All Too Soon: Summer In The Deep South

Summer Mermaid by Cherie Bender

Here am I in the Deep South, treasuring every day of weather in the 70's because soon it will be in the 80's and then in the 90's and then where shall I be?
I'll be in my favorite bikini of the moment on my favorite beach towel in my favorite chair with my feet in the ocean, scrunching the sand between my toes and feeling oh! so wonderful to be there  at  "La Playa"
I'm considering if I should stay until the sun sets on the horizon turning the turquoise ocean to pink and lavender? Or go to the market in my bikini (dry by now) modestly wrapped with a colorful scarf and looking like a mermaid myself.
I've decided to stay.
I take out my mini sketchpad and start a mermaid drawing, a ritual I like to indulge in quite often when I'm at the beach. I have several mermaids drawings, all different and all no more than 2 1/2 inches tall. They will be featured in my section on how wonderful delicious recipes for fresh seafood are for your hair skin and nails, in my Magical Cookbook: Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking that Ive been creating.
I am fascinated with my magical creatures and fairy mermaids are my favorite subjects, along with gnomes and elves, absolutely! How would I get anything done without them?
So here's one of my mermaid sketches done right on the beach. I am looking forward to a Happy Summer!!
Many Blessings
Cherie

Art Deco: My New Deco Collection in Pastels & Oils

 

Angel Uriel: oil painting by Cherie Bender

Having had fabulous success with my Art Deco collection, I am enthused to start a new one!
Loving the time of the 1920s, and the artists who lived then, I am enjoying painting in my studio to the tune of my different drummer. I feel the inspiration and I go with the flow so Art Deco it is! Starting with the painting I did for my blog head-piece "Geisha With Rainbow" I will be creating my "New Art Deco" in oil paintings and pastels. 
I have not forgotten nor put aside my Magical Cookbook. I am still cooking  in my new Cappuccino Kitchen, editing the recipes I discover, and illustrating those recipes with paintings drawings and photographs, and will be closer to publication later this fall. This will be an excuse to have another cooking party video!
2017 promises to be a busy and fulfilling year for me both as an artist, and as a purveyor of fine food recipes.
Happy New Year & Many Blessings!
Cherie
p.s. please note: if you like what you read & would like to let me know that like: please click below to let me know dear readers! Also, you may send me a message here. 
C

I've Always Loved To Play Dress-up - Another Side Of Me!

 This is one of my very favorite modeling photographs taken by the fabulous photographer Dan Littlejohn. I related to Danny as an artist and a model. We took pictures together for fun and money. That is absolutely the best experience in the whole world. Better than almost anything else!
I adore the sienna tinting in this hand done print, expertly and lovingly created by Danny in his darkroom...where the Magic happens.To me this shot has a remembrance, an iridescence, if you will, of time standing still.
All that is remembered is the good times.
Danny was one of my favorite people in the whole world. I thought he was tremendously talented and we had a lot of good times shooting together.
Another side of Me.
Lots of Love

Cherie

Gratitude on Being A Working Artist Labor Day 2016

Men Shaking Hands, a pastel drawing

Today, on Labor Day September 5, 2016, I reflect on how I've been very lucky and fortunate to have inherited the gift from my parents of creating art, and I've been an artist most of my life.
For a fairly long while, I modeled, and I loved acting in plays and in movies, but throughout, I always did my visuals. I can say with definite certainty, my true love and truest passion has always been creating art. Whether on an excruciating deadline or taking my time making something that pleases me, this has been an incredible journey. I share with you now, one of my favorite pieces "Men Shaking Hands" a pastel drawing I did for one of my first self promos on the internet. It has the flavor of an Aynn Rand book, as I probably was influenced by my reading of "Atlas Shrugged" when I was sixteen and again around the time I created this pastel. In the depths of my psyche is the work ethic I inherited from my Dad. I love to layer and perfect my work both as an illustrator and as a fine artist. The original Pastel, Men Shaking Hands, is available, as are some other commissioned pieces I did for a living as an illustrator. Please visit my web to view this and more commissioned art. You may inquire about availability via my contact page.
Have a Blessed Day, and God Bless America!
Happy Labor Day

Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking: Fairies & Elves & Gnomes!

