Painting Dreams and Memories with Restaurant Red

How revisiting a forgotten canvas led to a unique fusion of humor, surrealism, and self-discovery

Lunchtime Inspiration

In 2019, my art-wife Alexandra Beguez and I found ourselves exploring the vibrant streets of Amsterdam, on the hunt for a perfect lunch spot. We stumbled upon Restaurant Red, a café whose name couldn't be more misleading. The entire interior was green, and a giant photo-mural of a woman blowing a bubble adorned the ceiling. This surreal image, oozing with dreamlike charm, was forever etched in my mind.

Two years later, in 2021, I embarked on a journey to immortalize this unforgettable scene on a 16x20 inch canvas. I began with an underpainting sketch, inspired by the photo I took during our visit. Yet, the complexity of the scene overwhelmed me, and I doubted my skills. With a heavy heart, I set the painting aside.

In 2023, while organizing my studio closet, I stumbled upon the abandoned canvas. Having had time away from it, it felt more alien to me and woman's unfinished gaze urged me to give it another shot. With the underpainting already in place, I was halfway there, right?

This time, I steered clear of my reference photo, opting to let my imagination fill in the blanks of the underpainting. The process became instinctive, allowing me to experiment with humor and surrealism. The resulting painting embodied a dreamy memory, infused with a touch of whimsy.

So, dear reader, if you ever feel stuck in your creative endeavors, look to your own memories – or camera roll – and remember that letting go of perfection can unlock new dimensions of self-expression. Embrace your imagination, and you might just create something unexpected.