by Bobi Leutschaft Poitras

My mother died on October 2, 2019.  It took me a long time to paint flowers for her, a tradition I started when my brother died in 2015. This is the only one I’ve done on two canvases, to symbolize separation and irreconciliation in some areas of our relationship.  

She loved purple and she loved flowers.  It’s difficult to tell, but in the painting all the flower stems are in the vase on the canvas opposite their flowers. A disconnection in one way and a reach for each other in another way. The flowers are done in a new technique – I first scratched them out of the purple paint to reveal the colours beneath, then painted on top but leaving the scratches partly visible.  That’s how it was with us – we scratched the surface of things, painted them over, and were left with scars, complex and confusing.  

Anyway, here it is, Blumen für meine Mutter…

[Ed: See other Blumen by Bobi: 18Aug2020 and 22Nov2020.]

Collectif members, we want your work! Send images of work completed since March 2020 to cagac.ca@gmail.com with up to 100 words/image describing what you did, materials used, inspiration, etc. Maybe share how you’re feeling more than a year into the Covid world & how/if creativity helps. Give us informative, inspiring show & tell. Writers, send us poetry, lyrics, a short piece or excerpt and try to include a suitable illustration of some sort. Thank you!