Challenge #47 - In Remembrance

The challenge this week from Laura at I am the Diva is based on the Poem "In Flanders Field" written by Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

When you create your tile or ZIA, the challenge is to remember - what this means to you.  Remember your fallen loved ones, your long lost friend from childhood, remember when your 3 year old was once a tiny bundle in your arms, remember the feel of your aging grandmother's hand... remember laughter and tears, friends and family, fallen heroes or quiet bravery. 

I've drawn my tile using black and white shaded with pencil and then I colored it just to see if I liked it.  Here's the two different tiles:

I love the background on this ZIA.  It seems to bubble off the page behind the poppy (or at least my interpretation of a poppy).  I did a little shading with some dots and then again with a #2 pencil.  This one is on a 5 x 5 inch tile.

After I scanned the original, I decided that I'd add a little color to the poppy.  I remember veterans selling poppies as lapel pins when I was a little girl, but I don't remember seeing them for a while.  To color my poppy, I used watercolor pencils to color and then touched it with a water pen to smooth out the color.  I keep playing with color, but I just can't make up my mind which I like the best...plain black and white or with a touch of color.

What do you think? Should I just stick with black and white....or do you like the color?

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.  I'd love for you to come back again.  As always, your comments are much appreciated.  Until next time....

♥ Hugs! ♥