Good Enough to Eat: Food Illustration
I’ve been thinking about the things I like to draw. If you read my bio you’ll see that I’m often inspired by what’s “in my backyard,” so to speak. And while technically not in my backyard, I spent a lot of time in my kitchen. I love food, I love cooking, I love baking, and I love gardening. I even love . . . food packaging. (If that can be a thing, let’s just agree that it can. Tell me you haven’t bought a bottle of wine solely based on the label.)
So I often find myself drawn to draw food! Vegetables, fruit, plates of food, tables of food. I think it’s a combination of the unique organic shapes, the colors and textures, and the fact that we have this emotional connection to food. Food is often why we gather, how we share love, and a sign of hospitality. And our cultural ties to food go back as far as we do.
When I want to draw food all I have to do is grab whatever’s in the bowl on my kitchen counter, or pull something out of the garden. Because it’s a favorite subject of mine I’ve also created food art and illustrations out of my widest variety of mediums: watercolor, acrylic, digital, pencil, marker, etc.
Sketchbook/Project Ideas:
Here are a few sketchbook exercises that I’ve used in the past or have tucked away in my brain:
Do a contour/blind contour drawing of a simple fruit or vegetable.
Fill a page with the same food item over and over again. (Like a whole page of oranges!)
Illustrate a favorite recipe or just the ingredients (à la They Draw and Cook)
Draw a grouping of food: by color, by season, by first letter, etc.
Sketch your favorite grocery list items.
Imagine a “scene” of food: a picnic, a table from above. What does your favorite table of food look like?
Draw your favorite condiments (mustard, jam, sriracha, whatever’s in your cabinets and fridge)
Food adjacent for me is dishes: draw teacups, mugs, plates and bowls (with or without food).
Limit your palette (3/4 colors) and draw/paint your food items in only that palette, whether it’s realistic or not.
I also like to draw imaginary cakes - great towering cakes adorned with fruit, flowers, or slices of citrus.
Early on I fell in love with They Draw and Cook, a website that started off with illustrated recipes but has grown to be even more expansive with maps and gardens. They’re a fantastic place to start if you’re looking for food illustration inspiration. I’ve also loved the work of illustrators like Ohn Mar Win and Claudia Pearson. And I tuck away inspiration on my Food Illustration Pinterest board.
And it’s no secret that as a licensing artist, food illustration can be very marketable. From kitchen decor (like tea towels and dishes) to food packaging and even greeting cards or editorial and publishing work. I always like to include some food illustrations and patterns in my portfolio.
So pick up your pencils and set the table, it’s time to eat.
