Yellow Lilies "Qi-Li" at Arley Herbaceous Border

Yellow Lilies "Qi-Li" at Arley Herbaceous Border is quite an accomplishment for me! It's opened a new door in terms of composition - freeing me from the more formal setups I had previously been using. It also displays a very dynamic play of light which is a big new step for me. I hope you enjoy!

Qi, or chi, is the concept of essential flow which is central to Taoism. 'Li' is a new concept for me - it is, in fact, the complement to chi. Where chi is the flow, and perhaps the female aspect of creation, li refers to the endlessly varying, multitudinous patterns formed by chi - ergo the structure of the universe - the orderly male aspect. So I've combined qi with li to form a sacred covenant similar to that embodied in the Seal of Solomon, the Square and Compass, the Yin Yang, and any other symbol, agreement, or harmonious function. Qi-li is pertinent to this painting in that it shows a semi-ordered chaos of jutting flowers in front of myriad leaves and stalks going in every direction.

Dedicated to Caron Flitcroft.

Check out this video I did of me glazing: