Melissa Tobia|Fine Artist: August 2009

FLOWER OF THE WEEK

"Fluidity"
Yellow Daffodil (Narcissus)
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Since I first discovered the daffodil flower this spring (I knew it existed before my flower painting frenzy) in the park I have been very fascinated with daffodils. Their beautiful color combinations, central trumpet, and the gracefulness of the petals. Right from the start this flower has begged me to paint it in pastels and in oils. Thanks to my SLR digital camera, I captured some interesting macros of this flower in bloom in late April.

Some interesting facts about daffofils... they are toxic to eat. Daffodils contain the alkaloid poison lycorine, mostly in the bulb but also in the leaves. Daffodils are part of the Narcissus gene and originate back to Greek mythology. One interesting myth is of a Greek youth so obsessed with his beauty that he fell into a pool while staring at his reflection and drowned. The Narcissus is perceived quite different in the east than the west. In the west, the narcissus is seen as a symbol of vanity. In China, the narcissus is seen as a symbol of wealth and good fortune. I myself never really looked at a daffodil in that way. I only considered it to be a very elegant and graceful flower, great to paint because of the interesting folds and the inside cup.

Current Reference for Pastel Painting,
pastels on charcoal paper; art to come soon

I am currently in the process of completing a pastel painting of the above reference (the white daffodil with the reddish cup). I am about 2/3's of the way done and hope to complete it shortly. I really was quite interested in this photograph as a reference because I liked the macro view and how the only part in focus is the central trumpet. To me, that makes the view almost three-dimensional.

Future Reference For An Oil Painting

When I first took the photo of the two daffodils together I knew that would make the perfect oil painting. I just love the fluidity and the relationship between the two daffodils, not the mention the colors!

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