“In the stillness of the tea, the soul finds its reflection.” — Japanese proverb
Velvet, Steam, and Silence is an original still life painting, created with oil on panel.
This composition is a meditation on movement within stillness. A porcelain teacup releases a delicate plume of steam, rising in soft spirals that echo the curling patterns in the cup’s decoration and the deep folds of the velvet backdrop. The objects do not clamor for attention—they whisper. They wait.
Light settles gently across the forms, revealing subtle shifts in surface and hue: the crisp edge of porcelain, the dense shimmer of velvet, the ephemeral wisp of vapor that hovers, barely there. The harmony lies in their shared restraint—in the quiet rhythm of curve and shadow.
Rooted in classical composition, yet distinctly modern in sensibility, Velvet, Steam, and Silence invites a pause not to interpret, but to experience—to dwell for a moment in the space between breath and stillness, thought and silence.
Measuring 8 × 8 inches (20 × 20 cm), the painting is set in a simple black frame with a quiet, contemporary profile. The outer dimensions of the frame are 11 × 11 inches (28 × 28 cm), and the piece arrives ready to hang.
This painting is available for acquisition.
Please click the blue button below to purchase, or contact me with any questions.
Scroll down to learn more about the inspiration, materials, and process behind this painting. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out using the form at the bottom of the page.
"Velvet, Steam, and Silence"
An Original Still Life Painting
The Inspiration
There is something quietly ceremonial about a single cup of tea. The warmth. The rising steam. The careful pause before the first sip. In Velvet, Steam, and Silence, that moment becomes a composition—an offering of stillness and light.
The inspiration for this painting began with the idea of movement held in tension: the swirling folds of velvet, the spiraling steam, the curved lip of the porcelain cup. Each element echoes the next in form and rhythm, creating a visual meditation on repetition, softness, and presence.
Velvet, with its deep shadows and reflective pile, seemed to absorb time itself. The rising steam caught in the light, ephemeral and luminous, became a momentary bridge between the physical and the intangible. These small visual gestures—fleeting, gentle, easily missed—are what drew this painting into being.
This is not simply a study of objects, but an invitation to slow down, to look closer, and to recognize the quiet beauty that emerges when warmth meets attention.
The Finest Materials
Velvet, Steam, and Silence was painted with oil on a meticulously prepared panel—offering a smooth, stable surface ideal for detailed rendering and subtle transitions of light.
Panel has long been prized by painters for its durability and precision. Its rigid structure allows for fine control of the brush, which is essential when capturing intricate textures like the deep folds of velvet or the soft edges of rising steam. The surface responds beautifully to layered glazes, making it possible to achieve the restrained luminosity seen throughout the composition.
Each pigment was selected for its clarity and depth, with special attention given to the play of light across porcelain, silver, and fabric. From the first underpainting to the final highlights, the materials were chosen to support a painting meant not only to be seen, but quietly felt.
Painstaking Process
The creation of Velvet, Steam, and Silence unfolded slowly, with careful attention to balance, texture, and light.
The composition was first refined through a series of sketches, exploring how the curves of the teacup, the rise of steam, and the folds of velvet could echo and support one another. Once transferred to panel, the initial values were established in monochrome—laying a foundation for depth and structure beneath the final colors.
Color was built up in transparent layers, allowing light to pass through each veil of paint and reflect back from the surface, creating a quiet inner glow. Particular care was taken with the sheen of the velvet, the porcelain’s soft glimmer, and the almost imperceptible motion of the steam—elements that depend on precision and restraint.
Every stage of the process was unhurried. This is a painting made not to impress at a glance, but to reward sustained attention. It was crafted with the same presence it invites in return.
"Velvet, Steam, and Silence"
Ready for your collection today
Shipping
“Velvet, Steam, and Silence” will ship via USPS Registered Mail with secure packaging and full insurance at no extra charge. Upon shipping, you will receive a tracking number and an estimated delivery date, allowing you to monitor the package’s location and progress. It will ship within two business days of purchase.
Every piece is carefully packed and fully insured for safe delivery. Should any issue arise in transit, I will work with you to resolve it promptly.
Guarantee
Your satisfaction is my highest priority. If for any reason you are not completely delighted with your painting, you may return it within 14 days for a full refund or exchange. The artwork must be returned in its original condition and packaging.
