softer drawing pencil). Then I’ll be all set to start my Day 30 painting.

Or maybe I’ll wait a few days so I can start my next painting before my eye doctor’s appointment on Monday.

Unfortunately my eyes will be dilated part of the day, and I won’t be able to paint. If I hadn’t waited months for the appointment, I would have re-scheduled. So my planning finally went a bit awry. I’ll just add this to my lessons learned. No eye doctor’s appointment during a painting challenge!

I have a painting in mind for Day 30 that I simply have to do for myself, and you’ll probably find it intriguing at the very least.

Have I piqued your interest? If so, come back tomorrow.

Day 26. Margie’s Oreo

January 26, 2017 by Beverly

Today was my day to relax and catch up by returning to my food roots with an Oreo drawing. I only had a few hours to work, which didn’t allow time for cleanup and brush cleaning.

“Margie’s Oreo Cookie” by Beverly Shipko, Drawing, 6 x 6 inches

This is my first drawing of this Challenge, and the first in a long time. I must admit to feeling a little rusty and missed having a paintbrush in my hand. I had to dig out my Bristol board pad and soft drawing pencils, although I confess that I still use Old Faithful – my soft yellow Ticonderoga pencil.

After I scanned this image the first time, I made the cookie and logo darker and made revisions so the cracks were more obvious, as they were at the beginning.

I have a long history with Oreos, both eating them as a child and painting them for over a decade.

On Day 2 of this Challenge, I painted Stack of Oreos. Three Oreo paintings from the 2016 Challenge include Oreo in 4 Pieces , Oreo in 3 Pieces , and BlakesBite , the 2016 Oreo Cookie Contest winner for its distinctive bite.

Days 1, 2 & 3 of the 30/30 Challenge, Paintings by Beverly Shipko, Oil on cradled wood panel, 6 x 6 inches

The Oreo Cookie Contest is held during my annual April Open Studio, which is fast approaching. Consider this an official invitation to come and participate in the fun by simply biting an Oreo or two (weekend of April 22nd/23rd). I select my favorite compositions to paint (or draw), and name the paintings after the biters. Each work essentially becomes a personal portrait, like Margie’s Oreo.

A few years ago, I started drawing single Oreos, whose monochromatic color are suited to pencils. During the 2015 Challenge, I explored a Plate of Oreos, which ended up taking more than a day.

End of Day 21. “Graham’s Plate of Oreos” by Beverly Shipko, Drawing on bristol board, 6 x 6 inches.

The drawings evolved into Oreo prints, which have a contemporary look that does well in California. I recently donated an Oreo print to a fundraiser for the Ardsley Foundation for the Visual Arts. Here’s John Charles, the happy purchaser.

Then came Oreo Ma ndala, an original composite print representing 9 of the most distinctive Oreo configurations from the contest. I have this in my house and never get tired of it.

“Oreo Mandala” by Beverly Shipko, Limited Edition Giclee Print, 27 x 27 inches framed, available 20 x 20 inches unframed.

In fact, I gave one to Webmaster Laura as a housewarming gift.

This day flew by unbelievably quickly. I had intended to do so many things besides this Oreo drawing – take a walk, wash my hair, sketch a blueberry cheesecake (having a summer show in Maine) for Saturday, catch up on Instagram, start a drawing for Sunday when I’ll be in the city – all before 5pm. About half of this happened. I can dream, can’t I?

Instead I went to see Godunov’s Romeo and Juliet (and watched them dream!) from the Metropolitan HD Opera at my local movie theater, and loved it.

The best news is that I got a chance to try and reset my body clock by going to sleep earlier. I’ll be bright and shiny for Day 27. See you then!

Oreo Mandala

February 28, 2016 by Beverly

It’s almost that time again. Today I registered for my annual Open Studio as part of the RiverArts Tour the weekend of April 16th and 17th, 2016 – which is coming up fast.

Naturally, I started thinking about what to hang and where, including this Oreo Mandala Limited Edition Print.

“Oreo Mandala” by Beverly Shipko, Limited Edition Giclee Print (run of 150) , Available framed (27 x 27 inches) and unframed (20 x 20 inches)

I love the visual impact of this print. And I love what it represents.

It brings back memories of happy times on so many levels. This print commemorates past Oreo Cookie Contests, which I sponsore during RiverArts Studio Tour, and all the enthusiastic kids and adults who participate every year.

