Birthday Roses

When my friend Ruth left The Hague I threw a small party to say good bye and these roses were given to me by the guests.  When people give me roses i usually paint them and then, since they were a gift, I give the painting away.  (Birthday roses 50 x 40 cms oil on canvas 2008) I never try to get an exact observational drawing. I just choose the things that I want to paint from the flowers in front of me. I think there is a lot of personality in the leaves.. like a small nest of baby cobras.. the flowers have that lovely heavy floppiness that garden roses have when they open .. anyhow as an artist of the human figure I always run to this subject like a guilty lover to his mistress..  very enjoyable.

a bientot

Jane