When Jack McDonald assumed the role of teaching Rick Worth’s popular painting bootcamp at The Studios of Key West, he was honored and nervous about taking over from his teacher, friend, and “partner in crime.”
As McDonald settled into the role of a teacher, he came to enjoy helping his new and returning students, a mix of hobbyists and veterans of the easel who often achieved surprising work.
One of the results of this new chapter is his latest exhibit, “Sweet Little Paintings,” on display at The Studios of Key West.
These paintings are a departure in scale and medium for the artist. New paintings depict dishes, birds, and the occasional scene painted in a much more realistic style, opting for flat paints instead of high gloss, than was found in McDonald’s prior exhibits.
The idea for this came from McDonald’s recognition that people are craving nostalgia. All of these works share some connection to McDonald’s time growing up on the island. He is banking on certain shared symbols synonymous with Key West connecting with his audience.
As for why the artist who is known for colorful set designs and zany cartoon-like creations chose to depict so many culinary mementos? The reason is a straightforward one.
Before the concept for “Sweet Little Paintings” set-in, McDonald experienced a particularly nasty flu that left him without an appetite and craving many of the dishes painted in this show. All elements that he really enjoyed turning into art.
“I think that’s really fun to have your taste buds involved in the thought process and using all your senses,” he explained.
Take his imagery of the island’s signature dessert: key lime pie. According to McDonald, he chose it because in addition to being delicious, it just looks good. And it was a nice way to achieve some of his specific hopes for viewers.
“The idea that I was talking about is just that everyone has their first memory of tasting a key lime pie and where they were for that. And that’s such a nice strong feeling I wanted to tap into.”
He also enjoyed taking easily accessible items and making them look refined.
“Who’s gonna’ take photos of gummy worms and put it on marble and make it more prestigious than they are?” McDonald asked, reinforcing the idea that with this show he wants to take ordinary items and give them their moment in the limelight.
Viewers can expect to find, among the 40 or so paintings, ice-cream sandwiches, lollipops, nachos, cereal, and desserts in addition to birds and reptiles, which also occupy multiple pieces in a nod to local critters that he encountered growing up here. It is an interesting approach ahead of a season filled with art and gallery exhibits on the island. To create a show that displays common cuisine through the eyes of an uncommon urban conch island artist.
