There are No Weeds (spiderworts) © Morri (SOLD)
acrylic on canvas (click on image to enlarge)
I promised to post this for a fellow artist and new friend….we seem to have some similar interests. I don’t know if you can really see the flowers in the piece, but they are spiderworts which are considered weeds. They grow wild on the island and are usually over looked…upon close examination they are quite beautiful! I also found out they are edible and that native Americans used them for medicinal purposes. Plants get labeled weeds…who determines what’s a weed? The labels change too…for example, I believe “beauty berries” were once considered weeds..now they are sold at nurseries. I don’t believe there are any weeds…but that comes from one that finds roadside thistles beautiful (in some of my pieces too). So my statement is just my humble opinion. …and if people were to be labeled as such…count me among the weeds.
This still life is from things found in the old 1880 house we are renovating on Drayton Island. (most are from the attic). I fell in love with the old cracked pitcher, shell, little antique bottles, empty picture frame, and the old mantel that it all sits on. The night I painted this it was a very cold windy night (especially for Florida). The cold wind was fiercely blowing through the broken window in the upstairs bedroom where this fireplace is located. I will never forget painting it because it was a little spooky up there by myself…and I kept hearing a squeaking sound. I was one heartbeat away from running down the stairs to where my husband and our dog Ringo were, when I realized the squeaking was of my own making…I had on a beloved pair of very old overalls and every time I moved the buckles would squeak. Once again my over active imagination got the best of me….I will never forget working on that painting though. Sort of a rustic en plein air painting…but done indoors.
This painting was sold…and I regret that I did not have prints made. I am wondering if I can do so from the images I have. I think I have slides of it.
I will try to write more later.
From within my circle…to yours and beyond…I wish you peace.
Until later then…
in love, light, and laughter,
~gypsy-he♥rt (morri)
*Post note: My printer did shoot it, so we will be making prints…including one for me to hang in that bedroom. :)
~♥♥~
thank you for posting this. It is a wonderful painting. I love the strrong yellow background. It is alive….the empty frame with the vase of spiderworts almost in it…..genius.
Suz
This really speaks to me -simple & rustic is my thing.
have you ever illustrated a poem? If you ever want to use any of mine as inspiration, you’re more than welcome!
I think you would like my new poem:
http://94stranger.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/poem-i-grieve-a-slow-green-england/
Can I write a poem on one of your images, if the mood takes me and I find a suitable cadidate?
take care
94S
You were right…I do like your poem. I commented on your blog about it too.
It makes me so happy when one of my pieces “speaks to someone”…that is what it is all about for me.
I have not illustrated a poem…though the thought appeals to me…I seem to always have many thoughts and fragments of poems swirling around in my heart…unlike you, I struggle to compose them on paper…..so I try to reveal them with my brushes, charcoal, collages (gessoed memories I call them), etc. You can see some of them on my web site. Sometimes, we go to dark places and those must be released too.
I would be honored for you to write a poem using one of my images.
Thanks again…you have made me happy.
As a long time dandelion supporter and seed disperser (even as an old fart, I enjoy puffing the seeds off the stems) I totally agree, there are NO weeds!
:)
I like this painting! The bright yellow is one of those “timeless” shades that never grow old – and the pieces in front of it evoke memories of sunny days spent outdoors – at the beach, in the woods, or even just in the yard or on the front porch in the rocking chair.
The brown glass jar brings back memories for me. My mom collects colored glass and displayed them in her huge picture window for years. I would find bottles in the ruins of barn cellars or along the creeks and she’d wash them up and put them in the window… Ah.. the good ol’ days…
Hi… me again… LOL, I took a dandelion break I guess…
I wanted to ask if you had ever had prints made of the painting from the slides/photographs?
Also, thanks for the book recommendation. I’ll locate a copy to read -
Good evening Iggy!
Thank you for your sweet and inspiring comments.
A dandelion supporter..eh? Me too. I am learning about edible “weeds” and that is one of them.
Dandelion flowers and leaves are supposed to be quite good. Have you ever tried it..I am going to do so. I also found out they make a delicious wine.
Funny you should ask about the prints. I am supposed to go to my printer on Thursday to have prints made of Whiskers, of 2. I emailed him last week inquiring again about doing prints from the slides I have of this piece and a few others that I sold without them shot. He thinks he can do it. He did the slides so they are good images.
Anyway, I need a print made of this piece for someone..but also I would like one for myself to hang in the old house. All the things in it mean something to me from that place.
You are right..it is like the good ‘ole days. I love old bottles too..especially tiny ones..which this one was. The shell is from the land there..it is an Indian shell mound. The bluff is made from shells they discarded.
Spiderworts are blooming there now too. :) Interesting thing..my new guru dog (that we finally named Amber) was eating them and at first I tried to make her stop and then I remembered they are medicinal. Animals are amazing aren’t they?
Well, I hope you see this. If so email me and let me know.
Namaste’, my friend, and
may all your dandelion wishes come true!!
~gypsy-heart
Ha ha. Such a simple story but with a profound message. I know most of my fears are of my own making. Beautiful, beautiful painting. Makes me want to see that old home and the attic.