In Hazelnuts in a Clay Bowl, Stewart Lees examines the subtle relationships between texture, tone and surface within a restrained still life composition. The warm browns of the hazelnuts and wooden ledge are echoed in the earthy clay bowl, creating a tightly controlled palette that allows small variations in colour and light to become more apparent. Lees’ paintings are rooted in close observation and an interest in how objects are perceived through sustained looking. The smooth sheen of the hazelnut shells contrasts with the rougher texture of the cracked shells and the worn, matte surface of the bowl, while the soft directional light gives the arrangement structure and clarity.