“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.”
— Thomas Carlyle
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen.
It is a “kitchen” still life painting, featuring the riches of the pantry; cloves of fresh garlic, jars of brined olives and sun-dried tomatoes, butter on a glass serving dish, and a carefully balanced wood-handled knife. The composition is dramatically staged on a richly-veined slab of warm yellow marble.
Measuring 11×16 inches (28×40 cm), it is set in a gold leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 17×22 inches (43×55 cm).
Scroll down to see a video and learn more about this painting.
"Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter"
An Original Still Life Painting
Inspired By A Unique Tradition
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” draws its inspiration from a unique tradition in still life paintings – the Bodegón.
Bodegón paintings, which flourished in Spain during the Baroque period, are a subset of still life art. They focus on depicting pantry items, kitchen scenes, and everyday objects related to food and drink. These works often exude simplicity and realism, celebrating the understated beauty of ordinary, unadorned objects.
This painting follows in the footsteps of traditional Bodegón art, showcasing a realistic representation of the good food of the earth. The meticulous detail in rendering the olives, tomatoes, and garlic cloves captures the textures and colors that make these everyday objects so appealing. This attention to detail is a hallmark of Bodegón art, aiming to portray the everyday world with authenticity and precision.
Bodegón paintings often highlight humble, everyday objects associated with food preparation and consumption. In this painting, the choice of ordinary culinary items like butter and garlic cloves elevates common objects to the status of fine art. This focus on the mundane underscores the idea that there is beauty and worth in the simplicity of daily life.
The rustic stone cutting board and the tactile contrast of the food items create an organic aesthetic that echoes the rustic charm found in many Bodegón paintings. These works often feature simple, unadorned settings that emphasize the natural beauty of the depicted objects. The raw edges and natural veins of the cutting board in this painting contribute to its earthy, grounded feel, enhancing its connection to the Bodegón tradition.
By drawing inspiration from both culinary and gourmet culture and the Spanish Bodegón tradition, this painting weaves a rich tapestry of sensory and cultural experiences. The detailed and realistic depiction of food items, combined with a focus on everyday objects and a touch of narrative intrigue, aligns it with the Bodegón genre while celebrating the beauty and significance of culinary art. This fusion of influences creates a work that is visually captivating and deeply evocative, inviting viewers to savor the artistry and cultural richness of the Mediterranean world it embodies.
The Finest Materials
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” has been carefully crafted with the finest materials available, using traditional techniques that have been passed down from artist to artist for over six centuries.
The finest Belgian linen is used – woven from flax grown in the fields of Western Flanders. The linen was produced by a firm that has been run by the same family for over a century. Made in small batches according to a formula hundreds of years old, it is an exacting process taking several weeks to complete. When glued to the panel, it forms a solid, durable, and archival foundation – this painting is meant to be enjoyed for generations.
Only the best paints are chosen, often made with pigments from the furthest corners of the Earth: Bohemian Green… Chinese Vermillion… Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan. Paints are chosen for richness of color, proper handling, and above all stability and durability. Again, this artwork is intended to last for a very long time.
Painstaking Process
This painting was created entirely by direct observation from life – photography was not used in the process. The arrangements of objects are often set up in a large shadow box next to the easel. This allows careful control of the lighting and precise positioning of the composition.
Several small “thumbnail” sketches are made in pencil first, determining the overall design and placement of objects. A “color study” follows. This is a small version of the painting done without much detail. It enables a deeper understanding of the main colors, and also serves as a sort of dress rehearsal for the main work.
Once the preparatory studies are complete, the composition is drawn onto the linen panel using light charcoal. The main shapes and placements are set down with as much precision as possible, but very little fine detail is recorded at this point.
A simplified version of the painting in black and white is then done on top of the charcoal sketch. This is known as an “underpainting”. It establishes significant forms and shapes in the composition, and works out important gradations of light and dark – known to artists as “value” – independent of the complexities of working with full color.
After several days, the underpainting is sufficiently dry for the color layer – this is what you see when you look at a finished painting. Color is applied directly on top of the underpainting, often in very thin transparent washes. Known as “glazing”, these washes can create a jewel-like depth and sparkling transparency of color that cannot be achieved in any other way.
The Fruits of Patient Effort
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” measures 11 x 16 inches (28×40 cm), and is presented in a 3 inch wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 17 x 22 inches (43×55 cm). Felt pads are affixed to each corner of the back of the frame to prevent any damage to your wall and to ensure that the painting rests perfectly parallel to the wall.
It is ready for your collection today.
Purchasing This Painting
This painting is framed as shown and is ready for immediate hanging.
Payment may be made with major credit cards and PayPal.
Shipping within the United States is free. An additional charge will be added for shipments outside of the United States.
It will ship from my studio within 2 business days of purchase.
It will be carefully packaged for maximum protection during transit, and insured for the full purchase price. A signature will be required on delivery, so the package will not be left unattended.
You will be provided with a tracking number and estimated delivery date (due to the unpredictability of the customs process, an estimated delivery date cannot be provided for shipments outside of the United States).
Your satisfaction is completely guaranteed. Paintings may be returned for the full purchase price within 14 days of receipt.
About These Paintings
These paintings grow out of two sources: On the one hand, a deep love for the great still life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, and on the other, a life-long interest in meditation.
