wind- blown rose

I decided to stop at the Acton Arboretum on a sudden whim yesterday when I was passing by on the highway. It was a beautiful breezy afternoon!

an abundance of roses

This 14 x 18 oil was painted for my sister-in-law. The request was for a horizontal landscape that includes roses over a stone wall, with some kind of a structure in the background. It look a long time to find a suitable scene, but I finally found one not far from her house in Chelmsford. The owner of the property actually drove by while I was taking pictures from the road and when I explained what I was doing, he seemed pleased that someone was taking an interest in his beautiful roses.

The painting has come a long way, and I discovered that it really is necesssary for me to work standing up on anything larger than a miniature. Having complete freedom of movement makes the painting experience more enjoyable, and one does tend to stand back more readily, than when sitting down.