Chef Derrick

[Mike McCarty]

Greetings,

This is my latest painting, oil on linen, 16x20.

Derrick works as the head cook at a restaurant that I frequent. He's been working there for about 15 years and has probably prepared as many meals for me as I have for myself in this time. For Christmas I bought Derrick the chef's jacket and hat (which he hates).

It was no small matter getting him to pose for some photographs. When he finally agreed I got maybe 10 minutes total time with him. My only chance was to back him up against a big white screen used for TV projection.

The paint tubes are labeled cinnamon, basil and saffron, and the whisk is just that. The colors are those I used to create his flesh color. My purpose was to conflate the artist and the chef.

Derrick didn't know what my purpose was and this was part of why it was so difficult to get him to pose for the photographs. When I finished the painting and surprised him with it at the restaurant he was thrilled. Most of the time people have no idea what I'm up to.

[Steven Sweeney]

Hey, Mike, nice job and a great story behind it. I'm sure he was tickled with the "surprise." The artist paints an artist. Maybe now that he sees that you and your camera are no threat, he'll settle down and let you catch him in the act of some culinary feats in the kitchen.

Good to see you're still on the circuit. I'm in the process of converting my living room into a studio (up from the basement), in preparation for leaving the day-job's cubicle and the day's two-hour commute and taking on the painting and drawing full-time. Good luck with that, I say.

Did I mention my banjo? No? Perhaps that's best. It's bad enough that my dog has to listen to it. I'm hoping she'll be a good studio mate, since I'm moving into her territory.

Cheers

[Mike McCarty]

So it was you I saw on the porch with that banjo.

I've heard that the definition of a gentleman is: a man who could play the bagpipes, but chose not to. I guess depending on your skill level with that banjo the same could apply.

I'm on the intermittent circuit. I'm alternating between painting, writing and making omelets.

I watched Jacques Pepin, Julia Child's old running mate, make a French omelet and I wasted dozens eggs trying to do it myself.

Sounds like your art production is fixing to increase substantially. A two-hour commute - what a man's gotta come to to serve the law.

Here's a watercolor that our friend in Madrid, Carlito Ygoa, sent me. This is by the artist Joseph Zbucvik. I think he's foreign.

[Cynthia Daniel]

This one particularly caught my attention since my son is an award-winning chef. Like Steven, I love the story and naming the paint tubes the names of herbs and spices!

[Mike McCarty]

Hello Cynthia,

I guess you guys dodged a bullet with the recent storm.

I remember that your son is a chef and his wife as well, if I remember right.

I still like painting these portraits; however, for various reasons, I never really enjoyed the business of selling them. The thing that I really enjoy is doing a painting for someone that would otherwise never see themselves portrayed in this way. I will probably do more like this if my light holds.

I haven’t checked my ticket yet but I suspect that I have just won the Powerball lotto. So, to all my longtime friends here on the forum: we will be sailing from the Miami docks Sunday evening. Bring your favorite smock, the rest will be waiting.

No, don't open that beak and give excuses for not being there.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Yes, they are both chefs...recently written up in the Chicago Tribune. I don't know if this can be read without creating an account:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining...ant-story.html