Blood Oranges and Cut Citrus

Sliced blood oranges spread across the table in deep ruby reds and clear bands of pale juice. Whole oranges and lemons sit in blue-grey ceramic bowls, with a grapefruit cut open behind them. Green leaves and small white blossoms run through the fruit, tying the bright colors back to the branch near the window.

A wooden board holds the largest slices beside a plain kitchen knife, loose seeds and curls of peel. Juice has gathered in tiny red and amber drops on the cloth. The fruit gives you strong color groups to start with, but several oranges share the same round shape. Look for segment patterns, leaf veins, ceramic speckles and wood grain when the easy pieces are gone.