The Pink Rose was my attempt at learning and experimenting with the classical Flemish method. I chose this pink rose because I thought it would be an easy way to start since there is basically on two main colors. I started with a pencil sketch and worked from a reference photo. I had lots of fun learning and doing this painting.
Pencil sketch (8.5 x 11)
Burnt Umber Layer
I enlarged the 8.5 X 11 sketch on a photo copy machine to 16 X 20, traced the line work and transferred it to a canvas that was prepped with several coats of Gesso to an egg shell finish. I went over the graphite transfer lines on the canvas with a black ink. I no longer do this cause I think the black ink is just too heavy. I now just go over it again with pencil and pick up smudged graphite with a kneaded eraser. Next I lightly rub linseed oil over the whole canvas, which is called as oiling in. This will cause some of the graphite to smear but you should still be able to see the line work. The first layer of paint is a light coat of yellow ochre over the oiled canvas which will seal in the pencil work. Let this dry completely. The next layer of oil paint will be shading in the mid-tones with Burnt Umber only.
Dead Layer
After the Burnt Umber layer is completely dry, begin the next layer by once again rubbing linseed oil on the canvas but this time only apply oil in the area you plan on working on. In this case, I did the rose in one sitting and oiled-in only that portion of the painting. Make sure not to use too much oil. Mop up any excess oil with a make-up sponge, hands or remove some with a fan brush. Setup the pallet with a gray scale using Lamp Black and Titanium White. Use the Burnt Umber layer as your guide for modeling the dead layer.
More dead layer work with the same process as above.
1st Color Layer
Oil-in the area you'll be working on and start in with the color. Don't worry about trying to achieve the final richness of color with the first layer of color. This is the nice thing about working in layers; you can always add another layer to get the deeper richer color. Make use of the dead layer in the same way the Burnt Umber layer was used to assist in modeling the dead layer.
2nd & 3rd Color Layers
The rose has already received three color layers and I've added some final details like gain in the petals. I still need to add some more color to the leaves but this it for now.
I added more color to the leaves and finished it with highlights.
The Pink Rose is done!
16X20 Oil on Canvas
