I am exhibiting the whole body of dessert paintings in my collection from Riviera Bakehouse, formerly in Ardsley, (now known as The Bakehouse at Tarrytown) this coming weekend:
To help you plan your action packed Artists’ Studio Tour weekend, click here to see a printable map of the 70 participating artists located in the 6 river towns on the Tour – Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Irvington, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.
An interactive map is also available here on the RiverArts Studio Tour site. You can search by village.
Personally, I find the paper map much more useful at this point for planning purposes. You can see the visuals for each artist at one glance. Then you choose the studios you want to visit based on your personal taste. The interactive map might be more useful on the day of the tour as you drive between locations.
Finally, I will have some printed maps available this weekend. And I’m happy to help you plan your tour. Please feel free to email me at beverlyshipko@mac.com if I can help in any way.
GDC and The Lofts has graciously offered up the 3rd Floor Lounge for the show. It’s a large beautiful space with shelves, where more paintings can be shown than in my apartment. GDC (Ginsberg Development Corporation) will be providing food and drinks both days.
Saturday from 2-4 Cheese, Charcuterie and Wine & other non-alcoholic beverages
Sunday from 12-2 Bagels and Cream Cheese, Danish, and Mimosas, and other drinks
Notecards will be available for sale, including Riviera’s signature slanted birthday cake.
Of course, Oreos will be provided for biting (GF Oreos too!). Maybe your bite will turn up in a future painting…
Flowers – video, small paintings and fresh
There will be a running video of my favorite Sogetsu Ikebana arrangements from my weekly online zoom class. Plus I plan on showing at least one Ikebana arrangement – a creative activity that began during the pandemic and is still going strong. It’s like painting with flowers!
Also, some small flower paintings like the Lotus and Orchid will be exhibited, and featured on notecards scattered among the sweets.
Fun – a community of like minded people and a taste of AI
Expect the unexpected. Are you using AI (artificial intelligence)? Hope you’ll share your favorite AI apps with me. And I’ll share what I’ve learned since last year.
I plan to experiment with AI and see what happens. AI has evolved a lot in the last year. This is something relatively new for me. Your guess is as good as mine about how this will come out. Come see for yourself!
Logistics
Tour Maps For the RiverArts Studio Tour Weekend
Over 70 artists in the Rivertowns (Hastings, Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Tarrytown, and Sleepy Hollow) will be participating in this event. You can download a printable map here and plan your strategy. My location is #23 on the map in the Ardsley section, and the other talented, realistic artist in my apartment complex is #22 on the map, Linda Friedlander. Linda is a short walk away in the 3rd Floor Lounge of Building C (1 Mill River Lane). So this stop is a twofer (two artists for the price of one!).
I’ll be updating this post with new information as it become available. I’ll have a few printed maps on hand, and will be happy to help you plan your route.
GPS Directions and Entry
GPS apps can be quirky. If the address in bold above comes up as being in Hastings-on-Hudson, that’s correct. The Lofts complex is on the border between Ardsley and Hastings., about 30 minutes north of Manhattan by car. As if it wasn’t complicated enough, there’s a second address for the building that you could try – 5 Mill River Lane.
The Lofts is located on Saw Mill River Road (west side), one mile south of the Lawrence Street exit off the Saw Mill River Parkway. Go to the northern building in the three building complex (the Lofts has red trim). Park anywhere in front of the buildings, or in the hidden lot on the southern end of the complex by the maintenance shack.
Hopefully the building door will be open. If not, type Beverly into the directory to reach me or call my cell 914-954-7779 so I can buzz you in. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor.
.If you’re coming by train from Manhattan, take the Hudson Line of MetroNorth to the Hastings-on-Hudson train station. Grab a cab or Lyft to The Lofts at 423 Saw Mill River Road. Call me if you have questions.
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Please note: For those of you who have been coming to the Studio Tour in April for many years, Sunday hours end earlier at 3pm.
Feel free to contact me with any questions through email at beverlyshipko@mac.com or by cell at 914-954-7779. You can also reach me on Facebook (Beverly Shipko, Artist) and Instagram (@beverlyshipko).
2024 Studio Tour | Preview Shows
In addition to the main Tour weekend, there will be two preview shows.
Sunday, October 20 from 3-5pm at Hastings Village Hall Gallery, 7 Maple Avenue (for artists from Hastings, Dobbs Ferry and Ardsley). I will have a painting in this show.
Sunday, October 27 from 3-5pm at Shames JCC, 371 S. Broadway (for artists from Irvington, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow)
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This is always a joyful event. It feels like a big celebratory party! Hope you can make it. Bring your family and friends. Everyone is welcome. Feel free to forward this invitation.
Finally, I’m looking forward to seeing all of you art lovers and foodies, and exchanging ideas. See you soon!
For those of you who were unable to join us in May at the Scarsdale Library or on zoom, I invite you to watch the video below of my talk, A Bite-Size View Of Food in Art.
As you will see, the talk covers many highlights of the long standing, irresistible tradition of incorporating food in art, going back thousands of years to the present, including my own work. This bite-size view provides the context of how I see my own paintings, with a brief nod to Ikebana.
A Bite-Size View of Food in Art with Beverly Shipko
This video marks the inauguration of my very own YouTube channel. It was surprisingly easy to set up with Bonnie’s help. Thank you for leading me into the 21st century!
