All Squashed In

A couple of years ago in Jamaica, I had the pleasure of spending a day at a Farm to Table experience, up in the hills of St Ann. Whilst touring the organic farm and kitchen, I came across this tilted and worn, wicker basket, crammed full of various kinds of squash and surrounded by jelly coconuts and larger pumpkins. The composition was complete with the handle of the machete, which had been used to harvest the produce, poking out at the top, where it was being stored.  The colour scheme struck me at once, because although muted, it had a beautiful harmony of unusual, but earthy, tones.  The sunshine coming in the open doors and windows provided some wonderful contre-jour lighting and catching the tops of the irregularly shaped vegetables.

I have painted the still life in contemporary, blocky brushwork, focussing on the lighting, the shapes, the rhythm and colour harmony.  The fresh and lively brushwork, keeps the mood dynamic, despite the almost homogenous colour scheme.

Hopefully the painting hints at the vibrant, nutritious, delicious promise of the contents, all squashed in the basket! 

This painting reached the final stage of the SAA Prof Artist of the Year 2019, Still Life category.