Thorough examination is about simplifying things down to their most basic elements. There are expectations of the artist as having a particular capacity for examining and analyzing. As a painter, I am attracted to common objects, their relationship to each other and how they define the space around them.
I have come to appreciate the fact that everyday objects, and especially the basic staples of our kitchens and cupboards, have the ability to deliver a narrative when presented in a particular way. A simple still life arrangement, arranged to capture the light and colors of the objects, can present itself as a dialogue about how we relate to food. Still life painting has a deep historical significance that is reflected in the historical meaning of our memories surrounding food- craving, comforting, nourishing.
Through the still life painting process, I am further breaking down the objects, simplifying them to the most formal terms, as shape, volume and space. Their true significance is uncovered by close observation and intimate study of each part of the whole. I work with the still life not only for the familiarity and “everyday-ness” of its forms, but for the story objects can tell about a particular place, time and situation.