A collective experience of taking action to gather and bring together pieces of fabric, objects and memories for reflection are the core inspiration for this oil painting. So often I learn from my paintings – not only while I’m in the activity of painting but in moments of quiet observation once they are “complete”. 

As this piece began to unfold the basket took center stage, it’s relatively close to the midline of the canvas. Oops! I was too far in to the painting by the time I really noticed to move it. In continuing to work I started to make a connection to a basket filled with memories metaphorically spilling out onto the table for me to revisit.  Each of the objects and the patchwork of patterning on the table, reminded me of something along my life journey. Things like my mother’s collection of demi-tasse coffee cups, the quilt she made me when I was about 16, my appreciation for flowers, and a period in my life where I had fun learning how to can vegetables and fruit.

As I write this, a well of emotion comes forth around the loss of my mother when I was 24. There are many parts of me she never was able to witness just as there are many aspects of her I learned to live without as my life continued. In viewing this today, the empty glass jars in some way reflect that loss. It’s bittersweet. How I fill them is by engaging with my creativity and painting. 

This painting was created on a stretched canvas in oils and is a signed original. If you have any questions or wish to purchase this painting, contact me at cmartzloffart@gmail.com.
Thank you! Catherine

Categories: Flowers, Original oil paintings, Still LifeTags: art, art for sale, artist, baskets, blue glass, colorful paintings, contemporary art, expressionism, fine art, floral, lemons, oil painting, oil paintings, painting, patchwork quilt, patterning, rendered impressions, still life paintings, women artists