Unveiling the Future of Wedding Cakes: The 2015 Preview Series
Welcome back to the highly anticipated 2015 Wedding Cake Preview – a two-week journey dedicated to exploring the most breathtaking designs and forecasting the must-have trends for the year ahead! We’ve meticulously gathered insights from an exclusive group of top-tier cake designers, challenging them to envision and create innovative masterpieces that define the future of wedding confectionery. Each day, we’re thrilled to unveil a new, trend-inspired design crafted exclusively for this series, designed to spark your imagination and guide your wedding planning. If you’ve missed any of our previous reveals, you can always catch up with the entire collection right here.
Day Five: Embracing the Elegance of Hand-Painted Wedding Cakes
As we mark day five of our series, we’re diving deep into a trend that continues to captivate and evolve: hand-painted details. Over the past few years, the allure of hand-painted cakes has steadily grown, transforming wedding confectionery into a true art form. This trend allows for unparalleled personalization and artistic expression, adapting seamlessly to virtually any wedding theme or style. From the most intricate, meticulously crafted brushstrokes that demand exacting precision, to the free-flowing, ethereal washes reminiscent of classic watercolors, hand-painted cakes offer a spectrum of possibilities. Today’s featured design beautifully encapsulates a softer, yet undeniably impactful, approach to pattern and artistry, perfectly poised to define 2015.
Meet the Visionary: Robin Martin of Gateaux Inc.
Our fifth stunning cake creation comes courtesy of the incredibly talented Robin Martin, the proprietor of Gateaux Inc., nestled in Plymouth, Minnesota. Robin possesses an extraordinary talent for blending timeless elegance with cutting-edge techniques, consistently pushing the boundaries of cake design. Her creations are not merely desserts; they are edible works of art that resonate with sophisticated charm and innovative flair. Beyond her exquisite work at Gateaux Inc., Robin is also the ingenious mind behind the “Evil Cake Genius” line of cake stencils and mesh screens – a brand synonymous with brilliance and ingenuity in the cake decorating world. These tools have revolutionized how decorators approach intricate patterns, making once daunting designs accessible to a wider audience.
Robin’s dedication to simplifying complex decorating processes while elevating aesthetic standards made her a cherished contributor to our talented team at The Cake Blog in 2014. Over the past year, her insightful tutorials have empowered countless bakers. We’ve marvelled at her ability to demystify elaborate techniques, learning how to create a delicate stenciled lace cake with elegant precision, and how to craft breathtakingly realistic butterflies, complete with intricate stenciled details. Her stencil-painted rose cake, in particular, left us awe-struck with its intricate beauty and an approachable “paint-by-numbers” methodology that promised stunning results. Given her profound expertise in the realm of painted confections, it is only fitting that Robin graces our series today with an exquisite hand-painted cake that perfectly embodies her signature blend of innovation and artistry.
Introducing the “Southwestern Serenity” Cake: A Modern Bohemian Masterpiece
Today’s featured design, which we affectionately call the “Southwestern Serenity” cake, radiates a distinctly modern bohemian vibe, making it a true showstopper for 2015. This captivating creation features a striking southwestern arrow design, rendered in a sophisticated palette of soft pink, delicate blush, and opulent gold. It represents a fresh, contemporary update to the beloved trend of hand-painted tiers, offering a unique and harmonious blend of fluid watercolor techniques, structured patterns, and a vibrant color story.
The cake beautifully marries the clean, defined lines typically associated with a chevron pattern with the subtle shading and artistic freedom characteristic of watercolor painting. The result is a design that is both organized and organic, structured yet painterly. Adding to its undeniable charm are the meticulously crafted gold-dipped gum paste feathers, which introduce a touch of natural elegance and whimsy. These elements are further complemented by contrasting blue tiers, which provide a dramatic yet harmonious backdrop, completing a look that is nothing short of stunning and utterly memorable.
