What do marmalade, Stilton cheese on a digestive, trifle, and a cup of PG Tips have in common? They're all quintessential British foods, which for some may conjure up images of a faraway homeland or for others simply remind them of what’s in their pantry. Artist Joël Penkman has reproduced these along with many other British food favourites in a series of delightful paintings.
Born and raised in New Zealand and now living in Liverpool, England, Penkman hopes that her paintings will “make people smile.” Some of the works are pretty (summer fruit jelly) while others cause a brief shudder (black pudding—so wrong). All of them are incredibly detailed with some appearing at first glance to be a photograph.
"Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce" Joël Penkman
Have no ties to British cuisine? Not to worry because she also has an American series, which was commissioned for the book A Taste of America by Colman Andrews. Looking at the items representing the 50 states, there were some that I was unfamiliar with—Maytag blue cheese from Iowa, smoked catfish pate from Mississippi, Mayhaw jelly from Georgia, Goetta sausage from Ohio—while others I knew very well—Sriracha hot chili sauce from California, maple candy from Vermont, Kona coffee from Hawaii, a box of baked goods from Two Little Red Hens in New York. The one downside of looking at Penkman's work is it will make you hungry; "Biscuits in a line" made me want to run down to Myers of Keswick and grab a packet of Bourbon biscuits.
Prints as well as some of the original paintings are available for sale so you can hang some fish fingers (sorry they come with ketchup not custard) on your wall or a good old American glazed donut. To see all of Penkman's series, visit her website here.
Prints as well as some of the original paintings are available for sale so you can hang some fish fingers (sorry they come with ketchup not custard) on your wall or a good old American glazed donut. To see all of Penkman's series, visit her website here.
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