Artist’s Statement
Lemon Square was inspired by the experimentation that takes place in the kitchen along with the bright notes of citrus fruit and summer. This painting began first with inspiration from an ordinary bowl of lemons and oranges, allowing the bright colours of the fruit to find their place on the canvas. From there, a successful first attempt at making lemon squares drove this painting to its completion.
I approached this painting with a playful attitude, one that reflects my excitement for the warmer weather ahead and the thrill of making something new in the kitchen. I allowed the paint to go where it willed, embracing the similar experimentation process that takes place in the kitchen. The bright colours used in this painting reflect the sunny weather of summer and the bright colours of citrus fruit. To continue the organic nature of this painting, I incorporated green into the colour palette and pushed the paint through flowy and energetic brush strokes. I also used a palette knife with limited control to further emphasize the energy and experimentation nature of the piece, adding another textural element to the piece as you would an ingredient to a recipe. The two off-white squares in the artwork are a fun play on my experience of making lemon squares for the first time – an experience that inspired the majority of the painting. Mimicking the same technique of pushing the shortbread layer into the bottom of the pan, I used my fingers to paint these sections, pushing the paint to form the edges of the shapes.
To the viewer, I hope Lemon Square brings up the excitement of summer bliss and nostalgia of memories made in the kitchen. May the days ahead be bright and full of joy.
In Process
Final
