Eastern Elegance Captured in a Still Life

A Touch of Spring

My sister and brother-in-law are seasoned travelers. Visiting their home in France is like going into a museum filled with fascinating treasures. Recently, I stayed with them in the spring, while doing an art show in Mortagne-au-Perche. 

I spotted a small red Tibetan box and  brass ewer (pouring vessel) from India sitting in the book shelves. Without hesitation I set up this still life composition and went to work.The white peonie was the perfect delicate oriental flower to accompany the objects and its green leaves complement the red color of the box. (Complementary colors are often used to give harmony to a picture: red/green, yellow/purple, blue/orange.) 

After the oil painting dried, Marcia took me to a quaint framing store in Chantilly ( yes, the birthplace of whipcream) to find the perfect finishing touch.
For more information about this painting, go to "Featured Events" at http://www.mdiggsart.com/