Vodniciar Vladimir Still Life «Flowers with Pumpkin» — 61x91cm oil on canvas 2014 (2014)

I like painting Still Lifes with garden fruits and vegetables. This Still Life with flowers and pumpkin is part of my continued exploration of subjects I have painted before, including other still-life compositions featuring this particular fruit with its distinctive orange color. I painted this work in the same manner, using palette-knife strokes and broad brushstrokes, especially in the foreground. I particularly enjoyed creating the vibrant background, while the drapery on the left extends into the foreground and is simply interrupted by a yellow leaf. I created a contrast between the luminous yellow of the chrysanthemums and the deep red-burgundy flowers. These warm colors are set against a cooler background, painted in shades of grey and brown. The bouquet occupies the central and upper areas of the composition, and the flowers are the emotional center of the Artwork. I painted them with short, energetic strokes that give them volume and a certain vibration. The petals seem to be moved by light, almost emerging from the canvas through the way the yellow and red appear to glow from within. I tried to play with yellow and red: yellow suggests light, freshness, and optimism, while red brings depth, passion, and warmth. I painted the background freely, with overlapping shades that make the flowers appear more luminous. The brushstrokes and surfaces are not smooth, so I applied patches of color in my own manner, seeking to bring expressiveness to the painting. I combined the soft, pastel color of the pumpkin’s skin with the color of the pitcher. The orange of the cut pumpkin echoes the red of the flowers and visually connects the upper and lower parts of the painting. The bouquet of chrysanthemums is compact, while the background and the objects on the table breathe more openly. Through this Still Life, I tried to convey the warmth and abundance that we see in the fruits of the earth when we harvest and taste what the earth has to offer. These warm colors and its theme inspired by the fruits of the Earth, this still life can bring a warm, luminous, and welcoming atmosphere to an interior. The bouquet of flowers and the presence of the pumpkin create a sense of abundance and closeness to nature, making the Artwork suitable both for a living space and for an interior intended for welcoming and gathering people.