Month: February 2021

Sweet HeARTs

Happy Valentine’s Day Weekend! There’s no better time to look at boxes of delectably rich chocolates, is there? As I went through the series of three paintings, I was somewhat surprised by what I found.

This blog was triggered by this painting that I basically forgot about since I didn’t have it in hand. I never took a photo of it to put in my digital painting library. After an extended Michigan “art tour”, this Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates painting (oil, 11 x 14 inches) recently made its way back to me.

Mom had this painting hanging in her condo for more years than I can remember, and loved it! Isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is all about – love? It all fit together for her given that hearts are symbols of love. Out of all the paintings I had, she chose this one for her Valentine’s Day present.

It hung to the left of that patio door for more years than I want to remember.

When you get close, you can see the impasto technique that I was experimenting with. It was very loose and free and all about the paint texture.

Impasto Detail of Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates, 11 x 14 inch

While I always liked it, and am pleased to have it again, at the time maybe I felt it was a little rough around the edges compared to the vision I had in my head. I do love revelling in the luscious, thick paint of the impasto style, and return to it every so often.

That realistic vision came to fruition in this Large Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates (Oil, 16 x 20 inches) that preceded Mom’s impasto painting. This composition had so much detail with its 30 chocolates, and back then I had so little time when the kids were little. I confess that my patience was running thin during the execution phase.

Large Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates, Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches

I’m actually surprised that I chose such an ambitious, complex composition as my first painting on this subject. Usually I start more simply and work up to the more complex.

The end was worth it though. I can feel the love that went into it! Apparently the couple that bought it from my Freelance Cafe show in Piermont, NY thought so too. They bought it right away, along with a complimentary comfort food Carrot Cake of the same size to hang as a pair.

Later that year, I explored painting a square mini-sampler box of chocolates. I experimented with different shades of white, always a challenge as you fellow artists know. You can see one of my first crumbs next to the half eaten chocolate.

A few years later, I returned to a smaller version of the Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates (Oil, 9 x 12 inches), also in a mini-sampler. After playing with whites, I was attracted to the contrasting bright red box and its distinctive heart shape.

Since it only had a few pieces of chocolate, I took my time and painted in more detail. The crumbs are bigger and play a more prominent role in the composition. While the texture of the paint is still important, especially in the background, my technique is much more refined. I like the light and cast shadows, and the translucent wrapper. There’s something to be said for practice.

Small Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates, 9 x 12 inches, Oil on canvas,

This little gem was exhibited in the I Want Candy: The Sweet Stuff in American Art at the Hudson River Museum (HRM, 2007-2009), along with Bonnie’s Carrot Cake (in 4 panels). Being a traveling exhibit that lasted several years, this painting saw parts of the country I may never ever see.

Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates also had the honor of being placed next to one of Wayne Thiebaud’s pastels in the catalog.

Afterwards when Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates came home for one of my Open Studios, it found an admirer in my friend Sarah, who remembered it from the HRM show. For many more years, she raved about it and enjoyed it from afar. Finally, several years ago it spoke to her during my Open Studio and she bought it for her collection.

It’s funny because I recently saw this painting hanging in her house. Sarah and I were on zoom with some friends, and the next thing I knew she turned her computer around and showed us Heart Shaped Box of Chocolates. It was like seeing an old friend!

As I write this post, I realized how much pleasure I got out of working on this subject. Maybe it’s time to return to a image with so much HeART.

Finally, Happy Valentine’s Day, Mom! With your painting on display in my apartment, I can’t help thinking of you. You’re in my HeART, especially since you’ve always been such an ardent supporter of my art.

With much love,

Beverly

The Cheesecake Connection

Last week I was doing errands when this photo unexpectedly popped up on my cell phone screen. My initial reaction was relief! Relief that Cranberry Cheesecake had arrived safely in Fayettesville, Arkansas.

With all the storms and post office delays, I was a bit concerned about shipping it halfway across the country and arriving in one piece – even though I had carefully packed it in several layers of bubble wrap. I had read too many recent shipping horror stories.

Then came the realization that my long time friend Carolyn (looking younger than ever!) and I will always be connected by this Cranberry Cheesecake painting!

I was also happy she sent the photo so I can see where it’s hanging in her home off the kitchen. It’s always fascinates me to see in situ photos of my work, and often gives me new ideas.

Then my mind ricocheted to another cheesecake painting, Blueberry Cheesecake, which is hanging close by in the Connecticut home of my friends Carin and Steve.

This half eaten cheesecake originally came from a huge bakery case in Cafe Lalo in Manhattan. Cranberry Cheesecake (from Magnolia Bakery) and Blueberry Cheesecake, as well as Macarons (from DelRey Chocolatier in Antwerp), are from my January, 2017 Challenge, so each painting has its own blog post.

When I visited Carin and Steve, I was delighted to see these little paintings hanging in a beautiful setting off the marsh. I was lucky enough to be invited for lunch on this porch with its stunning panoramic view.

I wish I had this delicious salad that Carin made that day right now!

Just like I know I’ll always be connected to Carolyn, I know I’ll be connected to Carin by a cheesecake – and so much more. We met in business school and have been friends for over 40 years (yikes!).

It’s a good example of synchronicity since Carin, Carolyn and I all worked at Kraft General Foods at the same time. Carolyn and I met in the Maxwell House Division post-business school (a bit under 40 years ago) , and Carin worked in Post Cereals, where I was transferred after Maxwell House.

All three of us marketed food products for a big chunk of our careers. And apparently we are each drawn to cheesecake, which is not a total surprise since we’re foodies, each in our own way personally and professionally.

Now the three of us are re-connected to each other by cheesecake paintings. How fitting is that?