Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. I know this painting isn’t true to the series in that whoopie pies aren’t really a local “brand.” But, quite frankly, I needed a break from painting lettering and I wanted to paint a simpler painting. I enjoy painting subjects that, on the surface, seem color limited, but upon deeper observation appear to have a large variety of colors. Whoopie pies are brown and cream white, but I used red, orange, yellow, purple, and blue to get this painting to read right – there’s even a bit of green in the cream shadows. A few weeks before painting this, I visited the Wayne Thiebold exhibit at the Brandywine Museum – Thiebold is the artist made famous by painting pies and cakes – he used various bold colors on his edges, creating a halo effect on his paintings. Dawned on me once I finished this painting that I took a page out of his book – painting sweets using all the colors on my pallet – seems we’re always “standing on shoulders of giants.” My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Love red beet eggs, especially as a side to a Christmas/Easter leftover ham sandwich (with Pilsudski mustard). Most people around here make their own red beet eggs. They’re easy to make – place hard boiled eggs in a bath of canned red beets, white vinegar, and some sugar. There are a bunch of good red beet egg brands, for those who don’t want to go through the trouble of making them, and many supermarkets in my area have their own eggs at the deli counter. I chose to highlight this brand because it’s the “Dutchiest.” I usually find this brand at Shady Maple – a PA Dutch smorgasbord and supermarket near Lancaster, PA. Some of the small, local bars have red beet eggs available as a bar snack. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Didn’t realize that cho-chos – malt-flavored ice cream cups on a stick – are a regional item until I moved away from the area in the early 90’s. Shell’s Dairy Swirl, the ice cream shop, mini-golf, and fast food restaurant in Temple, PA has the best. Love cho-chos and their cousin, dusty road sundaes – a vanilla ice cream sundae topped with chocolate syrup, malt powder, and whipped cream. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Di Bruno Bros. Sexy Olives is an olive mix sold by Di Bruno’s cheese and deli shop in South Philly’s Italian Market area. Their cheese spreads, cheeses, pepperoni, and olives have worked their way into our local supermarkets. This olive mix is perfect for cheese boards. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

This painting features foods and food brands from my home area – Reading/Berks County/the greater Philadelphia area/Pennsylvania Dutch country. Love that these foods are easily recognizable to people from my home area but may need to be explained to someone outside the area.

This painting features foods and food brands from my home area – Reading/Berks County/the greater Philadelphia area/Pennsylvania Dutch country. Love that these foods are easily recognizable to people from my home area but may need to be explained to someone outside the area. The original painting is 48” X 48” – this print is smaller than the original.

Had the privilege to spend some time with my Dad before his passing. A little over a week before he passed – February 2022 – we were chatting – I pulled out my sketch book, and he let me sketch him. He normally wouldn’t let me sketch him, but this time, he did – he understood. Will treasure that time.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna is another local product that’s ubiquitous in Pennsylvania Dutch country but relatively unknown outside the area. Lebanon is a city about an hour Southwest of where I live. Pronounce the city with a PA Dutch accent – sounds more like ”Lep’nin”. This sweet and smoky deli meat, created in and around Lebanon, is great on a sandwich with mustard and cheese. Some in my family like to spread cream cheese on a slice and create roll ups. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Cope’s dried corn is a necessity at many Pennsylvania Dutch Thanksgiving tables. Can be boiled and served with salt and butter. Or, it an be used to make a custard-like savory pudding like the one pictured on the package. My mom makes a Cope’s corn pudding that’s out of this world. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.

Part of my “Tastes Of Home” series. Yuengling Beer, “America’s Oldest Brewery”, is based in Pottstown, PA, a little north of my hometown. The beer used to be unknown outside the area, but it has gained popularity. Their lager is a staple. Their Black and Tan is also a must. Taylor”. My “Tastes Of Home” series celebrates food brands native to Berks County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and Greater Philadelphia – the area where I live.