In Clocks Stop for Tea in the Afternoon, an ordinary garden gathering takes an unexpected turn. Bright blue china sits among Strawberry muffins, lavender and golden flowers. Butterflies drift through the scene, while watch faces appear on the teapot and cups, bringing the measured passage of time into a setting that seems made for lingering.
That contrast is at the heart of the work. A garden invites us to slow down: to notice the colour of the flowers, the shape of a butterfly’s wings, the small abundance of ripe berries. Yet the clocks suggest that time is still present, even during a quiet pause. Here, cups and teapot seems to hold both ideas at once—a gentle invitation to take a moment, and a playful reminder that every moment is passing.
I love to sit in the garden and drink tea. The Lavender was planted ten years ago and every summer comes alive. The teapot and cups feel almost animated within the garden, their watch faces giving them a curious, mechanical presence. Patterned surfaces and layered details add visual texture, while the rich blue ceramics stand out against the green backdrop and vivid, multicoloured ground.
The composition is full of small discoveries. Lavender rises through the scene, butterflies punctuate the open space, and strawberries add another burst of colour. The golden flowers bring warmth to the upper part of the image. Together, these elements create a garden that feels both recognisable and dreamlike—a place where tea, nature and time can share the same table.
As a self-taught artist, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries of subject and materials. Clocks Stop for Tea in the Afternoon reflects that interest in combining unexpected motifs and building a distinctive visual world through colour, pattern and detail. The result is a statement piece with a whimsical spirit and a surrealist sensibility.
A work like this can bring imaginative detail into a home, offering something new to notice each time you return to it. Perhaps the clocks are keeping time for the garden. Perhaps they are simply asking us to pause and enjoy it.
Explore Clocks Stop for Tea in the Afternoon and bring a little surrealist colour to your space.
This moment of tea was created using acrylics, collage and real Lavender for inspiration. On artboard, available unframed.
24x20" 60x50cm
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Room mockup not to scale
