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Wow - 10 years of art and food calendars - something to celebrate! Over the next few days I'll be sharing a recipe and it's art from each of the 10 calendars. The selection includes dishes I'd like to have during this holiday season. I think you'd enjoy them, too. Want to get the 10th calendar in the series? Click here to order Cooking with Friends 2018 So let's get started!  The Art of Cooking, 2009 The first 2 years of calendars were called "The Art of Cooking." I was new in Kansas City and didn't know anyone and I was bored - I needed a project. My passions are painting and cooking so I got this idea to get some good recipes and paint them, and put them together in a calendar format. Holly Bikakis is my friend and graphic design partner and I convinced her to join the fun. She and I gathered recipes this first year. This painting is for Pear Salad. It's an oil painting - my normal medium is acrylics. I thought a way to meet people, especially other artists, was to take painting classes. This pear painting was done while working with Carol McCall and her husband Bill, two great oil painters in this area. So many changes in my life - even my paint medium! (Well - that didn't last but it was a fun adventure.) Three Pears and a Pot - Claudia True oil on canvas - available in print Here's the recipe. Thought you might enjoy some "lighter food" to offset all the heavy duty holiday eating. PEAR SALAD |
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Happy Cooking and Happy Holidays!
A recipe and a story - from two South Texas gals!
Friday is Cinco de Mayo - so this South Texas gal just has to share some festive food and art!
"Mexican Chickens" painting by Claudia True
20 x 16" acrylic on canvas
Recipe by Susan Keehn
20 x 16" acrylic on canvas
Recipe by Susan Keehn
Please check out this colorful page from the Cooking with Friends calendar, 2011. These little Hispanic chickens are all dressed up for a fiesta!
A very dear friend - Susan Keehn - shared her rather sophisticated recipe for Mexican food. When I was growing up in South Texas, we never had Mexican crepes. For sure I had never made crepes. And I never would have thought of using crepes for "enchiladas" when you could use perfectly wonderful flour tortillas!
Susan, who's also from South Texas, has this sort of "larger than life" approach to the world. I learned soon in our friendship that she would broaden my thinking on many things. She's also a wonderful cook so I was super excited when she shared this dish. It definitely wasn't your typical Tex Mex!
Here's part of what Susan shared about her recipe: "My Alsatian grandmother and British grandfather ranched in Northern Mexico. The wonderful meals at their hacienda blended European and Mexican flavors . . . " See, not your norm for the Tex Mex that I knew.
Great story! But there's more - It was Susan who suggested that people should tell us why they chose their recipes to share. That idea has added such a lush layer to the collection of recipes and art! The stories have also inspired my illustrations of the recipes. For instance, I once I got a recipe for meatballs (which are amazing and I still make them) and I was at a total blank about how to paint meatballs. But when I read about how her family got together every Christmas to make the meatballs as they drank Bloody Mary's, I was saved! I knew I could paint a Bloody Mary. But - that's another story . . . .
A very dear friend - Susan Keehn - shared her rather sophisticated recipe for Mexican food. When I was growing up in South Texas, we never had Mexican crepes. For sure I had never made crepes. And I never would have thought of using crepes for "enchiladas" when you could use perfectly wonderful flour tortillas!
Susan, who's also from South Texas, has this sort of "larger than life" approach to the world. I learned soon in our friendship that she would broaden my thinking on many things. She's also a wonderful cook so I was super excited when she shared this dish. It definitely wasn't your typical Tex Mex!
Here's part of what Susan shared about her recipe: "My Alsatian grandmother and British grandfather ranched in Northern Mexico. The wonderful meals at their hacienda blended European and Mexican flavors . . . " See, not your norm for the Tex Mex that I knew.
Great story! But there's more - It was Susan who suggested that people should tell us why they chose their recipes to share. That idea has added such a lush layer to the collection of recipes and art! The stories have also inspired my illustrations of the recipes. For instance, I once I got a recipe for meatballs (which are amazing and I still make them) and I was at a total blank about how to paint meatballs. But when I read about how her family got together every Christmas to make the meatballs as they drank Bloody Mary's, I was saved! I knew I could paint a Bloody Mary. But - that's another story . . . .
Susan still lives in South Texas. This is a photo of our visit 2 years ago at her beautiful home in San Antonio. Of course she whipped up some delicious appetizers and a most amazing meal. And boy did we share some great stories!!
Here's Susan's recipe for Chicken Jalapeño Crepes. If you haven't tried making your own crepes, I recommend you give it a try! I was surprised that they were pretty easy and it's worth the effort for this flavorful and festive dish.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!!
