Ice cream and milkshake art became popular in the 1950's when malt shops and ice cream parlors were the ideal gathering places for teenagers. This modern category of art is a popular decoration for homes and businesses, particularly ones that cater to children and young adults.
Ice cream and milkshake art is typically painting in bright, pastel colors. This is because of the modern artists attempt to portray more than just the appearance of an object, but also its sensory connotations within the human mind. Because of this, pastel colors are more likely to come across the viewer's eye as being cold, while the bright hues used in the painting make them think that it's sweet. The artists also try to portray this type of art in a whimsical fashion to enhance its sense of sweetness within the viewer’s eye. This is typically the reason why this type of artwork has been used to appeal to children and people in their early teens during recent years, rather than older teenagers for which this form of artwork was originally developed.
Andy Warhol created a series of ice cream and milkshake paintings during his career. His works, which were typically fanciful rather than an exact replication, have gone on to inspire many modern artists in their depiction of this sweet art form. These paintings were created in 1959 and also employed the white background which has become iconic of this art form.
For many artists who depict this subject matter, having borders around their subject is ideal. This habit dates back to the days of ice cream parlors because not only did it make the work more interesting but it provided a 'frame within a frame' effect that was popular at the time. These borders were typically simple and reinforced the idea of ice cream and milkshakes being a culinary treat. Works with the red-checkered border's, which can be seen in the 'Ice Cream Parlor' series by Virginia A. Roper were commonly used in this form of artwork.
