Blueberry Cobbler, II

charcoal & acrylic on canvas

17.5” x 17.5”

2023

Originally painted in 2019, this piece ended up semi-forgotten in the studio. Exhibited several times and never sold, I set it aside, and gradually, it was covered up by newer projects.

But it reappeared during a spring cleaning, and while trying to decide what to do with it, I set it on the floor against the studio wall and just looked at it awhile.

Truth be told, I was never completely satisfied with the final piece, but I hadn’t been able to pinpoint the issue. As the weeks turned to months, eventually, it became obvious. “Blueberry Cobbler, I” looked like the result of a rigid to-do list. The colors and their treatment felt formulaic, and I believed I could do better.

So how do you solve a problem like Maria? I felt the most logical approach to redemption, the best way to save this painting was to simply break the rules that dominated its development, and so right on top of “Blueberry Cobbler, I” I began again, using the first iteration as my new foundation.

I started with a bright, colorful palette, intentionally incorporating all corners of the color wheel, and though I (mostly) stayed within the lines of the original composition, I heavily indulged in the darker areas, adding rich purples and reds, covering areas that had primarily been purely charcoal, and throughout the latticed crust I found endless, warm pastels. The final result is a much juicier, sweeter, tastier looking cobbler than my first attempt.

“Blueberry Cobbler, I” was originally paired with Milepost 6: What the World Needs Now, a short story written in the heat of a Mississippi summer. It is now celebrated alongside “Blueberry Cobbler, II,” and I find they pair beautifully.

“Blueberry Cobbler, II” I is currently available for purchase.