Submerged flowers - Black magic and warfare Print

Part of my new project for 2024, called Transience, where I am exploring the circle of life and imperfect beauty through plants, by attempting to capture the fleeting, transcient moments in time/life using the 4 elements. For each flower or plant I delve into its history, associated Folklore and myths, meanings and uses to build up a personality of the flower. I then create images based on some of the information, using the psychology and meanings of colours to support the story, as well as other techniques such as different applications of liquid mediums or smoke etc. Blackthorn has been heavily associated with witches and magic in the UK and Europe. Some witches were said to have staffs or broomsticks made from Blackthorn, which could fly. Also it was said that witches has the Devils mark from pricks on their fingers from Blackthorn. Blackthorn has been linked to warfare and death as well as strength through adversity. I chose the colours red , white and black for its black bark, white flowers and red sap, but also because these colours represent much of what is connected through their folklore. White for an ethereal magical look, black for connections with death, red for warfare.