Meet Chef George. I call him “Chef” because that’s what I called him when we met. We worked together at the Professional Culinary Institute in Campbell, CA. He was a popular chef instructor for decades and was a mentor to so many. I asked Chef George to contribute to the launch of our new site as he exemplifies the soul of our new project: stepping out of his comfort zone; finding new ways of expression to engage and fulfill, and share his talents with the world. His works of Greece and Mediterranean life are perfect complements to our mission.
Chef George writes: “After 67 trips around the sun, and a 30-plus year career in food service, with some, detours along the way, I realized that as my retirement approaches, I’m going to need some distractions to keep me occupied. This being said, I decided to take a swing at painting. I signed up for an adult class in Acrylic Painting with my local Adult Education Department. I knew immediately that I had found something that I could engage with and feel productive. I had dabbled in sketching and pen and ink many years ago, but the edition of color was something new and exciting. Unfortunately, 4 classes into the session the Pandemic hit and I was on my own. My first subjects were those that we were given to us by the instructor and were landscapes and still lifes.
“Once I had completed those, I started to look for something that would challenge as well as satisfy me. I looked back on my life and experiences and decided to look for subjects that were dear to my heart. Being of Greek decent, and having lived in Greece for many years, it was a natural decision to look for scenes of Greece and the Mediterranean life as subjects”.
The Pandemic has given me plenty of time to attack each subject. I have continued to learn with each piece. I think one of the added benefits aside from the tranquility I experience, is ability of the work to transport me back to those times which have left many fond memories. As I continue, each new piece gives me more confidence to tackle more difficult subjects and interpret the colors and scenes more accurately”.
“Santorini” by George Hadres
