More brilliant career history, since you loved the Bocuse story. I got involved with The James Beard House because I fell in love with fancy plating while at a French spa, Les Pres D'Eugenie les Bains. I took a cooking tour visiting New York's top restaurant kitchens when I returned.The leader suggested I volunteer at the James Beard House so I could learn to plate on the site.
This chef is 'plating' = creating beautiful plates for the diners. He is making sure every plate is perfect and delectable.That's how I joined the Beard House parsley chopping brigade.
The chefs perform in the kitchen like theater. They dance around like Baryshnikov, working in unison. I loved sketching them. But plating is HARD WORK, and first chance I got, I switched to shooting the chefs.
Watching the chefs move around is like being at a life drawing class... I was dying to draw them! As soon as I got home I'd start sketching and next day I'd shoot off my sketches via fax into the chef's kitchens.
I became the Toulouse Lautrec of the kitchen. I met every chef in the food world and I drew ✏️ them.
But painting those chefs caused me such weltschmerz /world-pain. Finally a week before the opening of portrait show I figured it out. I painted multiple drawings on a toned ground canvas like old master drawings. Plus I added their signatures for texture.
I loved painting chefs from the back especially...so much character is revealed from the back view.I almost forgot. Part of the hard work of photographing the chefs dancing in the kitchen, was shooting these gorgeous plates. AND eating them. The top dish is a roasted peach filled with berries and ice cream. The bottom dish looks like fish + chips, but is really Rattlesnake + chips. All part of the job of shooting the chefs. More on my brilliant careers to come.
You amaze me.
ReplyDeleteIs there any other secrets up your sleeves?
Any magazine covers?
my favorite
ReplyDeleteis the red-aproned dish-washer...
the bits of bright color,
the black & white tile wall.
perfect!
the story from the back
tells it all, i think.
did you turn it into a poster?
:-)
This is fantastic. I'm with Corey, you amaze me.
ReplyDeleteIt's all part of that Exuberance of yours! None of this would have happened without your energy and willingness to take risks and invest yourself. I love these stories.
Your Talent is showing. ;-) I agree with everyone else... these are fun and it really shows your debth as an artist. And I loved the dish washer in color.
ReplyDeleteCris in OR
You have an ability to transport us right into the picture. I love it.
ReplyDeleteOne of those posts of yours one can't savour enough in only one sitting (I don't mean on this sofa!.
ReplyDeleteFor now, I know which paintings are my favorites: the multi-drawings on a toned ground a bit like old master drawings.
Carol, I think that drawing of the dishwasher is just fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could get a deal with a home decorating company or perhaps Hallmark or a poster company to have it printed and sold in every Wal-Mart in the world. It's got great color, and the topic is so humorous it will appeal to everyone that has a kitchen!
You go girl!
Reminds me of the old ads one can find on cards and posters. I would not be surprised to see your drawings and watercolors illustrateing an upcoming cookbook. So much talent!
ReplyDeleteThey are fabulous! And what luck getting to eat the food as well, aside from the rattlesnake that is!
ReplyDeleteI love these chef drawings! They are very Toulouse Lautrec, with a touch of old Vogue fashion drawings! Absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Merisi, those drawings on toned paper are fabulous. Very dynamic with the simple lines and the strokes of white. Your line is vey T-Lautrec in these.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine how much fun it must have been drawing these chefs!
I love these drawings of the chefs! You've done such interesting and beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteYou're so fun and talented Carol.
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me too!!
I can't wait to see Ratatouille! Thanks for the review and the sneak peek.
What an intersting time this must have been~ you are one talented gal! I love the work!
ReplyDeleteI always find one of the most entertaining questions to ask people I'm getting to know is "what is the wackiest job you've ever had?" It invariably brings on a good story. I have a few of my own, but yours are great, CArol.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is great!
ReplyDelete