Daizy
Subject: Morphology on spent Michaelmas daisies
The concept behind these watercolour painting is to define the anatomy of a spent flower. Now setting seed, the older flower no longer draws the same attention as it once did. Mc Dermott asks us what do we know about plants? She reflects on what has been planted in our consciousness verses our deep experience of plants. These paintings derives from microscopic studies of Michaelmas daisies. With Mc Dermott’s detailed paintings and drawings of everyday flowers, not in high bloom but on the wane, her hope is that we re-see beyond our prejudices, an image of something unfamiliar: unfamiliar because the flower in her paintings are both magnified and spent, an unfamiliar combination for the viewer. Mc Dermott watercolour paintings are botanically correct showing the structure and function of plants at a scale that a bee may observe.
02/02/2015
Project: Daizy | Title - Serenity
The first of a series of seven botanical illustration to identify the subject of a spent Asteraceae amellus (Michaelmas daisy). The paintings show the centre of the spent flower crammed with opening florets, packed full with enormous energy and forcing the structure of the flower head into a concertina movement while appearing to be motionless.
Dimension 30h x 30w cm Scale 1/16. Year 2015.
Project: Daizy | Title - Capacity
A water colour painting of a magnified Asteraceae amellus (Michaelmas daisy). The title was influenced by the way the flower has just started to become ‘spent’ in its own quiet and calm way.
Dimension 30x30w cm, Scale 1/16. Year 2015.
Project: Daizy | Title: Blooming
The title for this painting derived from a sense that this is the second blooming that a flower transpires into as this is the stage when the pappus appear and start to open up as if another flower is to emerge. Material - Water colour painting of a Michaelmas daisy.
Dimension 30x30 cm | Scale 1/14 | Year 2014
Project: Daizy | Title - Primal
The title comes from this particular flower having its own primal aura. Spent flowers are often overlooked to the point where they are discarded and yet each spent flower changes into its own unique character. Medium, water colour painting.
Dimension 30x30cm . Scale 1/17. Year 2013
Project: Daizy | Title: Deliverance
The above watercolour painting of a spent Michaelmas daisy with its ray of seeds held together by the pressure of the plumed (parachute structure) seed that is in the process of being released. The title refers to the achievement of completion. Dimension 30x30 cm |Scale 1/14 | Year 2015
Project: Daizy | Title - Laiden
The above painting shows how spent flowers mature into a realm of physical development. The flower’s sole purpose changes after fertilisation to the importance of new life, held within the seed. Laiden is the urban spelling for laden referring to the heady dusting of the pollen as well as a beautiful and unique female with ambition. Medium water colour painting.
Dimension 30x30 cm | Scale 1/18 | Year 2014
Project: Daizy : Title: Initial
The above watercolour painting of a spent Asteraceae amellus (Michaelmas daisy), shows the initial flower that started the whole project of spent Michaelmas. It was this flower that provided inspiration for the artist to paint this specific period of a flower’s life rather than paint the flower in full bloom. Dimension 30x30 cm | Scale 1/17 | Year 2013
Title - Serenity
Title - Capacity
Title - Primal
Title: Blooming
Title - Laiden
Title: Initial
Title: Deliverance