Some of you might know that I'm interested in the 'language of the flowers' -- I like to know what a flower means before I gift it to anybody.

A few days after Sept 11th, 2001 I painted a woman with forget-me-nots (true love/memories) entwined through her hair and around her neck. I gave pansies (for remembrance) to Ross and his mother after the death of their beloved family dog.

Last night I lite a candle in memory of those who lost their lives in the Bali bomb blasts and I was inspired to paint a white poppy. Up until today I thought white poppies symbolised peace, today I searched online and it seems the common meaning of a while poppy is this:

Poppy (White):  Consolation (Poppy is the floral sign of consolation probably because it was created by Ceres while in search of her daughter, Prosperpine, to assuage her grief).

White Poppy

In memory to the hundreds of people who lost their lives in the Bali Bomb Blasts, Oct 2002.
(Acrylic on A3 Arches 300gsm Rough.)

There is believed to be between 150 - 200 Australians and up to 60 New Zealanders still missing, feared dead - I specifically dedicate this poppy to the parents of those children.