Monday 10 May 2010

The Happy Tulip

The Happy Tulip


As most of you will know I have a real love of flowers and nature. You will also know if you have read my other blog that I have been spending some time away in my new caravan this weekend. On Saturday evening I went for a short walk with my wife son and daughter in law. Hey had come to visit and see the new van.


Louise has just volunteered to help in the Scouts working with the younger children. As we walked she began to ask me about the various trees we were passing. How you could remember the different types and the names. She has to be able to show the youngsters, trees, flowers and birds.

I was in my element, and she also seemed to be enthusiastic. As we walked I told her of my father and how he had instilled in me a passion for wildlife .I told her how I knew every tree bird and flower by name, as he shared his passion with me.

He also made up stories of the characters of the trees and the flowers. I believed every word he said, as you do. Soon different trees and plants took on a character of their own.

He grew flowers and showed them at floral shows. He always spoke of tulips as happy smiling flowers. So as I wrote today of the happy Chinaman my thoughts did go back to him and his happy tulips.

So here is one of my very very early attempts at painting a happy tulip. I painted it in acrylic. It was never shown to anybody and to this day it is in a cupboard out of sight. I will not paint over it because it was a first and it does have happy connections.



I return home today so hope to catch up on your blogs I have so missed reading them.






This blog is linked to my other where I tell the story of the happy Buddha:- The Happy Chinaman

8 comments:

  1. That tulip does look very jolly, Ralph! xx

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  2. I love that rich background, Ralph!

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  3. Now I know why your flowers have such character ! My mother instilled in me, what you have written, your father did.... all the information about them - just through the love of gardening.

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  4. Hi Ralph,
    Please release this lovely painting from the cupboard. It's rich with color, design, and of course personality. Great job Ralph.

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  5. Thank you for stopping by my blog, this is fantastic, the second tulip painting ive seen seen on a blog today, perhaps its time i take the time to mine. Love the bright yellows.
    Melanie

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  6. Hi Ralph,
    Il serait dommage de peindre par-dessus cette belle tulipe qui nous sourit... Vous avez eu beaucoup de chance d'avoir été bercé par les connaissances qu'avait votre père...
    La tulipe que vous avez peint est fantastique, son jaune lumineux l'habille si bien... elle est généreuse...
    Amitiés.

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  7. Time for this painting to see the light of day!

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  8. Very HAPPY tulip indeed!! I hope you keep it out where it can be seen and enjoyed ... and bring back the lovely memories - it is just beautiful, Ralph. I love flowers and nature too - this is so pretty!

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