This work began as a still life made up of objects from around my home. I was especially drawn to the vintage octagonal black coffee pot and a shiny black vase I have. I love the way their surfaces reflect the things around them, and I knew I could have some fun trying to capture those reflections.
The painting changed quite a lot as I worked on it. I kept pushing the blacks and greys darker and darker, which made the little areas of colour start to glow. The branch of autumn leaves came from my garden and brought these lovely flashes of orange into the work.
The blue coffee cup has a more personal meaning. It’s one of the cups my partner brings me coffee in every morning. It’s a small daily ritual, but also a little way of saying I love you.
I think I’m increasingly drawn to the ordinary things we live with every day. They might not seem particularly important, but over time they become part of the story of our lives.