For both viewer and artist, still life is the perfect opportunity to have that experience which all meditation seems to aim at: complete and total absorption in the present moment. Not the past. Not the future. Just what is in front of you. Right here. Right now.
That moment of quiet, intense connection – that sense of one-ness – is all the inspiration I need… and these paintings emerge from that source.
As such, this isn’t really a personal art. It’s not about me or my views or my ideas.
My role is to step aside, and let these silent moments speak through me.
Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter
$3,250.00
“Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.”
— Thomas Carlyle
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen.
It is a “kitchen” still life painting, featuring the riches of the pantry; cloves of fresh garlic, jars of brined olives and sun-dried tomatoes, butter on a glass serving dish, and a carefully balanced wood-handled knife. The composition is dramatically staged on a richly-veined slab of warm yellow marble.
Measuring 11×16 inches (28×40 cm), it is set in a gold leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 17×22 inches (43×55 cm).
Scroll down to see a video and learn more about this painting.
Available
Description
"Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter" An Original Still Life Painting
Inspired By A Unique Tradition
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” draws its inspiration from a unique tradition in still life paintings – the Bodegón.
Bodegón paintings, which flourished in Spain during the Baroque period, are a subset of still life art. They focus on depicting pantry items, kitchen scenes, and everyday objects related to food and drink. These works often exude simplicity and realism, celebrating the understated beauty of ordinary, unadorned objects.
This painting follows in the footsteps of traditional Bodegón art, showcasing a realistic representation of the good food of the earth. The meticulous detail in rendering the olives, tomatoes, and garlic cloves captures the textures and colors that make these everyday objects so appealing. This attention to detail is a hallmark of Bodegón art, aiming to portray the everyday world with authenticity and precision.
The rustic stone cutting board and the tactile contrast of the food items create an organic aesthetic that echoes the rustic charm found in many Bodegón paintings. These works often feature simple, unadorned settings that emphasize the natural beauty of the depicted objects. The raw edges and natural veins of the cutting board in this painting contribute to its earthy, grounded feel, enhancing its connection to the Bodegón tradition.
By drawing inspiration from both culinary and gourmet culture and the Spanish Bodegón tradition, this painting weaves a rich tapestry of sensory and cultural experiences. The detailed and realistic depiction of food items, combined with a focus on everyday objects and a touch of narrative intrigue, aligns it with the Bodegón genre while celebrating the beauty and significance of culinary art. This fusion of influences creates a work that is visually captivating and deeply evocative, inviting viewers to savor the artistry and cultural richness of the Mediterranean world it embodies.
The Finest Materials
The finest Belgian linen is used – woven from flax grown in the fields of Western Flanders. The linen was produced by a firm that has been run by the same family for over a century. Made in small batches according to a formula hundreds of years old, it is an exacting process taking several weeks to complete. When glued to the panel, it forms a solid, durable, and archival foundation – this painting is meant to be enjoyed for generations.
Only the best paints are chosen, often made with pigments from the furthest corners of the Earth: Bohemian Green… Chinese Vermillion… Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan. Paints are chosen for richness of color, proper handling, and above all stability and durability. Again, this artwork is intended to last for a very long time.
Painstaking Process
This painting was created entirely by direct observation from life – photography was not used in the process. The arrangements of objects are often set up in a large shadow box next to the easel. This allows careful control of the lighting and precise positioning of the composition.
Once the preparatory studies are complete, the composition is drawn onto the linen panel using light charcoal. The main shapes and placements are set down with as much precision as possible, but very little fine detail is recorded at this point.
A simplified version of the painting in black and white is then done on top of the charcoal sketch. This is known as an “underpainting”. It establishes significant forms and shapes in the composition, and works out important gradations of light and dark – known to artists as “value” – independent of the complexities of working with full color.
After several days, the underpainting is sufficiently dry for the color layer – this is what you see when you look at a finished painting. Color is applied directly on top of the underpainting, often in very thin transparent washes. Known as “glazing”, these washes can create a jewel-like depth and sparkling transparency of color that cannot be achieved in any other way.
The Fruits of Patient Effort
“Garlic, Olives, Tomatoes, Butter” measures 11 x 16 inches (28×40 cm), and is presented in a 3 inch wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 17 x 22 inches (43×55 cm). Felt pads are affixed to each corner of the back of the frame to prevent any damage to your wall and to ensure that the painting rests perfectly parallel to the wall.
It is ready for your collection today.
Purchasing This Painting
About These Paintings
These paintings grow out of two sources: On the one hand, a deep love for the great still life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age, and on the other, a life-long interest in meditation.
For both viewer and artist, still life is the perfect opportunity to have that experience which all meditation seems to aim at: complete and total absorption in the present moment. Not the past. Not the future. Just what is in front of you. Right here. Right now.
That moment of quiet, intense connection – that sense of one-ness – is all the inspiration I need… and these paintings emerge from that source.
As such, this isn’t really a personal art. It’s not about me or my views or my ideas.
My role is to step aside, and let these silent moments speak through me.
And there isn’t anything more personal.
Related products
Blue Teacup with Lemon Wedges
$575.00 Purchase This PaintingTest Transaction 2
$1.00 Purchase This PaintingVase, Knife, Imari Bowl
$1,275.00 Purchase This Painting