I wanted to explore the interplay and overlap of {recipes + cooking} with {art + design} and visually represent the ingredients of a recipe as textures, colors, and components of a composition. Both a finished dish and a piece of art are experienced as a whole – greater than the sum of their parts. We appreciate how it all comes together – how textures, colors, flavors, values – all work together. How different components of a dish or artwork influence other parts. How a tiny mark or color can add to a piece and a garnish or drizzle of oil can bring a dish together. Balance is so important – salty balanced with acid, large shapes with small details. Making sure the dish or the artwork has enough contrast – crunchy with smooth; areas of dark and light or loose marks in a very controlled composition.
So… I had this idea that I was really jazzed about and I felt like it had legs. But… I was also intimidated – I wanted to make sure I “got it right”. By adopting the mindset of the sh*tty first draft, it helped me not to overthink or overwhelm myself. I tried new things, explored my idea, and didn’t worry too much about the result – after all, this was only a sh*tty first draft and there would be many more iterations to come. But I had to start somewhere, with something. So I started with Power Butter – a recipe I adore and, more importantly, one I could visualize and really sink my teeth into.
In the process of creating these pieces I employed another of Lamott’s techniques – I call it “layer by layer”. The title of the book comes from a story about her brother who procrastinated and left a report on birds to the very last minute. When lamenting to their father and questioning how it would get done, his Dad told him the best way to tackle it was “bird by bird.”
The process of creating art – or any creative endeavor for that matter – can be daunting. There are so many different ideas and techniques you could try, so many directions you could take it. Tricks like these can ease some of the anxiety of getting started and making decisions along the way:
- Not getting caught up in perfection or the outcome and embracing your first try for what it is: a sh*tty first draft, and
- Taking it one step at a time and letting your creation unfold layer by layer.
