The story of the painting, Midday Tea, by Steve Henderson at Start Your Week with Steve:

The answer to the question, “How are you?” used to be, “Fine.” In the modern world, however, the answer has morphed to, “Oh, I’m so busy!” to which the initial questioner replies,

“Oh, I know! Life is really busy!”

Life has to consist of more than getting one task done after another. Midday Tea, original oil painting by Steve Henderson.

Being busy is a good thing, we understand, and when a person is so busy, too busy to read a book, or enjoy a cup of tea, because there’s just so much stuff to do — well this person is successful, we reason.

But are we reasoning aright? Midday Tea captures a young woman who is capturing a moment of her own, pouring, and delighting in a cup of tea when a sound from the kitchen catches her attention. Perhaps a neighbor has stopped by, or maybe the postal deliverer dropped some letters through the mail slot.

Momentarily distracted, the young woman is not, however, stressed, and though she looks over her shoulder toward the sound, she is relaxed, calm, and ready to return to her cup of tea. It is important to embrace times of quietness, thought, solitude, and meditation, so that we are able to go out and do whatever it is that needs to be done, with the energy and sharp thinking that we need.

The 1940s is an era of nostalgia that continues to fascinate us — not only because of its truly amazing attention to style and fashion — but also because it was a simpler time, when people dealt with the stress under which they lived (World War II comes to mind) by not abandoning the aspects of life that they could control. Food, family, working hard but resting after that work — these elements were important to people, and they didn’t feel guilty because they didn’t multi-task (the term wasn’t even invented then), and they saw no advantage to living life at a constant, frenetic, frantic pace.

The simple things of life — like a fetching new hat — are the ones that bring joy and beauty. The New Hat, original oil painting by Steve Henderson.

Regardless of when we live or where, there are 24 hours in the day, and when we get to the point that we cannot take a break for Midday Tea, simply because we are so consistently, unremittingly busy, then we have to take at least a small moment and ask,

“Why am I so busy? Is this the purpose of my life? And given that I only have one life on this earth, is this how I want to spend it?”

Midday Tea is an original oil painting on panel, 24 x 30. With the frame (included with purchase) the painting measures 30 x 36. The painting is available for direct purchase through the Steve Henderson Fine Art website by simply clicking on the Add to Cart button for secure processing through PayPal.

If you are drawn to the sense of simplicity and peace in Midday Tea, you may also enjoy the additional works in the growing 1940s Nostalgia Collection: The New Hat, Ending the Day on a Good Note, and Phonograph Days.

Read the rest, and keep up with Steve’s art news, at his free newsletter, Start Your Week with Steve, delivered to your e-mail inbox.

Please contact Carolyn@SteveHendersonFineArt.com to inquire about any of Steve’s original oil and watercolor paintings or licensed open edition prints.