“A letter always seemed to me like immortality because it is the mind alone without corporeal friend.”
— Emily Dickinson
“The Letter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen on panel.
It features a mysterious scene with a letter and pen, pottery, antique shaving brush, and marble egg – all reflected in a silver ball.
Measuring 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm), it is set in a beautiful wide gold-leaf frame. The outer dimensions of the frame are 13 x 15 inches (32 x 37 cm).
“The Letter” is a painting which tells a story about separation and connection – without ever being explicit about what that story actually is.
In fact, many elements about the painting invite the viewer to ask their own questions and come to their own conclusions about what is happening here.
For instance, who wrote the letter?
Does the pen and imply that a reply is being written?
What does this old shaving brush mean?
Why is there a marble egg with an Asian footed stand in the scene?
And finally, how does the silver ball that reflects this entire scene relate to this story? Does it symbolize reflection and contemplation of some kind?
All these questions come together and invite the viewer to create their own story about what is happening with this painting.
The Finest Materials
“The Letter” 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
“The Letter” measures 8 x 10 inches (20×25 cm), and is presented in a beautiful wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 13 x 15 inches (32 x 37 cm).
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.
The Letter
$2,250.00
“A letter always seemed to me like immortality because it is the mind alone without corporeal friend.”
— Emily Dickinson
“The Letter” is an original still life painting, done with oil on linen on panel.
It features a mysterious scene with a letter and pen, pottery, antique shaving brush, and marble egg – all reflected in a silver ball.
Measuring 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm), it is set in a beautiful wide gold-leaf frame. The outer dimensions of the frame are 13 x 15 inches (32 x 37 cm).
Read more about this painting below.
Available
Description
"The Letter" An Original Still Life Painting
A Hidden Story
“The Letter” is a painting which tells a story about separation and connection – without ever being explicit about what that story actually is.
In fact, many elements about the painting invite the viewer to ask their own questions and come to their own conclusions about what is happening here.
Does the pen and imply that a reply is being written?
What does this old shaving brush mean?
Why is there a marble egg with an Asian footed stand in the scene?
And finally, how does the silver ball that reflects this entire scene relate to this story? Does it symbolize reflection and contemplation of some kind?
All these questions come together and invite the viewer to create their own story about what is happening with this painting.
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
“The Letter” measures 8 x 10 inches (20×25 cm), and is presented in a beautiful wide gold-leaf frame, the outer dimensions of which are 13 x 15 inches (32 x 37 cm).
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.
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