Chicken Jalapeño Crepes
CREPE BATTER:
FILLING:
Shred meat off whole rotisserie chicken. Add 1 pound grated Swiss cheese, 2 seeded and diced jalapeños (canned in escabeche, not raw), 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon jalapeño canning juice. Salt to taste.
Fill each crepe with 2 to 3 tablespoons filling. Roll up. Place seam side down in large Pyrex pan. (At this point crepes may be refrigerated or frozen.) To serve, warm to room temperature. Pour 1 - 1 1/2 cups cream over crepes and place in 350 degree oven until heated through for 25 to 35 minutes.
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup all purpose flower
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
FILLING:
Shred meat off whole rotisserie chicken. Add 1 pound grated Swiss cheese, 2 seeded and diced jalapeños (canned in escabeche, not raw), 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1 tablespoon jalapeño canning juice. Salt to taste.
Fill each crepe with 2 to 3 tablespoons filling. Roll up. Place seam side down in large Pyrex pan. (At this point crepes may be refrigerated or frozen.) To serve, warm to room temperature. Pour 1 - 1 1/2 cups cream over crepes and place in 350 degree oven until heated through for 25 to 35 minutes.
Click here to get insights into stories in the 2017 Cooking with Friends calendar. Still want a calendar? You may purchase it here -
https://shop.claudiatrue.com/products/2017-cooking-with-friends-calendar
Remember - the art and recipes are timeless. And the stories are so fun!
Lenora's Cats - 18" x 48" acrylic on canvas - Claudia True, artist
Look at all of these darling cats! My friend Lenora Larson commissioned a painting of her 2 cats plus 8 of their "friends." Lenora's cats are Chevelle - (2nd from left, top row) and Cher (middle, bottom row). What a delightful project this has been for this cat loving painter!
Previous critter paintings.
This was actually my first commissioned critter painting. I've done many critter paintings. Most were inspired by recipes for my Cooking with Friends art and food calendars. Think chickens, cows, pigs and goats - check out some on my website.
As I said, I truly love cats and have painted them in a very fun, whimsical style. For some reason I've been reluctant to paint a cat in a more realistic way so I made this one of my goals for 2017. I even set a stretch goal to paint 10 in this new style by April. I must have put this vision and goal out in the universe where it was swirling around and captured by Lenora! A couple of months ago she contacted me to paint cats. As we discussed the project, she said she wanted the painting to include 10 cats!! Wow! I just recently realized how serendipitous this has been - kind of gives me goosebumps!
What made this project even more special is that these cats all live with Lenora's very dear friends! This is also a painting of human friendship and love for those who adore the incredible friendship and love of our feline babies. I know cat lovers will understand . . . I sure do!
As I said, I truly love cats and have painted them in a very fun, whimsical style. For some reason I've been reluctant to paint a cat in a more realistic way so I made this one of my goals for 2017. I even set a stretch goal to paint 10 in this new style by April. I must have put this vision and goal out in the universe where it was swirling around and captured by Lenora! A couple of months ago she contacted me to paint cats. As we discussed the project, she said she wanted the painting to include 10 cats!! Wow! I just recently realized how serendipitous this has been - kind of gives me goosebumps!
What made this project even more special is that these cats all live with Lenora's very dear friends! This is also a painting of human friendship and love for those who adore the incredible friendship and love of our feline babies. I know cat lovers will understand . . . I sure do!
So here's a glimpse at how this painting evolved. Lenora sent me lots of cat photos and potential layouts and we talked about the style. She wanted "whimsical realism." (Okay I just made up that term.) After we selected the 10 cat photos to include, I did "value sketches" in black and white. She sent photos of the front porch of her farm home where this painting would hang, especially showing me the red bench and lavender accents. Her favorite color is lavender so she wanted some of that and a little red to tie in with the bench. Lenora even shared insights into personalities and moods of the individual cats - pensive, stern, sleepy, laughing, etc. At this point I understood what she wanted with color and layout, and I was ready to do the fun part - adding colors and personality.
Here's Lenora and her cats! I think her smile reflects her happiness with the final result! It was a real pleasure to work with my friend and try to bring her image to life. She had a very distinct vision of what she wanted - I'm thankful I could make that happen.
And here's the "end product" - those 10 whimsically realistic cats in their new forever home. The living/breathing Chevelle is saying hi to her painted pal Cher. How cute is that! I think she approves -
Are you interested in commissioning a painting of your pet? If so I hope this story gives you an idea of what to expect. Contact me and we can discuss your project. Hope you enjoy this one too!