So come take a byte out of my YouTube Channel! You’ll have good time salivating over numerous food images and won’t put on any weight by watching. And as I promised a gentleman in the audience, it won’t raise your insulin levels.
Calling all foodies! You will love this show of over 60 delectable paintings and prints – 90 if you count all the little mounted 5 x 7 and 6 x 6 panel paintings. In a way, it feels like a retrospective. You’ll see everything your heart desires – from cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, candy, vending snacks, fruit, vegetables – except meat (I’m working on that…)
Here I am at the Scarsdale Public Library, enjoying the fruits of my labor.
Thank you to Webmaster Laura for taking this lovely photo when you visited the Scarsdale Public Library last week! When Laura walked in and looked around the big room, she was visibly surprised, almost stunned (which surprised me!). She exclaimed, Wow, Mom! This is great…. This is a giant room and you filled it! …It’s like seeing old friends.
Laura was happy that she came up from the city (she was virtual for the May 7th talk). And you can’t help but be happy at this show. Everyone walks away smiling! 🙂 Especially little kids.
Webmaster Laura with one of her favorite paintings, Patisserie (oil, 36 x 48 inches).
This is a family friendly exhibit. Bring your kids and grandkids, who will be captivated. What smiles they had! Wish I had taken photos. However, permission would have been needed to post them.
Logistics
Additionally, the flyer below has all the details. The library is open 7 days a week, and until 9pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Finally, parking is plentiful. Just in case you want more information, click here for the Scarsdale Library website.
So please stop by to take a bite! The good news is that you have 6 more days to visit. If you would like, I can meet you at the library. Just let me know when.
P.S. This has been a wonderful few weeks. My only regret is that the show has to come down… as all shows do…
I hope you can join us for my Bitesize View of Food in Art Talk and Solo Art Exhibit at the Scarsdale Public Library on May 7th from 4:30-6pm (54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583).
This is a chef’s tour of food in art history from prehistoric and ancient times, the Golden Age of Dutch Still Life, to contemporary art. All in 45 minutes. So are you up for the challenge? I promise it will be entertaining. Only I’ll put on my artist’s beret instead of a chef’s cap. Plus I’ll tap into my aspirations to be an art history professor.
Along the way you’ll see how I view my own work in this context.
A reception will follow the talk. While the official event ends at 6pm, I’ll hang out at the library until 6:30pm.
The exhibit will run from Wednesday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 22.
Registration
Click here to register and scroll down to the bottom. Select your preferred option. Note you can come back and change this if needed, or re-register.
While we are asking you to register, please don’t let this stop you from coming the last minute. Just come right over. The more, the merrier! If you don’t receive the zoom link by 3:30pm on May 7th, please call the Scarsdale Library Reference Desk at 914-722-1302. They will email the link directly to you.
Parking
It’s plentiful!
With Gratitude
Thank you to the Scarsdale Public Library for hosting this event. I’ll begin with a shoutout to a very special lady and friend, Claudette Gassler, Programing Librarian. A year ago, Claudette came up with the idea of a combination talk and solo show. And she waited patiently for my torn meniscus to heal. In addition, thanks to Roberta Ham-Stein, Support Services Administrator/Librarian who helped coordinate the logistics. Last but not least, kudos to David Sadoff, Programming Librarian, who creatively used his tech abilities to make this a hybrid event and bring me out from behind the podium, onto the stage, and into my comfort zone.
Now I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my daughter, Bonnie Sloofman. After a hard day’s work, she is providing refreshments following the talk at the reception.
As always, I appreciate hearing from you. So please let me know if you have any questions, comments or ideas about the topic.
I look forward to seeing you – one way or another – on Tuesday, May 7th at 4:30pm!
It gives me great pleasure to present Chef Bonnie and her extraordinary Thanksgiving extravaganza.
This feast is a labor of love that is several days in the making, but much longer than that in the planning. As a result, we enjoyed this fabulous, mouthwatering spread of 17 dishes that makes me salivate for more… although I admit I already stuffed my face with leftovers twice today…
There are 14 main dinner dishes – Lemon Turkey Breasts Stuffed with Herbs, Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans, Cauliflower Puree, Pears with Goat Cheese and Cranberries, Green Bean Casserole in Cashew Sauce, Cranberry Orange Sauce, 2 versions of Popovers and 2 versions of Bonnie’s Signature Stuffin Muffins (Gluten Free and Gluten Full).
Plus 3 homemade desserts – Apple Pie, Sour Cherry Tart, and Pumpkin Cheesecake that is both gluten free and dairy free – but you would never know it!
And did I mention this whole dinner is gluten free and dairy free – except for one set of Stuffin Muffins and Popovers for the Chef herself? With 15 dishes/desserts to choose from, I’m in heaven! Bonnie thoughtfully separates the two gluten items on the left and the equivalent GF items on the right.
Planning and Grocery Shopping on Tuesday
For the last few weeks. Laura, Bonnie and I have been talking about the menu.