Each Oreo represents a different contestant who joyfully chomped down on a cookie for a chance to win and earn the honor of having a painting named after them.

The lower left hand Oreo was bitten by Maisie, granddaughter of my good friend friend Linda, who shyly bit her entry and quickly put it on the table before she could change her mind. On the second row at the right, we see my friend Carol’s Oreo with its scattered pieces. I can see her laughing as she took a bite and the cookie made a mess – a good thing from my perspective since crumbs are interesting to paint.

I thought a lot about what to put in the middle, and decided to use my own cookie in the center – an image which led to my largest painting on this subject called Cosmic Oreo, currently available at Cavalier Galleries in Nantucket, MA. The central image take me into the realm of outer space, evoking comets and stars in the sky. It also brings me back to the days when I ate all the Oreos I wanted without feeling guilty.

“Comic Oreo” by Beverly Shipko, Oil painting, 24 x 36 inches, Available at Cavalier Galleries

Most of the other cookies are anonymous since participants didn’t leave their name, including the masculine cookie in the lower right which somehow makes me think about floating icebergs.

When I look at this print, I also think about March Madness and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Why, you might ask? Every year I watch the tournament for hours on end, but find it difficult to paint at the same time. I feel badly about all the “wasted” time. Finally, I discovered that I can sketch instead! That’s when I drew the original nine 6 x 6 inch drawings that formed the basis for Oreo Mandala.

The final Oreo Mandala concept was inspired both by a Mandala & Meditation art workshop and a mandala exhibit at the Rubin Museum, where I learned more about how Buddhists used mandalas to meditate and escape to the spiritual realm. I thought deep meditation on Oreo Cookies would provide the ultimate test of one’s ability to transcend earthly pleasures, and Oreo Mandala was born.. As I write this, I can see my recently deceased friend and meditation mentor, Bob Mawson, a Buddhist monk who taught meditation in Thailand and in Tarrytown, NY for many years, smiling down on me.

I hope you enjoy this print as much as I do.

Day 2 of the 30/30 Challenge – Oreo in 3 Pieces

September 2, 2015 by Beverly

Don’t you just love the icing on Oreo Cookies?

That’s what inspired me to paint this Oreo, creatively bitten by my friend Eva Suchow. The white icing is just begging to be licked off!

“Eva’s Oreo Cookie in 3 Pieces” by Beverly Shipko, Oil on cradled wood panel, 6 x 6 inches.

Compositionally, the icing provides a strong contrast to the broken pieces of the cookie. I wonder how Eva bit the top part of the cookie and not the bottom. Certainly there was no other entry quite like it.

Here is Eva just a few moments before participating in my Oreo Cookie Contest, and earning her spot as a finalist. Eva is the lady on the far right in the black sweater, with her husband Steve on the far left, and their friends, Gerri and Stan, from Australia (winning my award for traveling the farthest to attend my Open Studio!).

Yesterday’s Oreo Cookie painting came so easily that I expected the same things to happen today – but somehow it didn’t. That’s why painting is an art and not a science.

Today I started with the same size 6 x 6 wood panel, sketched in the cookie, and used a similar light pink acrylic ground to dull the white primer.

Then I struggled for a few hours applying oil paint – except when I brought out my old bristle brushes for the background, which gave the paint more texture. Maybe I’m simply more tired today. In this photo, I’m working on one of the parts that I labored over – the grooves going around the entire edge of the cookie.

While I’m happy with today’s Oreo painting, I wonder what the day will be like tomorrow. Perhaps Marli’s Oreo Cookie in 4 Pieces from Day 1 came together rather effortlessly because of the graphic quality of the four pieces, all of which conveniently broke into equal sized triangles. It’s something to consider as I move forward and choose subjects for the rest of the Challenge.

Any thoughts? Maybe there’s something I’m missing here. Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us.

Thanks for your help and see you tomorrow!

Day 1 of the 30/30 Challenge – Oreo in 4 Pieces

September 1, 2015 by Beverly

I am addicted to Oreo Cookies. Painting them, that is, rather than devouring them like I did when I was younger.

And so I couldn’t resist returning again to one of my favorite subjects to kick off Day 1 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Day Challenge.

