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Comment by Sharon Repple on April 20, 2014 at 9:10

Michael, that is a good reminder of what the eye sees and what the camera lens brings into focus. Now that I think about it, Daniel Keys, Richard Schmid and other artists that paint flowers always have the flowers there to paint from. Again, wise advice, thanks you

Comment by Michael J. Severin on April 20, 2014 at 7:52

Hi Sharon.  A p.s. for you.   When you do paint a rose from life (or anything else), you will notice that you can only focus on on point ..everything else is in your peripheral vision ....a little blurry.  That is how are vision works ..you know ..the cones and rods and all that ...that is also how to "see like an artist".  You don't notice that, when looking at a photo,  because the camera lens puts everything into sharp focus. (Unless you know how to manipulate the depth of field on your camera).  ...so value, edges, gradation, etc ..all come into play.  Thomas W. does a great job on doing that.

Comment by Sharon Repple on April 20, 2014 at 5:14

Michael, I appreciate your confidence that I would be able to paint the delicate character of the rose if I had it in front of me.  Reliance on photos does make it harder to pick up on the qualities you speak of, especially light through a delicate petal.  Great advice, I will work on having the subject next to me.  The photo reference for this painting was taken in Winter Park in their rose garden during the Winter Park Art Festival. Might have to search closer to home for more roses. Thanks again for taking the time to critique

Comment by Michael J. Severin on April 20, 2014 at 4:32

Sharon, A rose, a rose .....Paint it from life Sharon ...a photograph does not capture the delicate, translucent qualities of the rose.  The photograph will never capture the subtle colored grays and prismatic light.  The photograph will not tell you how the light is influencing the colors of the rose.  By painting this delicate beauty from a photo, you painted what you KNOW about a rose ..not what you are seeing and what the rose is telling you ..because the photo does not give you that information.....painting from the live model, you would have seen all the nuances that say ...Rose.   We know this is a rose, we see this as a rose .....because  it looks like what we all know a rose should look like . in shape and color ......but not the delicate character of a rose.  That will come by direct observation.  It cannot be "made up" because the light is always a little different and will illuminate the rose in its own special way.  So, go out, set your easel up next to your rose bush, and paint it. 

Comment by Silvana M Albano on April 20, 2014 at 4:04

Very nice Sharon!

Comment by Sharon Repple on April 20, 2014 at 1:36

Thanks Richard.  Michael, it is from a photo that I took, look forward to your critique

Comment by Michael J. Severin on April 20, 2014 at 1:08

Sharon, was this from a photo or your live  set up?  Critique coming when I receive your  answer.

Comment by Richard Michael Taylor on April 20, 2014 at 0:24

Very nice!