The film The Wizard of Oz is again my inspiration for my latest work Dorothy in the Deadly Poppy Field. The poppy is a distinctive red flower which is immediately recognisable. It is a symbol of remembrance of the sacrifice of soldiers’ lives given on the battlefield. It is also a flower associated with narcotics.
Preliminary drawing
Applying watercolour over the ink wash
I gave the paper a wash of red ink but the colour looked pink. I thought I would try watercolour as this would create the delicate fluidity of the flower petals and also I could mix the exact hue I had planned. I had not used watercolours in a long time and was pleasantly surprised by the intense colour I achieved when painting the poppies.
Dorothy in the Deadly Poppy Field
Detail showing the fly on Dorothy’s hand
The poppies are a poignant symbol of death and create a feeling of unease when seen with a body. Dorothy’s pose and features are human, yet she could be mistaken for a doll. I have purposely drawn her doll like to add to the feeling of the uncanny I am trying to create. This link to the animate and inanimate crosses the boundaries between life and death. The inclusion of a fly is a symbol that she is either a victim or a perpetrator. I want the viewer to have something to think about and fill in the gaps to the story.
