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Monday, September 2, 2013

let me explain ....

This past winter I had the strangest transition
 from full time artist 


to full time substitute high school art teacher.

This almost killed me :)


exhausted 

creatively spent

and ZERO painting for months.


I didn't realize this would end up being a major creative incubator



In part, it was the abrupt shift from 
controlled studio isolation


to the hum of hundreds of voices, rap music, and vending machines


and the constant steady stream of questions.

Yes, 
questions about art ...

But ...
 unexpectedly...
questions about being from the South


That put these sandwich paintings into motion.

Southern traditions ...
especially food traditions.

The entire world has food traditions,
and while not strictly Southern 
finger sandwiches are a big part of my memories growing up in the South ...

my mother's luncheons and bridge club, 
church gatherings, 
and tailgating


homemade egg salad


 cucumber on white bread without the crusts


and of course, pimento cheese

needless to say, these food traditions give me the most delicious opportunity to do what I love with paint...


pile it on!


I'm thrilled to have Sold this triptych in
dk Gallery's
Farm to Table show

"Junior League" 12" x 36" Sold

The opening reception is this Friday night, September 6th, 5-9pm.
Hope to see Y'all
:)

5 comments:

suzanneberry said...

Karen, what a delightfully creative and inspiring post this is! I so enjoyed your yarn, complete with wonderful illustrations! And the feast at the end is magnificent! Outstanding samich paintings! Wonderful!

Karen Appleton said...

Yarn! Ha! I love it!! Thank you Suzanne! Obviously I had a little too much fun making this post :) So happy to hear from you!!

Jody Regan said...

What a great post! As a middle school math teacher, I completely understand your exhaustion, but aren't the kids wonderful and fascinating?

LOVE your sandwich series. Absolutely terrific - whimsical and textural. And, looks like you like your egg salad dry, as do I. Great job!

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

what a slammin' group of paintings and I loved the little story as well.

Karen Appleton said...

Thank you Jody and Mary!!! :D