Flower Demons

Artist statement

As I was creating this piece, I found myself deep within shades of blue and black. The darkness was abstract, and I was drawn to its depth. But within that void, figures began to emerge—shadowy shapes, and what appeared to be a crooked, stretched-out keyboard or piano. The dark version of this piece was beautiful but it felt like a crime to stop there. The Flower Demon revealed himself to me from the depths, a gift from the Muse, and I knew I had to pursue him. Through layering and careful attention, I began to paint over the abstract darkness, pulling the demon out, accentuating his form. The crooked piano keys followed, and the dark, moody palette began to evolve with touches of gold and fiery light. The story here is one of the lone Flower Demon, seated at his crooked piano in the middle of the forest. Ghouls and dark creatures lurk in the background, but he’s undisturbed. He knows who he is—a demon, yes, but the Flower Demon. He plays his keys under the glow of the moon, resigned to his fate but serving nonetheless. He accepts it all, the darkness and the beauty, and continues to play. This piece is a tribute to the unexpected gifts that emerge from darkness, to the moments when the Muse whispers just loud enough for you to hear, and you follow without question.