Heather Barros

Butternut Squash/Nutmeg

Inspired by: David Seltzer, Sea Salt/Lemon Sage

oil on canvas

20″ x 16″

2024

David Seltzer, “Sea Salt/Lemon Sage”: I didn’t taste the lemon and salt nor smell the sage until I read this title. Now, I can’t undo those sensations. They come back every time I see this image. For me, the white shape within the yellow rectangle alternates between concave and convex. In my kitchen, something seemed familiar when I placed cut squash into a rectangular pan. My colors and forms matched his but in an unexpected way. I knew I had to paint it. I named my piece “Butternut Squash/Nutmeg.” With a nod to David Seltzer, I never added the nutmeg.