Just like the faces in many of my portraits, the roses in this painting are much larger than life size, almost 15 inches across. The scale changes how we see the flowers. Rather than delicate blossoms needing protection (under a glass dome, perhaps), these are monumental, even a little scary. The petals feel ponderous, the leaves bend to the ground.
I love a rose in the rain. The dim light makes the colors pop, the leaves so green that they look black.
These rain roses are a few days past their peak, their petals just barely standing up to the heavy drops. I love that perfect moment when you see the sparkle of youth overcome by the vicissitudes of age. (Maybe it's because I'm middle aged.)
A painting for secrets
Roses have been associated with secrets since the ancient Greeks. I tried to imbue this painting with that magic. Put the print in only your most intimate room, where you tell that which the world doesn't need to know.
In terms of secrets, you can see the backs of these roses in the sister painting, Big Back Rain Roses.
This original is 24" x 18", gouache on watercolor paper.
