“A work of art which did not begin in emotion is not art”, Paul Cezanne
This painting happened to be based off of a photograph I took of a bouquet of red roses I picked from a gorgeous rose bush we had in our front yard. It was our favorite bush, but sadly this was the last batch of roses I was able to cut as the bush succumbed to the rosette virus that is deadly to rose bushes. So you could say that a lot of emotion went into the making of this painting ~ thank you Mr. Cezanne, he was so right.
Red Roses Series #3, an oil pastel (10×8) was painted on Mi-Teintes pastel paper (poppy red). The paper provided an overall warm undertone to the otherwise dark background that allowed the bouquet of red roses to stand on their own as they are surrounded with a soft warm glow of light reflecting off the table surface. Sennelier and Holbeins OPs were used because of their creaminess and beautiful array of colors – both brands worked well for the look and feel I was after in this piece.
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 
Beautiful!
Thank you Lorna for your lovely comment!
Passion! It’s the passion which makes this painting an emotional experience…the roses and the red…what could we ask for more passion?
robert
Thank you so much Robert – oh yes you got it. I’ve yet to see a bouquet as gorgeous as this batch was when I picked those roses from our bush – passion was in total abundance while painting this piece.
I’ve actually painted the arrangement before, you can see it in my still/life flower gallery above – the first time the roses were placed on a windowsill with the light streaming in from the outside, a totally different feel to that painting but just as rewarding.
Such a joyful painting, it’s a delight to the eyes and heart. ❤️
Thank you Genie for your lovely comment.
Wow, Mary, this painting is exquisite. Rich with color, warm with love. You must be very glad you captured it here, given the sad demise of the rose bush. Although I have always enjoyed all your paintings, I think this is one of your finest yet. Congratulations.
Thank you so much jet for your lovely thoughts on this painting – it means a lot that you’ve enjoyed the roses. Appreciate your compliment too – hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
Lovely, Mary.
Thank you Cynthia – always appreciate it!!
Rich and gorgeous.
Thanks Brenda!!
Beautiful. I’m loving your Rose series. I hope you’ve been well. 🙂
What a wonderful surprise Gloria, so happy to see you. Thank you for your beautiful comment. I’m well, we’ve been away so time to paint has been limited, but I’m getting ready to get back at it. Thank you my friend and the same to you – hope you are well.
Hi Mary!! Thanks. I hope you enjoyed your time away. I’ve been well too, not much painting getting done though, but I’ve done a few this year, and working on one now. I hope you have a lovely weekend. 🙂
Same to you my friend.
Another beautiful rose painting Mary! What I like best in this one is the vase… the reflections on the vase, and on the table are just terrific! ~Rita
Thanks Rita, especially your artistic eye – you see what I’m trying to project here. Thank you again my friend!
These gorgeous roses make me feel for you. How sad to see such a lovely bush succumb to insects. 😦
I never would have thought to use coloured paper for painting. (This is a non-artiste speaking.) That opens up a lot of possibilities – and the results are stunning, as you’ve shown. 🙂
Hi Ruth, thank you!! Using colored paper with oil pastels is very interesting, especially if you scratch at the surface – the colors can be magic coming through. Thanks again ~
Excellent work, Mary! …. and you used a wonderful adjective in your words for this one … creamy.
Thank you Frank, so happy to see you. Wondering how this summer has been treating you, golfing and the course (bet you are loving it). Thank you so much and glad you enjoyed the painting ~
Working at the course is different than I expected. It’s a private course, but the pro shop seems like Grand Central Station … a lot going on … and fast. I’ve gotten more hours than I anticipated, and that’s contrary to my wife retiring this past April. So like anything in life, plusses and minuses. All well with you?
Sounds like you took on a busy role there at the course – hope you are enjoying yourself. It’s been busy here – we traveled back East for a Nieces wedding. Was great to see all the vineyards, apple and cherry orchards – all spelt “home” to me. Will be back painting soon.
Wonderful … and thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful explosion of red, Mary! 🙂
Hello my friend, happy to see you. Wonderful to read your reaction to the roses – thank you so much! Hope you are well and that the world around you has settled down. We’ve been away and will be able to get back to painting shortly.
Hi, my dear Mary and welcome back! I’m at the moment taking a short break from a very heavy schedule, hoping to be back -full force- on Monday to continue! All the best to you and happy summer painting! 🙂
Dear Mary,
I love the Cezanne quote and believe it holds good for poetry too. But your vase of red roses knocks me for six. So gorgeous.
My mum’s wedding bouquet was red roses and my dad bought them for her every anniversary. It would have been their 70th last week and the family flower arrangement placed on their grave was red roses with gypphelia.
I placed two red roses more because my first book, coming out soon, is dedicated to their memory. It was a beautiful moment, rather uncanny in a way, and I’ve written a poem about it called ‘A Blessing’.
My very best,
Paul
Hi Paul, this meant so much to me – thank you for sharing. Amazing how many people love red roses and the meaning/memories they bring to them – in your case it was your mother. Very touching to read your message. How special that you’ve written “A Blessing,” because it is a true blessing. Thank you Paul ~ (best wishes on your book).
So beautiful! Love red roses and love this painting ❤️
xxx
Thank you so much Violet!!
