This carefully arranged still life creates a dramatic interplay of light and reflection, celebrating objects that were prized by my grandmother. They speak to a lady who lived a modest life but prized the few nice pieces of crystal or china found while treasure hunting at a thrift store. Sugar Crystal is about the ritual of display and nostalgia for a past time when decorative objects were used socially to make ordinary events special. The painting evokes memories of childhood, family, and home.