Daffodils in a White Vase 1985

Charles Blackman made this painting, Daffodils in a White Vase, with oil on canvas. The colors feel like they’ve been pulled straight from a dream. There’s a kind of boldness in the way he lays down each stroke. The paint is so present, you can almost feel the texture of the canvas. Look at the handle of the vase—how it juts out, a playful curve against the dark backdrop. It’s like Blackman is saying, “Here’s a vase, but it’s also just paint, doing its thing.” The flowers, they’re not trying to be perfect, they’re just being themselves, a bit wild and untamed. The daffodils remind me of Matisse, with their bright yellows and oranges, but there’s also something uniquely Blackman about the raw, almost childlike quality. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes, to find beauty in the everyday, and to celebrate the messy, imperfect process of making art.