Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Garden Roses


Roses
8x6  oil on canvas  SOLD

Artist Note
This one was admired and taken
 before I finished it.
This is the 5th floral
I have done trying to 
explore different
compositions specifically
for a small canvas. 

I think Georgia O'Keeffe had the 
right idea of just doing a single
flower and filling the canvas.
She painted them HUGE so 
they had to be noticed.

I love her poppies.

I painted a rose in the tradition
of Georgia back four years ago
see below
I did this at the end of 2011

Here is a link to see more of her flowers

 I see many fabulous 
watercolor artists using 
the format of the close-up
of a single flower all the time.
 with amazing results. 

I think I am going to be trying 
to do one too.



33 comments:

  1. My eyes are dancing around these colors Julie. Love this painting.

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    1. Thanks Blanche - and the orange next to the pink makes a wonderful vibration on your "Sweet" painting

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  2. Although I love your roses, so fresh and delicate. My eye is drawn to the poppy ... how couldn't it? The idea of filling a canvas with a single bloom is really appealing (puts it on 'to-do' list).

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    1. Me too - the simplicity adds so much power. her design sense was pretty flawless, John. She lived in New Mexico so I have visited both her homes and seen her studio stuff.

      Are you up to your old tricks and back working on the boat yet?

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    2. Just finishing Spring Cleaning (in the middle of winter); then down to Cornwall to see my brand new great granddaughter for a few days .... then it's back to the boat. Thanks for asking.

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  3. Your post made me think that even if there is less to the composition (meaning number of flowers) it is what you do with that one flower which is important. Georgia really zoomed in (I think) on something of the flower's essential nature. (Double meaning, that!)

    Your roses are beautiful and the arrangement seems well suited to that small format (as well as being able to jump to a larger format). I thought the positioning of the different roses was wonderfully active-not just a "still life" but with lots of energy and variety.

    I always enjoy seeing how you put your compositions together-thank you!
    Libby

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    1. I see your point and agree about the "less to the composition", but the poppy above has quite a few petal shapes so I feel it is the the amount of the single color in different tones and great design which adds a lot of power.,, having one dominant color.
      Goes to the mother color theory you and Carol Flatt discussed on your post today. I found that so interesting.

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    2. Her poppy is complex, you are right. She brought so many wonderful aspects to that piece didn't she? The color and varied tones really contribute a lot as you said. She was certainly singular in her vision.

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  4. One of my favorite paintings! A future bouquet of fresh roses with part of the garden trailing behind. Wonderfully done!

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    1. How nice of you to say that. Thank you, Helen.
      I visited your blog and saw your lovely portrait of the young lady with the hair Broach. I was unable to leave a comment - kept getting a noise. I do like what you have been painting though.

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  5. Your roses speak!!! I love them and their full of life presence.

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    1. So good to hear from you Rita - thank you.
      It is wonderful to hear you have started to use oil paint as well as watercolor.
      I cannot wait to see what you do and I know it will be remarkable.

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  6. These are lovely Julie. The yellows in the last painting are lovely nestled on the inner portion of the petals. I hope your demo went well on Sunday.

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    1. Hi Lisa - pleased you liked them. Thank you. I really, really am excited about your new series influenced by Picasso. You ROCK!

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  7. Your paintings are always woven together with such harmonious color. Your palette colors are cleverly interlaced in every part of the painting making such a beautiful whole. Gosh, you are so, so gifted, and the information about O'Keeffe was a perfect pairing with your lovely roses.

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    1. I have always admired your ability to use color, Carol, so thank you for the complement. I enjoyed reading your comments about color on Libby Fife's blog. Between the two of you it is a treat to read and learn!

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  8. good luck with painting one close up flower :) Can be a lot of fun actually because people can see so many different things in images painted like that, (sometimes they see very odd things :p)

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    1. I will remember that. Thanks for the heads up.
      I find your ability to do animal fur and eyes is beyond amazing.

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    2. thanks Julie :) and I admire your painting abilities :D

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  9. I really love the variety of colors in the roses and the greens as well as the texture .

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    1. There is quite a variety of colors isn't there? Very much impressionist.
      I always like the way you paint women, Jane. Your latest one is beautiful - I particularly love the light on her pink top.

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  10. I love your Roses composition. Your flowers are lovely and full of movement. It's probably harder to put a group of flowers together and make it work, don't you think? I know I've never been able to accomplish that yet.

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    1. I thought a single flower would be easier, but it isn't really. It is still a matter of design. This one was pretty close to a photo I took in November - a friend's rose garden.
      I can't imagine you having a problem Cathy - you are such a good painter.
      I like the lighthearted approach you have at the moment. The ghostbuster is fabulous.

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  11. These roses are soft, lush, and wonderfully impressionist. It's a beautiful painting, so it's no surprise it was snatched up before the paint settled! Thank you for your kind words on my "Daydreamer." You start my day off with a smile. Hugs, Helene

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    1. I was truly impressed with Daydreamer. I think the way you captured her eyes is pretty amazing. I always enjoy seeing an artist's process and was delighted you shared yours with this portrait.
      Thanks for the warm fuzzy, my friend.

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  12. Lovely painting. That bud you placed at the bottom of the composition just led me right up into those blossoms. Filling up the canvas with one blossom sounds like a great spring challenge. You do know roses and paint them so well.

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    1. Hi Helen - how are you doing? I always enjoy seeing what you do from class. That is a nice compliment, Helen, thanks.
      Roses - as an impressionist I can do what goes for an impression of a rose. but if you want the style of real roses look at Michael Klein's paintings. FAB!

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  13. The colors in your pieces are so melodic!!! Lovely!!

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    1. Thanks Joan. Your new flower is great. Snow coming your way?

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  14. So beautiful, I look forward to your next painting.

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    1. And I will look forward to seeing your drawings...the cow was a great start.

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  15. Stunning painting! I love to enlarge your paintings to see all of your brushwork and colors, gorgeous!!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie