Grape, Persimmon and Kalanchoe

Purple grapes, a ripe persimmon and a flowering kalanchoe form an intimate still life beside a small blue-and-white jug. Broad green leaves rise above the fruit, while pale pink blossoms echo the warm shades of the terracotta pot.

The dark tabletop gives depth to the composition, contrasting with the loosely painted blue-grey background and touches of golden yellow. Expressive brushstrokes and visible layers of oil paint give the everyday objects a lively, tactile presence.

A quiet domestic scene, painted with an emphasis on colour, rhythm and the simple pleasure of looking closely.

During the total lockdown, what remains for painters confined at home? Only work in the studio among the most familiar subjects, among jugs, flowers, fruits, or creating landscapes through the window. This is one of my winter still lifes, created in December 2020: the black table with a Kalachoe vase on it, a red-orange persimmon, and the plate with grapes and a peach.