Tag: drinks

Posted on by

Cucumber Water Painting – The Making of Funky Cucumber

glass of cucumber water painting - vegetable still life

Cucumber Water Speed Painting – The Making of Funky Cucumber

Cucumber Water Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. This quirky little still life features a cut cucumber and a glass of infused water — all painted in bold tones with lots of layering, texture, and contrast.

Title: ‘Funky Cucumber’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Painting Process

For this cucumber water speed painting, I wanted to switch things up. Normally, I begin with a Vermillion base layer, but this time I chose Magenta instead. I wasn’t sure what would happen, which made it more fun. I drew in the outlines, then jumped straight into color with a green mix I had prepared for the cucumber slice.

Rather than fully covering the base layer, I left some of the Magenta showing through on purpose — especially in the shadows. That gave the piece a more textured, layered feel. For the background, I used a semi-transparent purple-blue mix, again allowing the base to shine through in spots.

In the original reference image, the glass and cucumber were sitting on a wooden cutting board. I decided to replace it with an off-white surface instead. The contrast worked better against the background and felt more modern. Also, the desaturated tone gave the glass and water room to breathe visually.

It was a fast piece, but one that pushed me slightly out of my usual approach. The color choices were more experimental, and I had no real plan beyond working quickly and trusting the shapes. In the end, the funky palette, bold strokes, and unusual contrast made it one of my favorites from this series.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Subscribe below or follow me on social (links in the footer) if you like weird little still lifes like this. I post new painting videos often.

Posted on by

Tabasco Gone Sideways (Tabasco Sauce Bottle) Painting -Time-Lapse Video

tabasco bottle still life painting

Tabasco Speed Painting – The Making of ‘Tabasco Gone Sideways’

Tabasco Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. A bold little still life that flips the script — literally — by tilting a classic bottle of Tabasco hot sauce on its side. The result? A quirky, color-rich painting with strong contrast and a laid-back vibe.

Title: ‘Tabasco Gone Sideways’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

Process & Approach

I’ve seen a lot of Tabasco paintings over the years, so I knew going into this that the subject wasn’t groundbreaking. To make it more fun (and more challenging), I placed the bottle on its side. This messed with the symmetry and forced me to really pay attention to proportions and angles. It made things trickier — but also more interesting.

The technique followed the same flow as some of my other recent still lifes. I started by sketching the outlines using a tone already close to the color of the sauce — a mix of Magenta, Yellow, and a touch of Cyan. I filled in the shadows first using that same blend, letting the darker areas define the form early on.

Next, I blocked in the green label, the background, and some depth for the sauce itself. I added just a few hints of text and highlights — no full label details. Because this was a speed painting, I kept the level of detail consistent throughout. Leaving out the small text gave it a cleaner, more graphic look.

Sometimes the best part of speed painting is not trying to get every little thing right. This piece felt loose, warm, and balanced once I stepped back from it. Plus, it was fun to take a common object and give it a literal twist.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Follow me on social or subscribe below if you enjoy seeing process videos like this. New paintings (and weird subjects) coming soon.

Posted on by

Yesterday’s Dessert (Two McDonald’s Milkshakes) Painting -Time-Lapse Video

Milkshake speed painting by Bart Carels showing two McDonald's cups in teal background

Milkshake Speed Painting – The Making of ‘Yesterday’s Dessert’

Milkshake Speed Painting by contemporary artist Bart Carels. This quirky still life captures two McDonald’s strawberry milkshakes, leftover from a random late-night snack run during Covid. Painted fast with leftover acrylics and no prep, it’s a loose, playful tribute to pop culture and poor dinner decisions.

Title: ‘Yesterday’s Dessert’
Artist: Bart Carels
Year: 2020

‘Yesterday’s Dessert’ – Acrylic on canvas by Bart Carels (2020)

How I Created This Milkshake Speed Painting

This one came straight from real life — and real fast food. One night we went for a drive, didn’t feel like cooking, and ended up in the McDrive. Covid was still going strong, so everything was handed out on trays attached to long sticks. Kind of surreal, to be honest. After regretting my burger choice (the “Double Tasty” isn’t making the list again), I looked down at the milkshakes and thought, “Yeah, that’s a painting.”

Instead of prepping a new canvas, I used what I had from the day before. I grabbed the leftover paint and sketched the composition using Vermillion. That base color still shows through in spots, which actually works well with the yellow M logos on the cups.

To make the cups pop, I added a teal background. The contrast pulled everything forward and made the scene more playful. For the shadows, I used a mix of white, magenta, cyan, and primary yellow — adjusting as I went to keep things loose. The cardboard tray holding the cups got a few darker tones mixed in with magenta and blue for more depth.

This milkshake speed painting stayed rough on purpose. I didn’t want to overwork it. It was about capturing the moment — fast, imperfect, and kind of funny in hindsight. Definitely one of those “accidental favorite” pieces.

Painting Specs

  • One-of-a-kind artwork
  • Medium: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 24×18 cm / 9×7 inches
  • Color Palette: Cyan | Magenta | Yellow | Black | White

Availability

Want more snack-inspired still lifes and quick acrylic sketches? Subscribe below or follow me on social (footer links). New speed painting videos drop regularly.

Posted on by

Glass of Whisky (“Firewater”) Original Painting

Original acrylic painting on canvas 'Firewater' – whisky glass painting by Bart Carels.

Glass of Whisky Painting – ‘Firewater’

Looking for a bold glass of whisky painting with a punch of color and character? Firewater is a modern still life that captures that golden glow just before the first sip. Vibrant, moody, and painted with acrylic on canvas, this piece stands out in any setting.

Behind This Glass of Whisky Painting

Like most of my work, this whisky painting started with a blank canvas and a plan — sort of. I toned the surface using a mix of gesso and burnt sienna, a technique I use to reduce glare and build a warmer base for later layers. The burnt sienna also helps cover the white of the canvas, so even if the top layers are loose or transparent, nothing harsh shines through.

This time, I wasn’t focused on value mapping. I was more interested in locking down the composition and mood early on. I wanted the drink to glow — like it was lit from within — without overcomplicating the background or the glasswork.

Progress Shots

Here’s a peek behind the scenes. These images show the full process from first strokes to final details. You can see how the composition evolves and where I push and pull color to balance realism with atmosphere.

Why This Whisky Painting Works

This piece isn’t just about whisky. It captures that still, glowing moment of calm — the second before everything kicks in. The contrast of rich teal and amber pulls your focus exactly where it belongs.

Whether you’re building a collection or looking for a conversation piece, this glass of whisky painting brings bold energy and timeless stillness into any space. It’s one of those pieces that can live in a lounge, studio, or kitchen and still feel right at home.

Availability

Check below for availability of the original painting and fine art prints: