I’m honored to share that Asian Pears and Peaches on Lacquer Tray received an Honorable Mention in the Still Life category of the 18th International ARC Salon.
The ARC Salon, organized by the Art Renewal Center, is one of the world’s largest and most respected competitions dedicated to contemporary representational art. Each year, thousands of works are submitted by artists from around the globe, making this recognition especially meaningful.
Asian Pears and Peaches on Lacquer Tray
Oil on copper
20 × 24″
From Museum Object to Still Life
While this painting appears to depict a simple arrangement of fruit, insects and a tulip, it brings together many threads from my own history.
The lacquer tray is based on a fifteenth-century Japanese cinnabar tray in the collection of the Seattle Art Museum. During my years as a museum mount maker, I had the opportunity to create a mount for the object and later traveled with it to Japan as part of a traveling exhibition. Studying the tray up close gave me a deep appreciation for its craftsmanship, and the experience stayed with me long after the exhibition ended.
Years later, I found myself returning to the memory of that object. Since placing fruit on a museum treasure was never an option, I recreated the scene at home using red paper, Asian pears from my garden, peaches, flowers, and a carefully chosen assortment from my photographs of insects. You can view the original tray in the Seattle Art Museum’s online collection.
The resulting composition feels both personal and timeless. Objects separated by centuries share the same space, connected through observation, craftsmanship, and a love of beauty.
Bringing Light Out of Darkness
One of the aspects I enjoy most about this painting is the contrast between the deep black background and the luminous surfaces of the objects themselves.
The pale fruit, dark red lacquer, and green foliage emerge from the darkness, allowing subtle shifts of color and texture to take center stage. Painted on copper, the smooth metal surface allowed me to build fine details and luminous color while echoing the refined craftsmanship of the historic tray itself.
As I worked, I became increasingly interested in the quiet relationships within the composition: the curves of the pears and peaches mirroring the carved forms of the tray, the warm reds balanced by cool greens, and the small insects moving among the larger forms.
Why the ARC Salon Matters
One reason the ARC Salon is so meaningful to me is its celebration of representational art and traditional craftsmanship. The competition recognizes artists who continue to explore observation, technical skill, and the rich traditions of realism while creating contemporary work.
Receiving an Honorable Mention for Asian Pears and Peaches on Lacquer Tray is especially gratifying because this painting embodies many of the things I value most: careful observation, a love of art history, and the connection between objects, memories, and the stories they carry.
I am grateful to the judges for this recognition and thankful to everyone who continues to support my work.