Some flowers demand attention by sheer brightness, and this poppy is one of them. From stem to leaves to petals, the torch pulled rich golds from the stainless — a color that feels like sunlight captured in metal. To break the glow, I pushed the heat just far enough at the center to bring out a flash of deep blue. That cool accent against all that warmth gives the bloom its spark.

The heart of the flower is packed with detail: a welded seed pod surrounded by tons of tiny hand-bent stamens, each one shaped and ground individually. It’s tedious work, but it’s what makes the center catch the light and feel alive, almost like it could sway if a breeze came through.

Unlike some of my full-plant sculptures with roots and buds, this one stands alone — a single open bloom, more like a cut flower saved at its brightest moment. The leaves, bead-rolled with fine veins, echo the curves of the petals and carry the same golden fire, tying everything together in one bright burst.

This piece is all about distilling a poppy down to its essence: bold, golden, and wide open, caught forever at the peak of its bloom.

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This sculpture is safe to be kept outside.