The mysterious forms at the heart of flowers are fascinating to me. This illustration is of the reproductive parts of a tulip (Tulipa sp.) from my front garden.
I included a few of the imaginary figures inspired by my observations of these and other natural forms. Three-part forms are very important to human symbology, representing everything from past-present-future, to father-mother-child. The triskelion – the three-part figure found in many places including the coat of arms of the Isle of Man – is explained by the phrase ‘whithersoever you throw it, it will stand’. As lovely a summary of natural adaptation as any I’ve encountered. Watercolour, colour pencil, & acrylic, 12″x12″. ©Kathryn Chorney