Keely Masterson is a self-taught mixed-media artist and illustrator. She’s semi-nomadic with her home base in Los Angeles, CA. This is her third installment in a 4-part series as Artist Strong’s Artist in Residence.

You can enjoy more of her art on Instagram: @wildflowerpantry. Stay tuned for the launch of her website https://www.wildflowerpantry.com

Exploration and Experimentation

My art is a way for me to capture feelings of nostalgia, warmth, and connection. While my inspiration comes from many places, I’m especially drawn to the aesthetics of the 1940s through the 1970s. There’s something magical about the patterns, colors, and styles of these eras that continuously spark my creativity.

I’ve always been fascinated by and vintage kitsch and interior design—wallpaper patterns, retro floral motifs, and cozy, lived-in spaces. I love how these elements create an atmosphere of warmth and familiarity. There’s a sense of joy in fun color combinations, playful textures, and bold designs that tell a story of their time. I find endless inspiration in vintage packaging, typography, children’s books, and graphic design, which often influence my own work.

Growing up, I watched a lot of cartoons and devoured illustrated books, comics, and graphic novels, which instilled in me a deep love for visual storytelling. Whether it’s a comic panel, an old-school cereal box, vintage stationery, or a charming cookbook illustration, I’ve always been drawn to the way art can tell a story. I love the whimsy and playfulness of illustrated art and strive to bring that same energy into my own creative process.

In addition to being a sign painter, during the height of the ’90s coffee culture boom, my dad—passionate about great coffee—decided to try his hand at opening a café. It was aptly named Café Gaugin, after one of his favorite Impressionist artists, and featured a beautiful hand painted mural on the side of the building inspired by Gaugin’s art. It was completely family-run, and as such, my siblings and I spent a lot of time there.

Next door to the café was a cool little vintage shop filled with kitschy knick-knacks—50s and 60s toys, quirky kitchenware, and an old, dusty bookstore owned by an elderly woman. I’d spend hours there, flipping through old Time magazines from the 1940s and 50s, captivated by the illustrated advertisements.

I was particularly amused by the food ads—especially those for Spam—because they always featured the most bizarre recipe ideas, like “spam and lima beans.” These illustrations had a unique charm, and they instilled in me a lasting appreciation for vintage advertising and food illustrations. I still love it to this day and am excited to incorporate it into my work, especially as I develop Wildflower Pantry.

Along with visual inspiration, food has also been a big part of my creative journey. As a kid, I loved baking cookies with my best friend, making pies for my family, and perfecting my marinara sauce. Then, one year for my birthday, my mom bought me my first cookbook—after that, all bets were off. Cooking became one of my favorite creative outlets, but it really took off when I stopped eating meat about seven years ago.

At first, I had no idea what to eat, so I started researching, experimenting, and eventually developing my own plant-based versions of classic recipes. I now have over 100 recipes, and my approach is simple: just because I don’t eat meat doesn’t mean I don’t have taste buds! Flavor, texture, and simple, wholesome, and accessible ingredients are the foundation of my recipes. I love the challenge of recreating nostalgic dishes and making them just as delicious as I remember.

For Wildflower Pantry, I want to bring together my love for vintage aesthetics, botanicals, interior design, cozy vibes, and element of cuteness. Lately, I’ve been channeling my love for vintage aesthetics into my work, creating compositions inspired by retro design, old-school print materials, and cozy, comforting scenes.

To begin, I’ve selected four of my favorite recipes to illustrate and prototype—a difficult choice since I love them all! I chose these particular recipes based on how much I enjoy eating them, their visual appeal, how often I make them, and, most importantly, how fun they will be to draw.

My first recipes will be: Vanilla cake with berry compote, fried oyster mushrooms, vegan kimchi, vegan pho (thumbnail not featured in this post).

Now that I’ve decided what to illustrations to start with, I’ve sketched some thumbnails to explore layout, composition, and key elements to include. I’ve also selected a potential color palette.

In my final post of this series, I’ll continue exploring these themes and share what’s next for me with Wildflower Pantry and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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