Joyous Abandonment

by Beverley Harper Tinsley

Title

Joyous Abandonment

Artist

Beverley Harper Tinsley

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

This vividly colored watercolor is part of a series of lilies painted en plein air, on the same April day. What better way to celebrate a gorgeous spring day, and the feeling of joyous abandonment it encourages, than to paint outdoors in the fresh air. Lilies are some of my favorite flowers. I love the stunning colors, star shaped form and dangling, waving pollinating parts, spicy scent, strong buds like weird bird heads........the entire elegant crazy flower.
*****
This painting is one colorful and bold abstract party of a flower, in seasonal shades of pink, red, orange, yellow and green, with some blue and violet background. I hope you find it as fresh and inviting, and admittedly messy as an early spring day in Colorado.
*****
Lilium (members of which are true lilies) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though their range extends into the northern subtropics. Many other plants have "lily" in their common name but are not related to true lilies.
*****
Lilies are tall perennials ranging in height from 2�6 ft (60�180 cm). They form naked or tunicless scaly underground bulbs which are their overwintering organs. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found. Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are deeply buried, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out adventitious roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb.
*****
The flowers are large, often fragrant, and come in a range of colours including whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. The plants are late spring- or summer-flowering. Flowers are borne in racemes or umbels at the tip of the stem, with six tepals spreading or reflexed, to give flowers varying from funnel shape to a "Turk's cap". The tepals are free from each other, and bear a nectary at the base of each flower. The ovary is 'superior', borne above the point of attachment of the anthers. The fruit is a three-celled capsule.
*****
Seeds ripen in late summer. They exhibit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climates.
*****
Naturally most cool temperate species are deciduous and dormant in winter in their native environment. But a few species which distribute in hot summer and mild winter area (Lilium candidum, Lilium catesbaei,Lilium longiflorum) lose leaves and remain relatively short dormant in Summer or Autumn ,sprout from Autumn to winter, forming dwarf stem bearing a basal rosette of leaves until accept enough chilling requirement, the stem begins to elongate while warming.
*****
According to http://www.whats-your-sign.com/lily-meaning.html
Greek lore associates lily meaning with birth and it is asymbol for motherhood because the flower was said to be created from the breast milk of Hera.
*****
As the story goes, Zeus wanted Hercules (his son born from an extra-marital affair) to become a god. One way of doing this was to have him suckle at the breast of his wife, Hera. Zeus invoked the god of sleep, Somnus, to put Hera in a deep slumber while he enticed Hercules to suck at her bosom. He did this so vigorously that the milk overflowed. That which flowed heaven-wards became the Milky Way, and the milk that flowed to the earth turned into a white lily.
*****
Contrarily, the lily also hold masculine qualities as the Greeks held the lily as a symbol of high eroticism and sexuality (the long pistil of the flower suggesting a phallus and the pollen symbolizing fertility).
*****
Old wives tales suggest telling the sex of an unborn child by using a rose and a lily. All one need do is approach an expectant mother with a lily in one hand and a rose in the other. If the mother chooses the rose, it will be a girl. If she picks the lily, it will be a boy (again, referencing the long pistil as a masculine feature).
*****
In alchemical symbolism lily meaning is associated with lunar and feminine qualities.
*****
Christians hold the lily as a symbol of chastity, innocence, purity and piety. In early Christian art the white lily is symbolic of the "Madonna" as the flower is associated with the virgin Mary. It is typically depicted in a vase or held by Gabriel in Annunciation paintings.
*****
Moreover, the parts of the lily have specific religious signficance to the Virgin Mary:
The stem of the lily symbolizes Mary's religiously faithful mind
Lily petals represent her Mary's purity and virginity
The scent of the flower represents Mary's divinity
The leaves leaves signify her humility.
With its three petals, the lily is often considered a trinity symbol, holding the representation of three virtues: Charity, Hope and Faith.
*****
Another reference to the lily's trinity-like nature is found in Byzantium and France where the lily sometimes identified with the Fleur-de-lys. Each protrusion of the motif is symbolic of 1) royalty, 2) prosperity and 3) expanse.
*****
In symbolic dreams, lily meaning deals with the sanctity of the heart, elegance and a need for clarity or cleansing. If the dreamer is looking at a lily it is a message of encouragement & chance of success in an endeavor looks very good. If one is dreaming of holding a lily, it indicates he/she is highly respected by others. If the dreamer is throwing or tossing a lily aside, it is a message that he/she has been abusing his/her power.
*****
Dreaming of lilies could mean the time is right to act upon a long-thought upon plan. Further, it indicates that we are coming into a fuller integration of ourselves and developing personal balance. It is also a sign that we are seeking rest, peace and tranquility.
*****
In esoteric and mystery teachings, lily meaning s include:
Development
Growth
Progress
Freedom
Purity
Specifically, we see the lily in several Tarot cards,namely the Magician card, Temperance card, and the Ace of Pentacles card (in traditional Rider-Waite deck renditions).
*****
In the symbolic language of the Tarot, the lily also holds symbolism of purity, innocence and fertility. Additionally, the lily symbolizes vulnerability, and the freedom to be ourselves, as well as allowing others to be as they are too. The lily is a symbolic flower of health and provision. In a reading, the lily can signal growth, development, and a quality of innocence in our lives. Depending on the surrounding cards, the lily may also indicate new relationships and births.
*****
Original matted and framed. Email artist for photos.

Uploaded

April 4th, 2013

Statistics

Viewed 1,399 Times  -  Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/19/2024 at 12:35 PM

Colors

Embed

Share

Sales Sheet

Tags