The Musicians' Table

The Musicians’ Table is a collection designed for the Colorado Symphony Guild Shop’s 2025 Fall Art Exhibit. It includes paintings, illustrations, giclées, cards, and small bouquets of paper flowers (“colorful notes”) available for purchase in the Colorado Symphony Guild Shop or

on its behalf through this website.

The concept of The Muscians’ Table was inspired by the still life compositions of the Dutch Golden Age; a period lasting from 1588-1672. At that time Dutch and Flemish Painters depicted still lifes with instruments, luxurious foods, and other riches on tables. For example, look at the copy of the painting by the artist Cornelius De Heem amongst my work.

Using a round table as the setting for my paintings, I pretended it occupied a common space where symphony musicians congregated when living and performing away from home. Then I imagined the arrangements they might create there and composed them in still life. As result, my paintings depict scenes in which collections of foods, instruments, and flowers cover the tabletop. Flowers, like the luxuries placed in the still lifes of the Golden Age, represent the richness of musical notes. Glass and other reflective surfaces were used in appreciation of my teacher Rob Gratiot from the Art Students' League of Denver. The color and creativity he paints in reflections are an inspiration to me. Thanks to HB Wood Songs in Boulder, CO for graciously giving me access to the majority of instruments depicted. And appreciation to my friends Jen, Courtney, and Alice who lent me their own.

I hope you enjoy the exhibit!

Colorado Symphony Guild Shop

Example Baroque-style painting with musical instruments by Cornelius De Heel. He was among the most famous of the Dutch and Flemish still life painters of the 17th century's Golden Age.

"The Musician's Table, Baroque" is a nod to the Dutch and Flemish grand masters of the 17th century. It showcases the style (simplified), subjects (instruments, fine foods and other luxuries), and glazing techniques characteristic of their Baroque-style still lifes.

"The Musicians’ Table, Casual" is a whimsical display of everyday life on the musicians' table. It interplays static instruments, fruits, vegetables, and flowers with the dynamics of light on color.

The Musicians’ Table, Symphony

is a performance of trombone, trumpet and oboe amongst the colorful glass of vases and luxurious blooms of simple and bearded iris and an phalaenopsis orchid on the musicians’ table. (This painting is presently unfinished.)

"Violin with Sax" , the last of the paintings featuring the overall musician's table, is a duet between violin and saxophone, tulips and cherry blossoms. It shows the room surrounding the table in some detail.

"Cello with Lilies". I found the cello at HB Woodsongs to be embarrassingly loud. It alerted the manager every time it was moved. Trying to shush it up, I laid it down atop a display case and there found the pose I liked best. The lilies helped me remember the scale when I drew it later.