The Rose Stories

 

 

 

I wanted to give a little more information here about this part of my art practice, a journey which began just over 10 years ago, and to warmly welcome you to these - my explorations into the intriguing worlds of the rose.

 

It has been fascinating to research into their many historical and cultural references, to explore the diverse forms and colours of many different roses, their solidity and transparency, a dance with love, loss, intimacy, and memory.

 

A contradictory world of symbolic potency, of far away scents and distant times have mixed with ancient Herbals and Physic gardens, notions of 'Home' and my local walks along the hedges and bridlepaths around my village and in my own garden.

 

Over the years I have used dried or pressed flowers, photography, watercolours, handmade mineral paints and drawings using graphite and coloured pencils and sculptural pieces made from dried specimens along the way.  

 

In some pieces in this body of work I have chosen to use a more scientific methodology and approach, as in the watercolour painting of the Rosa damascena which was commissioned for The Illustrated College Herbal by the Royal College of Physicians, and another watercolour painting of Rosa rubiginosa which was selected for the Botanical Art Worldwide Exhibition in 2018.

 

Whilst other pieces contain more layered narratives, which I often hint at in their titles, and where I use roses as metaphor to express other complex ideas, emotions and stories. 

 

If you would like to contact me about my work, please do, I would love to hear from you.

 

Julia

 

 

 

 

The Imaginal Rose

 

Digital print

Limited edtion

 

A few prints are still available to purchase, please message me for details

 

 

‘Rosa damascena’

 

From the

 ‘The Illustrated College Herbal’

Plants from the Pharmacopoeia Londinensis of 1618

The Royal College of Physicians

 

Prints are still available please message me for details,

I have sold all of my copies of the book now.

 

 

 

A selection of images from T​he Rose Stories

 

 

 

Like a prayer

'Invocation'

 

graphite pencil and gouache on paper

76 cm  x 96 cm

 

 

 

 

Rose Petal Mandala

Phosphorus

morning star

 

Photgraphic print

Limited edition of 20

50 cm x 50 cm

 

A few are still available

please contact me for details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like a prayer

watercolour painting

 

65 cm x 85 cm

 

Dried Rose Petal Mandala

Using petals from the ancient rose Rosa mundi,

 

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© Julia Groves