Dusti Bongé created her share of still life paintings and sketches early in her career. They were always of everyday items that happened to be around the house or on her living room or kitchen table. In her case, these things often included subjects like fresh flowers (from her own garden), fruits & vegetables, and personal objects like books, conch shells, vases, etc. These may be anchored by chairs or tabletops in the background..

Dusti’s still life compositions, right from the start, reflect her unique visual approach to her immediate environment. Rather than carefully staged arrangements, her works capture their subject matter in simplified color palettes, at oblique angles, and against unexpected backgrounds. In these works one is struck by the quotidian informality of the subject matter suggesting Dusti is literally presenting us with a particular moment in her daily life..