Between Pages and Fruit – 10″ x 8″ Oil on canvas $475

This still life grew out of being open to suggestion. A fellow artist friend proposed exploring books as objects. I agreed, realizing I hadn’t worked with books in my paintings for quite some time. Hearing the history she shared about them reminded me that books carry memory and knowledge. They can also offer a kind of quiet companionship.

In this piece, I leaned into a more defined geometry, stripping the interpretation of books down to basic shapes. This approach lets the forms feel structured while gently defining themselves through color. The simplified shapes and subtle contrasts created a new way for me to study the relationships within the arrangement. I noticed edges becoming more active, shadows more chromatic, and the space more open. A sense of investigation emerged—a willingness to follow curiosity rather than arrive at a conclusion.

This painting marks a moment of inquiry. It asks how far a form can be reduced. It also explores how color can carry emotional tone. It feels like part of a new conversation my work is having with me. It is a step toward understanding what continues to draw me back to familiar objects.

If this piece resonates with you, I always welcome hearing what you notice or feel when you spend time with it. Catherine

Categories: Interiors, New Paintings, Original oil paintings, Still LifeTags: art for sale, color and feeling in art, contemporary art, emotional art, Expressive Color, modern still life, oil paintings, paintings with books, red apple painting, still life paintings