Lilies and Plums 

John Michael Carter's "Lilies and Plums" is an oil painting that captures a seemingly simple still life. The painting is dominated by a vibrant bouquet of yellow lilies bursting from a dark vase. The arrangement is echoed by fallen blossoms which are scattered around a delicate teacup, some dark plums and a pair of pears. Carter’s composition plays with light and texture, with the loose brushstrokes and varied colors capturing the fleeting beauty of everyday objects. The arrangement of elements creates a visual harmony, yet the scattering also implies a sense of impermanence. The eye is drawn to the contrast between the sharp details of the fruit and flowers and the soft background, producing a tension between realism and the abstract qualities of the paint itself. The painting is not just a representation but an exploration of form and surface which embodies a philosophical reflection on time and memory. "Lilies and Plums" invites us to contemplate how the artist transforms mundane subjects into something beautiful and contemplative through the interplay of colors and shapes.