Whilst working on the still life - "BeetBoots" - which received first prize at the Park Avenue Club, I became interested with the process of creating a still life. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the calm beauty of the picture, versus the chaos of living in a small apartment with a still life set-up.
I wanted to show you behind the scenes; my amusement at stamping around in a bowl of mud; the way my portable set-up ended up in all sorts of places and combined with the stuff of real life to create their own compositions and the endless meals of carrots, beets and radishes I suffered that Fall. I found that the series "Life of a Still Life" not only follows the various elements of the original picture, but also documents my life with the still life.
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Tossed Salad
20" x 27"
colored pencil drawing
Fresh from the store, the torn paper grocery bag has spilt the vegetables over the kitchen floor. Todays's mail and clean boots mix in with the tumbled shopping.
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The Mud Bowl
22" x 16"
colored pencil drawing
Trying to find mud in the middle of winter, when the earth remains frozen, is a bit of a challenge.
I had to rely on my previous Mud Pie Baker experience to get my boots nice and muddy for the still life photo shoot.
(tremendous fun)
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Muddy Study
11" x 15"
colored pencil drawing
My very favorite purple Dr Martin boots, unlaced, kicked aside and crusted with mud.
Original Artwork : SOLD
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Sunwashed Floor
23" x 31"
colored pencil drawing
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Radish Duo
15" x 20"
colored pencil drawing
These radishes were so appealing, they deserved a picture all to themselves
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Beetboots
20" x 27"
colored pencil drawing
Pink radishes, fresh orange carrots and purple red beets lie on the stone kitchen floor; muddy gardening boots abandoned by the open garden door
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Tops and Tails
16" x 13"
colored pencil drawing
I loved the way the pink radish tops and tails danced in and out of the shadow from the blind
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Carrot Bowl
15" x 18"
colored pencil drawing
The washed and peeled carrots in a translucent plastic kitchen bowl, ready to be chopped for dinner
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Life with Still Life
20" x 27"
colored pencil drawing
The Muddy Study set up moved around my tiny apartment on its foam core platform, combining with life's debris - today's mail, envelopes opened and discarded, packing peanuts and tissue paper spilling across the table, yesterday's teacups waiting to be cleared away
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Shoe Box
16" x 21"
colored pencil drawing
I love my battered old, paper covered shoe box that houses the shoe polishing stuff. Not to mention the juicy rich colors of the polish, with the soft warm yellow of the polish cloth.
The smell of clear wax and the solid feel of the wooden brush in my hands - it's a wonder I don't clean my shoes more often!
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Clean Up
17" x 26"
colored pencil drawing
At last! Time to clear away the beet leaves and carrot peel; polish the boots and recycle the paper grocery bags, boxes and packing peanuts
I think that deserves a fresh cup of tea
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The Life of a Still Life
Tossed Salad
20" x 27"
colored pencil drawing
Click on the small thumbnails
above to show an enlargement.