Tonic
Oil on board, 30 × 30 cm
A still life that sits somewhere between remedy and ritual.
Tonic water has always carried a dual identity — once medicinal, now just as familiar as the mixer to a gin at the end of a long day. With this piece, I wanted to leave that interpretation open: is this about healing, or about unwinding?
I kept the background deliberately dark and quiet, allowing the lemon to take centre stage — its brightness cutting through, almost luminous. The glass became just as important, especially the challenge (and joy) of capturing those shifting reflections, where the lemon bends and refracts through the hexagonal surface.
It’s a simple setup, but one that plays with mood — somewhere between stillness, need, and small comforts.