Fiesta Chick - inspired by a recipe and ready for a new home!
Kansas City Artists Coalition - Art Auction
Saturday - Feb. 18 - is the annual art auction for Kansas City Artists Coalition, an organization of visual artists. My Fiesta Chick is there looking for a new home. She's hanging out with close to 200 other pieces of original art donated by artists from throughout the Kansas City area.
This auction is the place to be for artists and collectors! First - the artwork is amazing. Kansas City artists are extremely generous with their donations. Second - it's an exciting and fun event! $25 entrance gets you heavy, delicious appetizers - enough for a meal plus beer and wine. I promise you won't go home hungry! Sometimes the bidding wars get pretty crazy which can be quite an adventure.
This auction is the place to be for artists and collectors! First - the artwork is amazing. Kansas City artists are extremely generous with their donations. Second - it's an exciting and fun event! $25 entrance gets you heavy, delicious appetizers - enough for a meal plus beer and wine. I promise you won't go home hungry! Sometimes the bidding wars get pretty crazy which can be quite an adventure.
Tres Amigos
My husband Mike Driggs is donating a piece this year - "Tres Amigos!" These are created in clay and totally express his Arizona roots. This is a first for Mike to put his art out for the world to see. I'm so proud of him! Although I must admit I'm sad to see these little guys go away.
Back to that Chick!
Fiesta Chick was inspired by a recipe for Spicy Chicken Wings, using a glaze of pepper jam and other ingredients. My friend Debbie Farnam shared the recipe that features one of her special jams in her line of Debby's Pantry jellies and jams. Delicious!! But Miss Fiesta Chick still has her wings - and always will!! This recipe and painting are in my 2017 Cooking with Friends calendar - available by clicking here.
Hope you'll join us at the Kansas City Artists Coalition annual auction this Saturday! Maybe you'll take home Fiesta Chick, Tres Amigos or another art treasure.
Hope you'll join us at the Kansas City Artists Coalition annual auction this Saturday! Maybe you'll take home Fiesta Chick, Tres Amigos or another art treasure.
Tuna Cats - ©Claudia True
Still need an appetizer for Super Bowl?
I know it's a little late for planning your Super Bowl appetizers, but that's kind of how this dish was first created. I was in grad school and we had a "spontaneous party" - probably a Friday when we allowed ourselves to have some beer and hang out with friends and take a break from studying. I needed a dip and didn't have time to go to the store. So I put together this concoction with stuff that are staples in my kitchen - tuna fish, lemons, cream cheese and of course jalapeños! Everyone loved it - even my Pennsylvania friends who weren't so much into my Texas inspired hot, spicy dishes.
For a long time I made this dip. It's easy and so convenient - again I usually had all the ingredients, except maybe the cream cheese. And it was "budget friendly" which was a definite plus on a grad school budget. But then I forgot about it. A few years ago, one of my friends from Penn State called and asked for the recipe. Well that was a fun and special memory - both hearing from a good fiend and remembering this yummy dish. Isn't it interesting how we form bonds through food!
I shared this recipe in my 2014 Cooking with Friends calendar. Here it is for you - in case you need that last minute spicy dip for your Super Bowl party. When I shared it with my friend from Pennsylvania, I told her she could add some cayenne if it wasn't hot enough. She thought that was funny . . . . p.s. my cats love it when I make this dip!
For a long time I made this dip. It's easy and so convenient - again I usually had all the ingredients, except maybe the cream cheese. And it was "budget friendly" which was a definite plus on a grad school budget. But then I forgot about it. A few years ago, one of my friends from Penn State called and asked for the recipe. Well that was a fun and special memory - both hearing from a good fiend and remembering this yummy dish. Isn't it interesting how we form bonds through food!
I shared this recipe in my 2014 Cooking with Friends calendar. Here it is for you - in case you need that last minute spicy dip for your Super Bowl party. When I shared it with my friend from Pennsylvania, I told her she could add some cayenne if it wasn't hot enough. She thought that was funny . . . . p.s. my cats love it when I make this dip!
Spicy Tuna Dip
Ingredients
1 7 oz can tuna - drained
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
juice of 1/2 lemon or more (I like lots of lemon!)
