"There's Always Room" is back!

I just picked up this painting from it's six month long exhibition and I'm really happy to see it again. I kind of forgot how bright the colors are and how big it is (for me, at least!). I think that it's time for this piece to make someone else happy. It will be available for purchase in my shop on Friday, September 7th at 3pm EDT.

I'm going to be donating 10% of the sale price to the NJ Food Bank as well, so many thanks in advance to whoever may give this piece a loving home.

Photoreference

I always loved doing research. So the fact that I have to look up photo reference for my paintings adds a bonus point to the process. Today I am researching maraschino cherries as a new painting will have one in it and I've always loved them.

Did you know that the modern maraschino cherry was developed by Ernest H. Wiegand at the
Oregon Agricultural College at Oregon State University in 1919? You can still take a class about it.

Did you know the primary flavor added to Maraschino cherries is almond if they are red and peppermint if they are green?

And (unfortunately) it is a myth that red #40 which is used to dye the cherries red is made from carmine which is derived from beetles (sorry Kevin).

And a company called Roland makes extra flavors (lemon, lime, passion fruit and wild berry), but I guess they wouldn't be considered maraschino...

I'm chilling my ginger ale for this evening to make myself a Shirley Temple (did you know that at any Disney resort they call a Shirley Temple a Mickey Mouse?)