After reaching a consensus, Bonnie made a detailed ingredients list. Since she was cooking in my apartment starting Wednesday, she sent me the list and I started pulling out items that I already had. That way when she wouldn’t come back from the grocery store on Tuesday night with duplicates.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, I ordered a new table protector, and made a Vegetable Ikebana table arrangement during my Monday class. In addition, I made several trips to my storage unit to return artwork from my recent Studio Tour. It was the least I could do.
However, the table stayed like this for all of 10 minutes before I pulled out all my pie pans and utensils, serving dishes, and more – which I am deliberately not showing you. I would rather you remember these two images.
Vegetable Ikebana. The concept in my head was an Ikebana version of a cornucopia.
Prep and Pie Night
Pie Night on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving has been a family tradition going back many years. It’s Bonnie’s time to focus on baking at least 2 desserts. You can read more about Pie Night at Bonnie’s Thanksgiving Feast Challenge 2020!, when she baked and cooked in her own apartment during the pandemic and brought everything here.
This year she made a Sour Cherry Tart and Apple Pie for Pie Night. She started by making the pie dough for both desserts from scratch. The dough quickly went into the refrigerator to firm up for rolling.
Early on she strained the tart cherries, thickened the cherry sauce, and then filled the pie crust.
The Apple Recipe called for Granny Smith Apples. I love tart apples, and cherries too! They make the best desserts.
I wish Mom were here to see this masterpiece of a pie. It looks as good as the ones she and I used to bake together. Our secret was lots of lemon and cinnamon, which has now been passed down to Bonnie and Laura.
Here is the Apple Pie with the top crust on. For the sake of time, she passed on doing a lattice pie crust.
Into the oven they go.
While waiting for the desserts to bake, the Chef made Cranberry Orange Sauce and Butternut Squash Soup to give herself some breathing room on Thursday, the big cooking day.
It’s so interesting to watch as Bonnie cooks and bakes – and posts along the way on her Instagram account @bonniesbitesoflife. There’s a certain rhythm to it all.
Then she put the butternut squash and Granny Smith apples in the Vitamix blender to give it the smooth, creamy texture.
Bonnie also slipped in a quick rejuvenating nap (with all the lights on!) while the pies were baking. This nap was well deserved since she had been teaching in the morning and was already up for 16 hours.
What a difference a nap makes! And what a delicious-looking tart she just took out of the oven! I’m salivating….
Here comes the apple pie.
Now it’s time to clean up for the Big Day before going to sleep. I hate waking up to a bunch of dirty dishes in the sink.
Thanksgiving Day
Bonnie always begins the day by turning on the Thanksgiving Parade. Then she started cooking by soaking the cashews for the Green Bean Casserole from @daniellewalker. Ah, she’s sure got the art of multitasking down as you shall see..
I could barely keep up with Bonnie as she moved from one dish to another, with hardly anything written down.
One could say I was her sous chef, which I like the sound of. In reality, my job was to help her avoid logjams at the blender, mixing bowls, pans, sink and utensils. Thus I hunkered down with rubber gloves and did a lot of washing and scraping. Not as sexy sounding, is it?
Somewhere along the way, this tray of cauliflower florets showed up roasted to perfection for the Cauliflower Puree. I couldn’t resist a taste test.
Then Bonnie turned her attention back to dessert, and to getting the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake into the oven. Thus I got to sample the leftover batter, once I got it off the blender, that is. I savored every minute of this task!
The Turkey
This year, Bonnie bought a 4th turkey breast vs. the usual 3. I admit to being skeptical about whether it would fit in the roasting pan. She was confident it would fit, and it did.
I love the expression on her face as this picks up this slippery turkey breast.
The recipe called for herbs to be stuffed under the skin. She used fresh rosemary, thyme, sage and basil.
Lastly, she added some dijon mustard to give the turkey a pop of flavor.
Then Laura was recruited to mash the sweet potatoes before they could move on to the next stage – the hand held mixer.
Often I forget how many steps there are to these recipes. Below Bonnie is adding the chopped pecan topping to the sweet potatoes to finish off the dish before it does into the oven with the turkey.
After a few hours, and several checks of the meat thermometer, the turkey is ready. Bonnie reports the pan is heavy (“Mom, take the picture already!“)
She took a brief break to pirouette around in her favorite apron (wish I had a video of that!). Bonnie loves the deep pockets. Don’t we all?
Joy!
Look at the absolute joy on Bonnie’s face as she take the popovers out of the oven and assess’s how much they popped! This was one of the best batches ever. They are really tall and fluffy. Success!
Maybe there’s not so much joy in the photo below. Can you guess which popovers are the gluten free ones?
Although this batch didn’t pop like the other one, these little muffins taste fantastic! You would think that they have butter in them when they don’t. These popovers remind me of the Bloomingdales ones I craved for years. When I got up the next day, they were the first thing I ate.
We’re getting closer to dinner! Hurrah! Bonnie is carving the turkey. I took this photo since it reminded me of a Wayne Thiebaud painting where he stuck a big black knife into a roundel of cheese.
It was surprising how fast Bonnie could carve the turkey. Clearly her knife skills are superior to mine.
Once the turkey was plated, it was a signal to start unwrapping the other dishes and place them on the buffet counter.
Photo op time!
“Only be quick about it so we can take our food while it’s still warm!”, says Bonnie. (Note: Besides removing the garbage bag, please remind me to take the sticky notes off the door next Thanksgiving…)
Bonnie always likes photos from up high. Hope she sends me this shot.
