“I was inspired by the contrasts in this subject,” mused artist Morgan Weistling. “The older Grandpa’s large rough hands alongside his young granddaughter’s petite, gentle hands. With a small daughter myself right now, I know exactly how this gentleman feels. In the presence of this little young lady the biggest, most worldly man would be reduced to a dainty teetotaler (or shall I say ‘tea toddler’?). She is in charge and you will drink dirty water if she says so.”

Morgan Weistling’s instructional videos implore painters to “edit out the unimportant. Stay away from minor details that don’t help tell the story.” In this masterpiece, he shows us exactly how it’s done. The lighting, the figures leaning in toward each other and the color palette all contribute to the central narrative of the shared tea. And yet, there’s something new to see each time you look at this painting.