Growing Roses

by artist
(Blue Ridge Mountain)

growing roses picture of yellow rose

This yellow rose was a gift from my brother. We planted it between our driveways with our neighbor (the preacher with the green thumb and grand azalea bushes out front).

It was our only sense of pride as it was the only thing that bloomed in my yard for years. Growing this rose was really easy.

It was in a well drained area. Got full sun. Had the heat of pavement on 2 sides, which I think helped with any pests. We only watered it on occasion because all normal rain ran into the flower bed.

Then it got run over by a boat! Yea, backing in my 27 foot cabin cruiser, well, lets say I needed bigger mirrors at the time. Shucks, I gotta admit.

I couldn't back that thing in without 5 spotters and somebody else at the wheel! I even took out the basketball goal, and a small apple tree with that boat! Ask my kids, they were hoopin and hollerin at me to cut it, cut it! I cut it! the wrong way. Seems you gotta steer opposite the way you want to go with a trailer.

Oh well. I still got a good painting outta this.

White Rose picture, single white rose blossoms

by The artist
(Blue Ridge Mountains)

White Rose Picture, single white rose vase

Well, actually not a single white rose, but two white rose blossoms in a single vase! This reference photo was gleened from an art forum that features a great section on reference photo's. I'll have to do some digging to find it for you. I may already mention it somewhere here on the site, but my site has gotten unruly and I'm needing to add a google search button on it. But in the mean time, please enjoy this one picture. It is a great composition and the whites make it easy to paint. Being white, it will go with most home decor! If you want to add a little splash of color, change the vase or background color to suit your needs.

Until next time... happy painting!

Picture of a Rose, Purple Rose Picture, Picture of Roses

by Your Artist
(Lynchburg)

Picture of a Rose, Purple Rose Picture, Picture of Roses

My good friend Debbie let us have a few of her old style roses. She's our florist. Her shop is called Angelic Haven and she's located on Timberlake Road should you ever be here for a visit! She is what you call a true entrepreneur. This shop she is in was a beat up, run down, rat trap that has now been transformed into this gorgeous little cottage of colors and smells that make my head spin when I come in sometimes. Right on the main drag, she and her husband worked their hands raw getting this place in shape. So much so, that a new tenant is now renting the shop next door (duplex) because it looks so good when you drive by!

Any way, these roses have that antique look to them, so I took afew home and began shooting. This is one of the close ups that I think will make for a great 30 x 40 canvas!

Pretty in White, Rose of Sharon

by Yvette Gaudreau
(Cape Cod, Ma.)

Rose of Sharon, Pretty in White, althea.

I love the center color of this white flower. Taken at the Wellfleet Audubon, Cape Cod, Ma.


***

Hi Yvette, yes, they are beautiful. This is a variety of "althaea" (althea) as Hibiscus syriacus.
Its common name is Rose of Sharon. My neighbor gave us a cutting years ago and I've used it for painting ever since. I do need to get one of the white varieties (like this) as they are so nice.

This is also a great picture because of it's long shadows and angle of light that shows off the pedals real shape. I won't be surprised to see someone use this in a painting soon! ;)

Thank you for this wonderful contribution!

Your next rose drawing.

by The artist
(Lynchburg)

antique rose, picture of roses

Here's an antique rose that was found at our local military cemetery. There are a number of antique roses within this old confederate/city cemetery that are tenderly cared for by a local society. Each year, we have a celebration and gather around this wonderful garden to take in the wonderful smells, bright sun shine and extraordinary blooms. I've tried to grow a few, and sometimes I'm lucky, but mostly I flop. Maybe this year will be my year to get some to really take root!

Enjoy. It's a very close up with a striking color combination.

I'm presently painting this one and have it in one of the forums. Once completed, I'll include it as a demo on the site.

Till next time....

Single Pink Sea Rose

by Yvette Gaudreau
(Cape Cod, Ma.)

Sea Roses are very fragile and grow wild by our beaches on Cape Cod. Usually find them along a marsh or inlet near water. They grow in pink, red and white.

***

Sometimes camera's can't tell the difference in pink, pink/violet, mauve, lavender. It's especially difficult for the male of our species to differentiate this range of colors. Something to do with the number of cones/receptors in the male eyeball. Anyway, since I'm at a disadvantage, if you call it pink, then pink it is! Wild roses in the Virginia area have a similar shape and color range. I'm working a painting now that has a similar color! (To me, this is a mauve?)

The distinguishing feature of this rose, in my opinion, are the serrations within the leaves. So pronounced and uniform. Almost like a mint that grows wild here.


Another great reference photo!

Thanks for sharing!

Pink Rose of Sharon, althea close up view

by the Artist
(Blue Ridge Mountains)

Pink Rose of Sharon, close up view

This is a single blossom from our Rose of Sharon bush. It was given as a small cutting years ago, and the bush has been transplanted several times and continues to thrive. I don't profess to have a green thumb so its got to be the bush. They simply are tough as nails.

Because of it's height, we put it near the back of the planting bed where it frames the view nicely. I guess it can get over 6 feet tall, but I trim it pretty regular to keep it in check.

No bugs either. And seems to be fairly drought proof. Then again, my planting bed is mostly composted leaves and loamy soil, so it retains its water well.

The only flowering bush that I have that more prolific would be our butterfly bush. I'll have to include pics of that sometime

I've added a few dew drops to this, as you know, I love dew drops in my paintings. They are the bling that brings the eye in for a closer look and makes things look so real!

I have a whole lesson on how to make these on the "More Lessons" tab of the nav bar. Hey, how do you like the new look for the site? It has a cleaner, simpler look and feel I think. The white background is helping show off all the photos so much better. And the nav bar is so much easier to read.

till next time....

Orange Rose

by Delmus
(USA)

orange rose, rose picture, rose flowers

This was one of my last autumn roses before a killing frost. Took the picture while dew was still present. Hopefully, I can add more rose pictures when I get a bit more time. This has been one of my favorite pastimes in growing these hybrid tea roses. I've also got an old antique rose, a white one that has held up well this last year. We had a bit of a drought here in Virginia and between that and the bugs and beetles, I didn't get much of a crop!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, it was the subject of a painting the is posted here on the site.

Go ahead, and have a go!

Click on the read comments to see how this photo turned out in a painting!

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