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
dash Worcestershire sauce
1 or 2 pickled jalapeño peppers - minced
salt to taste
cayenne - if you want it extra hot
Directions
Mix everything together. Add a little "jalapeño juice" (liquid in the pickled jalapeños) if it's too dry. Serve in a bowl sprinkled with paprika (optional). Good with crackers - and especially good with Fritos, my favorite forbidden food! Simple and delish.
1 7 oz can tuna - drained
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
juice of 1/2 lemon or more (I like lots of lemon!)
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
dash Worcestershire sauce
1 or 2 pickled jalapeño peppers - minced
salt to taste
cayenne - if you want it extra hot
Directions
Mix everything together. Add a little "jalapeño juice" (liquid in the pickled jalapeños) if it's too dry. Serve in a bowl sprinkled with paprika (optional). Good with crackers - and especially good with Fritos, my favorite forbidden food! Simple and delish.
Last December I shared my most requested recipe in a newsletter so people could make it over the holidays as I do. Oops! I need to make some changes!
Recently I made this dish and decided to really check on the directions. Every time I make it someone asks for the recipe and I've shared it many times over the years. It's one of those dishes that I call a "concoction" - my favorite way to cook because you just kind of throw in a little of this and some of that until it tastes just way you want it - delicious. I've definitely zeroed in on the way I make it - decided to see if it's anywhere near what I have in my recipe that was written probably 15+ years ago.
Yikes!! Either my taste buds have changed or I wrote Tbl instead of tsp for the chili powder or ??? I heard from many friends who said they were making my Pork Green Chili over the holidays - hope it tasted okay! And I hope they like spicy food. Luckily when I was trying out the recipe I decided to measure spices as I added them a little at a time, taste the chili and then add more if needed. I'm so glad! The basic recipe is the same but I've refined the amounts of the ingredients and I'm sharing with you here.
Recently I made this dish and decided to really check on the directions. Every time I make it someone asks for the recipe and I've shared it many times over the years. It's one of those dishes that I call a "concoction" - my favorite way to cook because you just kind of throw in a little of this and some of that until it tastes just way you want it - delicious. I've definitely zeroed in on the way I make it - decided to see if it's anywhere near what I have in my recipe that was written probably 15+ years ago.
Yikes!! Either my taste buds have changed or I wrote Tbl instead of tsp for the chili powder or ??? I heard from many friends who said they were making my Pork Green Chili over the holidays - hope it tasted okay! And I hope they like spicy food. Luckily when I was trying out the recipe I decided to measure spices as I added them a little at a time, taste the chili and then add more if needed. I'm so glad! The basic recipe is the same but I've refined the amounts of the ingredients and I'm sharing with you here.
Pork Green Chili
Makes 10 - 12 servings
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 (1-pound) pork center cut loin, cut into ¾-inch cubes
2 large onions, minced
6 garlic cloves, minced
6 (4-ounce) cans diced green chilies, mild
1 (15-ounce) can golden hominy, drained
2 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, original (See note below)
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried ground thyme
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS
Warm oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat on stovetop. Working in batches, brown pork on all sides and remove to a platter lined with paper toweling.
When finished with pork, add onion to pan and sauté until soft and translucent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, but do not burn.
Drain and discard oil from pan and return pork to pan. Stir in chilies, hominy, tomatoes and chicken stock. Season with bay leaf, chili powder, cumin, thyme, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir until well combined.
Bring to boil and reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 1hour or more. Before serving, skim excess oil off top and remove bay leaf.
Ladle chili into bowls and garnish with optional chopped onion, cilantro, lime wedges, grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, and flour tortillas, hard rolls or tortilla chips.
Note: I use Rotel brand tomatoes with chilies and Gebhardt's chili powder. Use 2 cans Rotel for "hot," 1 can Rotel and 1 can diced tomatoes for "medium," and all regular diced tomatoes for "mild - i.e. boring."
Makes 10 - 12 servings
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 (1-pound) pork center cut loin, cut into ¾-inch cubes
2 large onions, minced
6 garlic cloves, minced
6 (4-ounce) cans diced green chilies, mild
1 (15-ounce) can golden hominy, drained
2 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, original (See note below)
6 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried ground thyme
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS
Warm oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat on stovetop. Working in batches, brown pork on all sides and remove to a platter lined with paper toweling.
When finished with pork, add onion to pan and sauté until soft and translucent. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, but do not burn.
Drain and discard oil from pan and return pork to pan. Stir in chilies, hominy, tomatoes and chicken stock. Season with bay leaf, chili powder, cumin, thyme, cinnamon, salt and pepper and stir until well combined.
