Summer Rose Painting

Summer Rose is a watercolor-gouache study that I did in 2004 of a flower that was growing in my mother’s flowerbeds. I loved how its fresh petals had burst open while those around it were still in waiting. The light red colors appealed to me against the dark green grass that was in the background. I love green and red together as they complement and set each other off. You really do not notice the greens in this painting as they focus your attention on the reds.

I love how watercolor blends making some of the most interesting textures in art. Especially opaque colors, which mix their sedimentary pigments into one another forming little root like textures as they intertwine together.

Watercolor is such a teacher that demands self-restraint and that is why I do one every now and again. I think it is good for an artist to explore other mediums and techniques from time to time to give themselves a broader understanding of how to approach a subject to be painted. Anytime we can stretch our creative abilities it is a big plus!

I have done some carving and that really taught me to see form. It was a major step forward in my visualization, as I had to visualize as I carved.

Summer Rose Original Painting

All the woodworking I have done has helped too as I can better see geometric shapes. I helped my dad build a barn, a shed, a chicken house and other buildings for the farm.

The years I spent drafting has helped me greatly with the disciplined draftsmanship that is crucial to the structure that carries any pictorial representation. The architectural classes I took in drafting help me a lot with perspective.

Often I will do palette knife paintings, which force me to see the larger shapes that make a strong artwork. It is probably one of my favorite ways to paint. I love watching the thick impasto globs of paint blend and come together to represent an art subject as a whole.

The study of photography has helped me tremendously as well. It has taught me so much about seeing and interpreting what I see in simple ways.

I am so thankful for my many varied experiences that have allowed me to develop into the artist that I am today and I so look forward to the great experiences that I will be involved in the future that will further my learning and understanding of art.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by Boyd Greene Fine Art to read! Take care and have an awesome weekend!