This recipe series was inspired by a framed drawing I bought at a thrift store a few years ago. I loved the bright orange frame and the odd size of the drawing. But what most drew me to this was the organic and expressive lines both throughout the illustration and in the hand-written recipe. It felt so personal and caring, the exact thing that should decorate a kitchen.

As I’ve explored and embraced the creative aspects of cooking since purchasing this drawing, I connected more to the idea of sharing both art and something as universal as a meal or snack with loved ones. This led to the start of this illustration series. I chose to start with some simple and colorful recipes: a refrigerator pickle recipe, some lemon poppy seed bread and a sweet potato crust quiche recipe.

I’ve also added on my roommate’s mom’s apple nut bread recipe that has been an apartment favorite. Her and her mom bond over family recipes and put a lot of love into their cooking so it was a perfect gift for her to commission before the holidays.