A stunning focal point

The Bakery is Open, 21"x27", acrylic,, © B. Sistak Baur

Discovered in a small shop, immediately I saw that a fabulous painting could be composed for these glorious tarts.  Soft gels form the kiwis, peaches and strawberries.  Stiffer gels provide height and depth for red, blue and black berries.  They are put on a traditional bakery rack with a new twist: the racks themselves are created with the same gel used for the fruit and "piped" on, after a fashion. By the way, I don't measure anything but simply "eyeball" rack spacing. The design of this work calls for abundant space so the size is a bit larger, measuring about 21" high by 27" long (approx 27" by 34" framed). As always, you can click the images here online to see a larger view. Could this painting be the stunning focal point you have been looking for?


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My Favorite "Bakery"

I am often asked where I find my inspiration. I freely admit that I find bakery items beautiful and admire the artistry of the master bakers. In a sense, I feed off their creativity. My favorite bakery is not a bakery at all but an ethic market with a butcher, fresh seafood, a grill, produce and, of course, baked goods lining the back walls. It is called Graziano's, an Argentine market, and it is located in Miami. It is there where my journey started for this series of paintings and to where I return whenever I can. The bakery cases are stocked with mesmerizing treats of brilliant colors and luscious textures. The display is new every time, filling me with renewed inspiration. I do not speak Spanish and they do not speak English. They must think I am a funny tourist when I snap my reference photos. But they pay me no mind. And, just so you know, yes, everything tastes as fabulous as it looks!

-- Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

Schedule for June, July, August, Sept 2010

 Glencoe Festival of the Masters this weekend, July 10-11
On Saturday, July 10 and Sunday, July 11, the Festival will return to Glencoe, IL, on the North Shore, for the 3rd season.  Professional artists' booths will line Park Avenue and Village Court.  Admission is free and you will enjoy art, live music and festival food. Hours are 10 am to 5 pm, both days. A few blocks east of the festival is a beautiful beach on Lake Michigan.  Pick up a lunch and have a picnic--it's worth the visit! Set your GPS to 320 Park Avenue, Glencoe IL, 60022. More info here. 



Art fair in Arlington Hts. (IL) this Saturday and Sunday, June 26-27
The Promenade of Art takes place in the intersections of Campbell and Vail this weekend from 10 am to 5 pm each day. I visited this fair last year and found the downtown area of Arlington Hts vibrant and pleasurable.  Sidewalk cafes, a lovely plaza and a live theater are some of the things I discovered. And it is just steps from the Metra. I hope to see you there! I am in Booth 352.5, on Campbell.





Other dates:
-June 26-27, Promenade of Art, Downton Arlington Hts, IL
-July 10-11 Glencoe Festival of the Masters, 320 Park Ave., Glencoe, IL-July 24-25 Geneva Arts Fair, S. 3rd St., Geneva, IL
-Aug 7-8, Art at the Glen, Glen Town Center, Glenview, IL (tentative)
-Aug 21-22, 29th Lakefront Art Festival, Washington Pk, Michigan City, IN
-Sept. 4-5, Oakbrook Center Invitational Fine Art Exhibition, Oak Brook, IL
-Sept. 25-26, Art in the Barn, Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, IL

--Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

TipsyCake Cake Shop II

TipsyCake CakeShop II, 11"x14", acrylic,  © Barbara Sistak Baur. All rights reserved.

Here is the second painting of the TipsyCake kitchen featuring a baker at work on multiple cakes.  This painting tells the story of a busy shop.  There are many cakes in progress, multiple bowls of frosting are about, various tools are on the counter, there is something simmering on stove and trays of goodies are in the racks.  Yet, this baker is focused on the single task of completing her cake.

This is a small, acrylic painting, just 11"x14." Unlike many of my pastry paintings, I use standard paints with no extra gels or media (see the close up-remember you can click the image to see a larger view).  My personal challenge was to keep this painting warm and colorful in the midst of the  cool stainless steel. In addition, I wanted it pair nicely with the first painting like this. Whenever I paint in a serious like that, I keep the first painting in view in my studio.  It keeps me on track.

-- Barb
www.SistakBaur.com

TipsyCake Cake Shop

TipsyCake Cake Shop, 11"x14", acrylic, framed © Barbara Sistak Baur. All rights reserved.

There is an actual cake shop in Chicago named TipsyCake and that was the inspiration for this painting. The TipsyCake Cake Shop shows two bakers at work with bright colors against the stainless steel background drawing you into the scene. There are many elements that attracted me to this painting -- the setting, the colors, the figures. And the challenges were many-fold: capturing brightness in an indoor setting, bringing color to a stainless steel environment, having the two figure-shapes interplay correctly and adding enough detail but not so much as to overwhelm.  I am very satisfied with the level of detail that is balanced by the looseness of the strokes. Click on the close up image for a larger view. And, of course, I love this the story this painting tells.

I created a second painting like this and it is on my web site.  Click here to go to the galleries.

-- Barb

www.sistakbaur.com

By the way, I want to tell you that TipsyCake creates the most fabulous cakes and desserts.  They look fantastic and - better yet - they taste like heaven.  And that isn't always the case with lovely desserts -- I know.  I have visited (and sampled) many bakeries near and far.

If check out the web site, you'll find wonderful examples of the "cakes the dreams are made of" And, if you ever get a chance, this is the place to go for true taste delights!

Thank you, TipsyCake, for allowing me to visit your shop to find inspiration for my latest series of pastry paintings!

Create your own masterpiece

Think you can't create a masterpiece?  Think  again.  At a Bottles-and-Brushes, a party-hosting service, you paint, sip wine and get individual guidance from a professional artist.  At the end of the evening, you have a fabulous painting!  You doubt me? Here is a group photo of a recent party and their really great paintings!  Artist on-hand at this party was yours truly! Find out more about Bottles and Brushes.

That's me on the lower left.  I am the only one without a painting because I was busy coaching the folks at this party.  They did pretty good! (Click on the picture to see it a bit larger.)

-- Barb
www.sistakbaur.com

Artists participate in Kaneland Community Arts Festival

I was one of the artists that participated in the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival that took place in April.  It is one of just a handful of public school art festivals in the State of Illinois. The event combines student and professional visual artists, hands-on workshops, and professional performing artists and groups. The festival annually draws approximately 3,000 students, families, and community members for a day of culture and fun. Bringing professional artists to the Fine Arts Festival to expose the communities to the fine arts is one of the goals.  Find out more about the Kaneland arts programs.