Something catches your eye and you just have to take your chances with it…that’s how it was on a bleak winter day when I was walking across a field of dried grasses. The dense cloud cover made everything look even greyer than it would have otherwise appeared. But I noticed something glowing red in the distance, in fact it was a cluster of somethings. As I got closer, I saw that it was dried wild rose hips with such concentrated color that they looked like candy. I gathered a few, along with some grasses and headed home.
Snow was in the forecast…lots of snow…so I wanted a subject to paint in case I got snowbound. I’d attempted painting Nootka rose blossoms before but had never been satisfied with the results. It seemed backwards to start with the hip, and a dried one at that, then hope to come up with a composition later with a blossom added. The snow fell and I began to paint on a beautiful piece of natural vellum I had been saving for something special, and hoped for the best.
Working on a painting of a wild rose hip with the snow outside my window. I mostly used Winsor Red, Scarlet Lake, Quinacridone Coral and Quinacridone Violet to visually mold the shape of the hip, the warmer red shades where the sun was shining through the skin of the hip and the cooler reds in shadow.
The harsh winter gave way to a wet spring, and the field became lush again. I had many beautiful wild rose blossoms to choose from, and lots of buds to replenish my supply as I worked. They filled my studio with an extravagent musky sweet fragrance.
Wild rose in the field near my studio.
I decided on a square frame so drew the approximate size that I wanted for my finished painting on tracing paper. I could adjust it later if needed but this gave me a starting place for the composition. Next I traced the rose hip and played around with how to arrange a twig and blossom so they harmonized with what I had already done. Fortunately, with vellum you can lift paint, so I could drape the leaves over the lower twig to unify the two.
Working on the composition to include the rose blossom. I find dividers (on the right) are a time saver because they help me draw the proportions of my subject correctly right away.
My finished painting of a Nootka rose with a ladybug. I titled it Three Generations because it reminds me that there is beauty in every stage of life.
The painting in its square mat and frame.
Do you sometimes start with a particular shape or space that you want to fill with a composition or do you create a composition then decide where its ‘edges’ should be?
This blog is about my journey as a botanical artist--what I am learning, what inspires me and what I am currently drawing or painting. My desire is to continually hone my skills to better express my wonder and gratitude for the beauty of the creation around me in the Pacific Northwest (USA).
A wonderful story of your thinking process, starting with the first spark and then how it evolved. All of it adds to the beautiful finished piece. Just need to add that I continue to enjoy your use of bugs in your work….love it!
On another aside I recently read Birds, Art, Life. by Kyo Maclear and she mentioned that birders often had a ‘spark’ bird that got them started in the birding world.
Hi Deb, The “spark”, yes that’s a good way to put it! It’s what we are looking for as sketchers too, isn’t it!? Sounds like a good book.
Ha, bugs keep creeping into my paintings…I just can’t resist them. I’m glad that you like them too.
Beautiful work, I love the title and the Ladybug… and the dividers are a good tip 🙂 I often trace around a thing, I am more excited to get to the analysis part!
Hi Sheryl, I’m glad that you like it! Tracing can work too. I like to quickly get the basic proportions down, then comes the fun part of filling in the drawing. It sounds like that is what you do as well, with a slightly different method.
Beautiful! I love your work and am delighted to read through the creative process that you used to complete this piece. Thank you for sharing your incredible gift.
Ken, Thanks so much for your support and interest!
Beautiful piece of work Janene and I think the creamy coloured vellum is a perfect background. I agree with the comments on the “spark” to get everything moving! I have always loved birds and I am increasingly using them in my paintings – the techniques are very similar.
Best wishes, Angela
Hi Angela, This was my first time using natural vellum, which is more translucent and has more pattern on it than the Kelmscott vellum that I usually use. I thought the textured background would fit nicely with a wild rose whose home is in the fields. I am glad you like it.
So far I am sticking with insects…starting small…but maybe someday will move on to birds. I love them too but am not quite brave enough to give them a try…yet!
Janene- it is very lovely and graceful painting. Love it! It has beautiful texture of petals and leaves, you are a master with vellum.
Thanks, Dorota! I’m so glad that you like it.
Hi! Do you have print of this for sale somewhere?
Hi Rachel, Thank you for your inquiry about this artwork. Yes, I have prints available. I’ll send you an email with more details.