Enjoying Art in the Kitchen

Interior sketching (indoor sketching) can be just as much fun as en plein air.  One idea I like to throw out to students is to consider your fruits and veggies as painting subjects.  Especially during the summer when gardens are over flowing.  Some artists like to photograph their still lifes outside in natural sunlight and that is probably the best way to get the true colors and the wonderful shadows!  But you can also arrange them indoors by using some strong side lighting or good window light.  You can just sit there and sketch them, of course, but most of us have to get on with the cooking!!!  

The ingredients for my grandmother's homemade sweet tomato condiment (known in the family as "chili sauce" because a few hot peppers are added)  looked so beautiful one late summer day that I grouped them before I began to cook and took several shots from different angles.  

This sketch (just a small one about 5 x 7) has led me to wonder if it wouldn't be fun to illustrate recipe cards or a small cookbook for family members for a holiday gift!  So consider photographing your ingredients before you start and see if you don't have some wonderful and meaningful sketch ideas right at your finger tips!   AND think how family members would enjoy having that self-illustrated recipe.  Also wonderful wedding gifts!