Gorgeous, Mary. 🙂
Thanks Bette!
Beautiful, it has a nice glow to it.
Thank you Pizzuti – really appreciate it!
I felt it has slightly more color around the object, that is taking away the contrast. Don’t you feel so?
Hi Alok, thank you for your feedback. I can see why you would say that, but in person the background color behind the vase and around it is more of a quiet yellow orche and soft grays, unfortunately my photograph doesn’t properly show it. For contrasts, I didn’t want a high-contrasted painting, a more subdued design was developed for this piece. Appreciate your thoughts ~
Ok, then it is fine. No problem.
The whole series is just amazing!! I’m so glad to be back on your blog, Mary 🙂 the pictures made me happy…kudos to you… ❤ 🙂
Hi Maniparna, so happy to see you again! Thanks very much it has been a fun project to develop, glad you enjoyed it.
🙂 …
Ooh this took my breath away Mary. How you’ve grown.
You are so kind and a wonderful surprise Emily! Thank you so much for your visit and wonderful reaction to the painting.
It’s so well deserved Mary. You are such a lovely artist. Hope all is going well with you.
Thanks Emily, things are well and getting into a new phase of painting – so glad you were able to see it. Appreciate your kind compliment, means a lot.
Red and lush. 👍👏 Your painting looks awesome. I like the reflection of the vase too. Excellent.
Thank you Joanna and also for noticing the vase and reflection (subdued as a supporting players). Thanks again ~
I believe the word is exquisite. For lack of another word, your roses are yummy.
Wow Susan – thank you for your response to the painting. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate it!
It is very much deserved Mary.
I’m totally adoring & enjoying your most beautiful roses series!
So kind Resa – thank you so much, appreciate your encouragement and support.
Wonderfulness!
Thank you Nicodemas!
This is a wonderful series Mary! So sad the beautiful bush is no longer with you. Have a great week!
Hi Rhonda, thank you for your kind words. The first blush of roses each year were incredible displays of gorgeousness! Have a wonder week as well ~
Oh, that’s gorgeous!
Thanks Holly for your generous feedback!
Truly beautiful, Mary! Love the special red color of this painting. 🙂
Thank you Amy for your kind thoughts on this painting – always appreciate your stopping by.
Thank you, Mary for educating me to appreciate fine drawings and paintings through your posts and your art works. 🙂 ❤
Such a kind thing to say Amy, and through your photography I’ve been able to discover that which I might not have ever noticed on my own. Thank you my Texan friend.
A great deal of emotion comes across in this one, Mary…especially poignant when one realizes that the beautiful rose bush is now lost.
Thank you Cynthia, you understand – appreciate it! Have a wonderful weekend.
Absolutely beautiful, Mary. How lovely that you could keep the memory of this rose bush alive through your painting. 🙂
Thanks Sylvia. Oh you would have loved this bush, several times a year it would have wonderful batches and these particular roses had 120+ petals, just full and gorgeous. Always had these around the house. It was special alright.
So sad that it’s gone, but it lives on in your painting. 😘
Two years ago I did a painting of the same reference only this time the setting was in front of the window where the vase was set. If you look in my gallery of flowers above (under still life) you’ll see that painting. This was one of bouquets that could live on and on.
This is beautiful, Mary. I love the fallen petals. 🙂
Thanks Jill. Something so soft and delicate about fallen petals, they seemed fitting for the composition. Glad you enjoyed.
You are doing so well with this series, Mary
Thanks Derrick, always appreciated!
Wow, yes, I do see melancholy in this painting! And beauty, well that goes without saying. So much drama and the forward rose is almost crying, I feel. Such emotion packed in, and totally love that quote, Mary. Really speaking to me this morning, thank you. ❤️
Thank you so much Laura – I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this painting. You can’t believe how gorgeous these roses were in person. Something about them was extraordinary – packed with 120+ petals, and a brilliant but then deep dark red blossom. Couldn’t help but love them. Thanks again ~
The pastel paper gave your painting a warm and rich background. I liked the way the vase came out, not overpowering and subtly detailed.
Hi Hien, thank you for your description – loved it. This tinted paper is very interesting that produces some great results when big areas are covered with lower range colors and then scraped back. Unfortunately the photograph isn’t the best quality, but your read is correct on the vase as a supporting actor in this piece – thank you so much for noticing.
Exquisite, Mary!
Thank you my friend for your generous words.
Love all that red.
Thanks Lee – appreciate it!
Good morning Mary….I can feel the emotion in this painting – it is absolutely lovely. It is filled with depth and passion.
I have just finished a book which I think you might enjoy…’Let Me Tell You About a Man I Knew’ by Susan Fletcher. It is a novel about the period when Van Gogh was in the Asylum in Southern France. It’s so beautiful and speaks so well of the artist’s passion and intensity to create. Hope you are enjoying your July 4th holiday. janet:)
Hi Janet, it is a beautiful morning here – hope your early evening is delightful. Thank you so much for your reaction to the painting, loved receiving your kind words. I’ve written your book recommendation down, it sounds like one that I’ll thoroughly enjoy. Thanks again for always being present my friend.
Great pastel work 🙂
Thank you so much, lovely to hear from you.