In fact, this isn’t any Oreo. This is one of the many entries I received in my annual Oreo Cookie Contest which I sponsor during the RiverArts Open Studio Tour in April. You are all invited to come over and simply take a bite to enter. I pick the best entries, paint them, and name the paintings after the biters. Marli’s Oreo Cookie in 4 Pieces is one of the 2015 finalists.

“Marli’s Oreo Cookie in 4 Pieces” by Beverly Shipko, Oil on wood cradled panel, 6 x 6 inches

This painting is essentially Marli’s portrait, albeit a non-traditional one, showing her unique bite.

Let me introduce you to Marli herself in the red shirt, who happens to be my next door neighbor. She and her friends Tess, Sydney and Dylan, all came to the Studio Tour (several times, I might add) and participated in the Oreo Cookie Contest (fellow chocoholics?). A good time was had by all, as you can see.

This particular Oreo is unusual since it broke into 4 parts, instead of the typical 2 or 3 pieces. I haven’t seen that for a number of years, and so this distinctive configuration stood out from the many other entries.

There are still a lot of potential paintings left on this table. But despite the best of intentions to plan, I still don’t know what tomorrow’s painting will be. Stay tuned.

If you get a craving for Oreos, be sure and stop by both here and my studio, where I always keep a spare pack of Oreos handy – and a camera nearby.

Day 5 of the 30/30 Challenge – Oreo

January 5, 2015 by Beverly

Last night I felt another Oreo Cookie coming on, so I went with it. Whoever ate this left some really fine teeth marks, didn’t they?

This partially eaten Oreo came from a photo I took during the 2012 Oreo Cookie Contest that I sponsored during the RiverArts Open Studio Tour, an annual event held on the last weekend in April. Everyone who comes to my home studio and takes a bite out of an Oreo is automatically entered. Then I pick a winning Oreo, paint it, and name the painting after the biter – who is unknown in this case since they didn’t write down their name.

Day 5. Beverly Shipko, “Oreo Cookie – Anonymous”, Oil on panel, 6 x 6 inches.

I think it’s safe to say that this Oreo belonged to a child, based on the small teeth marks and creative way the cookie has been bitten in a few places – which is what makes this fun and unusual. The triangular piece of cookie on top somehow makes me think about floating icebergs and continental shifting (aka sea-floor spreading from college geology; a bit absurd, isn’t it?), both atypical associations for an Oreo . What do you think of when you look at this image?

Day 5 felt much better than Day 4 because I was able to incorporate some lessons learned and was psychologically prepared for working on a surface that was less than optimal. Today I put more paint on my brushes, which perhaps you can see in the white filling. I also used finer brushes than usual for the details, which was needed to get into the tiny “craters” on the surface.

At first, it was difficult for me to get started on this Oreo. Instead, I wanted to work on yesterday’s carrot cupcake and build up the texture of the nuts with more paint. However, I realized if I started doing that, time would fly by, I would get started late on the Oreo, and then I would miss meditation class, like I missed Downtown Abbey last night preparing for today (applying the pink ground in acrylic and sketching the image). Keeping in mind the spirit of the 30/30 Challenge, I put the carrot cupcake away in the corner where I wouldn’t see it all day and be tempted (to paint it, not eat it!), and focused on the task at hand – which took great self-control.

It was a good decision. I was pleased with the result and the process (no mishaps today with the velcro, which was a good thing.)

See you tomorrow – same time, same place.

Open Studio 2015

April 29, 2015 by Beverly

Thank you all for coming to my Open Studio last weekend! You helped make it a wonderful weekend event on so many levels.

First of all, it was just plain fun to see old friends and patrons.

And then there were loyal Oreo Contest contestants, like Blake, who came back for another try year after year.

Part of the beauty of being on the RiverArts Studio Tour is meeting new people, and we had a steady flow the entire weekend. My friends Eva and Steve even brought their friends (middle couple) from Australia!

It was such a luxury to spend all weekend talking about art, past and present. We continued the art dialogue we had begun last summer with our first visitors, Barbara and Howard (and their friend Linda on the right), who we met at the Seward Johnson Retrospective at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.

Barbara made the first purchase of the weekend with Jay’s Blueberry Tart.

It was an exciting weekend that opened the door to a variety of potential new ideas and opportunities – everything from future commissions, to a request for private lessons, the possibility of another demo and talk, and an offer to explore the possibility of licensing my images to an upscale clothing company.

A great weekend by any measure. Until next year. But please don’t wait a year to stop by this blog and check in.

