Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Spider Mum - SOLD

Back in the studio at last! My sick patient is on the mend. So...a spider mum from class last week. I just looked up their meaning and got a few surprises, one being in the U.S. they are also known as "Football Mums" because they appear so frequently in homecoming corsages. Who knew? If you talked about a "Football Mum" in Canada I think the florist would be completely confused and maybe just give you a giant globe mum? Any florists out there who can give us the scoop? 
I always used to associate mums with funerals and disliked them for that reason, but now I've come to appreciate them. And especially spider mums. I find them quite beautiful in their structure and wonderfully showy. Apparently in the States they also convey "elope with me" (romantic!) and are said to impart a bohemian style to wedding bouquets. But, in Europe they represent death and are placed in funeral arrangements. Well, we are part of the Commonwealth but I thought that was a universally North American thing. Again, anyone know? I also learned that they (well, chrysanthemums) are the national flower of Japan and are celebrated at their "Festival of Happiness". Perhaps my favourite fact was that NASA states they are toxin removers: they are reported to remove 61% of formaldehyde in their environment.
6" x 6" / oil on panel / SOLD

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really love the depth you created in this one, Kim. Not an easy flower to paint, I'm sure. Lovely job!

E

Unknown said...

This is a lovely painting of one of my favorite mums. I grew up in Japan and chrysanthemums were quite common especially the "football" mums. I thought they were called that because of their large ball like shaped but when I worked in a flower shop when I moved to the States, I learned it was traditional to wear during the big Homecoming week for the school football season. My other favorite mums are pom pom and daisy mums. Its interesting to learn about different traditions in different countries.

Carrie Waller Watercolors said...

Very cool painting!!! Love the shadow:)

martinealison said...

Même sans toutes ces précieuses informations on ne peut qu'apprécier cette fleur si bellement peinte... les reflets sont parfaits ainsi que ce petit vase carré ... et cette "maman araignée" tourne bien...
J'aime son nom comme ça !
Bisous

Mary Anne Cary said...

This is great Kim. I have wanted to try one of these for a while, but I don't think I could do as well!

SUSAN RODEN said...

Very nice Kim!
Love the impasto and shadow.

Celeste Bergin said...

Yep. The Mothers of important players wore them to our football games...it was tradition. You did an outstanding job on this--looks like it would have been a big challenge!

carol morgan carmichael said...

Interesting information on the various uses and meanings for mums. Your mum painting is great. Love the color choices.

Debbi Smith Rourke said...

Fabulous! Had to stop and comment. Just lovely.

suzanneberry said...

an incredible painting and very informative post!! i had no idea about any of the facts you shared!i especially love the texture of the spider "legs" and that incredible splash of that deep aqua shadow on the left. with the hint of green in the middle of the mum it ties the painting together just beautifully kim. i love this on so many levels and appreciate the information! glad your patient is on the mend.

Virginia Floyd said...

Being from Texas, where Friday Night High School Football is the national sport, I know about "football mums". Girls wear them for the homecoming game. But they also wear them to school that day. It's a prestige thing, and the more ribbons and decorations on the corsage, the more points they get. They can be quite elaborate.