I Can't Afford These

Size:22 x 29 in.

Lee Ellis’s original painting I can’t afford these (18" x 24") bursts with energy and humour, bringing new life to the familiar motif of a floral still life. A vibrant bouquet, alive with bold oranges, reds, yellows and greens, springs from a striped vase, set against a striking backdrop of alternating orange and pale vertical bands. The background’s graphic rhythm contrasts with the expressive chaos of the flowers, heightening their vitality. Ellis’s brushwork is raw and instinctive, creating blooms that feel both playful and slightly unruly, as though threatening to burst from the canvas. The title underscores his characteristically witty take on traditional subject matter, grounding the piece in everyday reality while elevating it through colour and painterly dynamism.

Ellis, a British multi-media artist based in Bristol, is renowned for his fearless experimentation across oils, spray paints, charcoals and printmaking. His early works conveyed raw angst and intensity, but more recently he has tempered this with wit, originality and a contemporary edge. By reinterpreting still life through bold palettes and loose mark-making, Ellis challenges conventions, bringing a rebellious energy to a genre often associated with refinement and restraint. I can’t afford these encapsulates his instinctive approach, balancing humour with technical skill to create something both modern and timeless.