It all started with a chicken.

Well actually it was a recipe.  OR - to be honest - a calendar!  Okay - really, it was the idea to do a calendar that would combine my two passions - painting and cooking.  I had never painted "critters." Who knew this would be the start of one of my most popular series of paintings. The first critter I ever painted was this crazy "Kickin' Chicken," inspired by a recipe for Chicken Enchiladas.  And so it began - 

"Kickin' Chicken" - 20 x 16" acrylic on canvas - $450
​also available in giclee print
©Claudia True 2008

We created our first calendar for 2009. "We" being me and Holly Bikakis, a graphic design guru who's my partner in the calendar project. (She makes it look really spiffy!) I was new in Kansas City, didn't know anyone and for the first time in years I had lots of free time. I needed a project, but - what to do??? I came up with the idea to develop a food and art calendar. I love to paint - as you know - and I also love to cook.  So I thought I'd get some recipes, paint illustrations of them - and put them in calendar format with a recipe and painting for each month. Voila! The calendar was "born!"

---

After 8 years of "painting recipes" I now have quite a collection of Critter art. These are mostly colorful and happy little fellas that lots of people want, so they're available in prints and are hanging out in many homes and hopefully bringing smiles and happy thoughts to their owners  

"Potter's Goat" - 10 x 8" giclee print on canvas - $55
​©Claudia True 2015

One super special thing about this project - getting new recipes! I have over 100 recipes that my friends have shared. My friends love seeing how their recipes "come alive" in my artistic renditions.

​This cute little goat was inspired by a recipe from Nancy and Sam Potter for "Boursin Chèvre" - a delicious goat cheese spread that's perfect for a party. "Kickin' Chicken Enchiladas" was shared by Cheryl Miller. And here's a sweet little pig inspired by a recipe for "Raspberry-Chipotle Pork Chops" -  shared by John Fulton.  

---

"Miss Piggy & Peppers" - 10 x 8" acrylic on canvas - $55
© Claudia True 2012

I always say "life's an adventure!" You see, I never started out to create a series of critter art.  I don't think I would have thought about it - except for these recipes in a calendar that I wouldn't have thought about doing if I hadn't moved to a new town and was bored and needed something to do! Now these are some of the paintings most loved by my fans.  

It's very interesting that I only recently realized I had this collection of critters!  Now I'm developing a new page on my website -"Critter Club" - to give them a home and show them off.  

And it all started with a chicken . . . . 

Note:  it's time to work on the 2017 Cooking with Friends calendar!  Do you have a recipe you want to see in a painting and share with others in the calendar? If so, please click here to contact me about what's involved. Click here if you want to purchase a 2016 calendar - the art and recipes are timeless!  

​Have fun and remember - life's an adventure! Who knows what's ahead for all of us - or how it will start.
​

---

Join Our Email List

For Email Marketing you can trust.