Invest with confidence—this painting is designed to bring lasting beauty and enjoyment to your collection.
Your satisfaction is completely guaranteed.
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 3 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.
And there isn’t anything more personal.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this painting, whether it’s about its details, the inspiration behind it, or how it would fit into your space, I’d be happy to answer them.
If you’d like more information about the purchasing process, framing options, or secure shipping arrangements, feel free to reach out.
I take great care in ensuring that each painting is safely packaged and delivered, and I’m happy to discuss any special requests you may have.
Simply use the form below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Velvet, Steam, and Silence
$1,750.00
“In the stillness of the tea, the soul finds its reflection.”
— Japanese proverb
Velvet, Steam, and Silence is an original still life painting, created with oil on panel.
This composition is a meditation on movement within stillness. A porcelain teacup releases a delicate plume of steam, rising in soft spirals that echo the curling patterns in the cup’s decoration and the deep folds of the velvet backdrop. The objects do not clamor for attention—they whisper. They wait.
Light settles gently across the forms, revealing subtle shifts in surface and hue: the crisp edge of porcelain, the dense shimmer of velvet, the ephemeral wisp of vapor that hovers, barely there. The harmony lies in their shared restraint—in the quiet rhythm of curve and shadow.
Rooted in classical composition, yet distinctly modern in sensibility, Velvet, Steam, and Silence invites a pause not to interpret, but to experience—to dwell for a moment in the space between breath and stillness, thought and silence.
Measuring 8 × 8 inches (20 × 20 cm), the painting is set in a simple black frame with a quiet, contemporary profile. The outer dimensions of the frame are 11 × 11 inches (28 × 28 cm), and the piece arrives ready to hang.
This painting is available for acquisition.
Please click the blue button below to purchase, or contact me with any questions.
Scroll down to learn more about the inspiration, materials, and process behind this painting. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out using the form at the bottom of the page.
Available
Description
"Velvet, Steam, and Silence" An Original Still Life Painting
The Inspiration
There is something quietly ceremonial about a single cup of tea. The warmth. The rising steam. The careful pause before the first sip. In Velvet, Steam, and Silence, that moment becomes a composition—an offering of stillness and light.
Velvet, with its deep shadows and reflective pile, seemed to absorb time itself. The rising steam caught in the light, ephemeral and luminous, became a momentary bridge between the physical and the intangible. These small visual gestures—fleeting, gentle, easily missed—are what drew this painting into being.
This is not simply a study of objects, but an invitation to slow down, to look closer, and to recognize the quiet beauty that emerges when warmth meets attention.
The Finest Materials
Velvet, Steam, and Silence was painted with oil on a meticulously prepared panel—offering a smooth, stable surface ideal for detailed rendering and subtle transitions of light.
Each pigment was selected for its clarity and depth, with special attention given to the play of light across porcelain, silver, and fabric. From the first underpainting to the final highlights, the materials were chosen to support a painting meant not only to be seen, but quietly felt.
Painstaking Process
"Velvet, Steam, and Silence" Ready for your collection today
Shipping
“Velvet, Steam, and Silence” will ship via USPS Registered Mail with secure packaging and full insurance at no extra charge. Upon shipping, you will receive a tracking number and an estimated delivery date, allowing you to monitor the package’s location and progress. It will ship within two business days of purchase.
Every piece is carefully packed and fully insured for safe delivery. Should any issue arise in transit, I will work with you to resolve it promptly.
Guarantee
Your satisfaction is my highest priority. If for any reason you are not completely delighted with your painting, you may return it within 14 days for a full refund or exchange. The artwork must be returned in its original condition and packaging.
Invest with confidence—this painting is designed to bring lasting beauty and enjoyment to your collection.
Your satisfaction is completely guaranteed.
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.
Questions?
If you have any questions about this painting, whether it’s about its details, the inspiration behind it, or how it would fit into your space, I’d be happy to answer them.
If you’d like more information about the purchasing process, framing options, or secure shipping arrangements, feel free to reach out.
I take great care in ensuring that each painting is safely packaged and delivered, and I’m happy to discuss any special requests you may have.
Simply use the form below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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