National Rose Month: Day 15
Posted on June 15, 2021
“Beauty is ever present like the light of sun – even in the most humble object, only it takes an artist’s vision to detect it, and an artist’s skill to reproduce it.”
—Emil Carlsen
Emil Carlsen is a favorite artist of mine to study. He was a still-life painter who first studied architecture in his homeland of Denmark and immigrated to the U.S. at age 19. Influenced by the master still-life painter Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, Carlsen was a leading exponent of the Chardin revival in France.
I was inspired by his painting, The Golden Background, with a vertical composition of an Asian white and blue porcelain footed bowl with dark blue rim band, tall white ceramic vase with raised Asian decorative mark, blue ceramic ginger jar with white cherry blossom pattern on stand with black lid. The background helps to draw your eye to the blue ginger jar and has an airy antique quality to it.
Here is my interpretation of a golden background with my blue and white willow ware jar and some roses strewn on the tabletop.
The Golden Background
● Sold (14 x 11 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 14
Posted on June 14, 2021
This little sketch was an alla prima painting of a trio of pink roses. Pink roses symbolize gratitude, grace, and joy. These blush roses have a delicate quality and softness compared to the showy bright red rose.
In the Pink
● Sold (6 x 6 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 13
Posted on June 13, 2021
Henri Fantin-Latour’s rose paintings are exquisite! I don’t think anyone can come close to his virtuosic manipulation of paint to create such delicate forms. He applied thick impasto not only with brushes, but also manipulated the paint with the butt of the brush and also used scrapers.
Roses Jaunes Dans Un Vase (Yellow Roses in a vase), 1891 by Henri Fantin-Latour shown above, inspired me to paint this beautiful cascade of creamy white roses.
Cascade
● Sold (16 x 12 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 12
Posted on June 11, 2021
“Beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. It is an invitation to savor life and to dream of the future.
Artists of the world, may your many different paths all lead to that infinite Ocean of beauty where wonder becomes awe, exhilaration, unspeakable joy.
May you be guided and inspired by the mystery of the Risen Christ, whom the Church in these days contemplates with joy.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always: she is the “tota pulchra” portrayed by countless artists, whom Dante contemplates among the splendors of Paradise as “beauty that was joy in the eyes of all the other saints”. —from Letter of His Holiness, Pop John Paul II, 1999
Sometimes creating a painting can be a meditation or a prayer. I painted this single white rose during Lent and it reminds me of how imperfect I am. It is a contemplative painting and the white rose symbolizes Mary, and her infinite Grace.
Mary Meditation
● Sold (7 x 5 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 11
Posted on June 11, 2021
Fresh flowers and a small butterfly represent how fleeting and special life is and how faith in God will help us through any changes and difficulties we encounter.
“It is difficult to know why God reveals himself to some and plays a game of hide and seek to others.” —Baba Ramdas
After my Father passed away, I saw so many butterflies and they seemed to hover around me. I felt a connection with my Dad every time I was in the garden and these beautiful insects would flutter near me and seemingly watch over me. The orange butterfly signifies love and the message that there is life after death just like the transformation of the butterfly.
Hide and Seek
Collection of the Artist
(10 x 8 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 10
Posted on June 10, 2021
One of the joys of gardening is bringing the fruits of your labor inside to enjoy! Arranging flowers in a vase is an art in itself. I love how the blue sky and sun reflected on the table and the back lighting on the roses made the stems and thorns seem almost more important than the blooms.
Tabletop Roses
Framed painting: $695 plus shipping
(14 x 11 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 9
Posted on June 9, 2021
The Mythos Rose is a traditional garden rose and has a beautiful soft scent. This stunning white flower has a soft pink center as it opens and turn into a lovely spiral bloom. No vase was needed to feature these delicate forms, just a warm red background to compliment the blushing centers.
Mythos
(10 x 8 inches, oil on panel),
Framed painting: $475 plus shipping
National Rose Month: Day 8
Posted on June 8, 2021
Yellow roses symbolize friendship and care. These sunny, bright and cheery flowers convey warmth and affection and can be a great way to show remembrance or a token of appreciation. 
Yellow Roses
● Sold (8 x 10 inches, oil on panel)
National Rose Month: Day 7
Posted on June 7, 2021
“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”
– Luther Burbank
I love this quote . . . this has been such a challenging year for so many people. But the challenges have also brought perspective of what is really important in life. Learning to bring your own happiness is so important along with finding joy in the simple things in life.
Grace
(11 x 14 inches, oil on panel)
Framed painting: $695 plus shipping
National Rose Month: Day 6
Posted on June 6, 2021
Six Tips to help you Grow your Roses
- Plant your rose in a sunny spot. (6 plus hours of sunlight is best).
- Make sure the soil is well-drained. In Virginia, be sure to prep your soil with clay cutter and add mulch on top after planting.
- Fertilize to encourage blooms. (I like founder’s Fish Fertilizer found at Heirloomroses.com but beware it has a strong fishy smell!)
- Water regularly, but only at the bottom of the plant. Roses do not like to have their leaves wet and this often causes mildew or fungus.
- Prune your rose to promote flowers and overall health.
- Watch for pests. Aphids can be stopped by sprinkling them with flour!
Rosa Albus
● Sold (12 x 12 inches, oil on panel)
