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Rosie Red is a sister to Rosie, although I did use a different photo for my reference.  I find that I am really enjoying my forays into knife painting with thick paint and sometimes even on canvas rather than paper.  Even when needing to present some attempt at realism, I find the knife to be very free and "liberating".  (I must be liberating myself from ME--and my usual cautious watercolour-thin acrylic style.)

Rosie Red was painted very quickly, even though she managed to teach me that despite the usual practise of beginning in the middle when painting a rose, if I want to use those lovely puffy ridges of paint left by the knife's edge it is MUCH easier to start at the outside petals.  After having drawn my guide by starting in the middle, of course..........   I am still struggling with remembering that thick paint does not dry instantly, even here in the dryness of Alberta in the winter !  Because Rosie Red was to be offered for sale in less than 6 hours, I confess that I popped her into the cupboard that sits above a heat register in order to get her dry enough to frame in time.  So far I seem to have been forgiven for imposing such indignities upon her !  (This means that the paint--as of 16 hours later--has not stuck to the glass in the frame.)

I love the "as blurred as I want, plus texture" backgrounds that knife painting makes so easy !  It is a joy to blend in the different colours seemingly at random, including putting in bits of broken colour from other areas to help tie it all together.  I even put red and pink in the green of the leaves.  Must I  confess to having used my fingers to thin out the last bits of white that muted the background ?  Wouldn't anyone do the same ? 

Rosie Red became a cheery little piece to brighten a long winter.  That seems to mean that she will be here with us for some time !  It also tells me that she is not going to Vancouver as a present.  Now what do I do !  It is either "Time is a'wasting !",  or "Decisions, Decisions !"

Either way, I have to get busy.  Again.