Soup’s On!
We started with the Butternut Squash Soup, which was simply delicious!
Dinner Is Served!
At last it was time to dig in for the main course. Very serious stuff…
Well, maybe not so serious….“Mom, enough pictures already! It’s time to eat.”
Menu
Here’s a photo of each dish so this blog can double as a 2023 menu planner:
Lemon Turkey Breast with Herbs (Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Basil)
Quinoa with Apples, Broccoli and Braggs Vinagrette Marianade
Lastly, we come to my two contributions.
Roasted Broccoli with Rosemary and Thyme
Long Grain Rice with Fresh Dill
And here she is, the satisfied Chef.
The Chef’s Plate.
What a big hand I have! That’s a good thing for a sous chef…
The Finale – Dessert!
The unveiling of the Pumpkin Cheesecake.
What an amazing taste and texture this Cheesecake Pumpkin pie has!
I won’t say that Bonnie, Laura and I fight over the this addictive GF dessert, just that we’re on the honor system not to take more than our fair share. But it’s so tempting… I’ve been eating the teeniest slices since Thanksgiving to make my leftovers last as long as possible.
Finally, I have to close this blog with our annual Thanksgiving family selfie. It’s a tradition. As you can see, our Thanksgiving family motto is Let’s Get Stuffed. And so we did. The best tradition of all.
In addition, the tradition continues as we stuff ourselves for several days with leftovers. That could be the highlight of this holiday season… eating so well and not cooking for several days afterwards.
Food for Thought
After looking over the photos and thinking about all the dishes, I realize what an extraordinary meal this is. I know I’ve said this before in Mother’s Day: A Ballet of Flavors, but watching Bonnie put this together is a unique experience, like watching a choreographer arrange a dance. This is described more eloquently in the blog.
Bonnie, now I’m talking directly to you. You performed like the veteran food artist you are, and are in control of every step along the way. Even when things go awry, you calmly make adjustments but don’t lose your cool. These impressive character traits serve you well in cooking, teaching and, most importantly, in life.
This is truly a fabulous feast – and fabulous feat too! Thank you, Bonnie, for making this day so exhilarating and memorable.
In case you missed the Food For Thought Exhibition Opening last week, please join us at One Martine Gallery for the White Plains#SeriousFunArtsFestGallery Hop thisThursday, October 13th from 6 to 9 pm.
Food For Thought is featuring 29 of my paintings and prints through Thanksgiving Weekend (Sunday, November 27th), along with the delectable artwork of Nancy Cohen and rich still life photography by Andre Baranowski. Three of my vending machine paintings are showcased in this window display – of which I am very proud! (I can’t help myself…).
Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 to 6pm, Sundays 12-5pm, Closed Mondays.
I am very excited about this evening re-opening, which is easy to be now that I’ve seen the show.
Webmaster Laura says this is my best show yet (of course she’s a bit biased, but it’s fabulous to hear!). The spacious gallery has a contemporary Manhattan vibe. Plus the entire exhibit is beautifully designed by Walker Manzke, Director of One Martine Gallery. Thank you, Walker!
Invitation
Here’s is the official email invitation.
Plus Gallery Hop Night is FREE and includes a total of 3 gallery locations all within walking distance of each other, one of which is One Martine Gallery.
One Martine Gallery (located at 1 Martine Avenue), is a new gallery in downtown White Plains, New York, within walking distance of the White Plains train station. If you’re driving, see the parking directions at the bottom of this post.
In addition, the Gallery Hop is part of a much larger Serious Fun Arts Fest 5 Day event in White Plains running from October 12 to 16, sponsored by Arts Westchester and presented by Montefiore Einstein. Specifically, it includes everything from concerts to live mural painting, a public art walking tour to dancing in the streets. Click here for more information.
While the official Gallery Hop time is 6 to 9 pm, I will be there closer to 5:30pm to greet people coming directly from work.
Normal gallery hours are: Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 to 6pm, Sundays 12-5pm, Closed Mondays. Food For Thought runs through Thanksgiving weekend.
Parking and GPS Instructions
Since I got a lot of positive feedback from my previous parking instructions, I am repeating them again here.
One Martine Gallery (not to be confused with the apartment complex 1 Martine at City Square on your GPS device) is located on Martine Avenue, a one way street going south towards the White Plains train station.
The parking garage entrance is just past the gallery as Martine starts to curve to the right towards Bank Street. You can see Seward Johnson’s statue of an embracing couple right before the driveway. See below for a photo and parking instructions provided by the gallery.
Finally, if you pass the entrance, don’t panic! Simply keep going around the block and try again. I found the entrance easily the second time – and that was without this photo.
You are invited to the Opening Reception of a two woman show all about my favorite subject – food!
The exhibit features over 20 paintings and prints of my work, including my latest and largest vending paint, Food Choices.
Food for Thought opens on Thursday, October 6, 5:30-7:30pm, at One Martine Gallery (located at 1 Martine Avenue), a new gallery in White Plains, New York, within walking distance of the White Plains train station. If you’re driving, see the parking directions at the bottom of this post.
I like what is written in the official invitation below, “Food sustains our bodies as art sustains our soul.” So this is your big chance to get a lot of sustenance – not to mention a sugar fix! The show continues throughout October.
