Living life in the kitchen and painting food.

Food is something that brings so much joy to me, I love how it conjures up all the senses of the body and mind. I've always been so enthusiastic about eating, whether its the anticipation of a meal thats happening in the near future or getting nostalgic over a place in time from a mouth watering memory of a dish. It stores the memory in a delicously appertising time capsule. When painted I feel the senses collide in a way that Synaesthesia works. Seeing the colours and textures painted of something edible, instantly brings a receptor of taste to mind, or smell.

Over lockdown 1, 2 & 3 the kitchen has been my most lived in room of the house, its been the place to create artwork and prepare for meals throughout the day. I’ve found it to be such a therapy, cooking with fresh ingredients and deciding to leave some aside to document via painting. Certain spices and eating routines became habitual but noticeably shifted in comfort and flavour throughout the changing seasons. There is also something about the aesthetic, as to how we eat and what we choose to serve food on that i’m drawn to.

Pictured below is a painting of my favourite spice, and one that brings a nostalgic memory of growing up around food- ‘Santa Domingo’ smoked paprika. The next is last year’s daily breakfast, Grapefruit on a beautiful English Ironstone plate. Followed by Culpepper Almond oil, a flavour that has become reminiscent of a chocolate icing on Sunday throughout lockdown