Red Rose Shadow Play

This beautiful red rose image was what I wanted to draw this week.  I loved the way this rose appears to float in the middle of the picture, and the way the shadows create different colors and patterns on the hardwood floor.  The actual rose is sitting inside a glass vase (which you can't see at this angle).  I think the image has an interesting combination of both realistic and surrealistic elements with the realistic red rose appearing to hover above the odd angles and shadows underneath.

Flowers in a vase are one of those subjects all artists should attempt at one time or another.  It's a classic image most famous artists have attempted early on in in their career as well as later in their career.  The interesting thing that I find about this rose is that it looks simple and uncomplicated to draw, but it was actually one of the more difficult things I've drawn. I somehow got lost in all the small details of petals that lay on top of one another, as well as all the different colors and shadows that occur in the rose.

I think that if you do attempt to draw a flower in a vase, you'll discover that it has many more details and colors than you expected.  At least that was my experience. When I first looked at this rose it looked like it was mainly red.  But as I studied and drew the rose, I began to see a flower full of reds, pinks, dark umber, and even yellow and orange hues sprinkled throughout. 

I think all of us are creators of some kind, and I think creating is by nature a healthy thing for us to do.   I hope we can all experience the unexpected surprises and discoveries that can happen through our creative ventures!