CUPS is a series of medium sized acrylic paintings of still lives of glass and ceramic cups. Growing up in Russia, tea-time was one of my favorite family rituals. We would gather on the porch in summer after an afternoon nap and share stories while sipping hot tea and eating slices of wild berry pies. It was a time of contemplation and bonding, a moment of quiet in the busy family life. The cups and the drinks contained in them are sentimental and symbolic. The ceramic ware was handmade by the local artists, and each one has a story. The glass when painted is a mosaic of colorful shapes that from a distance appear as a transparent whole. And what is a family if not a collection of stories and experiences that binds individuals into a single group. Looking at the CUPS series helps me ground myself in the moment and find new appreciation for the beautiful things in my life.