Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Cupcake Commission










©2010 St.Hilaire Nelson

Beth from A Little Something Bakery in West Hartford, CT purchased five of my 12x12 cupcakes from Celebration Gallery and Shoppes in Pomfret Center, CT when she first opened her sweet shop.

Last month Beth asked me to create a custom cupcake piece for her to compliment the others. This Memorial Day Weekend I spent a LOT of time in the studio. I was day dreaming about cookies, cakes, cupcakes and more.... all being made from scratch.

Beth had an idea for this piece. "Keep Calm, Eat A Cupcake." this will be added in magazine letters to the top right corner, near the cupcake that has fallen off the wagon!

As usual, my piece started with a pencil sketch on clear primed birch panel. The second image is the under-painting done in fluid acrylics over the sketch. I always work the background first, the third image is the background working around the cupcakes and leaving some natural wood grain at the top. In the background I wove in "Pat-A-Cake" nursery rhyme and some line art of the cake marked with a "B" I thought this was fitting for Beth being the baker and all... Next I tackled each cupcake individually, leaving the fallen one for last.

My next step is to add the lettering and apply the varnish for an even sheen. Stay tuned!

14 comments:

  1. I've loved your cupcakes and these are also quite wonderful. and her I was thinking that you'd exausted the subject. If you targeted all the cupcake shops in America you'd have a never-ending market for your paper paintings. Of course you'd get bored doing the same thing over and over, wouldn't you! Good job; it makes me happy just to think about paper cupcakes.
    And BTW, I LOVE the dog from your last post.

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  2. love this! I've always wanted to go to my local bakery with my paints and do a still life of their window display - and your tableau of cupcakes makes me want to do it even more.

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  3. Wonderful, these make me happy to look at them!Diana

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  4. Received and enjoyed your CD. I am trying to teach myself this art form, it is so fun! I've deceided to do a series of cupcakes on black card stock for practice. This is not as easy as it looks!

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  5. I'm so jealous!

    I love my cupcake piece that I have from you. :) This makes me want more!!

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  6. Oooo, you've got me wanting to lick my monitor, these look so yummy!!!
    Just got my Artist's Magazine today and you are in it as the First Place Winner of the Mixed Media and Collage category - again, congratulations!!! Love that cow :) There is also a nice article about the recent growth spurt of collage.

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  7. Well so many nice comments about cupcakes! Just when I thought that everyone was sick of them. LOL Jan, keep practicing! Cheryl, you are always welcome to buy another one! Ha. I have an apple available on line right now but no cupcakes. Jo, you and me both thought it was exhausted. Diana, :), Rhonda, I can't wait to get my copy! maybe tomorrow!

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  8. love it! I love how you used a paper doily in it. Please post the finished piece?
    eBeth

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  9. Love the cupcakes.

    I also bought your DVD and have been dabbling with paper collage. I always look forward to reading about your latest endeavor.

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  10. Those look seriously delicious! Ah Elizabeth...now that's what I want for breakfast ; ) Yes, please show the finished piece. It looks wonderful. And I love the line: Keep calm, eat a cupcake. lol

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  11. OMGOSH I love the size and shape and your work on this piece!!!

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  12. Hey these look great! Is that a little of me paper I see in your Choco Cupcake? You are so inspiring. I am into the book & WOW it is a lot to digest. Great info though.

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  13. I love this!
    Please post the finished piece~
    jenny

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thank you for taking the time to read and comment! :)