And the winner is…. COFFEE. I’ve been studying this carefully, and I have to go with coffee. Why? Well, it’s more ubiquitous that booze, the runner-up. You can always get coffee in a bar, but except for maybe, say, 75% of the diners and coffee shops in New York, you’d be hard-pressed to find beer in a typical java joint.
Also, caffeine is more benevolent than alcohol. Beyond killing a good night’s sleep, very little bad arises from coffee use. In fact, since the Sons of Liberty dumped the tea in the harbour back in 1773, it’s widely been our upper of choice. It keeps us working like good little bees. It’s the All-American drug, folks, and I’m “using” right now.
I’m doing a painting each day this month. 30 paintings in 30 days. Being November, the Month of the Feast, the theme is Things We Love to Eat and Drink.
A painting a day, and yes, they’re for sale. And they’re affordable: $99, which includes free first-class shipping. You can order on my Etsy store by clicking here. Check this blog every day (or the Etsy store) to see the new painting du jour. Each one will be 5″ by 7″ on sturdy illustration board, and made with watercolors, gouache paint and ink.
I’ll need some content, folks, so if you have any suggestions for good subjects, leave a comment or write to me at john@tebeau.com. What goodies would you like to see memorialized as art? What’s your favorite comfort food? Your most-loved childhood treat? If you moved away tomorrow, what local specialty would you miss the most? And, looking ahead, what other themes would you suggest?
Tomorrow’s painting: The Ocean State’s favorite cooler.
Yesterday’s painting: “Pop Corn.”
7 comments
I like this 30-day idea VERY much. It has much in common with NaNoWriMo, wherein people write a 50k novel in a month.
But also, it reminds me of a university study (and I can’t remember where I heard it). Art students were given clay and divided into two groups. The first group was told to make one perfect pot. The second group was told to make 100 pots of any quality whatsoever. The second group turned out many, many perfect pots (and many many imperfect ones). The first group turned out nothing! The quest for the one perfect pot paralyzed them.
I am therefore thrilled that you’re making 30 paintings in 30 days, because I know that many of them will be perfect.
Margaret, NaNoWriMo was part of the inspiration for this exercise. I was very impressed!
I didn’t even like coffee until John taught me about vanilla lattes — my husband, the former barista, was my pusher man teaching me about a gateway drug. Now I start every morning with my cup of coffee. And I love it!
In no particular order, I’d love to see paintings of:
— pizza
— ice cream
— red wine
I’m not sure there’s a way to capture apple cinnamon oat bran pancakes at the Northside, but that’s a food I love, too!
P.S. Margaret, I love your comment — John and I often talk about not letting great get in the way of good. Sometimes you just have to do *something* and get out of your own way.
Hi John–Great idea for a series & I love the coffee one! Found your site via Roadfood.com this morning. Here’s my suggestion: that perennial comfort food duo grilled cheese and tomato soup (I realize that’s two foods not one, but really–they are nearly inseparable). Instead of the cliched outside of the Campbell’s tomato soup can, you could paint what’s inside! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the series,
Katherine C.
That’s a GOOD one, Katherine. Thanks for the suggestion. Cool that you found my site on Roadfood.com! I love those guys, and met Michael Stern recently at Coffee An’ in Westport, CT. Best. Donuts. Ever.
Thanks for the suggestion, and look for that painting later this month. I loves me a grilled cheese and tomato soup lunch!
Katherine,
I *love* the idea of grilled cheese and tomato soup as a single painting — would you do peanut butter without jelly? No!
John and I do a fair amount of grilled cheeses, and though we might do fancy bread or fancy cheese, John always advocates for sticking with the classic Campbell’s tomato.
Colleen