I really enjoy looking at this. Not because I like it; in fact, it makes me feel pretty uneasy. The confrontational Halloween elements interfering with the making of this soup. But the wobbly bowl, thick outlines around everything, the great yellow outpouring with the black dashes. There is a wonderful white negative space throughout makes it all seem strangely intentional.
Mt. Vernon, NY
September 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Mt. Vernon, NY
September 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Lou relies pretty heavily on our foreknowledge of sauerkraut. The mustard is not the familiar yellow mustard yellow of the previous post but the symmetrical repose and clean, sharp edges and elegant lettering make it a fun thing to see drive by.
Duchess County, NY
September 22, 2018 by Leave a Comment
A wiggly line of mustard lovingly portrayed. Realistic light on the subject but no shadow underneath, giving it an airborne appearance. And the mysterious compulsion (definitely not sexual in nature) to paint hotdogs at near perfect 45 degree angles. Here are two of many examples:
Bronx, NY
December 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This aggressive painting by The Royal Kingbee is obscured by an ice machine. In fact, between the ice machine and the deep field of vision with distant water, this one in the Bronx has a lot in common with this one in Nashville. A full third of the well-considered painting is hidden from view, but I wouldn’t anticipate the hidden area giving any more guidance for how to apprehend this image: Why the angry sandwich bearer; why the tropical theme, and so on. However, the light on the sandwich is convincing as all heck.
Dodgingtown, Connecticut
May 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
A highly-ordered and self-contained sandwich. Plays well with others, keeps respectful distance from typography. Notice there is no shadow, no table, no other food. This is not a real sandwich, with flavor, but an idea of a sandwich. More an ideogram, a graphic symbol, than a sandwich.
Croton Falls, New York
March 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Going in with both hands. This is the first painting posted here that has a human presence… requiring a new category: “Food with Human(s)” Wonderful colors and line quality straight out of 15th century Siena. Strangely reminds me of this Simone Martini painting, which also kind of includes hand-painted food, though I suppose that’s a theological issue. Same table angle.
Southbury, Connecticut
March 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Surprisingly faithful to the take-out cup design. And a different approach to steam, not the curly lines you usually see.
Livingston Manor, New York
January 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
There it is again! The hot dog at a 45° angle. Funny, the linear quality of the food must make painters want to represent them at an angle. This hot dog has a Delta IV thing going on.
New York City, New York
December 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
This is technically “drippy”, so I will tag it as such, but I’m not convinced. What kind of cake is that again?
(Jewish deli in Washington Heights)
Mt. Vernon, New York
December 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The ubiquitous asterisk flourish. Shows up a lot in taco shop signs, here it is more a 50’s Americana reference. The solid black shadows are notable. If food has a shadow, the image has left the realm of food-as-concept and is meant to represent an actual food object. Do certain areas of the country, or certain social classes consider food as object, while for others food is represented as a concept? Maybe we can tell by tracking the presence of the shadow in food signs. The lines here are those of a professional sign painter of the old school, confident and practiced.
(Fruit and Vegetable Market. Cedar Street & Fleetwood Avenue)
Mt. Vernon, New York
December 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Geiger counter is going nuts. Grand Cafe, Grand Street & Fleetwood Avenue.
Mahopac, New York
October 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Now that’s a chocolate-vanilla swirl! Well, actually, they still didn’t quite catch the form… still on the look out for the perfect ice cream swirl cone painting. What this cone lacks in formal accuracy, it makes up for in confidence, enthusiasm and font choice.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
October 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The chocolate-vanilla swirl presents a formal challenge. So best to set back slightly, stay somewhat hidden. Don’t want to draw too much attention.
Beacon, New York
October 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment
This is only interesting in the context of it being part of a pair of schematic ice creams. In my opinion, schematic food signs are generally not very interesting. I don’t feel anything about ice cream looking at this. Or its twin. I think, yeah, I know what ice cream looks like, why are you wasting my time.
