“Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” Claude Monet
Mr. Monet, to me was the master of color – he spun the universe of color letting us marvel in his dazzling creations. Can’t help but chuckle thinking of Monet, I can appreciate where he was coming from as I worked with red in my latest painting. Red, the color of passion and romance – but in this case I was feeling a bit of torment as I tried developing an intensity and richness to the roses.
Red Roses series, #2 is an oil pastel (10×8) painted on Mi-Teintes pastel paper (poppy red). This paper allowed for an overall warm undertone to the painting, giving way for a nice dark background letting the roses take center stage. Sennelier OPs were used because of their creaminess which works beautifully on the pastel paper. The roses in the painting took on a very warm orange-red and I ultimately thought, well-okay let them have their day in the sun. The tools used were my fingers, clay shapers and a straight-edge razor blade for scraping/scratching back and revealing the poppy red paper surface to come through.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead. Thanks for checking in – click onto the image for a larger view.
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Oil Pastels by Mary 
I like how you’re incorporating the quotes by some of the greats. Doing some really great work on this blog. It’s fantastic to see. Keep it coming!
Thanks Heath, my small salute to the greats. Appreciate that you have followed along and for your many comments.
It’s interesting toi see how the background helps the roses to take their place in your painting, great!
robert
Thanks Robert. The great thing about painting on tinted paper are the amazing effects uncovered when scraping/scratching (I use a razor) the paint down and exposing the color paper underneath.
I loved this post for the challenge of red and color that both you and Monet speak of. I rarely wear red clothes, it can be so intimidating — so I can imagine what torment it must be to paint with it. Clearly, you have succeeded, Mary.
Hi Jet, thank you so much for your generous feedback and thoughts on this painting. Red can be a little out there and you got it, I rarely paint with vibrant, bright colors so red is a big step for me. I’m learning how to tame it – been good practice.
a very nice picture 👌👌👌
Thank you Alec, nice to meet you.
Nice rich color in this one Mary! I like the warmth of the piece. ~Rita
Thanks so much Rita, really appreciate it!
So beautiful, Mary.
Thank you Brenda!
so deep and rich Mary, beautiful!
Thank you so much Holly!
The dark, textured background is the perfect foil to that vibrant red. Magnificent is the word Mary!
Thank you Madhu, loved reading your reaction to the painting. The background is really enhanced by the color of the paper giving the painting a warm feel to it, yet the roses are bright enough to hold their own. Thanks so much!
Lovely floral!
Thank you Kendall, really appreciate it.
Welcome!
My dear Mary, your roses are just magnificent! 🙂 xxxxx
Thank you Marina, means a lot. Have a wonderful week ahead.
I’m feeling the heat from these roses, Mary! I almost see flames in the background! Beautifully done and so lively. I agree that dark background really gives so much depth to the piece. I’ve seen that in my abstract work as well. Gorgeous reds and love the shapes of your roses. Delicious!
Thank you so much Laura for your read on the painting – I enjoyed your feedback. I rarely use this much red in my paintings, it takes a bit of getting used too – I do like the effects. #3 is nearly completed with a totally different look. Thanks again – Happy 4th to you!
And to you! Yeah it’s a bit of a departure for you, but those are good sometimes.
#3 is getting very interesting – hope to finish today.
My sentiments, exactly….and what a beautiful image to celebrate colour. Thank you so much and hope that you and your family have a wonderful Independence Day. Janet:)
Hi Janet, thank you so much! Can’t tell you what your words means, coming from one of the most incredible masters of art, from design to color in the contemporary art world. Thank you my friend and also for the holiday cheer. Best to you this week ~
Thank you, Mary for such a lovely compliment…here’s to the creative life:)
Gorgeously vibrant!
Thank you Fiona!
I want to touch it because the roses look velvety soft. I agree with one of your followers, Monet would be proud. 😊
Thank you Joanna – this was an interesting and fun floral to workout. A few more pieces planned with red roses and then a switch to a different color rose, so many great colors to choose from ~
Stunners, all three!
Thank you Susan, much appreciated!
So very beautiful. I also love the design of it, with the three.
Thank you Nicodemas – glad you enjoyed the painting.
Flames rising from the darkness….
Love your response my friend. Hope you have a lovely 4th.
You too, Mary dear….
Thank you, enjoying 100 temps. A little warm ~
It’s beautiful, bright, crisp, breezy, 80 degrees here today….just lovely!
So worth taking a trip back to the Northeast now ~
Simply beautiful!
Wow. Monet would be proud Mary!!! It’s amazing to me how you use the oil pastels. Love the vibrant color against the dark background. So dramatic. 👍🏻
Hi Rhonda – your comments make me smile, thank you so much. Always appreciate your thoughtful insights into my work – it was an interesting trio of roses to develop. I photographed the real roses laying down, but as I painted them they seemed to fit much better in an upright position. Have a wonderful 4th and week ahead!
Gorgeous! I don’t always pay a lot of attention to the background of a subject. However, now that you talk about it… I love this bg & it sets a dramatic scene for the 3 roses. TY, Mary!
Hi Resa, thanks very much! The background plays much heavier when looking at this in person – it was fun developing it. Thanks again for your response to the painting.
Lovely – and the enhancing background goes so well with them.
Thank you so much Ann-Christine, appreciate your comment about the background. It’s been interesting working with the backgrounds in this latest series.
Very beautiful! I love these passionate red roses! Your work is wonderful!
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to the painting – always appreciated!
I think your roses are very lifelike indeed, Mary. I love this image. I looked at your photo earlier and read about you using your fingers. Now I’m picturing you with bright red fingers. 🙂
Oh if you could have seen my fingers – bright red if that, and then the sink! Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed the painting Sylvia!
It can’t be very good for your nails. How do you get them clean again?
They are scrubbed really hard and aren’t that pretty, but my sink is sparkling clean (lol).
😆
Love the orange-red rich color. The mix colors of the background are beautifully done!
Happy 4th to you, Mary! 🙂
Thank you Amy for your thoughtful feedback, love seeing it through your eyes. Happy 4th of July to you as well.
Your paintings keep getting better each time. This one is absolutely beautiful!
Truly appreciate it Hien, this one was an interesting exercise in development. Thank you so much – have a wonderful week ahead.
Gorgeous, Mary! The color is fabulous! Have a great day. ❤
Thanks so much Jill! Have a wonderful day too!
Beautiful roses! I am also a lover of color and of light, you can’t separate the two I suppose. 🙂
Thanks Margaret – perhaps that’s what makes painting so special.