Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Illustration Friday: Launch


An alien spacecraft preparing to launch?

Nope, it's a passion flower, easily the most exotic plant in my yard, and certainly one of my favorites. And "launch" it does, believe me—I'm constantly hacking back the vines and ripping out new shoots that spring up all over my garden. I have two slightly different varieties in my yard, and both grow like weeds. Better than weeds. It's indestructible. You can't kill it. Hmmm, maybe it is an alien life form after all...

As one might expect from a bloom this intriguing, the passion flower, or passiflora, has quite a bit of lore and legend attached to it. Its name comes from the Passion of Christ, as Spanish missionaries saw all kinds of symbolism in it, which you can read about here . In cultures where Catholicism isn't as widespread, it is sometimes called the clock flower (although there are 10 not 12 petals) or the Maypop—its hollow fruit pops open when you squeeze it.

While fascinating to look at, it's a bit of a challenge to draw. The flower doesn't last long, and closes when the light fades. I intend to try this one again, and hope to show the beautiful vines and leaves, the different stages of the bloom, and the fruit. In the meantime, check out some of these amazing photos...rather bizarre, but so beautiful!

29 comments:

  1. Really beautiful! Here in Brazil we have various kinds of passifloras but the most common is the kind we make juices. Very calming and exotic!
    Ana from Brazil.

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  2. It's a beauty. I was looking through your art work and it is al beautiful.

    It is amazing that you also had a cockatiel named Sunshine! Small world for sure. We sure enjoy our bird.

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  3. haha it does look like an alien spacecraft. beautiful rendering! ♥

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  4. Beautiful illustration! I also have these growing at my house all of a sudden.... must have been birds that planted them : ) and they are growing wild!

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  5. OH my goodness, this is a beautiful illustration, Sarah! They really do look like aliens..fascinating! I hope never to get them in our yard though from the sound of their tenaciousness. Thank you so much for your lovely visit..I sometimes wonder if my kiddos think I'm a bit loopy or what, but if I get an, "Ohhhh..that's cute!" or "awww", then that's a good sign. : ) I had fun with the animation..thank goodness for photoshop! Hope you're having a wonderful day..it's gorgeous out here!!

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  6. Nice creativity of the word prompt! This is one of my favorite flowers--lovely drawing.

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  7. Beautiful passion flower! It does look a bit alienish, though, now that you mention it.

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  8. Stunning color and precision on this!
    So technical yet so very beautiful--and so very well done!

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  9. Oooo wow Sarah. Absolutely gorgeous!

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  10. You are the master! Nice work. The color is lovely, everything pops and yes, truly looks alien...like mosquitoes. We must be on the same wave. Tee hee.

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  11. I really love this, one of my favourite flowers too...if only because they look so alien! Good choice.

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  12. Very nice Sarah. Passion flowers are one of my very favorites as well. Beautiful!

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  13. Ditto, what everyone else said, beautiful, though I don't think I've seen one of these before, either growing or 'landing' in my yard.

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  14. Wow.Beautiful drawings through out! Thanks for your comment.

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  15. Hi Sarah.
    I haven't stopped by for a looong time.
    This flower is truly from a different galaxy! I looked at the photos and just gasped!
    I am going to attempt to draw it too. It's wonderful and intriguing and makes one want stare at it over and over.
    Beautiful drawing!! :)
    Have a great summer!

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  16. OOOh! Nice work, especially the botanicals!

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  17. This is lovely! The colors are dazzling.

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  18. Very nice drawings! Impossible not to love them!

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  19. You did such a great rendering of this flower. They are so delicate and you certainly captured that look.

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  20. Congratulations with the 'launch' of this lovely drawing.
    Paula

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  21. Your work is really gorgeous! I had never seen this pretty flower before, really exotic and you did a great job with soft texture and variety of vivid colors :)

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  22. Beautifully done.
    Sue

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  23. The flower is such a lively vibrant purple, yet the passion flower is also used in natural remedies for restful sleeping.

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  24. I LOVE your drawing! You captured the alien-like detail of the passion flower beautifully! I grew up with these flowers. I loved them, but my dad hated them because they grew like weeds and choked the jasmine that was trying to grow on the trellis next to it. Even so I always thought they were gorgeous and so incredibly unusual. I used to think that God must have been in a silly mood when he created these flowers because it looks like He threw everything but the kitchen sink into their design. Great job! :0)

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  25. An absolutely beautiful drawing, I wished I could draw something like that on my lunch.

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