Wayne Thiebaud Cakes
Wayne Thiebaud (whose name is pronounced Tee-Bow), was born in 1920 and is still living. He began his art career as a cartoonist and designer before becoming an artist in the U.S. Navy. In 1960 he became an associate professor and continued to teach students for nearly 20 years.
While he was with the Navy Thiebaud spent time in New York (on leave) and began painting the pastries and other “American” food that he would become known for. He was very interested in creating realistic paintings and he did this by using thick paint in exaggerated colors. When he painted cakes, for example, he applied the paint like a baker would spread frosting. The food in his paintings looks real enough to eat.
Thiebaud is sometimes grouped in with the “Pop Artists” because he paints subjects from popular culture (like cakes, gumball machines, and ice cream Sundays) but actually he began
his work before the Pop Artists. It is probable that he was an inspiration to the movement. http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/
The links below can teach you a little bit more about Wayne Thiebaud. When he first became an artist he was turned down by over 70 galleries, thinking his paintings were “Silly”, the last gallery took a chance on him and his paintings sold out in record time. Including a purchase by the Whitney Museum in NYC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1p https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEs0
You will be drawing a cake, like Wayne Thiebaud. Check out these student drawings.
Directions are on the next page.
Remember to fold your paper into quarters as a guideline. Be creative!! What kind of cake will you represent? What colors will you use? What flavor is your cake? Remember to tell me the flavor or type of cake when you submit your work. Feel free to look up pictures of cakes as inspiration. Don’t get too hungry while your doing this project.
