I have been enjoying my walks (and occasional runs) around our local fields. I’m sure it’s rather cliché to say that i’ve been feeling inspired and rather challenged by the landscape. But seeing as my work usually involves some form of architecture or man-made structure… it’s strange to find myself attempting simpler colour studies of nature. Here’s another for my little collection of #SmallSeason paintings; following the Japanese micro seasons guide and embracing changes as the year progresses. This time I found a splash of red, featuring the poppy fields of the Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire.
Sowing the Fields
Bōshu 芒種 falls around June 6 on the modern calendar. In Japan the name refers to the time of year when it is best to plant cereals such as barley and wheat whose seeds grow bristle-like appendages known as “awns” or “beards”. Here in the UK the first poppies start to bloom in the field boundaries. The lush greens of Spring are suddenly taken over with the vibrant reds, sun yellows and snow-drift whites of seasonal wild flowers.
Emerging Poppies
Embedded below is a quick tour around the details of the 30 x 30cm painting. Completed with acrylic and ink on canvas. I have painted the frame white, which felt like the right balance with the punchy greens and reds.
If you do want to see more of these seasonally inspired paintings, i’ll continue to post them here on my studio blog under the #smallseasons tag. Or find me over on facebook, twitter or instagram.
