Artichoke in Shadow - Currently on Exhibit Painting

I am currently painting small-scale still life in oil. I find a peaceful beauty in fruits and vegetables and painting them on a plain tablecloth helps to bring focus on their shape, color and texture. The units grouped together often seem to interact with each other in almost human ways. I am often asked why I don’t include other objects, but the fact that the items are actual nourishment and also will be eaten or decayed in the very near future makes them important on their own. I'm also painting some small landscapes and seascapes, some plein air, some from memory. This gives me an opportunity to loosen up my brushstrokes or work with a painting knife.