Acrylic on canvas, 8x8"

This was a commission for a friend who wanted the thistle to look like the Scottish emblem but still look believable as a naturally growing thistle. She liked photos she had seen of thistles which had been flash photographed in the dark with the thorns highlighted so I tried to paint it in that style. I enjoyed painting the high contrast with bright colours and dark colours, and focussing on the details of the plant.