Stillness

Oil painting of green and purple cabbage set in a basket from a Farmer's harvest, painted by Kristi Marsh in Freeport Maine

Oil on Canvas 18 × 18 

The Story of Stillness | A Painting of a Cabbage Harvest Set in a Basket

$895.00 set in a charcoal floating frame

I am obsessed with fresh farm food. My Google albums are packed with close-ups of strawberries, garlic scapes, tomatoes, and squash, all carefully documented like I’m building a museum exhibit on seasonal produce. I can’t help it—I’m enchanted every time as if I’ve never seen a display of eggplants or a foofy pile of arugula in my life. Maybe it’s the murmur of fellow foodies, the thrill of spotting something unusual, or just the whole vibe of a farmer’s market.

My first day working - as an apprentice farmer - at an organic CSA farm near Walden Pond in Massachusetts was soaked in sensations. Picture this: an old barn with a stone wall cellar, its cool, earthy interior filled with oversized baskets showcasing the day’s harvest. In one of them, next to me, were cabbages—huge, purple and green, just cut from their cradling leaves that morning. I remember it with such clarity. I was there to learn. To work alongside some of the hardest working people I have met - soil in my fingernails, often crawling between rows weeding, and hauling wheelbarrows of kale, pumpkins or tomatoes across the acreage. And I ended up loving every bit of it.

My Oil Painting Process

I ADORE this painting. As opposed to a lot of my work - high in saturation and celebrating color or light - this depicts a soft dim light - coming in from the entrance of the stone cellar. I know in my heart this art will be matched with its perfect owner - someone who finds feeling in the calm, the stillness, and at the same time, the vitality of nature. it is just as much about the objects themselves, as it is the in-between spaces, moments, and shadows.

Where to Explore When Visiting Maine

Maine is perfect for weekend road trips for New Englanders. Festivals abound and every charming town has themed weekends. If you love all the topics around food, you might enjoy creating a road trip to the Common Ground Fair in Unity Maine. The Common Ground Country Fair is MOFGA's signature event and annual celebration of rural living. Always held the third weekend after Labor Day!

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