"While darkness, fear and pessimism are an integral part of our world, creative arts can lift us to our higher selves and remind us that life is worth living." The words of painter Thomas Darnell are my own truth. Widow's Endorphins was born out of the gut-wrenching pain of loss. Flowers, floral photography, and the whole creative process are my natural pain and stress relievers. In other words, my endorphins.
When my Sister saw my peony photos, she nudged me over Darnell's Facebook page, and his work took my breath away. The San Antonio, Texas born, photo-realist painter, paints peonies, roses, poppies, waterlilies, and other flowers from his Ste. Valiere studio, in the South of France. His "lush, sensual" murals of peonies are heaven on earth.
He says, "my work is inspired by a need to find order and meaning in this beautiful disorder we call life. I choose imagery that makes me feel centered and calm..." When he was in his early thirties, Darnell's first wife died of cancer. It changed the course of his life.
He quit his job, and at the age of 34, left behind his homeland, parents and eight siblings, and moved to France, to begin a new life as a painter. Now remarried, with two children, and edging towards 60, Darnell is renowned for his ethereal peonies. "I have spent so much time painting flowers," he says, "that they became like a mantra to me." He says flowers, "in a deep way...symbolize human enlightenment and serve as brief reminders of the highest aspects of our nature: love and joy."
Perhaps only someone who graduated Magna cum Laude, with degrees in both Biology and Fine Arts, would describe the deeply spiritual connection his paintings evoke in this way: "neuroscience shows that when one witnesses beauty, blood flow actually increases in a specific pleasure center of the brain which is the same area that is responsive to feelings of love. Like love, beauty can be very powerful and therefore subversive and transformative in a healing and nurturing way."
His work is powerful and divine. The oversized florals dominate the space, and yet, there is an equally powerful serenity about the paintings. Darnell says his work centres around, "light and beauty which in turn evokes a peaceful and soothing vibe. They are like visual shortcuts to a contemplative state".
For the past year, I have been photographing small bouquets of flowers in the guestroom of my home. There, the afternoon light is perfect for capturing the play of light and shadow between the ruffled layers of petals in each peony blossom. Darnell's paintings are all about that play of light. He says, "it represents energy, spirit, and forces we do not see but feel are there all the same: emotions, sounds, thoughts, gravity, vibrations".
Outdoors, the brilliant sunshine in the park next door, produces a very different light and shadow. The passing clouds change the light from moment to moment, revealing textures and subtle colours. It is not surprising that the Chinese word for peony means, "most beautiful". There is no such thing as a, "still life" of a peony. Our eyes follow the unfurling path of each petal, as if they were dancing.
When life becomes overwhelmingly stressful, look to the beauty of nature for a sense of calm and rejuvenation. Meditate on Thomas Darnell's peonies.
In his work, I've found a kindred spirit!
Two photographs of Thomas Darnell in front of his canvases were shared globally on Facebook. I have been unable to find the name of the photographer who took the images.
All other photographs copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Inc.
