Creating still life paintings for Peintures de Pain, an upcoming group show in Los Alamos, proved to be quite a challenge for local artist and teacher Mary Kay West and her students—since their subjects were at risk of being devoured at any moment.
“It was hard to avoid the temptation to eat the still life as we went along,” West told the Sun.
Peintures de Pain translates to Paintings of Bread, for those of us who took four years of French in high school but can’t seem to remember more than a few words (hope it’s not just me). A longtime admirer of West’s work, Bob Oswaks, owner of Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, pitched the idea for a bread-based still life show. The artist, in turn, was already a big fan of Oswaks and his bakery.
“The pastries are something I have purchased for our group every class for the past few years to properly fuel our work,” West said. “I was tickled and excited when Bob suggested the exhibition.
“Although a couple of the students in the class have shown independently, this is the first time we have shown as a group,” she continued. “It’s great to have the opportunity at such a great venue with Bob. He has been so supportive, creative, and excited for us.”
The paintings featured in the one-day exhibit, which takes place on Saturday, July 20, at the bakery, were created by West and eight students from her weekly fine art workshop (Sally Jones, JoAnne Grimes, Pat Roberts, Rachelle Witt, Diane Connors, Ruth Kelsey, Linda Sarrloos, and Kelly Witt). The class meets every Thursday morning at West’s studio in Los Alamos.
“The eight students that are showing have been studying classical realism in an atelier-style class for many years. It is a style that requires dedication and discipline,” West said. “But the results, as I hope those who come to the show see, are stunning.”
West currently resides in Santa Ynez but was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. As the daughter of watercolorist Elizabeth Phillips, West became interested in art during childhood. Her first paintings were created next to her mother’s easel. By age 12, she had sold her first piece. She went on to study at the Fine Arts League of Asheville, completing a four-year apprenticeship in 2006.
“I have always been inspired by classic works, especially the Dutch masters, such as Vermeer,” said West, whose works are currently on display at local venues including Solvang Antiques and the Portico Fine Art Gallery, as
well as outlets afar such as the Classic Art Gallery in Carmel.
As for her latest project, West and her students created the pieces for Peintures de Pain over the course of three months, said West. Oswaks donated the loaves of bread and pastries for the artists to paint from.
“We were inspired by the beautiful designs,” West said. “Especially the logo—a stylized bread fork—baked into the outer crust.”
West and her students would then arrange the baked goods with other objects, such as baskets, kitchen fabrics, ceramic crocks, and copper pitchers, she explained.
“Each painting is meant to evoke the timeless beauty of light falling on the staple of life, accompanied by objects that may bring personal meaning into the imagination of the viewer,” West said. “All the paintings are classical realist in style and are framed oil on panel.”
Having the bread and pastries in front of the artists was essential, West said, as she never paints, nor instructs her students to paint, from photos.
“The process of creating our paintings is one steeped in the tradition of the old masters,” West said. “We work from life, not photographs, carefully setting up beautiful, classic—and in this case, rustic—arrangements.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood’s favorite part of pizza is the crust. Send him some dough at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 18-25, 2019.
