The Female Eye: Spotlight on Janet Rickus

Janet Rickus, Keep A Lid On It, Oil on Canvas, 16” x 26”

The first steps of a still life painting, the pre-painting choices and care that go into setting up a composition, are the most crucial ones for me and often the most difficult. There’s a lot of trial and error involved in getting all the parts to make a whole, cohesive composition. Ideas or single objects begin the selecting and ordering of elements followed by visits to different local market produce departments, sifting through my ever-growing collection of pottery and fabrics or maybe borrowing something from a friend. The items are then arranged with an eye on colors, tones, textures, abstract design, and negative space, with objects overlapping, touching, and leaning to create the feeling and mood of the painting—all done with a dose of affection.