Art & illustration

Joan Chamberlain

I felt my mother’s love most around the kitchen table. Growing up in the Mad Men era of the 50’s and 60’s, I saw women in charge of the home and men in charge of everything else. I wanted both. My father was an Air Force pilot who explored the world and brought home a willingness to experiment with different cuisines. I find my artistic expression at the intersection of my mother’s love of the kitchen and my father’s joy in navigating the world.

My art explores the experience of food and wine - growing it, preparing it, bottling it, serving it, sharing it, enjoying it. Food and wine are intimately involved with the humans who connect through it. I strive to direct the viewer’s eye to the details of that connection.

I also enjoy capturing table settings that reflect a story - the preparation and serving of food and wine - and the appreciation of the shared experiences which provide rich memories of time spent together. My intent is to invite the viewer to find their own memories in the settings of my art.

In terms of color and composition, I prefer the strong contrasts produced by the slant of light at dawn or dusk versus the subdued shades of indirect, overhead light. I’ve always felt the most alive at the fringes of the day.

I spent 35 years practicing dentistry and simultaneously seeking artistic outlets for my various interests. I’ve explored a wide range of artistic media and been influenced by teachers in many artistic disciplines. They all lead me back to the love my parents shared with me at the table.