 |
| Still Life I - Wine Glass and Diary - acrylic on panel - 16x16 - 2015 |
There are "objects" in many of my paintings - fans, furniture, objets d'art, jewelry, toilet articles, etc. - but never once have I done a straightforward still-life. In preparing my upcoming show, I thought I'd give that a try, just for the hell of it, eh? And I have to say, working on these two little still-lifes was the most fun I've had painting in years. Unlike my usual pattern of having to force myself to sit down and start painting, I just couldn't wait to get back to these, each and every day I was working on them. There was some strange kind of joy I found in just describing the shape and color and texture of the different materials.
 |
| One of the dwindling number of hand-blown Hungarian - or was it Rumanian?... Bulgarian...? - glasses which I've had since the early Eighties, purchased not long after I moved out to live on my own. |
 |
| The back side of my grandmother's diary from 1930-32, when she was finishing high school and starting college. I bought G the Chinese brass Feng Shui "lucky gourd" - Wu Lou or Hu Lu - in an import store a few years back. |
 |
| This little glass ball has a silvery, iridescent surface; I love how the light shines through red, anyway. It was salvaged from an otherwise very ugly hummingbird feeder that was briefly in my possession. (And which, apparently, I cannot quite admit to having purchased.) |
 |
| Still Life II - Lemon and Turtle - acrylic on panel - 12x12 - 2015. The Chinese dish, the pottery, and the float all came to me from my dear Grandmother Betty. |
 |
| I bought the little porcelain turtle in the gift shop of Portland's Chinese Garden, while I was visiting with my grandmother. It's supposed to bring good luck, and is meant to be carried about in one's pocket. |
 |
| The scan doesn't do full justice to the interplay of blues and greens in the various objects - the pottery, the inside of the bowl, the float, the reflection of color onto the underside of the lemon - nor to the warmth of the lemon's color. |
Lovely. I can imagine the excitement you describe in creating these paintings. I think the lemon picture is particularly appearling, that's a charismatic picture!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Nimble!
DeleteI can assure you, dear sir, that I can smell the grapes out of the wine was made, and the simple freshness of the lemon. Please, continue to exploring that path for your amusement and our pleasure. Your admirer, Mario
ReplyDeletep.s. kindly excuse my poor english, since it is not my native tongue.
Thank you so much for your kind - and poetic - comment, Mario; I so appreciate it. : )
DeleteIt has been a long while since I have been filled with such anticipations for a show...the peeks into what you are creating for this very timely exhibition are keeping me quite on the edge of my seat! I think it is so crucial to re-kindle the pleasure in the creative and technical process of what one does - this is wonderful to learn. Makes me so happy. I think these still-lifes are exquisite - knowing the personal nature of the objects is very moving to say the least! Your enjoyment of addressing the textures, light and surfaces comes through - something one cannot achieve without inhabiting the experience lovingly and tenderly. Bravo, Stephen, I believe you have reached a new emotional plateau with your already divine work.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lisa, how I miss you! It seems the world has slipped out of my hands while I've been finishing this show, my productive exile. Thank you for your very kind words and thoughts. Hope to see you VERY soon. Je t'adore! xo
DeleteThe red wine, the reflection the lemon in front of the green background...so beautifully done. Your work is fascinating and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Ileana! : )
Delete