Nine 6 x 6 Challenge Panel Paintings, mounted on black board (24 x 24 inches) with velcro, by Beverly Shipko
I am exhibiting with Nancy Cohen, a talented painter who also shares my predilection for sweets. And if you want to see more of her work, go to Nancycohenstudio.com.
Candies, 20 x 20 inches, Oil on linen, by Nancy Cohen.
PARKING
One Martine Gallery (not to be confused with the apartment complex 1 Martine at City Square) is located on Martine Avenue, a one way street going south towards the White Plains train station.
The parking garage entrance is just past the gallery as Martine starts to curve to the right, with the Seward Johnson’s statue of an embracing couple right before the driveway. See below for parking instructions from the gallery.
Finally, if you pass the entrance, simply keep going around the block and try again. I found the entrance easily the second time – and that was without this photo.
Sometimes we have to take some time to catch our breath and celebrate our achievements – no matter how large or small. And today I’m doing just that.
I almost titled this blog Finished! because that’s what I’m celebrating today – the completion of this painting. These days we are often so preoccupied with our chaotic world that we can be unfocused and leave projects half done. I am proud to say I got “in the zone” and finally finished Food Choices (formerly called Choices)!
Food Choices, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36 inches
It’s now hangs in the place of honor over my couch.
Temporarily, the painting of a Box of Dunkin Donuts that was here for 3 years is “on break” until I figure out where to put it.
A Lot of Firsts
At 36 x 36 inches, this is one of my larger painting, similar in scope to my Bakery Display paintings. There are a lot of firsts here. Certainly it’s my largest vending machine painting to date. It also has the most food items (20) and most logos (15). So many logos! It’s the first time I attempted bananas, carrots asparagus and corn. Obviously it’s the first time I put them together in one image. When I began this painting, I didn’t realize how ambitious a project it was.
Nor did I realize all the intervening events that would keep me from finishing it. I started it when we were living in our spacious house where there was a dedicated room for my home studio. Unfortunately, I had to dismantle my home studio to stage the house for sale while going through a divorce. The unfinished painting was relegated to a display easel in the family room before going into a storage unit for more than a year.
Eventually I retrieved Food Choices and brought it into my much smaller apartment. In order to take up where I left off, I first had to figure out a whole new way of working creatively in a modest, compact space. No more sprawling trays of paint tubes for me! It has been a struggle to adjust. After commiserating and brainstorming with other artists about this common challenge, I eventually got into a flow and finished it.
A Blast From the Past
As I just proofed this post before publishing it, I realized that there’s a song running around in my head, Celebrate The Moments in Our Lives!, the tagline from a General Foods International Coffees (GFIC) campaign I worked on years ago. It’s funny how it stuck in my subconscious when I wrote the title to this blog – Celebrate the Moments.
In this particular GFIC commercial, a major lifecycle milestone was celebrated, the birth of a baby. But we don’t have to wait for these infrequent, monumental events to acknowledge our accomplishments. We can all benefit from stepping back and giving ourselves credit for more common and modest events that we are proud up – like the birth of a… painting!
For weeks I’ve had this odd feeling that there’s a special anniversary I have to remember in October. I looked it up both in my hardcopy birthday/anniversary book and digital contact file, and found… nothing.
It took a while, but last week it finally hit me. The date I was trying to remember was October 27th, and it is Debbie and Mike’s anniversary! A few years ago, Mike commissioned me to do this vending machine painting as a surprise gift to his wife on their 6th wedding anniversary – which was their candy anniversary! Who knew?
“Candy Anniversary”, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 10 x 20 inches, by Beverly Shipko
At the time, I kind of kicked myself for not knowing the 6th anniversary was the candy anniversary given my confection background in advertising (a marketing opportunity missed!) and my addiction to painting candy.
Looking at Candy Anniversary now, I am pleased with how this vending machine painting came out. Maybe it’s because I can feel all the love that went into it. There isn’t anything I would change, and I can’t say that about all my paintings. As my mother used to say, artists have high standards and are a tough bunch to please, especially when it comes to their own art.
The Process
Mike gave this painting a lot of thought.
Once we decided on the size, I ordered a specially stretched gallery wrap canvas (1 1/2 inches deep) from SoHo Art Materials in New York City since Ampersand no longer makes a 10 x 20 inch canvas. This was the first time I used a canvas stretched on aluminum stretchers (vs. the typical wood stretchers) so the panel would never warp, and framing is truly optional. A real advantage. I’ve had many a canvas warp in me through the year.
From an artist’s perspective, aluminum is much heavier than wood to carry and transport (4 of these were very heavy!), which will increase shipping costs. I don’t know what’s more expensive – the cost of a frame or the incremental cost of shipping. Fortunately Mike picked the finished work up.
His vision was to use bright, colorful candies like M&M Peanuts and Reese’s Peanut Buttercups that they both liked to eat. Then Mike focused on making it personal and meaningful by embedding their wedding date, 10/27/2012, into the vending machine visual. The prices are the same as in 2012 when they were married. Note that when I painted my first vending machine in 2015, candy bars already cost $1.25.
Sketching is a critical step in any commission since it’s easy to make changes in pencil that won’t be visible in the final painting. As you can see above, initially I put in the anniversary date in a prominent place where it was easily readable.
