Meringue Mix 1999

Wayne Thiebaud made this painting, Meringue Mix, with oil on board, but we don’t know exactly when. He lays down paint like it’s frosting, thick and delicious. Look at how he uses color: each slice is like a different flavor, a different mood. The painting is built from blocks of color, simple shapes with subtle variations that give a sense of depth. He emphasizes the flatness of the surface, but also creates an illusion. He has a knack for making you want to lick the canvas. I'm drawn to the slice on the bottom left with the yellow base. The brushstrokes are really visible here, the way he's built up the paint creates shadows and highlights. It reminds me a bit of Morandi, another painter who really knew how to make something out of a simple subject. Thiebaud’s not about perfection, he’s about the joy of painting, the process. It’s all about the pleasure of making.