This oil painting shows a few bottles from my own collection, chosen for their beautiful forms and the way they bend and reflect light. I set them up on my reflective floor at home, took several photos, and then built this artwork by layer by layer, allowing each layer to dry in between. I went in a purple direction with this painting, because I love the way purple can embody creativity, wisdom, and dignity. As a colour, purple has a storied history - think of the dyed robes of the Caesars, or the face paint of the druids, and I do love it, so I thought I’d work with it to bring out a little touch of mystery and magic in the everyday.
Painted in oil on canvas, the piece has a graphic quality owing to the drama of the purple tones and the high contrast on black. You’ll definitely see it across a room - it won’t hide. I think this painting would feel at home in a kitchen, or resting on a mantle piece offset by a purple vase or cushions.