Morning Has Broken

Morning Has Broken   12" x 12"   Oil on wrapped canvas   $200

A month ago I went to the Botanic Gardens earlier than I'm normally out of bed. It was a beautiful summer morning with low humidity. The sun, low in the sky, cast shadows like I had not witnessed before. I was rewarded for my early excursion.

I've been gone. I've actually been here, at home, but not so much in my studio. I gave myself permission to rest, to become fallow, replenish, refresh and do nothing.  Nothing turned out to be preparation for three exhibits, several house portraits and commission pieces, but I'm not compelled to post.  Not yet, anyway. I'll share with you the triptych when it's hanging in Wisconsin.  I'll announce the shows on a different day. For tonight, I'm just dipping my toes back into the pond and sharing a rose that dazzled my senses.  She will be in one of my shows. But more about that next time. 

Carol                 


First Rose of Summer

"First Rose of Summer"  20" x16"  Oil on wrapped canvas 

The white roses are blooming, but they've been beaten and bruised by the heavy rains at the Botanic Gardens.  When I was there on Thursday, I found this one under shelter. She was sensual and beautifully fragrant next to a building. There were plenty of buds, so there will be more to photograph as the summer progresses. And it finally seems to be here!  

I hadn't painted a rose in a long time. I was hankering to tackle one when I realized how beautiful my photo was, so I started her last night and finished her today. Painting her was as comfortable as being with an old friend. I just knew intuitively where to begin. 

This rose, if she doesn't sell first, will be in a solo exhibit I have scheduled for the month of September. It will feature roses and chocolates, so you'll be seeing more of these and several new chocolate paintings. 

Carol

In the Middle of the Bouquet

"In the Middle of the Bouquet"
24" x 24"
Oil on stretched canvas
I walked into one of the new upscale grocery stores in my neighborhood to find a display of beautifully lit flowers. The bouquets were fresh and spectacular. I had a camera in my purse, so I used it.

 It's been months since I've painted a rose, so I decided to paint a large one, in honor of the event.

Carol

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White Rose

"White Rose"
5" x 5"
Oil on wrapped canvas
This day turned into such a joyful and productive day that late in the evening I decided to paint a small white rose as a token of my love. Spring is in the air. Gardening is being done, muscles are sore and plans are being made for beautiful things to blossom. 

 Friends everywhere have written to tell me that it's spring where they are. They've tilled the earth or planted or seeded.  I have to believe it will happen… Spring is here!

Carol

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Violaceous Velvet

"Violaceous Velvet"
12" x 12" 
Oil on wrapped canvas
Her petals unfurled from the tight, yellow bud at her core, to the violaceous milkiness of her velvety corolla. 

It's been months since I've painted a rose, but not for lack of interest. I got bogged down in landscapes and house portraits, but today my heart needed to be involved with my favorite subject matter, no matter what.

Carol

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Heaven Scent

"Heaven Scent"
18" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I plucked this bloom from a bouquet comprised of her siblings. I held her full-blown countenance sideways under a light in my studio, so her petals would cast striking shadows. While I twisted her stem, a heavenly fragrance spritzed the air like an old fashioned perfume atomizer had been squeezed.  

Not only did she smell good, she was also heaven sent. I was in want of new roses to paint and a simple bouquet from the grocery store afforded me subject matter for many new paintings. As you probably know, I love to paint white roses—the most colourful of all. 

Carol

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Priscilla

"Priscilla"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Slowly, she unfurled one petal after another to reveal her tender bits. Priscilla's heavenly scent would now attract a myriad buzzing suitors to gather her fragrant pollen. Imagine the taste of the honey this beauty might flavour. 

It's been a while since I've painted a rose, my favourite subject matter.
 
Carol

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Heavenly Widened Rose

"Heavenly Widened Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
As I worked on this piece, I was listening to my favorite Cowboy Junkies song, a cover version of a ballad by Lou Reed.  It's called "Sweet Jane," and Margo Timmins sings the phrase "Heavenly widened roses seem to whisper to me when you smile..."  It struck me as a fitting title for the painting. She is, don't you think, a widening rose?  

I had fun painting my rocks series, but my heart and soul are in painting roses.  This is one from the bouquet I bought for myself the other day. You'll see more white roses like her in the coming days.

Carol

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Mademoiselle Minet

"Mademoiselle Minet"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She was stretching like a kitten in the morning sun when I happened upon her.  Yesterday she was little more than a bud, but today she had opened herself to ... possibilities.

I've painted this image before; large and small, rectangular and now a large square. She captivates me each time.  I love the colours I find in this white rose. She wears them with graceful ardor.