Mike had a different concept in mind, more of a subtle “Easter egg” that you might not notice at first. (FYI. The term “Easter egg” in this context refers to a secret message, joke or screen buried in a software application; in this case a painting.) We moved the anniversary date under the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, where it is partially covered by the wrapper.
Once the sketch is approved, I start by painting the black acrylic background, as I have in previous vending paintings. I prefer acrylic to oil for the background since it has less texture and better simulates the smooth black metal of vending machines.
Notice that I take the painting off the easel to paint on a flat table. Usually it takes several thin layers of black acrylic paint to obliterate the texture of the canvas – and knock out those telltale little white spots that you would never find on a vending machine. This gives me more leverage to paint the details and avoids dripping onto the images.
I start with the logos in the center and move outward, defining the salient features of each bar, which also minimizes the chances of smearing the logos. The challenge is always to find a dry spot to brace my hand. That’s another advantage of using the acrylic background – it dries completely in an hour or two and offers a “safe haven” for bracing. Then I moved to the rest of the wrappers.
At this point, I’m refining the logos and doing little touchups. I like how the dimensionality of the bars comes through. Mr. Peanut M&Ms looks like he’s alive!
And here is Candy Anniversary in its new home.
Happy 9th Anniversary, Debbie and Mike! I certainly will remember the date next year. It’s forever printed on my psyche.
Hope the 9th anniversary is as sweet as the 6th. Next year your 10th anniversary is aluminum or tin. Maybe there’s a Warhol-type Campbell’s Soup Can painting in your future…
Wishing you love, laughter and happiness for many years to come.
Something new and exciting crept onto my dinner plate tonight. And it’s an exuberant yellow and orange.
Here’s the backstory. Maybe you won’t be so surprised if you have read More Joy.
There’s been a silver lining for me during this pandemic.
Over a year ago, my sister-in-law, Leslie, reached out and asked if I would be interested in taking an Ikebana class from her over zoom, which she was trying to teach with for the first time (as was everyone when the pandemic began). Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. I jumped at the chance to study Ikebana with her! And I asked my friend Carin if she wanted to join in the fun. There’s 5 of us on zoom every Monday morning, including Leslie.
For years, I’ve admired Leslie’s Ikebana arrangements from afar since we never lived on the same coast, let alone the same city. Leslie took her first Ikebana class after college, when she lived in Japan with her husband Leigh, who was stationed there for a few years.
I have been deeply touched by this class, which could perhaps be described as a mini-addiction – only rivaled by my obsession with painting food.
During class, Leslie has wondered out loud several times how Ikebana was going to affect my painting. So have I.
I have painted flowers before in my pre-food years. They tend to be focused, single images. One of my favorite flower paintings is hanging in my daughterBonnie‘s apartment. Purple is still her favorite color.
“Iris“, by Beverly Shipko, 1980s, Acrylic, 36 x 24 inches
During my small 30 Day Painting Challenges, I interspersed flowers among my subjects. I have always enjoyed flowers and admired Georgia O’Keefe’s bold images since I was a kid. You can read more about each of my flower paintings below – Sunflower, Peony, and Tiger Lily.
“Sunflower” by Beverly Shipko, Oil painting on panel, 6 x 6 inches“Peony” by Beverly Shipko, Oil painting on panel, 6 x 6 inches“Tiger Lily” by Beverly Shipko, Oil painting on panel, 6 x 6 inches
When I recently spotted a clamshell package of brightly colored edible flowers at a new local grocery store, Mom’s Organics Market, on an impulse I bought it.
Soon I discovered how much fun it is to liven up the plate with different colors and textures, and to cluster the flowers together as I do in my Ikebana arrangements. I laughed out loud when I realized I was playing with my food – something we discouraged the kids from doing when they were little. And I was having such a good time!
At the moment, I don’t know how Ikebana will affect my future paintings and body of work. However, I am excited to see the two worlds of Flowers and Food finally come together on this unconventional purple canvas that we call a plate.
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.
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?
My New Years’ present to myself is to resume work on Choices, an ambitious vending machine painting that I began two years ago.While I was in the middle of it, I had to dismantle my home studio to sell the house and downsize. Then Choices went into storage for an extended period.
Vending Machine Series: Choices, by Beverly Shipko, Acrylic and Oil Painting, 30 x 30 inches, Work-in-Progress
From the outside looking in, this 3 x 3 foot painting looks finished, and my neighbors keep telling me it must be almost done. Even my youngest daughter, Bonnie, and artist friend, Linda, thought so.
But it’s not. I mistakenly bought into the party line that it was almost done. I was disappointed.
Here’s what happened.
I decided to paint the top row of chips. Often I find it’s best to work in oils from the top down so I don’t smear the paint below when I brace my hand on the canvas.
Signaling my serious commitment to painting, I put on one of my favorite CDs, Aaron Copland’s inspiring Celebration (yes, I confess I still have quite a CD collection, which is great when the power goes out.)
And I cranked my easel as low as it would go to bring the chips down to eye level. The beauty of a crankable easel is its ability to reach the tallest parts of large paintings without standing on a step stool – which resulted in several mishaps in the past, most recently January. It was the best art purchase I ever made! I would highly recommend making the investment in a easel with a crank by Mabef to all of you painters. (Tip: Find a big sale at an online art supply store.)
