Buttercups: The Art & Science Behind The Sunshine Wildflower

Wildflowers come in all sorts of forms, shapes, colours, and because of their variety painting them is always a unique experience. However, when we talk about wildflowers that instil joy and can practically lift my mood in an instant, nothing comes close to the buttercup.

Since buttercups have never failed to inspire some of my paintings, this blog is dedicated to the “sunshine wildflower”, specifically the science behind its glow, some folklore and its inspirational allure.

What Is A Meadow Buttercup?

The buttercup, is part of the Ranunculus family which boasts over 1700 species. Ranunculus means "little frog" alluding to their preference for damp places. My inspiration comes from the beautiful meadow buttercup Ranunculus acris. The meadow buttercup is a widespread perennial that flowers between April and October. It thrives in grassy areas, open fields, and even woodlands. Aside from its five yellow vibrant yellow petals, this flower has elegantly long stems, making it instantly recognisable.

The History of The Buttercup

In addition to being incredibly eye-catching, the buttercup’s history is equally as fascinating! While many people often list them as one of their favourite wildflowers, their reputation is not as pristine.

People used to refer to buttercups as “Blisterwort”. It may come as a surprise, but almost all parts of this flower are very toxic, especially to the skin. When not handled with care, buttercups can cause skin irritation, and even blisters in extreme cases, hence the name. Also, farmers realised buttercups weren’t friendly towards animals as well since they cause blisters around their mouths after eating them. Because of this, they started considering the flower as a weed and learned how to carefully get rid of it.

Interestingly enough, the buttercup also has a mythological background to it! Namely, it was believed that the Norse god, Loki, caused a lot of mischief with it. Because of its glowiness, he used to scatter buttercups all around meadows, leading confused villagers into thinking they were gold coins.

Water Meadow near Malmesbury , UK

The Science Behind The Buttercup’s Glow

I think we have all experienced how colour can greatly impact our moods. Yellow is credited with feelings of joy, youth, happiness, friendship, and playfulness. I definitely find this to be true in a meadow of beautiful yellow buttercups

Interestingly enough, our perception of the colour differs as the seasons change. For instance, in the summer, we are exposed to a lot of greenery, so our visual system adapts to it. In contrast, winters are usually dull and very grey, meaning our vision has to readapt once again to get used to the changes. Our perception of certain colours, especially yellow, differs when this happens. It’s like resetting the colour balance on your phone. I discovered this fascinating information because I’ve been painting buttercups this November and I was intrigued as to why the yellow flowers seemed extra vibrant compared with the buttercups I painted in the summer…now I know why!

To make things even more interesting, we are not the only ones who are attracted by the colour! In fact, bees and other pollinators find buttercups very “alluring”. You see, there is a practically invisible reflective “coat” on top of each of the five petals. They attract light and reflect it towards the buttercup’s centre, thus creating warmth. There are layers of air right beneath the petals’ surface, making them reflect like mirrors, ultimately creating the shining phenomenon. Naturally, pollinators, specifically bees, spot this and they’re mesmerised by its glow, so come spring, this is the first flower they flock to.

Finally, there’s also an interesting way to test whether the buttercup’s glow is real or not- some of you may have even done it as children, I did! Basically, if you place a buttercup under your chin and it starts to glow, that means you like butter - simple as that! Although there’s no truth behind this, it’s a unique way to learn about the flower’s reflective nature!

How I Paint Buttercups

Buttercup Time 2024, 100×120 cms

Having research buttercups has certainly informed the way I approach painting them. I have always painted them in layers of slightly differing yellows; Hansa yellow, cadmium yellow and some metallic yellow. I am more conscious of this approach now and whilst adding the layers feel a deeper connection with this intriguing and joyful wildflower.

Winter in the UK can seem very long and sometimes a nature-inspired pick-me-up without having to go outside is just the thing. Bringing the outdoors inside your home in the form of glowing buttercups might just make you smile and remember that spring will come again, it certainly has that effect on me.

Take a look at my recent buttercup-inspired paintings that allow your living space to breathe in a fresh air of positivity. And if you’re looking for more wildflower inspiration, subscribe to my mailing list!

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