The First Spark: A Burst of Creative Life
The summer of 2023 was a season of quiet transformation. As marigolds flourished on my back porch, so did an inner shift within me. Their golden blooms, luminous and full of life, seemed to radiate the very force of the sun itself—warmth, vitality, and creative power.
At the time, I was healing, not only from an accident that had injured my left hand but also from deeper patterns that had shaped my life. I had been contemplating the raw energy of life force—the force that fuels creativity, passion, and love, but which, when unchanneled, can lead to chaos or destruction.
One morning, I placed a fresh marigold on my altar. As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, something within me shifted. A pulse of energy surged through my body, as if the marigold itself had unlocked a hidden current. I felt radiant, alive—a river of light moving through me. In that moment, I knew I had to paint this feeling, to capture the essence of the sun’s fire and the boundless force of creation.
The vision was clear. I imagined myself dancing in front of the canvas, moving with the wild rhythm of inspiration. The painting would not just depict marigolds—it would be a living expression of the creative force they embodied. A radiant energy source, like the sun, bursting forth with life.
The Reality of Creation: Structure, Discipline & Polarity
But creation is not only fire—it is also form. What I envisioned as a free-flowing dance soon revealed itself to be a demanding process of refinement, precision, and control. Painting the marigolds required a steady hand, a sharp eye, and an unwavering presence.
Here was the great paradox of creative expression: the very energy that had initially sparked my inspiration needed to be harnessed, shaped, and brought into alignment with a greater harmony. The same force that allows the sun to blaze in the sky is the force that keeps it from burning out—it is power balanced by order, fire tempered by structure.
This dance between spontaneity and precision mirrors one of the deepest dualities of life. Just as day and night define each other, and passion and discipline must coexist for true mastery, love and creation, too, are built upon this interplay. Love flourishes when energy is both given and received, and creativity thrives when inspiration is paired with dedication.
Through painting, I came to understand this balance more deeply. The marigolds were not just symbols of the sun’s power but also of the creative and relational forces within me. They embodied both the explosive joy of inspiration and the quiet strength of devotion.
The sketch for ‘Marigolds’ with geometry.
The Dual Nature of Love & Creativity
In many traditions, the sun is not only a symbol of vitality but also of the heart—the center of warmth, courage, and connection. The marigold, as a solar flower, carries this resonance. It has long been associated with love, passion, and devotion, as well as with abundance and creative expression.
Just as the sun fuels all life, love fuels our relationships, and creativity fuels our self-expression. Both require the same dance of polarity—giving and receiving, inspiration and effort, wildness and focus.
This painting, born from the fiery impulse of creation and the discipline of refinement, carries this energy. It is a beacon of both creative vitality and harmonious relationships, making it a powerful piece to invite more love and artistic inspiration into a space.
In Feng Shui, pairs of flowers are placed to enhance relationships, as they symbolize unity and balance between two complementary energies. The two marigolds in this painting reflect this harmony—the sacred dance of opposites that deepens love, fuels artistic expression, and brings dynamic energy into any environment.
A Painting to Ignite Love & Creative Power
At first, I held onto this piece, believing it was meant to remain with me as a private symbol of transformation. But now, I feel it is time to release it—to let it radiate its light into the world. This painting is not just an image; it is an energy field, a source of creative fire, a reminder that life’s greatest forces—love and artistry—thrive in the space where opposites meet and merge.
Whether placed in a home to support deep relationships or in a creative space to enhance artistic flow, this painting serves as a portal to the sun’s energy—inviting warmth, connection, and the vibrant pulse of life itself.
Are you ready to welcome this luminous force into your space?
You can purchase a print here.
Want to purchase the original painting? Drop me a line by emailing info at yohanna jessup dot com.
©YohannaJessup2024
© Yohanna Jessup