If it's a special day for you, this beauty honours that occasion.

Carol

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Morning D'Light

"Morning D'Light"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
In the brightness of morning, I squinted as I photographed this luscious beauty. The intense light cast hard, colourful shadows on the nodding bloom, just opening her pouty mouth to the new day. Not until I imported my photos did I notice the morning dew on her lip and chin... er, petals.   

Morning light can suck the colour out of a white rose, but I was able to capture it effectively on this delightful bloom.  It was indeed a morning of delight.  

Love to my followers,
Carol  

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My Lady Love

"My Lady Love"
20" x 16"
Oil on Hardboard




















Like a mistress awaiting her lover, she languished quietly until the bristles of my brush began stroking her dark crevices, her milky highlights. That's when this beauty came to life.

I hankered, yearned, longed to paint this rose while I was busy with other projects. White roses are my favourite subject matter because of all the colour in the shadows.  

Carol

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Oyster Pearl

"Oyster Pearl"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
When first I saw her, she glistened, held captive by the morning light. Luscious, like the pearl in an oyster, she wore simultaneously, the colours of the sun and the moon.  

I loved painting this rose, but her colours did startle me as I examined her closely, so closely. Then her fragrance distracted me... too.

Carol

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Last Rose of Summer

"Last Rose of Summer"
24" x 24"
Oil on wrapped canvas
As the last of the white roses bloomed along the picket fence, I waited two days for this one to reach the perfect stage of burgeoning.  Then the sun cooperated by gracing the tips of her petals.  She's a large and lovely addition to my gallery of roses. 

 I started this painting several weeks ago, but just couldn't figure out how to finish her. I forced myself to do it tonight, though. And I'm pretty happy with the results.

Carol

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Full Blown

"Full Blown"
6" x 6"
Oil on canvas panel
The roses along the picket fence are nearly finished with their outrageous display for the season. Where there were hundreds a few weeks ago, now only a dozen remain. There are no buds. Every one is full blown; open to her fullest extent without dropping her petals... just yet.
Love to you, my followers,
Carol

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Country Rose

"Country Rose"
20" x 20"
Oil on wrapped canvas
She parted her dewy petals like the lips of lovers when they kiss, to cherish the warmth of that summer morning. She welcomed the sky reflections on her petticoats and the sunshine on her camisole. 


I painted Country Rose once before, and donated her to a fundraiser for a women's shelter.  She was such fun to paint, I wanted to experience it again.  Enjoy my Country Rose.  


Carol 


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Anniversary Rose

"Anniversary Rose"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
Today is my One-Year Anniversary of posting a painting a day and writing about it for 365 consecutive days.  I took the daily painting concept seriously and managed to satisfy it to the letter... or number in this case. 

The photo of this rose was filed in my iPhoto folder for two years. I decided to paint her many colors of white to celebrate this occasion.

Thank you for looking at and reading my blog for a year.  I hope to be as diligent in the coming year, but that will remain to be seen as the days pass. I'm not going to make it a goal, again, but as it is a habit now, I suspect I'll continue on.

My rose giveaway contest is over, and the winner will be announced tomorrow.

Carol

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Bee's Delight (contest/giveaway)

"Bee's Delight"
12"x12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
By now you know I love to paint roses. This one in particular.  I've painted her before, in different light and colors.  Indulge me in my weakness for this beauty.   


On July 17th, a year ago I wrote my first blog entry. I set out on a journey to post every day, despite my day job, death, the flu, and heartache.  I've grown as an artist, a writer and person, and you, my followers, are the reason I persist.

I want to thank you by creating an opportunity for you to win one of my last four rose paintings posted on July 5, 6, 7 & 8 (above).

Send one entry per email address to Brushstrokes@comcast.net guessing the high and low temperatures for Tuesday, July 17, 2012 for Chicago, Illinois, according to the National Weather Service NOAA website.

Entries must be posted between July 8th and July 16th. I will acknowledge every entry with a return email.  The winner (closest to both temperatures) will be chosen after 8:00 PM on the 17th when the official temperatures are posted. I will announce the winner on the 18th.  In the event of multiple winners, we'll spit watermelon seeds in my back yard!

Carol

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Stung

"Stung"
12" x 12"
Oil on wrapped canvas
I stopped to photograph the roses hanging over a picket fence yesterday morning.  The light was gorgeous, there was dew on some of the blooms and YIKES!  I was stung by a bee on my left hand ring finger.  I'm allergic to bee stings, but I carry Apis, a homeopathic remedy, at all times, and took several tablets and survived to paint this piece!  

Carol

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