Alas, now that the top row of chips are at eye level, I see how rough and sketchy the chips are, especially the graphic Cheetos package. Previously, I had been looking at this painting but not seeing or processing its interim status.
Ok, I was prepared for the chips. But what I wasn’t expecting to find – under direct sunlight – was that the black acrylic background had lots of little white canvas spots peeking through everywhere at an unacceptable level. I shifted gears and spent two days repainting the black acrylic background.
After finishing the background, I had to face the unpleasant fact that the black vending rings are barely sketched in. My eye saw the rings the way I wanted them to be, rather than how they are. Painted very tentatively and barely there. Fragile. Hardly looking like strong metal vending rings.
Unfortunately, it had been so long that I didn’t remember if I used acrylic or oils. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, oil-based paint and water-based acrylic don’t mix – like oil and water. Oil paint can go over acrylic, but acrylic can not be painted over oil.
I thought I could tell the medium by feeling the surface since oil has more texture, at least the way I paint.
Since I couldn’t feel much texture, I tried acrylic on the rings. Alas, the paint pooled up and I knew I guessed wrong.
At this point, my assessment is that I’m 60-70% finished. Way lower than I thought before starting.
I knew I had to paint all the rings before I could move onto color. As anyone who has tried to paint ovals and circles knows, capturing these shapes with flowing lines in the right perspective on a slight textured canvas is difficult. Even my hero, Wayne Thiebaud, slips up once in a while. Note the awkward angle of the spiral topped cake.
The rings require the most concentration.
They are such an integral part of the rhythm of composition. The rings have their own reflections, cast their own shadows on the packages, and reflect the colors. I used to paint them last, but I learned that painting them earlier in the process – in acrylic – results in a more integrated composition. Unfortunately, one slip of the hand often means a major repair job on the oil-based package. After conquering the rings, I’m confident the rest of the painting will come more easily.
Don’t get me wrong, I can handle the rings. But I would much prefer working on paintings with one big ring per canvas as in this ongoing vending series.
Now I don’t have to wonder what I’m going to do this holiday week.
My new goal for rest of New Year’s week is to finish all 20 rings using Ivory Black and Titanium White oil paint, which will be a major accomplishment!
Of course, the rings will need additional touchups once I start applying color. That’s part of the process.
For now, it’s somewhat fitting that painting them is how I’m ringing in the New Year.
We’re coming full circle, and I hope that means much peace, joy and health for you in 2021. Happy New Year!
I had a fabulous time on Thanksgiving 2020 – despite eating with my kids over Zoom – thanks to Chef Bonnie’s extraordinary culinary and planning skills.
My family and friends were almost afraid to ask about my Thanksgiving since they knew I would be eating alone. But the thing is, I didn’t feel alone at all! It was actually fun! I had plenty of company… starting with our traditional “Let’s Get Stuffed” family mascot… who was soon replaced as you can see here…
My Tablemates – Flat Laura and Flat BonniePLUS their zoom equivalents!
You might be wondering why the chairs say Flat Bonnie and Flat Laura. This was inspired by the Flat Stanley series of books, which Teacher-Chef Bonnie told me about, and Flat Stanley’s worldwide traveling adventures. The concept fit Bonnie’s 2020 Thanksgiving Feast very well since it was a traveling event. FYI. Here’s the official Flat Stanley 50th Anniversary template, if the spirit moves you to make your version.
Bonnie was determined to cook her usual feast, without any compromises – especially when it came to her signature popovers. She willingly undertook the challenge of cooking in her Manhattan galley kitchen and bringing the entire meal to me, with Laura’s help.
There were 4 basic phases to this traveling Thanksgiving event, both in Manhattan and Ardsley, N.Y. 30 minutes north of Manhattan.
Baking on Pie Night
Cooking the feast in Manhattan, which actually started 2 weeks earlier with a few side dishes (soup, cranberry sauce) that were frozen in advance.
Delivering the entire dinner to me in Ardsley, and sampling the desserts (yes, this is backwards, but it’s 2020 and the chef needed her sugar fix)
Driving back to Manhattan, baking more popovers, warming up dinner, and zooming with me. And taking lots of photos along the way!
Now for the details, and the devil is in the details.
Here’s Bonnie in 2020 rolling out one of the pie crusts on the big folding table that functioned as Bonnie’s living room work station, on loan from sister Laura for the big event. And then we can see the fruits of her labor.
Bonnie’s extended kitchen for the dayPumpkin Cheesecake Fresh Out of The OvenCherry Pie Filling on Bonnie’s New Non-Stick Miracle Pan from Our PlaceBonnie putting the finished almond touches on the Cherry Pie
Plus she made a Lattice Apple Pie. Bonnie always did like weaving loop potholders as a kid. Now she’s moved on to bigger and better things!
Phase 2 began on Thanksgiving Day, when Bonnie moved into high gear to cook her signature side dishes like Stuffin Muffins (3 versions this year!), which she had started prepping the night before. It’s a good thing Laura brought over such a big table!
Bonnie made the popovers in 2 shifts, which didn’t hit me until I saw these photos, the first round below being the GF popovers for me in Ardsley. I had just assumed the cooking was finished before they left. Wrong!