Open Studio 2018

July 1, 2018 by Beverly

Welcome to my Virtual Studio Tour!

Thanks to popular demand, I am posting photos from my Open Studio. The original post never made it up since it was scheduled for 2019… (my bad).

It was a glorious weekend! The weather was great, as was the turnout. The week leading up to the Studio Tour was less hectic too than in previous years; we learned from past experience.

This year’s guests were greeted by this Oreo themed display, including oil paintings, pencil drawings and original giclée prints, covering a span of over 15 years. Thank you, Bonnie, for putting together this visually pleasing retrospective. It made quite a first impression, especially for first time visitors.

My studio never looked so clean! I had plenty of room to show my latest vending machine paintings. I discovered I could fit eight 20 x 10 inch panels over the fireplace, which turned out to be the most requested spot for picture taking.

Vending Machine Series by Beverly Shipko

Husband Jay Sloofman, Beverly,our friend Rhonda, Daughters Bonnie and Laura

My friend Linda

Annette and her students

Work was scattered all through the house. At times, it was really packed with visitors. We somehow never get photos of those moments since we’re all so busy… It would have been smart to ask other people to take photos. I guess there is always more to learn…

The Three Muskateers from Central School

Desserts waited in the dining room for guests who were craving sweets after looking at so many food paintings.

The dessert table from Riviera BakeHouse in Ardsley

The very first arrivals

A lot of the fun comes from being surprised by who walks through the door, from different times and places in all of our lives. I’m happy to say the Shipkos were represented by my first cousin Robert, who I grew up with in Detroit, and his son Harrison, who grew up in New York like my two daughters.

Every time I looked at Harrison, I kept seeing my brother Stuart in my minds eye at the same age. It’s funny how strong familial resemblances can be.

I was delighted that my Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates found a happy home with Sarah, who had been admiring it since first seeing the painting in the Hudson River Museum exhibit called I Want Candy.

And I can’t end this blog without moving into the kitchen for the annual Oreo Cookie Contest – where we had the unexpected pleasure of being entertained by Samantha’s amazing flexibility.

Finally, this year was a first when Charli and Jack brought their own work – and gave me an art show! That was just plain fun. I look forward to seeing more of their creations in the future.

As usual, I enjoyed Studio Tour weekend. Thank you all for coming!

Thank you to the team – my daughters, Bonnie and Laura, husband Jay Sloofman, and friend Maritza – for helping make this event a success. I could never do this without all of you! A special shout out to Doug Marouk-Coe and RiverArts® on the 25th Anniversary of the Studio Tour.

P.S. Despite our best efforts, there were several surprises that were out of our control, creating some concern in the weeks leading up to the Open Studio (an understatement…). I leave you with these two photos, when we were working on Plan B, just in case…

Hastings Preview Exhibition for the 2018 Studio Tour

March 28, 2018 by Beverly

On Sunday, Jay and I attended the first Preview Show Reception for the 2018 Annual RiverArts© Artists Studio Tour (aka RiverArts Studio Tour 18), which was held in the Hastings-on-Hudson Municipal Building (through April 28th). Every local artist participating in the Studio Tour can put a painting in the Hastings, Irvington or Tarrytown shows. This year I choose the largest Oreo I have ever painted, Cosmic Oreo, for the Hastings venue.

I come for the art, but stay for the chance to spend two blissful hours talking art with other artists. Here’s what Jay comes for….

Husband Jay Sloofman Digging In

Notice that he headed right for the sweets rather than the other options, which sparked ideas for other paintings.

This year I got a chuckle out of seeing Oreos on the buffet. Maybe Cosmic Oreo influenced that decision, combined with Oreo Mandala from last year, and my annual Oreo Cookie Contest…

The Hastings Preview Show is well attended every year, and the Municipal Building is a wonderful space for a artist reception.

The exhibit includes a variety of media – paintings, drawings, sculpture, etchings, photography and multimedia.

Mosaic, charcoal and painting

Vicky Youngman and her ceramic sculpture, “Breaking Free”

“Trumped” by Neil Lahey

Mitch Goldberg with his etching, “Richard”

Brooklyn Bridge by photographer John Maggiotta

Mosaic by Kristin Javier

Towards the end of the reception, two of my friends asked me to demonstrate Oreo biting before they took their own bites… out of the painting!