Esm'e: pencil & glitter by Cherie Bender

I love drawing and painting my Magical Creatures! For me, the cooking, and enjoyment of eating delicious, healthy, good for you food is a magical and transforming experience.
My magical folk I draw and paint to illustrate my Magical Cookbook are very real to me. They are inspired by my favorite flowers, herbs and creatures of my garden.
All I have done, is to open my eyes and ears and believe in what happens next!
If I am very quiet and still, shhhhh! soon, I will hear the tinkling, silvery laughter, perhaps? of fairies in my flower and herbal garden. On a particularly lucky day, I can sometimes catch the soft flutter of fairy wings within the corner of my eye. If I listen carefully, I can hear my garden's helpers, the Gnomes and Elves coax my flowers and herbs to grow.
In order to protect all creatures and keep everything healthy, I do not allow harsh pesticides in my home or garden. I want to keep the eco system flowing so I try to only work with natural oils such as peppermint, to keep unwanted visitors, such as mosquitoes, away!
 My new cookbook that I am beginning to write now, starting this Summer of 2016, incorporates these principles, and is so much fun to create!
 My Magical Cookbook is percolating and simmering, blending all of the wonderful ingredients!   My recipes include using natural ingredients such as herbs and flowers of the garden, combined for us to stay beautiful, young and healthy!
 I am also creating organic, essential oil blends; Love, Cash Flow, Power, and Drive Calm (Protection) are some of my latest. I will be sharing some of these and my magical art for all who desire these qualities in their own lives.
Just as in all good cooking, savoring the delicious aromas of essential oils, and tuning into the subtle healing results, while training the palette for delicate flavors rather than quick easy fixes, takes time. I will be sharing another recipe tidbit from my Magical Cookbook very soon! Keep posted 'cauz I'm percolating!
In Good Health,
With Many Blessings
Cherie

Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking: Steam Ovens

Dining Poolside

In the summer who wants to slave over a hot stove? I surely do not!
In my new Cappuccino Kitchen, I have installed the greatest thing! A steam oven which is a quick and healthy way to cook with steam and convection. Mine is a Jen-Aire which I am in love with. Why am I in love with a steam oven you may ask?
Its simple: no more harmful micro waves in my kitchen ever again! Everything cooks up quickly, crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. After a long days work in the studio and/or writing new recipes for Cherie Bender's Glitter Book of Magical Cooking, all I have to do is place a frozen, wild caught piece of fish, or organic chicken, or even frozen pasta,  drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, surrounded with organic veggies, place in an oven proof ceramic dish, and seasoned with fresh dill from my garden, ground pepper, sea salt, organic lemon zest and juice from one lemon and then I place the container with filtered water back in the lil' ole' steam oven, Voila! Within 20 minutes (time enough to walk my Japanese Chin puppies Dalai and Angel)  I arrive back home to a delicious, healthy dinner cooked with no harm to me, my family, or my environment, and its virtually hands free!
 I have been experimenting with my steam oven for the last few months and have found it to be a delightful, easy peasy nice n' breezy way to cook fresh and healthy, quickly.
There is very little danger of overcooking as the steam oven walks you through the whole process, giving you options to stop cooking or continue on for a  few more minutes. Opening the oven door poses no danger whatsoever, just a little steam escaping, unlike the outdated microwave. Plus, you can adjust the seasonings to taste or add more time on as you please.
I will be writing some new recipes in the near future geared to this awesome way for busy people to prepare healthy meals, saving them time and money!
The Summer is for enjoying the good weather, outdoor pleasures and taking it easy, no? Using the steam oven is a fabulous new faster and health conscious cooking idea who's time has come. I can't wait to have my book published and ready with these newer recipes included. I envision a very near future of steam ovens in every kitchen, affordably. Just imagine coming home from working all day, to such an easy way of preparing healthy and nutritious dinners! You could languish in the tub or take a shower for 20 minutes knowing that all your cooking is being done safely. That is the most important part. My new steam oven recipes will be geared with all of this in mind, and of course I will also include my recipes for the gas convection oven as well.

Azulene: Pastel & Swarovsky crystal drawing: 

 Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking will be Illustrated with my drawings, paintings and photographs.

In good health,
Many Blessings!
Cherie

Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking: an unusual cookbook

Delicious Food Served Deliciously

My Cappuccino Kitchen is finally up and running and it has been a very long time in the making!
I've had Many trials and tribulations with over 36 workers coming  in and out of my doors for the past 6 months! Not all of them knew what they were doing, I am sorry to say! The truth was in the pudding as my Mummy used to tell me.... but now....
I was on a mission as I have started and almost completed my cookbook illustrated with my art and photos and I am almost finished with the detailing and final touches of both the kitchen and my book a la Cherie!
My kitchen is very delightful and will be a perfect backdrop for fun! cooking parties and I cannot wait to start cooking up a storm so..
Please keep posted to my blog because now I have the time to post!
I promise: videos of cooking parties are forthcoming  as well as snippets of my latest recipes for gourmet food focusing on Health, Beauty and Longevity.
Many Blessings
Cherie