Sunflowers for my friend Ellen

Ellen, I had originally wanted to post photos of sunflowers for you as promised. When I found those photos I suddenly felt like painting. This is not my best rendition of sunflowers in acrylic. Not yet, but it does prove to you that I am who I am.

Sunflowers on a Hari Raya holiday

Passing by in a car, the driver and the other passenger would not have been pleased had I asked to be given some time to photograph these home-grown sunflowers at the roadside. Actually I was also mindful of cars behind us. So a quick wind-down of the window, just before our car made a right turn - snap! Not the best photo of sunflowers but the only one today.

Helianthus annuus - Sunflower

These robust-looking sunflowers were photographed up on Fraser's Hill in Malaysia. I have a life-long fascination for these flowers that hold the power of joyfulness. I see them very often in the gardens of people in Singapore and they grow up to a meter in height and very often I have been tempted to try my hand in growing them. I was told that they take a lot nutrients from the soil and once the plant is done with flowering, the soil is useless.

Instead of labouring on the planting of these admirable flowering plants, I have chosen instead to paint them. It also happens that my favourite artist is Van Gogh and I am much inspired by his paintings. This painting was laboured over a few months as my first effort in painting on my own. I may not have sunflowers in my garden but I have them on my wall.

Family: Asteraceae

Origin: America