Continued . . .

The two bottles of pure blue and yellow pigment are from my father's studio, so they are personally meaningful to me. The blue balances the yellows and reds and of course, along with the sunflowers, represents the national colors of Ukraine. Here are a variety of substances, each responding to the light in its own way, just as we as individuals react to light differently. I wanted this painting to be lighter than some of my more recent still lives. The background seems to glow with light, bouncing it around and filling the air. It is the light of peace. It is the light of wisdom. A Still life is interesting because of what goes in and what goes out. The combination of items included can make us think. Sometimes it makes us feel. The rest is a delicious romp of color and the thrill of pushing paint. More still life paintings