Roses are difficult for me to paint. My left brain starts thinking I have to replicate every single darned petal, and then I get lost trying to find where I left off as I paint. They’re such beautiful flowers, and so I want to learn to loosely get the big shapes and just “suggest:” ROSE.
Our yard typically has roses everywhere, but a lot of them are the dark, rich pinks, and while they are lovely, I am drawn to the pale, soft whites, corals and pinks that are delicate and fragile looking. So now, we’ve added a pretty yellow rose and a white rose. Friends also gave us a miniature, light, coral rose that we’ve planted in the ground this year and it’s thriving.
I should have lots of possibilities for practicing my sketches, but I do tend to get frustrated. My brain doesn’t seem to want to lean towards strong swooshes of color, but wants to niggle at it like the anal-retentive person I am! So, you can imagine my exhilaration to realize I was not alone in my feelings, when I read this quotation:
“There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.” (-Henri Matisse)
9 comments:
I think your roses look absolutely beautiful.
They are difficult with all those petals, but you do a masterful job when you use them as a painting subject.
Your roses are gorgeous....whatever method or side of the brain you are using, its absolutely correct.
A rose by any other name...
These ARE gorgeous. I love the petals you did. but I know the feeling as I find I do the same thing as you do only in Oils. Try to hard to do every little petal.
I have fallen in love with my one rose that fades out to an antique peach color. and here I always thought I loved the bright pinks.
Thanks, all--I'll keep at it--we have lots to practice from!
Your strewn petals are PERFECTION!
The trick with roses as with most things in watercolor, as my dear teacher, David Dewey used to say, is work from the large to the small.
Lay down a lush mingled pool of watery color. Then when it's dry you can't add a petal or two.
From the general to the particular!
Always.
Your Paris bluebird has flown the coop and is on it's way to you Suzanna
Oooooh--I'm psyched, Carol! Thanks! I actually know the rules of general to specific, I'm just not good at doing them!
Suzanne, I have the same problem painting flowers, but you've done a lovely job with these! I also am drawn to the delicate peachy cream colors. (And it's always good to be reminded of the "rules.") You are so lucky to have roses! Powdery mildew always appears when I try to grow them where I live in Oregon (or the deer)...
Sharon, we have a few that seem to require no real assistance at all--they're just beautifully prolific, and disease-free. Then,we have a few that tend to want to get black spots on leaves, and those are more problematic here as well. But I still love them!
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