Flowers of Darkness

After tattooing several poppies, I decided to paint some this week. Completed this one in the round! in acrylic. I didn't waste any time on it. It's halfass week.

Paul Newman narrated this documentary on the papaver plant called "Flowers of Darkness" which traces the history of the plant's medicinal and abusive uses.... It is said that the poppy made its way to Europe via the caravan of Genghis Khan in the 12th century. Khan sowed seed wherever his conquests led him, ensuring that the white blossoms that flowered the next year would mark his territory and the path that led him there. After one very decisive and utterly bloody battle, and entire field of the white poppies was stained red, and thereafter all the poppies of Khan's region grew red. This is how the red poppy came to symbolize the sorrows of war.