Wisps of Steam: Homage to Chardin's A Lady Taking Tea

This body of work emerges from a deeply personal engagement with natural elements and the emotional responses they evoke. Initially inspired by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin’s A Lady Taking Tea, I was drawn to the quiet contemplation embodied in this domestic scene. The subtle interplay of light and steam within the painting served as a catalyst for my exploration of stillness, sensation, and atmosphere.

Guided by the ephemeral qualities present in Chardin’s work, I developed a visual language rooted in the stark, windswept terrain surrounding my home. Rather than employing direct representation, I use non-illustrative, pixelated facets of colour to investigate shifts in texture and hue—invoking sensory memories of mist, cloud, and the tactile experience of the land. This abstracted approach allows for a poetic resonance that mirrors the shifting moods and physicality of the landscape.

The repetitive act of wrapping yarn became central to my process, both as a meditative gesture and as a means of engaging with form and atmosphere. While the yarn colours do not replicate those in Chardin’s painting, they function as interpretive tools that reflect a personal emotional response and deepen my understanding of materiality.

This project signifies a re-evaluation of my artistic practice—centering abstraction, material sensitivity, and a heightened awareness of place as sources of both inquiry and introspection.