The Fairy’s name is Ricina, of course, being a girl fairy… but for the sake of botanical accuracy and Google the title remains as the masculine form of the name. She holds an umbrella in memory of the time she got caught poisoning someone, and, weaponized umbrellas being something more suited to the Avengers than to real life, I have given her John Steed’s bowler hat. She is deadly, but, more sinned-against than sinning, she is rarely the actual culprit, though frequently the suspect… either that, or she has got a lot cleverer and isn’t going to get caught again!
So, here is Ricina:
And the whole painting:
Apologies that I didn’t continue with the step-by-step photos, but there was little dramatic change after the last photo, and the delay was more whilst I went on holiday than that there was another full week’s painting. Here are the previous posts that show this painting as it develops:
Sketch and photos, and a little of the story of this plant…
Start of the painting…
Adding colour to the painting…
And the final stage before the finished painting…
And some more close-up pictures for you:
I have one more Poison Flower Fairy lined up as a sketch, though the actual painting of that one may have to wait: I need something half-way-through to demonstrate on Thursday 31st May at the Royal Bath & West Show: I have been very kindly asked onto Somerset Life’s stand, and that painting may very well be a useful candidate for the spot. Follow this blog for more details when I have them…
Art by Nancy Farmer 
[…] be falsely portrayed as a lurking killer is the beautiful and bold imaginary fairy by the name of Ricina, a clever creation by Nancy Farmer, an artist residing in the United […]
I love this image! I’d like to use it on my blog (and credit you of course!). I am writing about the healing power of castor plant!
Eden
Edenayurveda.com
Please do! I have emailed you at greater length if you haven’t already seen it! All the other ‘alternative’ flower fairies are here, by the way: http://www.nancyfarmer.net/gal_alternative-flower-fairies.html
Yeah, interestingly concept. I dare you do one new drawing with the plant ricinus comunis- post comunism. That could be a hit considering the actuality.
Thank you. Not sure I follow you though, there are still spies knocking about, even the occasional assassination… But bowler hats, yes, those are outdated, probably even umbrellas š
I was listening the news yesterday, the jihadis developed a ricin based toxin… looked it up on google and found some history about the thing on the way…
Oh I missed that! Apparently quite a difficult poison to kill someone with, more favoured by rumour than fact, at least that’s what used to be the case I believe. But someone will always work out a way….