“Oranges For Eloise”
acrylic latex, charcoal on sailcloth
31.5” x 23.5”
November 1, 1997
The Tania Leysen Collection

 

Tania, because she’s my wife and the love of my life, gets first choice when it comes to my paintings. She doesn’t ask for pieces very often, but she asked of this one while the paint was still drying.

This is named after the children’s book, “Eloise”, about a precocious little girl and her life in New York. The colors of this one reminded me of that book.

This is another still life with the highly symbolic oranges – prosperity, good health, new beginnings, celebration, joy, happiness… in China oranges are given as gifts on the Chinese New Year for good luck. Oranges are often symbolic of creativity and youthful energy and even spiritual awakening. A very symbolic fruit indeed!

This piece was painted two years after yesterday’s piece. This series carried on for a while.