Sally K. Smith Art
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Picture
The method of Calorie measurement has changed very little since the late 1800s. Basically, one places a portion of food in a device called a bomb calorimeter. The food is kept in a sealed container surrounded by water, and then burned using electrical energy.  After the food is completely burned, one measures the water temperature to see how many degrees it was raised by the burning food. One calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. One Calorie (capitalized), as referred to by nutritionists, is actually one kilocalorie which is equal to 1,000 calories (no caps).

I was visualizing this simple method of measuring. To me it seemed more rustic than scientific. After the process, all that remains of the measured food is carbon. I decided it would be interesting to create drawings with the carbon remains of different foods. So I measured my own foods and burned them. I kept out most of the oxygen so that I would achieve something closer to charcoal than ashes. To do this I sealed empty paint cans and punched a few small holes to prevent explosions. I notified the neighbors not to call the fire department. I then cranked up the heat and created my charcoal. 

After the cans cooled, I was ready to draw with the charcoal. Drawing number one was made with 50 grams of pretzels. So 190 Calories (or .19 kilocalories) were burned to create drawing number one. Drawing number two was made with 50 grams of peanuts. So 284 Calories were burned to create drawing number two. And so on. 
34 g marshmallows 108 calories 41.25 x 36.75 inches sold
33 g grilled hamburger 68 calories 39.5x38 inches sold
16 g sunflower seeds 93 calories 48x39 inches sold
50 g peanuts 284 calories 86.5x46 inches sold
18 g unsweetened cocoa powder 60 calories 38x46 inches
peanut charcoal
19 grams sunflower seeds 117 calories 43x45 inches sold
Sugar 25 g 96 calories 41x45.5 inches sold
33 g grilled hamburger 68 calories
16 g sunflower seeds 93 calories
sugar charcoal
Barbara's jalapeno cheese puffs 28 g 150 calories
51 g potatoes 39 calories
50 g carrots 20 calories
7 g dried wakame seaweed 18 calories 17x18 inches
14 g dried wakame seaweed 36 calories 32x36 inches
81 g baguette 222 calories 41x30 inches
16 g flax seeds 85 calories 35x35 inches
marshmallows
cocoa powder, Schoggi swiss drinking chocolate 10x15 inches
sugar charcoal
28 g jalapeno cheese puffs 150 calories 56x42 inches
11 g coffee beans 59 calories 62x42 inches sold
51 g potatoes 39 calories 56x42 inches
30 g unsweetened cocoa powder 67 calories 50x42 inches
3 g juniper berries 12 calories 20.75x24.5 inches sold
81 g baguette 222 calories 53.5x41.25 inches
38 g grilled pork chop 121 calories 42x48 inches
22 g lemon peel 11 calories 42x48
3 g matzo meal from shmura matzo 12 calories 11x14 inches
15 g turmeric 18 calories 20x17 inches
2 g matzo meal from shmura matzo 8 calories 24x19 inches
Peanuts
sunflower seeds
Cocoa
Sunflower Seeds No. 2
Ribeye Steak wall drawing
Marshmallows
Baguette 35x30 sold
Juniper Berries 35x30 sold
Sugar 35x30 sold
  • Home
  • Handmade Charcoal
  • Political
  • Cityscapes and Landscapes
  • Burn Rate
  • Imaginary Landscapes
  • Calorie Project
  • Soot
  • California Landscapes
  • Title 16
  • Abstract
  • Figures
  • Space Between
  • Still Lifes
  • About the Artist and Contact