I discovered this ceramic plate at a store's clearance table, and I immediately recognized its potential for a still life painting. The raw, bright red edge of the unglazed clay provided a striking and harmonious contrast to the end grain of the oak tabletop. The arrangement of the recently purchased pansies, anticipating their imminent planting, evoked a sense of formal elegance in my mind. This painting, achieved through this arrangement, embodies a quiet yet contrasting interplay of symbolism and atmosphere.