An orange is a simple thing. About 500 years ago it was a delicacy, a treat for a special occasion, a treasure from an exotic land. And now our world is full of complications, from arranged schedules to highly orchestrated career paths. We long for the romance of a simpler time.

Escape to a wharf from long ago. Imagine a merchant vessel heavily laden sailing from the sun-kissed shores, the air thick with citrus fragrance. She embarks on a dangerous journey braving treacherous storms arriving in ports subsisting on salted meats, beans, and molasses.

Life was difficult. Disease, lack of clean water, and the scarcity of food brought the specter of Death uncomfortably close, yet the beauty and passion expressed through the art forms of this period are unmistakable and still resonate today. The next time you slice open an orange, breathe deeply and treasure the luscious fruit encapsulating warmth and sunshine. You are fortunate indeed.

Daniel's compelling paintings will be on view at Furman, Gregory, Deptula in Biddeford through July 7.

The law office is one of the venues for the Saco Biddeford Art Walk scheduled for June 26, 2015 5-8 p.m.