Vegan Lunch with the Fab Five

When food, friends and fine art combine, the results are sure to be memorable. Indeed, on August 9, my close artist friend, Karen Eide gifted four of us with the most amazing day in recent memory: a "Studio Day" to learn her medium of encaustic painting (essentially, painting with melted wax which dates from at least the 5th century B.C.).

Judy Cowling, Iona Drozda and I gathered at 9:30 a.m. at her and her husband, David's, lovely home in rural Carrollton, VA. (Sheila Giolitti joined us later in the afternoon.) The day was simply glorious and the slightly less than an hour's drive completely pleasant (no, it was grand, as my dear friend Iona rode with me and we reveled in conversation going and coming).

In Karen's charming detached cottage studio (with her cat Miles lolling in the loft above), she provided us with background and safety information, lots of mouth-watering samples, and a demo. Then she set us loose at stations she had created for each of us. Inspired by her work and encouragement, her samples, and each other, we went to it. As we drew, painted, collaged, stamped and stenciled, I think it's safe to say that we are all completely hooked.

Karen would not accept any remuneration for sharing her knowledge, expertise, home, studio and supplies. Not a penny. So we insisted that she let us bring lunch. The only thing enticing enough to pull us away from the studio was food as delightful as the rest of the day. Sitting at her rustic farm table overlooking her wooded backyard and the river beyond, we enjoyed a stunning array of summer's finest: Judy's fresh figs with balsamic (plus blue cheese for the non-vegans) and cous-cous and chickpea salad, Karen's huge farmhouse salad and marinated and perfectly grilled slices of eggplant and tofu, and my Tunisian Eggplant and Red Bell Pepper Salad. We were so satiated that we forgot Iona's beautiful watermelon in the fridge. Were it not for our excitement over our work and a bowl of vegan chocolate-covered coffee beans, we might not have made it through the afternoon, as we did enjoy just a smidge of a crisp white wine with our lunch.

Speaking of, here's to old and new friends and ancient and contemporary art forms!

In the photo are standing, l to r: Judy Cowling, Sheila Giolitti, me and Karen Eide; seated: Iona Drozda. Stay tuned for posts with our delicious vegan spread and our artwork.