An ongoing show presented by the California Art Club showcases the dynamic role that food plays in our daily lives, culture and communities—and as a source of inspiration for artists. The 39 small works in Feast for the Eyestake a broad approach to the theme in paintings of delectable desserts, lush landscapes and seasonal harvests from farms, orchards and even the artist’s own backyard.
Brenda Swenson, Some Like It Hot!, watercolor, 15 x 14"
Karen Winters chose a single, freshly plucked artichoke for the subject of her show piece A Delicious Thistle. “I am particularly fond of artichokes and we’ve even grown them in our garden,” says Winters, a native of California where the vegetable thrives. “I like their sculptural forms and interesting textures. Sometimes we’ll let one go to seed just to see the purple thistle emerge.” Winters works in both large and small formats but finds that small works encourage the viewer to draw near and engage with them on a more intimate level.
“With large works, one can stand back and be swept away with big feelings,” she says. “With small works, the painting whispers to come forward and discover its secrets. Both are valuable in the larger context of art.”
Inga Poslitur, Apples in Colander, oil on board, 12 x 9"
About half of the pieces Tom Swimm creates are 12 by 26 inches or smaller. He enjoys being able to complete a painting in one session and that it forces him to adopt a looser, more painterly style. A collector of small works himself, Swimm says, “What I love is getting very close to them to see how they were rendered with a minimum of detail.”
Swimm does not typically paint still lifes and created his vibrantly illuminated bowl of fruit specifically for this show. “It always amazes me how inspiration can hit at the most unexpected time with the simplest imagery,” he says. “I was getting my morning coffee and glanced at the fruit bowl on my kitchen island, and was immediately taken by the light playing on the fruit.” Swimm painted Kitchen Sun later that day.
Brenda Swenson is always on the lookout for interesting subjects at her local farmers’ market, with each season bringing a new bounty of fruits, vegetables and flowers. “The bright, colorful chilies with their waxy appearance in the intense summer sun provided the inspiration” for her show piece, Some Like it Hot.“I was mesmerized by the sharp cast shadows and reflective colors on the chilis and surface of the light-gray crate.”
Tom Swimm, Kitchen Sun, acrylic on board, 9 x 12"
Inga Poslitur didn’t have to venture beyond her backyard to find the inspiration for her still life Apples in Colander. While these apples aren’t very tasty, “when I was picking them up, it reminded me of helping my grandmother harvest apples in her garden when I was a kid,” shares Poslitur. “And nothing tasted better than apples I just picked off the branch! What I liked about the composition are the curves—the large curve of the colander, the medium-sized curves of the apples and the small curves of the light passing through the openings in the colander in the cast shadow. I also liked the color relationship between the green of the apples and the rusty orange of the colander.”
Karen Winters, The Delicious Thistle, oil on linen, 9 x 12"
“Miniature still-life paintings are small treasures that have a rich history of being coveted by artists and collectors alike,” says Elaine Adams, executive director and CEO of the California Art Club. “This holiday season, the affordably-priced masterpieces in A Feast for the Eyes offer perfect gifts for both art enthusiasts and food connoisseurs. These works of art fulfill our artistic as well as culinary appetites.”
With the purchase of a painting of $500 or more from A Feast for the Eyes, which runs through January 21, 2024, the buyer will receive a year-long patron membership in the California Art Club, which may be used by that individual or given as a gift to a fellow art lover. —
California Art Club Gallery at the Old Mill 1120 Old Mill Road • San Marino, CA 91108 • (626) 449-5458 www.californiaartclub.org/feast
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