Then she got to work on the Stuffed Pears with Goat Cheese and Cranberries..
For the main course, Bonnie made her Lemon Herbed Turkey Breasts, which are amazing leftovers that seems to get more flavorful with age – if that’s even possible!
I’m always impressed by Bonnie’s ability to stuff all these herbs under the skin without ripping it. I don’t know how she does it! I tried it… once….
Usually I’m in the kitchen cleaning up after the chef, but this time I was home watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (surprisingly good for a pandemic event without spectators!) and reading a book, far removed from all the action.
All day I was salivating at the prospect of getting a home-cooked Thanksgiving Day Feast delivery from Bonnie and Laura.
Finally, after a whole day of cooking, Bonnie shifted into Phase 3 and loaded up her cart full of food, and drove the 30 minutes to Ardsley. Where did all this energy come from? Ah, to be young again!
Finally, they arrived with food in hand!
Here’s she comes!Bonnie jumping the fence to get to my patio. I always chuckle when she does this.
I introduced the girls to their dinner stand-ins for the first time. Laura conveniently dressed in teal to match Flat Laura and make it feel more real.
Bonnie and Laura meet their doubles.
Bonnie started unloading all my Pyrex containers that she picked up two weeks ago. This time they were full of delectable food! I don’t know how I stopped myself from doing a tasting right then and there.
She arranged everything on my kitchen counter, with the side dishes appearing one by one.
Butternut Squash SoupSweet Potatoes Casserole with Pecans Green Bean Casserole with Crispy ShallotsRoasted Garlic Mashed CauliflowerStuffin’ Muffins (Gluten Free Version)Brussel Sprouts with GrapesThe Lemon Herb Turkey EntreeHomemade Cranberry SaucePopovers (Gluten Free Version)Sour Cheery-Almond Pie recipe from the Food Network Magazine, with a GF pie crust from Danielle Walker.Pumpkin Pie “Cheesecake” (which I savored for a week afterwards!)Lattice Apple Pie from Against all Grain (the flakiest crust yet!)“Here it is, Mom. Happy Thanksgiving!”Bonnie carefully documenting everything for her Instagram @bonniesbitesoflifeThe desserts before they were attacked…
Then Bonnie surprised me by unexpectedly announcing we were sampling the desserts before she and Laura drove back to the city. The chef said she was hungry and couldn’t wait any longer to sample her wares. Besides, it was already 7pm.
Bonnie served all 3 desserts to each of us, and we ate in different corners of the apartment – with the windows and the patio door completely open, fans on to get the air flowing, and the diffuser running with powerful anti-viral essential oils. I am proud to say we were CDC compliant.
While Bonnie was serving, I greedily gobbled my plate up. How’s this for a future painting?
They left me my one-third share of each dessert, which I used as a reward after walking every day the following week.
My hunk of the Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake. Wish I had that now!
Of course, I had to take photos of the partially eaten desserts for future paintings.
You can tell that leftie Bonnie cut this pie.Here’s my potential composition.
Then the kids packed up the remainder of the desserts for the trek back into the city.
And I waited patiently… sort of…
We’re now into Phase 4, where the kids did a repeat set-up in Bonnie’s apartment. Little did I realize how Bonnie had so thoughtfully choreographed the entire evening. I was given permission to eat the soup while waiting for the formal dinner festivities to start.
The kids set their table with soup at the same time.
Then silliness began.
After the soup course, Bonnie made two more rounds of popovers, one GF for Laura and a gluten pan for herself. FYI. My popovers were GF and dairy free.
Admittedly I was a bit sad that I was missing the real life big reveal, the moment when Bonnie pulled her signature popovers out of the oven – until I saw these epic photos around midnight. Even now looking at this photos, Bonnie’s unbridled popover joy shines through, and I get my warm fuzzies.
At the time, I wouldn’t figure out why I was being asked to wave.
Finally, dinner is served! We were all instructed to load up our dinner plates with each dish.
Bonnie’s dinner plate in ManhattanMy dinner plate in Ardsley
We sampled many of the dishes together, from the pecan sweet potato casserole, to the moist turkey breast with cranberry sauce with just the right amount of tartness (Bonnie has it down to an art), to the second round of desserts.
Bonnie’s Instagram story at @bonniesloo told it all. Here is her summary of the 2020 Thanksgiving Challenge in a nutshell:
And eat together we did – joyfully and gratefully. I am so lucky the girls are both close by.
What I’ll always remember about 2020 is that Bonnie took the Thanksgiving Challenge and excelled on so many levels – the initial idea, the planning, the execution, the humor and the love. So much thoughtfulness and love went into this 2020 Thanksgiving that I felt like we were together the entire time – even though we spent less than 30 minutes in my apartment!
It was the most unique, creative, clever Thanksgiving ever, while maintaining so many of our family traditions. As the same time, we were CDC compliant! I will always remember how happy we were despite the health challenges of the times.
Of course, I’ll end this blog with our Official 2020 Thanksgiving Day Photo.
2020 Thanksgiving Day Challenge Photo
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this was the best day of 2020.
Thank you, Bonnie, for willingly, lovingly, and so skillfully taking up the 2020 Thanksgiving Challenge!
