In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Week 45's colours are Scarlet, Crimson, Sand & Olive
Remembrance Day is observed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the time the armistice that ended World War I came into effect. The act of remembrance recognises the enormous cost of war and honours those who have given their lives for their countries.
Remembrance Day is is strongly associated with the symbol of a red poppy, but how did the two become linked?
Poppies appeared frequently in areas along the Western Front during the War. Mostly bleak and poor agricultural land, the constant bombardments with artillery shells smashing into the ground and disturbing the soil turned out to be just what dormant poppy seeds needed to grow. They were everywhere, scarlet red flowers growing abundantly in the disturbed earth of battlefield and graveyards, a sign of life amidst the destruction.
In 1915, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, wrote a rondeau with the famous opening lines: In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row after attending the funeral of a friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, killed in Ypres, Belgium.
The poem was published by Punch magazine at the end of the year and became probably the most quoted poem from the war. Excerpts were used in appeals to recruit soldiers and to sell war bonds. An American, Professor Moina Michael, was so moved by it that she took to wearing a red poppy and campaigned to make it an official symbol.
A French woman, Anna Guérin, brought the idea to Britain and in 1921, the Royal British Legion adopted the poppy as their official symbol and began selling buttonhole poppies to raise funds for veterans. The first Poppy Appeal raised over £106,000 to help veterans with employment and housing.
This week, millions of people will be wearing paper and fabric poppies as part of the annual fundraiser for veterans and their families but more importantly to say that We remember!
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
(This poppy collage was created for my Colour Collage I course)
Read more about the history of poppies here and here and find out more about this week’s image from the Royal British Legion here.
Did you know that there are multiple colours of poppy you can wear? Red, white, purple or black, each with different emphasis on their remembrance. The white poppy symbol is over ninety years old and represents a commitment to peace. There is a purple poppy to honour the animals killed in war.
‘Poppies through the ages’, material, plastic and paper, from the Royal British Legion
Colour Combination
The colours this week are Scarlet, Crimson, Sand & Olive. Use the colours along with a contrasting dark and neutral light colour to create an artwork in any medium or style. Please share this post with someone who likes colour and might like this weekly dollop of colour and creativity.
I love seeing what you create with the prompts. If you’re posting on Instagram, please tag #coloricombo and #estemacleod and join us in the private Facebook group Creative Prompts.
Last call for Art Bundles for Good
Sales will end shortly. This year’s Bundle for Good consists of a collection of over 100 courses and resources by 80 artists and I am taking part once again. My masterclass is called Paper Houses, in this class I demonstrate how to layer semi translucent painted paper to create house forms in specific colour palettes, you’ll learn how to use aquarelle and colour pencils to add details.
The class is part of the bundle but can also be bought as a stand alone option for £27. Bundles for Good is only available for sale until 10 November, don’t miss out, there are some wonderful classes that will inspire you to try something new.