Many Faces of a Sunflower

What appeared to me first as a heart-shaped sunflower photographed at Selbyville, Delaware has evolved into a flower of many different faces. This... more

by Bill Swartwout

Title

Many Faces of a Sunflower

Artist

Bill Swartwout

Medium

Photograph - Digital Art Photography

Description

What appeared to me first as a heart-shaped sunflower photographed at Selbyville, Delaware has evolved into a flower of many different faces. This is, of course, a reflection of a sunflower achieved in post process editing. I had a vision in mind and initially saw the heart and/or a face of some sort. I asked several artist colleagues to help me write a title for this piece and was surprised at what they saw within.

An initial suggestion was "Imagined" because of what can be imagined within the many shapes and colors. Yes, I imagine many of these can apply...along with "Taking Flight." Of course, some saw what I saw and called it a "Heart-Shaped Sunflower" or a "Sunflower Heart."

Two artists immediately saw a face and suggested "The Face of a Sunflower" - and then it began to get interesting because the "faces" seemed to attract more specific attention.

"Teotihuacan Sunflower Faces" were seen in each of the two faces - the smaller, green, face above the larger, yellow, face actually does have some resemblance to the ancient stone mask/face carvings of the Holy City of Teotihuacan built between the 1st and 7th centuries in Mexico. For those familiar with the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan may see a strong resemblance to Samurai art and design within the intricacies of the sunflower petals, stem and leaves. Hence the "Samurai Sunflower" might apply. These images could also be akin to an ancient warrior or tribesman, giving rise to titles such as "Warrior Chieftain" or "Sunflower Warrior."

There may also be a lion's mane crowning the center of the flower or even a tribal mask , such as the American Indian Kachinas. Among other titling possibilities are: A Prideful Flower or Crown (play on lion's pride), Lionsface, A Flower's Roar, Flower Chieftain, Sun's Flower Kachina, Tribal Spiritflower, Tribal Petals, Of the Tribe Helianthus (the sunflower's Genus), The Face Bee-fore Me, Birth of the Phoenix, or...

"Do You See My Inner Beauty?"

What do YOU see within this image? Where might you display it in your home and just how would you describe it to family and friends?

Uploaded

July 28th, 2015