Food as a Subject

"Breakfast," oil on panel, 9x12

Food has been a subject for painters since at least the 16th century. During the high Renaissance, many painters produced complex paintings of banquet tables groaning with a feast, or huge bouquets of flowers that couldn't be blooming at the same times. The sub-genre of vanitas paintings is a great example of still life from the times, featuring bubbles, skulls, snuffed candles and all manner of visual metaphors for the end of life. 

Still life remains an interesting genre, though considerably less popular these days, and food still figures in its content. These days a still life might contain wine glasses and bottles, vegetables, or whatever, but unlike the days of Cezanne the results seem less popular. 

"Morning Coffee," oil on panel, 6x8

Over the years my own work has included quite a lot of still life. Quite a few years ago one of my exercises was to paint small, quick studies of common objects--still life in other words. Most of those works were small at 6x8 or less so that I could finish them in a short time. The idea behind those works was simply daily practice, regardless. "Morning Coffee" is an example.

"Marcee's Burger," oil on panel, 11x14

 

But food in still life also invaded my larger works. For example, "Marcee's Burger" is a celebration of our daughter's conquest of cooking. Until she made the hamburger in the work above she hadn't successfully done much cooking. 

Painting still life is a good way to work on shapes and color without the problem of a moving subject (like a person).