Roses: Always a Good Idea

While roses aren't my favorite flower, I find myself using them in art very frequently.  They are just so loaded with connotation and symbolism that their image just expresses more than their depiction.  As such, I am using roses (in combination with ivy and love birds) for a bookplate style painting to give to a friend for her upcoming nuptials.  Sure, it is a bit heavy handed in its symbolism, but if you can't over do it for a wedding, when can you? 


This is the current state:

It is an 11x17 (I have learned to size things for easy framing) watercolor/gouache on Arches hot press.  There is still quite a bit to do.  I have had quite a bit of fun working on the roses, though.

A year ago, I received this as a gift:

I have a number of Taschen art book re-prints and this is one of my favorites.  The Roses is a complete edition of all of Pierre-Joseph Redoute's rose plates.  While they are more illustrative than atmospheric/realistic, they are just spectacular.  So I have been trying to create my wedding roses in the spirit of Redoute.  I am not sure that I can do his justice, but hopefully the sentiment is there.

More info on Redoute:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redoute

The Roses (I don't think Taschen is printing it anymore...so buy it while you can)

http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9783822838105-0