How To Eat Like an Artist

Artists are colorful and visual people. They are famously said to be starving before they make their big break. Equipped with those two facts, we could say artists like variety and they eat light. Both are probably true. Many artists claim before working they like to eat light so they're comfortable. Eating like an artist, one could assume, must be a healthy lifestyle. Here are some things an artist will likely incorporate into their diet on a weekly basis.

Foods From the Color Wheel

Artists have a natural eye for color, so when they visit the supermarket, they're going to pick out produce from all colors of the spectrum. They'll grab a couple of apples, a carton of strawberries, a bag of oranges, a mango, some celery, an eggplant and yellow bell peppers. Right now the artist is thinking about how delicious all of these foods will be, after they finish a still life painting featuring this wonderful array of colors.

Not only are all these fruits and vegetables wonderfully colorful, but they're also good for the body. Those vegetables are going to provide plenty of wonderful Vitamin C and antioxidants to ward off any inflammation and illness. Another way to get the health benefits of a lot of fruit and vegetables without the intake is red superfood powder. That's a backup in case your fruit goes bad before your painting is complete.

Gallery Opening Food

An artist is going to attend at least a few gallery openings each month, especially if they want to keep up with their competition. But, attending these functions can also provide inspiration—just not the kind where the artist would attempt to mimic an original piece by another artist. Artists like to believe they don't do that.

At the opening there is going to be a beautiful spread of hors d'oeuvres. There'll definitely be crackers and a variety of cheeses. Of course there will be vegetables and dip. Will the dip be ranch dressing or hummus? Perhaps both. They will probably find some spinach artichoke dip, and crab dip as well. Little finger sandwiches will be neatly squared and Danish cookies will finish it off.

This spread was the artist's dinner for the evening. Gallery openings not only inspire creativity, they also serve to feed all those starving artists.

The Picky Artist

As the artist starts to see success, they'll begin to think more about what they eat. They'll want something to help get them through long hours in the studio, and so as a nod to Georgia O'Keeffe before them, they'll pick fruit from their garden, because they can now afford a home with a yard, and prepare a healthy concoction of vegetable juices.

Georgia O'Keeffe lived to be 98 years old. It's said that she was quite masterful in the kitchen as well as on canvas. Every artist should hope to live as long so they can develop their portfolio of masterpieces to leave behind as their legacy.

Even Picasso had his concerns regarding staying fit. Once he had established himself as a genius among artists, he adopted a Mediterranean diet, complete with fish, fresh vegetables, and succulent grapes. He lived to be 91 years old. There definitely seems to be a correlation in healthy eating and longevity of life, though this sampling is rather small.

A Glass of Wine

Artists are known to enjoy a glass of wine now and then, especially red. Studies show that drinking alcohol in moderation actually helps give you a boost in creativity. Careful though, because once you've had too much, it becomes a creativity killer. A glass is fine, because as studies have shown, a glass of red wine is also good for your heart health.

Eating like an artist is for the most part a healthy diet, though you should never allow yourself to starve. It incorporates lots of fruits and vegetables into a diet rich in nutrients and minerals. The next time you hit the grocery store, remember O'Keeffe and Picasso. They were around long enough to inspire future generations and will continue to inspire for many more.