Daffodils in a White Vase 1985

Charles Blackman’s ‘Daffodils in a White Vase’ emerges out of simple brushstrokes and bold choices of color. The dark brown background and blue tabletop feel so very grounding for the vibrant spring blooms. I can imagine Blackman in front of his easel with a brush full of paint, mixing, and pushing, trying to get the flowers just right. The vase of daffodils and roses sits in a kind of cozy, abstracted space. It's like Blackman is feeling his way through the painting. The brushstrokes of color give a sense of touch, of the physical act of painting. See the small marks of oranges and yellows, they vibrate like tiny suns. The roses are like these quiet, strong spots, too. And those wild green strokes, they pop and fizz, lifting your eye around the canvas. What does this painting say about the artist’s connection to the world? I can’t help but think about how painters are constantly in dialogue with one another, with the past, and with the act of image-making itself. What a gift it is to be invited into this conversation!