Funny how you look back on work and think 'OH MY GOODNESS!'. This painting is one of those. The handling of the face seems clumsy now...But I still relate to the symbolism it contains. I painted it about 12 years ago. It is of me holding flowers in the garden just after my Dad died of cancer. The painting itself is very large. About 1 metre by 2 metres. It was more of a contemplation about life and how life 'morph's' and changes in subtle ways over our life time. The sunflowers were reminiscent of my time with my first husband. I have strong memories of riding through central Turkey on mopeds amongst vast fields of sunflowers. I remember feeling a sense of freedom and promise that I could achieve whatever I wanted with my life. The Necklace was given to me by my second husband. I loved the way it felt on my skin....wire and cold stones. I liked how it encircled me and sat near my throat...symbolising how he was giving me 'voice' to be who I wanted to be. The foxgloves are a beautiful flower but contain deadly poisons ....so all is not pretty below the surface in the garden.
Dad struggled all his life with trusting in his creativity and I think in the end his lack of faith in himself consumed him. The foxgloves symbolize to me that double edged sword of creativity...it can be a very positive trait or a negative trait.
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