Apalachicola Shrimp Boil
I love how this little video captures the shrimp boil vibe. Friend and fellow artist Brienne Brown and I bought shrimp right off the boat in Apalachicola, Florida to share the following evening at a get-together.
Everyone crowded into the kitchen, chatting and laughing while the seasoned water came to a boil, filling the air with the warm scent of spices. The shrimp went in, and minutes later, we were peeling, eating, and agreeing: these Gulf shrimp were the best we’d ever had. Food really does taste better with friends. It was one of those delicious moments where great food and even greater company come together—this time to celebrate the end of a week of painting at the Forgotten Coast Plein Air event. That enthusiastic voice you hear in the background? That’s my friend and fellow artist Richie Vios.
Galveston Meat and Potatoes, 20 x 20", Private Collection
This isn’t just one of my favorite meals—it’s one of my favorite still life subjects. I return to this motif again and again, and somehow, it never gets old. These paintings bring me joy, and I’m finding they do the same for others. They tend to disappear like soap bubbles. When someone sees one of my pieces and feels a connection, when it brings back memories or simply makes them happy enough to want it in their home—that’s why I paint.