Artist Deborah Offner-Freidkin and RiverArts Board Member Kara Kenkeit

For more information on the other two Preview Receptions in Tarrytown (tomorrow, March 29, show ends April 29)) and Irvington (April 17, show ends April 27th), go to the RiverArts Studio Tour page.

The RiverArts Studio Tour itself takes place the weekend of April 21st and 22nd from 11am-5pm. My studio will be open both days. I hope you eat first – but not too much – so you can enjoy the desserts, both real and painted.

2018 Open Studio: You Are Invited!

March 13, 2018 by Beverly

When I came home from visiting Mom in Michigan, a big Vistaprint box awaited me on the kitchen table. I knew what was inside – my 2018 Open Studio postcard invitations. The excitement of opening the box was mixed with a teeny bit of apprehension. Will I like the postcard? Did I choose the right paintings? Are there any typos?

I am happy to report there that I like it, there no typos, and it’s ready for the big reveal. Drumroll please…

Choosing the paintings and deciding on placement for the postcard is more an art than a science, almost like hanging the Open Studio art show itself. I’ve had to reprint (and rehang!) on several occasions in the past.

How many images should be partially eaten sweets vs. whole ones, with and without wrappers and logos, in vending machines vs.on the kitchen? What geography should they come from? The Blueberry Crumble was baked right here in Ardsley by Riviera Bakehouse, while the macarons hail from the DelRey Shop in Antwerp, Belgium.

After selecting the visuals, it’s time to play with balance and placement on the card. For example, I was concerned about the darker vending background overwhelming the delicate tonalities of the macarons. This year there’s even a nod to two healthy snack options with Mr. Peanut and a stalk of broccoli.

What would you choose to satisfy your appetites – both artistic and gastronomic?

Come and decide for yourself the weekend of April 21st and 22nd, from 11am to 5pm. You’re all invited to 36 Sheldon Street, Ardsley, NY 10502. Please bring your friends and family, all ages – especially kids and grandkids who are willing to join in the fun of my Oreo Cookie Contest simply by eating Oreos. I name a painting after the best biter!

Of course, we’ll have a dessert reception to celebrate this milestone year: 2018 is the 25th Anniversary of the RiverArts© Studio Tour. RiverArts© Studio Tour 18 maps will be on hand so you can visit some of the other 80 artists who also will be participating. Or go to www.riverarts.org to print a tour map.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information. If not, it’s time to mark your calendar. I look forward to seeing you!

2017 Open Studio

April 28, 2017 by Beverly

Thank you all for coming to my Open Studio!

For those of you who couldn’t make it, here’s a mini photo-blog tour. FYI. I meant to take an action video once people arrived, but I was too busy – and forgot to ask anyone else to do it.

When the big day arrived last Saturday, Bonnie and I were ready and waiting for our first guests, who arriving promptly at 11:00am.

My studio was amazingly clean, with just one table of oil paint tubes and brushes. I even surprised myself!

This display greeted everyone at the front door, totally arranged by Bonnie. Bravo! My big Confection Obsession painting was in the front hall too.

Confection Obsession by Beverly Shipko, Oil, 36 x 48 inches

With the new white walls, it really felt like a gallery.

And can you guess what got the most comments of all?

The broccoli, of course! Over the mantle and on the easel.

This panel of sweets attracted a lot of attention too.

It’s always fun to see who walks through the door. There’s never a dull moment. Here we are with Theresa, who made the first purchase of the weekend.

Liv of Riviera Bakehouse thoughtfully arrived with a box full of her tantalizing mini-cupcakes for our dessert table (yes, we had real edible desserts!). Perhaps there’s a mini-cupcake painting in my future…

Of course, our traditional donut holes were on hand from Dunkin’ Donuts – ostensibly for the kids, but downed by adults. Naturally, Jay dug right in.

We had neighbors.

Friends.

Loyal fans who come back annually. Somehow Samantha magically grew up into a young lady since last year!

After a whirlwind two days – including an artists party on Saturday night – our last visitor arrived on Sunday. Here’s Kathy, from my Kraft General Foods days. How nice it was to finally sit down and catch up!

And how funny it was that Bonnie looks like her daughter in this photo with all the curly hair.

Oh yes, did I forget to mention all the kitchen action with the Oreo Cookie Contest? We’ll get to that in my next post.

I hope you can stand the suspense.