lily-of-the-valley

The beauty of lily-of-the-valley struck me for its graceful shape and the tiny, bell-shaped flowers. I’d chosen it as a subject for my drawings many times before I did a fact-check: all parts of this plant are terribly poisonous! A funny coincidence is that it has many other names associated with ’tears’, which also the literal meaning of my first name in Vietnamese. Then I told myself, “why not make this as a twist in a painting!” – find a way to switch the negative visual interpretation of a word to something more positive.⠀
Having tears stream down your face doesn’t mean you are weak, it’s a part of the healing journey. I’m not sure if anyone wants to think of themselves as a poisonous flower, but if it is for a good reason to defend yourself throughout hardship, be one. ⠀
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“Through tears, I will bloom”🌷⠀
(or at least I’ve been telling myself that repeatedly).⠀