This painting marks the beginning of my return to making.

After moving into our home in Hawkins Island in 2023, I was searching for a work to place above my husband’s bar. Instead of buying one, I wondered what might happen if I painted it myself. The subject—oysters, lemons, and wine—was chosen simply for the pleasure of the table and the quiet ritual of sharing.

Although I had not painted seriously in nearly forty years, the process felt unexpectedly natural and deeply enjoyable. While working, I was often reminded of my younger self—of the way I painted as a middle school student, guided more by instinct and curiosity than by polished technique. That dormant passion resurfaced here, gently but unmistakably.