Casting about for subject matter for still life paintings, I came up with a couple of pitchers found around the house. Anne has a hardly noticed array perched atop the refrigerator. I photographed it. Then I decided each one was worth documenting, and even looked in other places, like rarely-used cupboards, and found more. All of these have some sort of history, not important history, but usually a memory of their being acquired. It’s never been a purposed collection, more like an accumulation, and over time a haphazard menagerie. I share it for whatever enjoyment you might also receive from it. At the bottom, I’ll share two recent paintings that included a couple of these . . . as well as two more from my first year of painting.
The assembly atop the refrigerator, hardly noticed most of the time.
An heirloom from my grandfather’s mother with her name on it. My 
mother got it and saved it for Anne.
Brought back from a little shop in Spain, here on one of our continually used old office chairs.
A classic shape from the 50’s, spotted by Anne in a thrift shop in Toledo, Oregon on one of our art-making retreats.
An African find, discovered on a solo excursion to Seattle, on the wharf.
Another find when Anne wasn’t along, bought in Germany, though the bottle originally from Amsterdam . . . here on our dining room table in front of a set of doors from Bali.
From Portugal, along with a whole set of dishes passed along from Anne’s mother. All never used, but too good to discard. Do you know that problem?
Another from Anne’s mother, a Spode of Gloucester, England. The candle snuffer we got in Mexico and the wall ceramic we brought back from Papua New Guinea. The granite counter, river-rock from Brazil.
(Foreground) Another from a Toledo, Oregon thrift shop (behind) from Holland, from Anne’s mother, through her sister.
Anne thinks I got this one, but I don’t remember where. I do remember finding the figurine on a trip to Cape Verde, Africa.
(Left) unknown origin, (right) from a road-side stop in Guatemala, along with two matching cups which we used, and broke, over time.
From Spain, with inscription: Sangria, Hosteria del Laurel Sevilla.
We came across this Bedouin tea pot while in Jericho, here among relics of various other trips and places.
Neither of us can remember how we have this one. I remember painting it once, when I’d just begun. Here, it’s perched on our outdoor Oregon table with rooster from Old Town, San Diego.
The label was still on this when I got it, but I don’t remember where. It’s more like an oil can, which is what I use it for, vegetable oil, for removing oil paint off hands, here in the studio clean-up area with more relics and shelves of reclaimed wood.
Finally, the one pitcher Anne does use, again, from my mother. Actually it was a gift from Anne to her, but came back to us when she died. Here, looking through out to the back patio and garden.
“Silver Pitcher and Peppers,” oil on canvas, 11’x14.” Painted last week, with no real justice given to that “Anna” pitcher, but it’s an impression.
“Pitcher, Petals, and Orange.” oil on canvas board, 11″x14.” Maybe hard to tell, but that’s a branch of bougainvillea from the back garden, competing with, or enhancing, the simplified flower designs on the Portuguese ceramic.
As a P.S., I just remembered these, two paintings from 1996, the year I started painting. I was just beginning to teach myself, still painting in a sketchbook, in oils, here working on reflections. I used that same copper pitcher shown above, then having a better shine. (As with all, click to enlarge.)
11:11 am
Thank you posting, so many memories. I don’t have too many pitchers, but my house has many prints, paintings and even framed postcards from different states and countries, also different wooden little boxes, they have a lot of meaning, maybe even more because I am old (older) now. God gives us good memories because of these items.
12:10 pm
Thank you for this awesome display of pitchers! When I see your paintings it reminds how incredibly talented you both are. Lovely to hear from you – God bless and protect you in these days of the Bible becoming the daily newspaper. How comforting to know that all will be well very soon.
12:56 pm
What a wonderful treasure you and Ann have.
Thank you for sharing.
It makes me thing that I should take my Biersteine collection out of the box.
3:24 pm
I love both your sketchbook paintings best, they fit into my house style perfectly. However, if I lived in a palace, I’d choose one of the others you’ve painted. Realistically, it would be a privilege to own any of the above. (And I DO have one of yours in the hall entrance.)
3:56 pm
Thank you for more inspiration! I have a smaller collection of smaller pitchers, also from travels–hadn’t thought of recording them this way, or of focusing on the fact that each one reminds me of God’s protection in our wanderings!
9:15 pm
Hyatt,
I’ve always had an infinity for pitchers & how beautifully captured!
The first silver one has a mirrored beauty!
10:23 am
Hyatt,
This is a delightful collection of pitchers, and we’re so privileged to get to see them through the eyes of an artist. Thank you!
8:11 am
Hyatt, I love the way you make old things new. Each pitcher means so much more with the stories behind them.
9:21 am
Every object and furnishing in your house is beautiful. It shows an artist lives lives there. Your paintings are outstanding, it’s free and lively. I love the pitcher and peppers.
2:26 pm
What a delight! Thanks for posting.