Passion

Acrylic on Canvas 28" x 22"
A cultivated poppy in a private garden near High Park inspired this painting. Traditionally the vibrant red poppy was a popular emblem of country life and summer’s richness. Fields of poppies were a favored scene of impressionist Claude Monet and the American artist, Georgia O’Keefe was also inspired by their beauty. She said “Nobody sees a flower, really, it is so small. We haven’t time – and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time.” I made a friend.

The poppy family includes many varieties of showy flowers. It can symbolize different things in different cultures. I didn’t look or think of the one I painted as a ‘delicate’ Remembrance Day poppy. I saw this one more like the ones described in Persian literature, as a flower of love - with its voluptuousness and richness of color depicting passion. They are often called the eternal lover flower.