Black Eye

Two starry sunflowers look back at you, each with a big black round eye at its center. That's what has always struck me about this flower — the dark circle in the middle seems less like a center than a single eye, as if the plant were quietly watching the world, and watching me.

So I drew it in pen and ink, black and white. No colour this time — no Monet lilies here. I work a flower the way an architect works a building, tracing its structure: petals, stamens, the geometry of the thing. The center holds your gaze, and it holds mine.

I don't think one drawing fully says it. Sunflowers will keep returning in my work; this fascination isn't finished.

My nature theme reduced to pure form, looking back at you. An original pen-and-ink drawing. Signed.

Jolanta