"BIRD ON GREEN APPLES" | I like the idea that green apples are a symbol of friendship and birds are a symbol of freedom. Putting three disparate elements together, a bird, apples and a wooden box gave me a chance to work with different textures. | 21" x 21" oil on canvas

"PLUMS AND BUTTERFLY" | Plums are so luscious. They have a coating (the bloom) that protects them from insects and helps keep them moist. It’s hard to get that bloom exactly right without making the plums look chalky and dull. | 12" x 12" oil on canvas

"EGGPLANT AND ORANGES" | Eggplants are beautiful and sensuous and the contrast between the small o ranges and the very large eggplant made for an interesting composition. | 16" x 20" oil on canvas

"BABY HERCULES" | One of my favorite myths has to do with the Baby Hercules. Hera (his stepmother), wanted to be rid of him and sent two snakes to do the job. Fortunately, Baby Hercules was a super baby and got rid of them with his remarkable strength. | 20" x 16" oil on canvas

"SIX VASES (SANDY #4)" | Sandy #4 was painted during the violent storm in New York City called Sandy. We had no electricity and I wanted to work so I dragged my easel over to the window and painted for the first time in natural light. Painting by natural light is great, but very unreliable. | 36" x 36" oil on canvas

"WRAPPED UP VASE" | In my flower paintings I paint usually from the flowers on hand, although sometimes I’ll add a flower that is out of season. The Dutch flower painters of the 16th Century worked that way, so I think I’m on solid ground. | 20" x 20" oil on canvas

"TWO CROCKS, BIRD AND SUNFLOWER" | We have many crocks around the house. I like them because they’re so down to earth, simple yet very strong and compelling. | 30" x 24" oil on canvas

"WHITE COW" | Cows are beautiful. To me they’re like powerful, massive pieces of sculpture. | 24" x 30" oil on canvas

"WRAPPED PAINTING" | This is not the usual still life, and the tissue and twine in the painting were a real task for me. Using a triple zero brush (a brush with very few hairs) for the twine really helped. | 30" x 30" oil on canvas

"CHERRIES AND PEARS" | I counted twenty-seven cherries and it was like a puzzle putting them all together. | 12" x 12" oil on canvas

"ORANGE IN WHITE VASE" | I think stillness and placidity in a painting is very important. There is so much chaos in the world that I feel at least in my work I can try to achieve a semblance of calm. | 36" x 36" oil on canvas

"WATERMELON WITH ORANGES" | The bird, the oranges, the watermelon and the wooden table had so many different textures, really challenging. It’s amazing, but watermelon has been around for centuries, as have oranges. I like the idea of connecting with things that are rooted in the past. | 24" x 24" oil on canvas

Muriel Kalish

“Painting is my ballast and constant companion. When I’m not working, I feel very out of sorts.”