Red roses painting for anniversary

Painting/Drawing, What I learned, , , , , , , ,

This year on Valentine’s day, my husband brought back some red roses on his way home. I was in the laugh and cry mode. After 9 years, he finally learned that he could bring back some flowers (especially roses) for me on the way home. I intentionally talked about this countless times after we got married in San Francisco, 2012. Well, better late than never, at least he learned, right?

I put the roses in a vase and took several pictures. I thought it would be an interesting painting study reference. If my limited time painting practice is reluctant then my flower painting practice is something I am willingly to do.

My reference photo for red roses painting

I like Bill Inman’s roses painting style. The general idea is to go loose and bold brush strokes without over blending and too much details. And here is the finished piece.

Finished red roses painting, oil on canvas, 8″ × 10″

I got a clearance open back frame from Hobby Lobby and framed this painting using the methods I learned online. Actually I never thought about how to frame a painting seriously until I participate in the Small Works Show by the Rice Gallery of Fine Art. I don’t even know how those tiny metal pieces are called when they are used in framing process. XD

Framed and ready to hang red roses painting

Well, I have to admit that this is an enjoyable painting experience but I maybe like strong light and shadow contrast a bit more. I give this painting to my husband as an anniversary gift. ^_^

It is not easy for us to stay together these years, but we survived and keep counting. ❤

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My paintings are an outlet to express the imagination I have inside my head that I can not put into words. After trying many mediums, I always find myself coming back to paint and brushes. In my current artistic practice, I use oil paint and mainly create portraits of mythical creatures and animals transfixed in the shifting colours of seascapes and landscapes. There is a natural spirit and magic to these creatures and their energy draws me in. Choosing to paint these creatures as real living wildlife rather than abstractions, I use bold and vivid colours to express the imaginary intertwined with reality, finding magic between the seams. Using a saturated colour palette, I create bold and striking imagery, contrasted between foreground and background, subject and landscape, and light and darkness. Weaving their bodies and the surface of the landscape into each other through organic forms and flowing brush strokes, I find beauty, strength and innocence in these creatures that reflect my inner world.