One of the problems with getting involved with such as still life is becoming too partial to the minutae and overlooking 'the big picture'... even as metaphoric relationships can and do transcend the momentary into the universal, it helps to keep a wider perspective and at times shift to views in that universe which broaden the scene and add a further dimension to the still life... by this is meant, for instance, using as part of a wider work still life within it which shows not only the relatings found in that still life but an integration into the wider world seen in the larger work... true, this involves more effort in composition, but the end results is on par with those of the grand landscapes mentioned before... for example, one of the ideas initialled in sketches years ago involved the foreground use of a three-tiered planter hanging from the ceiling, each tier reflecting different aspects of fruitful life.... the addition of a butterfly or two aided in extending this, and also a kitten on the floor playfully swatting at one of the flutterers.... by shifting this to a porch arena, with a railing over which can be seen that it is part of a canyon cityscape adds much to continuing the theming first wraught by way of just the planter.....

A second example, also from some time ago, is that of a woman standing at the edge of a hilltop, overlooking a bend in a river and a gooseneck cliff wall of vegetation across the river... to the right of her, being pointed out by a small child being held by her, lies a cityscape, filled with all manner of various forms of development suited to the area... on the left of her, as a child beside her is point out is a parting amidst the forestation at the base of the wilderness where a primitive gathering is preparing something to cook... "Choices" is a rather obvious theme/title, but it does allocate the differences in views of what is the 'natural' way of living [and indeed, perhaps adding 'Natural" to the title would make it more meaningful]... each of these views could have easily been done on their own, but by juxaposing them, there is added another dimension to the sense of life involved, another metaphoric relating not otherwise grasped if kept each to their own....

A third example involves a view from within a place, where the still life is the place itself, and it is then enlarged to seeing outside the place, thru the doorway and/or window - thus relating the theming of the still life to wider aspects beyond the immediacy...

The spirituality of each of these examples is that of how one sees oneself in relationship to one's enviroment - whatever that enviroment may be - and whatever is the due valuing given, not only by the artist, but by the viewer in agreeing or disagreeing with what is seen, because there is no such thing as intrinsic values and that which is considered of value must thus be derived as a consequence of what is within the person seeing the work(s) involved...