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Weekend Column: Painter Robert Beck Paints in a Favorite Restaurant and Talks With Some Young Diners

Exchanging Views

November 26, 2022 | 8:52 AM
in NEWS
10

By Robert Beck

Pappardella, at 75th & Columbus, is one of my favorite places to eat, anywhere. It was gracious of Marion, the general manager, to let me paint there, as I took a couple of tables out of play for a few hours. The staff was helpful, professional, and good-natured, which says a lot about how the place is run.

As I’ve said in earlier essays, I’m not painting people, plates, and chairs; I’m painting a restaurant. I’m also trying to describe a vibe. The mural over the bar of the bridge in Florence is classic Italian restaurant. The couple in the lower left holding hands is something I’ve seen many times and done myself.

Customers generally leave me alone when I paint, although I enjoy talking with them when they come over. It’s the children that want to know what’s going on. For them, I am out of context; I’m a grown-up painting at an easel, and I’m not in a playroom. They probably have seen cartoon artists, but it is something new to them in real life.

Young people usually approach me with brief coaching from their parents—something like “Don’t bother him and don’t get close”—which I need to undo if I want to engage them. They are almost always polite and exhibit a sense of awe. I invite them to stand right in front of the painting so they can see it better. I sometimes ask if they paint, and almost all of them say they do. If they are open and conversant, I draw them in with questions, like what they think the painting needs, or what their favorite color is and where they would put it. If that works, I let them add a stroke. There is nothing they can do that I can’t fix, and they will carry the experience with them for the rest of their life.

This evening, three kids wanted to see what I was doing. One was hesitant to “bother me and get close.” Another boldly told me to include myself in the painting and showed me exactly where I should put that. When he left with his family after dinner, he asked me if I had done it yet. The last one was the youngest. When I invited him to get closer, he stood in front and delivered a long and low “Wow.” I asked if he painted. He kept his eyes on the image, shook his head slightly, and said, “I don’t paint anymore because I wasted my paper.”

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Roseann
Roseann
2 years ago

“There is nothing they can do that I can’t fix, and they will carry the experience with them for the rest of their life.”
I have always felt the same way When little kids are around. It is very satisfying to know I might have changed the trajectory of a little one’s life.

7
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Neighbor785
Neighbor785
2 years ago

Lovely article! I haven’t been to Pappardella in decades. This makes me want to go back! I love how you gave the children such memorable experiences.

5
Reply
Zoila "Zee" Perez
Zoila "Zee" Perez
2 years ago

Pappadella is one of my favorite place to eat and to enjoy the company of Marion and her staff. My son and I met Marian at her first restaurant on 84-85th street. Before Covid my friends and I would come by on Wednesdays and have Marion’s freshly made Cosmos and stay for several of them into dinner time. We have not been there in a while as we have retired, but will round up the group and come by. Thank you Marion and your amazing staff.

2
Reply
Robin
Robin
2 years ago

Interesting story to accompany a beautifully expressive painting.
I’m wondering if the experience of Degas was similar to that of Beck’s? ☺️

1
Reply
Robert Beck
Robert Beck
2 years ago
Reply to  Robin

…or vice versa

1
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LEE APT
LEE APT
2 years ago

SHAME ON THE PARENT THAT TOLD THE LAST CHILD THAT HE/SHE “WASTED TOO MUCH PAPER…” SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO FEEL FOR ART AND SELF-EXPRESSION.

1
Reply
Robert Beck
Robert Beck
2 years ago
Reply to  LEE APT

Lee, I see it differently. No shame. It is near impossible to know what is going to impress a child, so you do your best. They gave him paper. They gave him paints. The told him not to waste. None of that is bad. They heard his response to me, and having seen how they interacted with him, I’m convinced they understood the course correction needed. He is a lucky kid.

3
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Jean Luke
Jean Luke
2 years ago

Beautiful painting and I love that restaurant. Consistently excellent Italian food and a good price.

5
Reply
Carole Bolger
Carole Bolger
2 years ago

Hilarious that the boy at the end wasted his paper…A lovely description of your interactions with the young…so many kids paint then stop as they get older it seems…I am a painter but don’t know many others. Well, YOU! Thanks for the great story and great painting!
Carole

2
Reply
Lynas
Lynas
2 years ago

I love the way you handle making art in public and especially how you deal with the children. You mirror my encounters as I make sand sculptures on public beaches. Nice painting too. Thanks.
Lynas

1
Reply

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