Dear bowl, I love you, with or without fruit. That is because you are both a vessel and an artwork. Some years ago I had the good fortune of working weekends at Palmerston North’s regional art gallery, where local artist Fran Dibble was exhibiting large boldly-painted bowls. What was even more special about these objects is that her potter mother had made the bowls for Fran to paint. Another great combination.

Just when I was feeling good again, after the back and eyes episodes, a niggling pain in my jaw became a massive throbbing mind-bending thing. Early next day there was nothing for it but to extract one of the few bits of wisdom I possessed, a tooth! The following day I was sitting aimlessly at my kitchen table looking at my bowl, with its wonderful colours I love so much, and knew sketching it would cheer me up. And it did.

It was weird however, sketching fruit, flowers and a fish, on which a few aging pieces of fruit sat (I couldn’t chew anything you see). Anyway, out with my watercolour pad, watercolours and my aquarelle coloured pencils. It was a bit of a ‘throw everything at it’ kind of sketch, which began with me sketching the bowl’s outline using a light graphite pencil. Next I painted the various bits with watercolour, and left the work to dry, later going back to add more texture and depth using aquarelle pencils. I laughed when I had finished, as the fish appeared to be sitting in the bowl, rather than on it. Still, it was fun to do. I least I can smile again!

And Fran Dibble (and mother), I wish to thank you for producing a work of art that I love as much today as I did when I bought it.