The Joy of Still Life Painting: Pear and Jefferson Cup

My grandmother's silver platter holds this red pear and Jefferson Cup. I was intrigued by the reflections, especially by how many times the pear appeared; as if it couldn't let go.

Back from Sedona; with a Jefferson Cup & Tomato

Jefferson Cup With Tomato And Sedona Rocks

Just painted this in Sedona, Arizona while a 20,000 acre wildfire burned nine miles down the road. These are genuine red rock bricks, and they literally glowed in the natural light. I'm in a still life mood lately - it's been just too hot out - and this beautiful reflecting cup is a reproduction of one Thomas Jefferson commissioned for his home in Virginia, Monticello. The Loch Ness monsterish tomato stem reflected in the cup really grabbed me.

This original oil painting, 7 X 5", will be offered at auction starting tomorrow. The painting is unframed, but if you frame it it will look like the image below.

The good news is the fire burned no structures and is almost contained. The bad news is the future for similar fires and heat in Sedona is very real, and quite frightening. The cause? Too many people (with their body heat), oh, yes - and global warming. Felt very real while I was there.