The Inspiration: Merging Graphic and Bohemian Aesthetics
Robin Martin, the creative force behind Gateaux Inc., graciously shares the profound inspiration that shaped this extraordinary design. “This cake,” Robin explains, “is rooted in my absolute favorite trend within the wedding cake world: hand-painted tiers. While our previous hand-painted creations have often leaned towards a more romantic and traditional aesthetic, this trend is dynamically evolving. We’re witnessing a fascinating shift towards a more graphic-yet-bohemian look – a captivating fusion that, while seemingly contradictory, yields incredibly compelling results.”
For the “Southwestern Serenity” cake, Robin and her team drew heavily from the rich tapestry of southwestern folk art. However, their approach was far from a literal interpretation of traditional geometric textile patterns. Instead, they sought a more nuanced and feminine perspective, finding profound influence in the iconic landscape paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe’s ability to translate the vastness and delicate beauty of the desert into soft, flowing forms provided the perfect artistic lens. This unique blend of influences culminated in what Robin describes as a distinctive “graphic-watercolor look” – a style that captures both the bold spirit of the Southwest and the ethereal grace of hand-painted artistry.
The design journey continued with the remaining tiers, which were adorned with a luxurious gold patina. Initially, the team considered accenting these tiers with classic gum paste florals. However, a pivotal moment arrived when their good friend and esteemed style guru, Amy, intervened with an inspired suggestion: gold-dipped gum paste feathers. This brilliant idea served as a beautiful, symbolic tribute to the desert landscape that had inspired the cake’s core aesthetic, adding an organic, yet undeniably elegant, touch that perfectly completed the bohemian vision.
Mastering the Technique: Robin Martin’s Signature Approach
Robin Martin of Gateaux Inc. offers us an exclusive peek into the innovative techniques employed to bring the “Southwestern Serenity” cake to life. “To achieve the unique watercolor chevron pattern,” Robin reveals, “we utilized our exclusive Evil Cake Genius southwestern chevron stencil. This stencil was carefully wrapped around the cake tier, providing a precise guide for the pattern. The painting itself was done with a specially formulated mixture of cooking oil and petal dust. This combination is crucial for creating that distinct soft, translucent watercolor effect, allowing the colors to blend and flow beautifully without harsh lines, delivering a truly artistic finish.”
The elegant gold patina adorning the other tiers was achieved using another brilliant product from her line: Evil Cake Genius gold powder, expertly mixed with vodka. The choice of vodka is intentional, as its quick evaporation rate ensures a smooth, vibrant, and streak-free metallic finish. This same shimmering gold-vodka mixture was meticulously applied to gild the delicate tips of the gum paste feathers, creating a cohesive and luxurious look. Each feather itself was a testament to meticulous craftsmanship: hand-cut with precision and then exquisitely imprinted with a sculpting tool to mimic the natural texture and veins of real feathers. This intricate attention to detail, from the graphic watercolor to the metallic accents and sculpted elements, underscores Robin Martin’s mastery and her commitment to delivering unforgettable, trend-setting wedding cakes.
Explore More 2015 Wedding Cake Trends and Inspiration
This magnificent creation by Robin Martin serves as a powerful testament to the artistry and innovation flourishing within the wedding cake industry. The “Southwestern Serenity” cake, with its unique blend of bohemian charm, graphic patterns, and delicate hand-painted artistry, is undoubtedly a trendsetter for 2015. It demonstrates how traditional elements can be reimagined with contemporary flair, offering couples a truly bespoke and memorable centerpiece for their special day.
We invite you to continue following our 2015 Wedding Cake Preview series as we unveil more inspiring designs and groundbreaking trends from the industry’s most esteemed designers. Whether you’re a bride-to-be seeking inspiration, a cake decorator looking for new techniques, or simply an admirer of edible art, this series promises a wealth of ideas and beauty.
To delve deeper into the world of Robin Martin and discover her full range of exquisite cakes and ingenious decorating tools, be sure to visit the links below. You can also explore her extensive library of tutorials on The Cake Blog to master some of these techniques yourself!
VENDORS & CREDITS
- Cake Design : Gateaux Inc.
- Chevron Stencil : Evil Cake Genius
- Cake Stand : Sarah’s Stands
- Learn From This Baker : Robin Martin’s Tutorials on The Cake Blog