White Poppy

"White Poppy" 4" x 4" Pastel on gessoed hardboard

I shot a field of poppies at the Botanic Gardens in April, including closeups of many of them. This was one of the closeups of a white whose shadows appeared to be violet.  

A spring flower appealed to me tonight while I paint all bundled up in polar fleece, a beret on my head and thick wool socks. Winter is officially upon us with temperatures in the low single digits.  

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Papaver Nudicaule

"Papaver Nudicaule" 10" x 10" Oil on hardboard

My lavender poppy had opened during the first light a few mornings prior, and this was her final hour — the end of what had been a beautiful run.  She was bulbous when she first appeared, but svelte petals unfolded, revealing her gorgeous center.  Tonight would be her final appearance. She'd drop her seeds and become a fertile memory to those who had known her in her prime.

This was actually painted from a photo of a white papaver that I found early in the spring at the Botanic Gardens. I wanted to paint it while poppies were in bloom, but something else auditioned and won.   So here she is in July, none the worse for wear.

Carol

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