Two of my earlier paintings, “Special Guest” and “Surprise”, have been in my private collection since 2009. They are the 2nd and 3rd artworks in my journey to reach 100 paintings. Both are now on display for purchase at Boyd-Dunlop Gallery in Napier.
Special Guest
2 Special guest Oil on canvas: 96 x 109 cm; 37.7 x 42.9 in
Not everything is as it seems with our flowers; according to several scientific reports, the calla lily is not a true lily, and this flower has a great back story.
In the language of flowers, calla lilies mean “beauty.” The name derives from the Greek word for beauty, kallos. This flower is also associated with faithfulness and purity.
The legend behind this meaning is that a man was in love with a woman who rejected him because he could not provide her with wealth or status. He proved his unwavering devotion by waiting for her outside her window daily, holding a single white calla lily to her as she passed by.
In ancient Greece, These flowers represented both death and resurrection. The Greeks would cut the stems from the ground, dip them into the water and place them in jars as they passed away. They believed that their souls would be carried by the flowers back to paradise when they died.
So what’s really in the box?
Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Surprise
3 surprise Oil on canvas: 96 x 120 cm; 37.4 x 47.2 in
Language can come in many forms. Although the most common way is through words, we also use body language and eye contact to express our feelings to others. Flowers have a language all their own, especially roses. Did you know that this classic flower can represent different feelings based on its colour? So, if you want to communicate love and not friendship—or vice versa—it’s best to know the various rose colour meanings so that your message comes through loud and clear.
Yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy. They are also used to represent feelings associated with warmth, delight, gladness, caring, and affection. In the Victorian era, yellow roses were used to communicate jealousy.
In the picture, why is the woman turning away from the man? Why are the roses yellow and not red. Did the same person bring the flowers and the ring, or are the flowers a symbolic reply to the ring?
Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.
