Mixed media, Original Art 24" x 18" 
This painting recalls memories of my home in Scotland the bright color of Thistles and the soft greens of their sharp thorns.  As kids we were all ways looking for docking leaves to rub over our stinging hands, from where we touched the thistles.  these leaves were said to reduce the sting. Sometimes we would accidentally stand on them not knowing they were there, because their bright flowers had not opened yet, and they would sting our legs.  
The most famous legend of these Scottish  flowers is that they saved Scotland from a Viking attack in the 13th century.  It is said that a barefoot Norseman stepped on one, and cried out in pain, this alerted the sleeping Scots, who then defeated the invaders The Scots adopted the prickly plant as their national flower, it appears on coins and is a symbol of Scottish identity.