Bring to boil and reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 1hour or more. Before serving, skim excess oil off top and remove bay leaf.
Ladle chili into bowls and garnish with optional chopped onion, cilantro, lime wedges, grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, and flour tortillas, hard rolls or tortilla chips.
Note: I use Rotel brand tomatoes with chilies and Gebhardt's chili powder. Use 2 cans Rotel for "hot," 1 can Rotel and 1 can diced tomatoes for "medium," and all regular diced tomatoes for "mild - i.e. boring."
This recipe was included in my very first art and food calendar, called The Art of Cooking calendar in 2009. The above painting was inspired by the recipe. I can just envision this being cooked in a rustic and wonky kitchen in Mexico! I'd love to be there!!
So if you cooked this recipe and thought it was a little heavy on the spices, you might try it again. Who knew I'd think that a chili should be a bit subtle! If I'm still cooking this in 5 years, I'll test the recipe to see if my tastes have changed again . . . .
NOTE: This chili was made in preparation for an article in the Kansas City Star on Wednesday, January 25. Here's a link to that article about this chili and my art! http://www.kansascity.com/living/food-drink/come-into-my-kitchen/article128181954.html
So if you cooked this recipe and thought it was a little heavy on the spices, you might try it again. Who knew I'd think that a chili should be a bit subtle! If I'm still cooking this in 5 years, I'll test the recipe to see if my tastes have changed again . . . .
NOTE: This chili was made in preparation for an article in the Kansas City Star on Wednesday, January 25. Here's a link to that article about this chili and my art! http://www.kansascity.com/living/food-drink/come-into-my-kitchen/article128181954.html
How many times have I heard this from my painting students - "I can't even draw a stick figure!" And I've always said, "well we're not drawing or painting them so that's okay!" But then I actually painted stick figures, and I realized they're really fun and can even be a pretty darned cute work of art!
This whisical painting was inspired by a recipe from Mary Ann Rodgers that she contributed to one of my Cooking with Friends calendars. She got a recipe for Cabbage Patch Stew from her fellow teacher when they needed quick dishes after a full day at school. It was easy and her kids loved it - perfect for a busy teacher and Mom. When I got Mary Ann's recipe, I was "stuck" on how to illustrate it for the calendar. Hmmm - trying to make a head of cabbage into an interesting piece of art just didn't get me too excited. Then I had an "aha" moment - how about trying some of those little stick figures, representing young kids and their joy of school and learning and playing together. That's how this painting came about - using bold colors of course and lots of youthful whimsy. It's featured with Mary Ann's recipe in September in the 2016 Cooking with Friends calendar. I figured lots of Moms could use an easy, kid-friendly recipe in that crazy back-to-school month!
Look how this painting has been "repurposed!" This month it's on the cover of Kern County Family Magazine - a free monthly magazine for everyone who loves family, kids and Kern County, California. My dear friend L.J. Corby is publisher of this magazine and asked to use the painting for the January 2017 issue, focused on education and resources. Well of course I was thrilled! An interesting twist is that Mary Ann whose recipe inspired this painting was L.J.'s elementary teacher at Colonel Nichols School in Bakersfield. So the 3 of us are re-connected here - L.J.'s magazine, her teacher's recipe, and my whimsical artistic interpretation of that recipe. How fun is that!
Are you interested in making Cabbage Patch Stew? If so you're in luck - click here for the recipe included in Kern County Family Magazine. Thanks Mary Ann Rodgers for the delicious and very do-able recipe and the inspiration for a delightful painting! Thanks L.J. Corby for including all this in the January 2017 edition of your wonderful magazine!
You know what -maybe you CAN draw a stick figure!! Once again I've learned to keep my mind open to new painting inspirations. Doing these playful little figures was lots of fun. I know I'll do more - why don't you give it a try!
Oh no - a paint party! You’ve never painted and you can’t draw a straight line or a stick figure - this is like WAY scary! But it's oh so much fun once you get there - honest! Here’s what to expect, how to make it a fun experience and go home with your own original artwork! Warning - your face might ache a little from smiling . . .
Here are some “do’s and don’ts” for Claudia’s Paint Parties
DO -
DO -
- Come ready to play with paints! Claudia will help you step-by-step to create your masterpiece.
- Dress for success - which means wear clothes you don’t mind getting “painted.” We use water-based acrylic paints. When they dry they’re on your clothes to stay - ugh. It’s a great excuse to come super casual!
