Windowsill with Wild Carrot and Pelargonium

Take a closer look at this windowsill scene and you might recognize the loose, painterly approach that gives still life a fresh and modern feel. Susan Ashworth painted "Windowsill with Wild Carrot and Pelargonium" in 2010, gathering together a few simple objects: glass jars, a tall vase holding dried flowers and twigs, some little pots, and a small dark bird shape resting near the edge. The brushwork is quick and confident, with patches of orange, teal, and brown that suggest more than they spell out. Nothing is sharply defined, yet you can clearly read the glass, the water, and the spindly stems reaching upward.

What makes this kind of painting enjoyable is the way it captures an ordinary corner of a room and treats it as something worth noticing. The wild carrot, a common roadside plant also known as Queen Anne's lace, sits alongside the pelargonium, which most of us would call a geranium. These are humble subjects, not grand bouquets, and that is part of the charm. Ashworth leans into the muted light and soft shadows you find indoors, letting little flashes of bright color wake up the otherwise quiet palette. It is a calm, honest piece that rewards a slow, unhurried gaze.