The Book of the Homeless, edited by Edith Wharton in 1916, was a fundraising effort to help refugees and children in Europe during the First World War. It was Wharton’s idea to ask artists, writers and poets to contribute an original piece. At this time Wharton had already written nine novels and would go on to become the first female Pulitzer Prize winner, in 1921. Her literary success and influence allowed her to approach her good friend Henry James as well as Walter Gay, John Singer Sargent, Rupert Brooke, Thomas Hardy, Igor Stravinsky, WB Yeats, and 50 other writers and artists. In the same spirit, and inspired by a new book published by Rizzoli: Home: A Celebration, Notable Voices Reflect on the Meaning of Home, we asked contributors to share their interpretation of home, its meaning and importance. This week, artist Blaise Smith RHA …

My home is full of art, or more accurately things that are ready to be transformed into art. When I wander into the kitchen from the studio, objects are often left deliberately arranged on the kitchen table to attract my eye. These little traps are laid by my wife Orla [Kelly], an interiors and colour consultant. She deliberately makes little arrangements of fruit and vegetables that are co-ordinated, scheming both in colour and in motivation. Sometimes I take the bait, sometimes I don’t. But it is always food for thought.

Even the tabletop is periodically repainted in an “interesting” colour to set off a whole new range of combinations. Of course, the downside is that I take over the kitchen for a few days to paint the picture. My still life paintings are generally looking down at the objects, much more like you would actually see them, as you stand over them. This has the happy effect of making the ellipses more open so that pots and plates are more abstract circular shapes, more like a William Scott. And it gives a reassuring sense of space around them, solving the dilemma of showing the table top from the side, which can be a bit awkward.

These still life paintings are popular and allow us to occasionally indulge in buying an amazing teapot, or set of cups, like the ones we bought in the Gift Horse in Kilkenny, excusing the purchase on the basis that we will definitely make the money back on it. So we have a fairly eclectic set of cups in the cupboard. It makes for a nice colourful tea party. www.blaisesmith.com