- Bring appetizers and drinks if you want to make this a real “party!” This is nice for private stuff such as birthdays, team building events, bachelorette parties, family bonding experiences, hanging out with friends . . . . .
- Expect to laugh a lot!!
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DON’T -
- Stress!! Remember, this is for fun. Claudia creates a super “safe” environment and we’re all learning this together.
- Wear nice clothes (see #2 above).
- Expect to draw a straight line! Well, if you absolutely must, you can use a ruler. :-)
- Dip your paint brush into your wine . . . . very important "rule!!"
When you show up with appetizers, we’ll have a brief “happy hour” - then we settle in and paint for about 2 hours. Here’s a “bonus” - if your painting doesn’t look like everyone else’s, that’s OK! As Bob Ross always said, “it’s your world!”
Remember - all materials are provided including paint, brushes, canvases, etc. You just show up and experience the joys of creating your work of art with your friends!
Remember - all materials are provided including paint, brushes, canvases, etc. You just show up and experience the joys of creating your work of art with your friends!
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Are you ready for a paint party in Claudia True's studio? Read about Paint Parties & Classes on my website for more information or contact Claudia here. You’ll go home with your own creation - laughs and smiles are guaranteed!!
p.s. Claudia's studio is in the basement of her home in Overland Park, Ks - a suburb of Kanas City.
p.s.s. If you've been to a paint party at Claudia's studio, I'd love it if you'd share your thoughts of the experience in comments below. Well, if it was a good experience and I hope it was!!
It's calendar time! And time for a little hashtag fun. AND a chance to win a cute little pig, painted for a recipe . . .
About the calendar -
My 9th annual Cooking with Friends calendar is hot off the press. Yay! If you're not familiar with these calendars, they're a collection of recipes from my friends and art I created to illustrate them. Yes - I paint recipes!
About the hashtag fun -
Let's have a little competition using #claudiascalendar. Lots of you have calendars hanging in your kitchen or office or "somewhere." Wouldn't it be fun to see where they are!
So here's our contest - post a photo on Facebook or Instagram with something calendar related and you're entered in a drawing for a pig, painted for a recipe! Tag your post with #claudiascalendar to be in the competition. Do this by Thursday, October 13 to be in the drawing.
Here's a sample - 2016 calendar hanging in my studio. I posted this on Instagram and tagged it with #claudiascalendar Thanks to Mary Ann Rogers for her recipe for Cabbage Patch Stew, enjoyed by her children when they were in school and she was a teacher. All the recipes have cute stories that bring them to life!
So here's our contest - post a photo on Facebook or Instagram with something calendar related and you're entered in a drawing for a pig, painted for a recipe! Tag your post with #claudiascalendar to be in the competition. Do this by Thursday, October 13 to be in the drawing.
Here's a sample - 2016 calendar hanging in my studio. I posted this on Instagram and tagged it with #claudiascalendar Thanks to Mary Ann Rogers for her recipe for Cabbage Patch Stew, enjoyed by her children when they were in school and she was a teacher. All the recipes have cute stories that bring them to life!
Want some ideas of what to post?
- Photo of your calendar hanging "wherever."
- Photo of a dish you made from a recipe - include the recipe art if you can! Use a recipe from any of the 9 calendars.
- Photo of a painting from a calendar - any year!
- You get the idea. Make it fun! Be in the photo!!
About that pig -
Meet Miss Piggy and Peppers. Is this the cutest little pig or what. And she could be yours! Just post a calendar related photo on Facebook or Instagram and use #claudiascalendar. Easy!
Miss Piggy is an 8 x 6" reproduction on canvas and is framed. She was inspired by John Fulton's recipe for Raspberry-Chipotle Pork Chops and first appeared in the 2013 calendar. Hope you're saving these calendars - the art and recipes are timeless.
Just Do It!
Okay - get the picture? Want to join the hashtag fun and maybe win Miss Piggy? Let's see where all these calendars and recipes and art are in the world. And some yummy food created from the recipes. Post by Thursday, October 13 - drawing will be on Friday, October 14
Are you ready to order your 2017 calendars with bright, colorful art and delicious recipes?
Click here to get them for you and your friends.
Thanks for joining the fun - happy posting!
Are you ready to order your 2017 calendars with bright, colorful art and delicious recipes?
Click here to get them for you and your friends.
Thanks for joining the fun - happy posting!
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!"
"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.
Claudia True
I'm an artist living in Kansas City with my hubby and cats. My passions: colorful paintings, yummy food, and sharing my love of art and cooking with others.
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