373. Still life

The rain keeps on falling. My market load is spread out on the kitchen bar, drying out. I stare at the beautiful display. The colours are striking, I find it incredible that so many colours, so vivid and bright, can be found in nature, not just in nature but in edible natural stuff: brown, orange, red, yellow, green, white. A patchwork of colours spread out on my kitchen worktop. I should have bought a black radish. And some purple aubergines. I never take a list to the market but maybe I should try a colour wheel.

And what makes the display more striking is the shapes and the textures. I play around trying to arrange the display. A bed of dull brown potatoes at the front, a couple of lemons for a bright spark, a few chili peppers to draw the viewer to the left of the display where it will be met by the rolling green hills of brocoli, kale and parsley. The butternut squash stands proud on the edge, an abrupt pale orange tower providing a striking change of scenery. The bright orange carrots will lie in a row at its feet, a cultivated field. A second tower, white at the bottom and green at the top looms in the distance and protects from too clear a view on the ugly celeriac. A few apples will stand modestly on the side of the opulent scene, as if there were just passing, not wanting to disturb the grand setting. I step back and am pleased with the display. A work of art I am about to savagely destroy with my steely knives. 

I have forgotten the rain. I am off to get my sketch pad and my pencils.