Grand Fruit Tart "Refreshed"

I first painted Grand Fruit Tart in 2009.  I was pleased with it and It was well received by viewers. Recently, however, I decided it needed some more punch so I decided to add more painting to it.  Here is the before painting and the after painting.  I think it is very much improved, don't you? 

Before                                                               

After 

Grand Fruit Tart measures 20"x24" and is created with acrylic paint and media on board.  It is currently framed with a black contemporary frame. You can click on either image for a larger view. 

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Riverside Arts Center Presents…

Paintings by Barbara Sistak Baur

At Riverside Township Hall

27 Riverside Rd., Riverside, IL

May 1, 2013 through July 28, 2013

During regular open hours

Generally, M-F 9am-5pm

Also Open during The Riverside Arts Weekend, Sat-Sun, May 18-19 -- Come see!

This exhibition includes textural works on canvas and works on paper where the re-occurring theme is cupcakes and other pastry items found in a bakery. It is part of my ongoing investigation of textures and surfaces. Experimentation with multi-dimensional techniques has resulted in paintings of cupcakes that seem to undulate in rows, ignore the edge the canvas or raise above the surface of the painting. Some paintings are a combination of many canvases pulled together for one painting. Others represent experimentation with images on the softer paper surface with more fluidness.

There are three different phases of paintings presented, each with its own goal. In one set of paintings, the goal was to focus on the lushness of the topic. I used 3-dimensional techniques with rich and glossy acrylic media to bring out and match the textures and feelings of items being portrayed. Examples are Grand Fruit Tart and Cupcakes on a Checkered Cloth (shown here).

Another set of paintings become more imaginative and intuitive. Dreaming of Pie has slices of strawberry cream pie on plates that seem to travel through space. The works on paper, such as "Bliss,” (shown here)  allow for a softer, more fluid point of view which is surprising, light and refreshing.

The third set are the “arrays”, which further the investigation into both the surface and intuition. The red (shown here)  and yellow paintings build their surfaces using multiple canvases of the varying depths. They cast their own shadows. A green array reflects the isolation and contemplation of a single cupcake with just shadows of others appearing here and there. It is quiet, introspective. In contrast, an orange array is bold and daring, with its background not staying the background at all but crashing through the cakes toward us, the viewers. 

Overall, this exhibition opens a window on my journey of investigating textures and surfaces while furthering my exploration of expression and intuition. 

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Sketches by Picasso at AIC

I visited the Picasso in Chicago exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago this week.  Awe-inspiring, of course. Galleries upon galleries filled with all things Picasso from all stages of his career.  I have observed his paintings often at the AIC.  So I was particularly intrigued by his sketches, drawings and studies.  It is wonderful and eye-opening to peek into the creation process of a great artist.  And these works fulfill that wish for me.  I snapped some quick images and placed them here. Picasso in Chicago closes on May 12 -- so hurry if you want to see it.

A still life.

A portrait

Study for a cafe scene

Seated figure

Posing figure