The last lone cherry

At group yesterday Mary provided us with a set-up of some hard candies in a beautiful glass bowl. It was fun, challenging and of course kept bringing our conversation back to food. There is no getting away from it. Not only is it a favorite topic that includes recipes, diets, favorite foods, food related incidents (both good and bad), favorite restaurants, memorable meals, etc. etc. etc. but how colorful foods are and how much fun they are to paint.
So, I think the best solution for us is to stop trying to fight it and do all major food groups,(including dessert).

Mr & Mrs C Fly Away

I was gaining weight painting all that food so decided to take a break and finish something non-edible.  Under the creative instruction of Fran Hardy I had learned how to prepare this panel to be car-surface smooth with about 100 coats of gesso and acrylic.  It seemed the perfect place to put my cardinal friends.  Somedays the fine detail work of drawing is really very relaxing and I enjoyed working on this devoted bird pair.  After watercolor, acrylic, graphite and a touch of oil I guess it must be labeled multi-media.  Anyway I varnished it and grabbed it on the way out the door to a book signing.

Now here is the stumper: sometimes we artists work for weeks, even months on something that takes every bit of creative energy and emotion we have to give....and it hangs around and hangs around.  Other days we dash off a little something just for the pure fun of it, experimenting and playing with it...and it is sold before it dries.  Not that I am complaining...just wondering.

Anyway, such was the case with "Mr & Mrs C."  I barely put it on the easel before a lovely lady from Blowing Rock shared the story of her backyard cardinals and had to go home with the piece.  Wonderful.  And very good for the ego and back account.  But sometimes I have to think that as every pot has a lid, every painting has an owner...it's just a matter of connecting.  And maybe a matter of having a little more fun while painting and a little less angst!  Go figure.

Cindy Michaud
http://www.cindymichaudart.etsy.com/

CheeeeeseCake ReDo

We are painting food...yummy sweet food and all for an exhibition we will reveal as details get clarified...but trust me, the goods are as delicious as they look and you will be invited to sample them!!

Here's the rehabilitation of my original cheesecake...I had to abandon painting my breakfasts as I soon learned I paint best on a full stomach and the pressure of not eating til I finished was way too much to bear!!  So I am into desserts...which I do not need to consume.  Cheesecake always seems to have a subtle artistic flair to it....rich, creamy, and decorated.  In cheesecake I definitely go for the "less is more" version.  This is 10 x 10, on canvas and available for hanging...or lusting after....or whatever: no calories!!

Enjoy...more about the showing soon!   Cindy
see more at: www.cindymichaud.com

CUPCAKE DRAMA, 5X7, OIL, CAROL SCHIFF STUDIO

It seems we are to practice baked goods for a little exhibition down the road, so last week Donna Vines did a little set-up with a monster cupcake involved.  I have tried cupcakes before, but without success, so I was very leery of this one.  This is the first one that has survived the dreaded "wipe-out".  Now, maybe I can move on with a little more confidence.

Purchase here

Drawn and quartered

This was the little cupcake I painted to get back into the swing of things. After the painting was finished it was cut into four pieces and happily eaten. I think if I am going to follow in Cindy's footsteps I am going to have to resort to vegetables, there is no way I can paint pastries and not eat them in fact that is all I am thinking about when towards the end of the painting!!

CheeeeseCake: Unfinished!

See why I am not a "Daily Painter?" I can't seem to finish something to my satisfaction in one day!  This breakfast is not done..."Unfinished Cheesecake" is the title and it applies in several ways.  There are some good juicy parts and some, frankly, lousy stuff...but all in good time....the foundation is good and I promise you, it will be completed and look good enough to finish, I mean, eat.  But not all in one day....
see, I am just too easily distracted by the fine details of the rough edge of the pie...I must have painted that part at least 1000 times...none to my satisfaction and when I had a depth of about 1/2" of wet paint, I'd scrape it off and start over again.  Frankly I began to look around the studio for something else to paint on (I love to go back and forth between pieces) and since I took this oath to do one a day....nothing was begging to be completed.

So...I took the dog for a long walk, she chased ducks and geese while I photographed them; she got her feet wet while I snapped future paintings of waterfalls and rocks, then we got an icecream cone and came home to work on the wonky fork......

I'll finish (and post) the cheesecake (it is 10 x 10) but tomorrow I am NOT painting my breakfast and I WILL BE painting on 2 or more pieces at the same time.  Geeze, I thought I had it in me but we are not all created equal.

My highest respect and best wishes to Carol and Carmen who have successfully become "daily painters" in several forums, hats off to you both!  To those who followed my sweat, take a look at the daily painters links....it's a whole new genre.......

Later,
Cindy

p.s. this is not to say that I might not re-challenge myself with this gig....maybe pastels and maybe all 5 x 7's...? we'll see, as always: stay tuned!

Today's Breakfast Painting

Whew!  Nothing fast nor simple about today's breakfast painting...I think I finished it at about 4 pm...still see a few things it needs but hey, it met the daily deadline.  And, truth be known, when I finally declared it done, the peaches did not look as appetizing as they did at 7:30 in the morn.  Good thing I opted to sneak in a little cereal.

The morning light on the deck here is wonderful and makes nice shadows...I remembered to take a photo as there was no way the rising sun was going to sit still for me while I struggled with the colors of the peaches.  This was actually fun to paint once I forgot that they were peaches and just concentrated on (all together now:) "shapes."  Kinda slipped into a trance...

So here's the photo of the day...sans the "extra touches."  Remember, this is all about doing four in a row...since I laid awake last night worried about what I might gather up that qualified as breakfast for today, I have already made my decision for tomorrow: cheesecake!  Not your mamma's breakfast I know but I have a fun piece to paint and maybe if I eat a corner after it is painted it can then qualify as my morning meal.

So enjoy....if tomorrow goes well I might decide to make it five out of five!!  Still haven't done the cereal...
Cheers,
Cindy
p.s. they are getting bigger: this is 8 x 8