Day 6 of the 30/30 Challenge – Boston Cream Pie
Today was a very satisfying day. I am happy, both with the painting itself and that fact I finished in time to leave for the New York Philharmonic tonight. I even fit dinner in beforehand.
Day 6. “Boston Cream Pie”, by Beverly Shipko, Oil on panel (smooth finish), 5 x 7 inches.
I believe this painting worked out well for a few reasons. My husband says he likes it Boston Cream Pie because the chocolate glistens and looks like it is actually dripping down the cake. The cake itself has interesting patterns from the flowing chocolate.
Since this subject was more complex than in previous days, last night I spent more time planning, sketching in details, and painting some of the darks to establish the structure (up too late again!). Also, I was using the smooth panel finish that I had in 5 x 7 inches (my 6 x 6 order is on the way) which gave me more control while painting the details.
This morning I had a clear sense of how to approach the painting and accomplish what I needed to do in a limited amount of time. After two hours, I started feeling more confident, like I just might complete this work within the time constraints. I still had a ways to go.
Since there were a lot of warm tones in this Boston Creme Pie, I incorporated cool background tones, and was careful to use different brushes for every color – and wiped them off frequently – so the paint stayed fresh and didn’t get muddy. I admit this was getting harder to do as my work space got messier. Somehow I ended up with two palettes. I need to spend some time cleaning tubes, putting caps back on, and organizing the tubes by color – which will save time in the long run.
As I think about tomorrow, I realize the Boston Cream Pie is a tough act to follow. I am feeling like now is a good time to take a break from desserts and switch to an orchid or Western landscape. However, being a practical person, I recognize that the colors leftover on this palette are perfect for a Dunkin’ Donut painting that I already sketched.
So doughnuts it is for Day 7.
Hope to see you tomorrow. If you are interested in purchasing the Boston Cream Pie, please contact the artist directly at info@beverlyshipko.com.