STORY BEHIND THE ART OF ESTHER KLAHNE

20th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists & The Horticultural Society of New York

Rugosa Rose

Rosa rugosa

I had wanted to paint Rosa rugosa for a long time. Having grown up on Cape Cod, and been surrounded by this lusty flower that grows along the dunes of beaches and almost everywhere else, this remained on my "to do" list until last fall, when I started the work during a Koo Schadler egg tempera workshop.

As is the case with so many plants, there are two stages in the growth cycle that are equal in beauty: the flowering and the fruiting. I set out to capture both phases on a dark and moody ground reminiscent of an "Old World" Dutch painting.

It was a challenge to achieve the vivid fuchsia of the flower and fiery red orange of the fruit with the natural egg tempura pigments used! This piece will not be my final attempt at painting Rosa rugosa, but after years of admiring its vibrant beauty set against the neutral backdrop of sand and beach grass, I was grateful to give it a first try.  

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