Monthly Archives: December 2025

Winter Still Lifes 2

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Above: 18th Century Baluster Wine Glass. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood. Rose Strang 2025

Today’s still life; an 18th century Baluster wine glass – a type of glass with a heavy stem featuring bulbous patterns. I love those horizontal marks near the top of the glass that show the glass has stretched and that it’s hand-made. Isn’t it interesting that they would have worked so hard to remove these ‘flaws’ and nowadays we value them as part of the maker’s marks – not mass produced?

Tomorrow I’ll be painting the last in this series of three still lifes for The Graystone Gallery, Edinburgh, for their upcoming Christmas exhibition.

If you like the look of any of these, feel free to contact the Graystone with enquiries.

Some more details …

Winter Still Lifes

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Above: Red Perfume Bottle with Silver Cap. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2025

This is the first of three winter still lifes I’m painting for the Graystone Gallery in Edinburgh. They’ll be available to buy from around the 10th December, so contact the Graystone Gallery with any queries, they’re super helpful!

If you follow this blog then you might recognise the subject as this is not the first time I’ve painted this beautiful little bottle. The last time was in 2020 for the Limetree Gallery, Bristol. It belongs to my mum and I find it a magical little object. It always made me think of Lucy’s little cystal bottle which held healing elixir (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe).

Others have said the painting makes them think of Alice in Wonderland (the “Drink Me” scene). I love painting these jewel-like still lifes in winter. Landscape painting is easier in the warmer months as the colours are so subtle. Winter light is hard to paint in, so up-close, monochrome or strong-coloured subjects work well

I think my painting has improved since I last painted this subject, you can be the judge of that though! Here they are, side by side …

'Antique Perfume Bottle, Red'. Oil on 13x13" wood. Rose Strang 2020

Sold. ‘Antique Perfume Bottle, Red’. Oil on 13×13″ wood. Rose Strang 2020

Red Perfume Bottle with Silver Cap. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2025