I’ve loved Peace Roses since I was little. Every year I would struggle with a new plant trying to recreate these exquisite blooms for myself. It has to be said in my own defense, that the local nurseries had said my soil was the worst that they had ever seen. I had also been told that the remarkable color of the Peace rose had been bred out by excessive cloning. A notation at the Edmund’s Roses site stated that the subtle colors would come back if I used non-chemical fertilizers on it. I had already killed so many plants and hopes. I did what every optimist does. I took a deep breath and ordered another Peace rose. So great was my desire, I did what my mother said I must never do. I dumped an entire bag of composted chicken manure at the base of the plant, not touching the canes, of course. Eureka!
Art is like the Peace Rose in my yard. My artistic soil may not be all it’s cracked up to be but the Desire is all. Desire and determination to go back and try again. Going to classes helps. The silly practice of buying a new brush or a new tube of paint is like trying a magic spell to find love. Being able to try new techniques and of course ruthlessly burn paintings that make you cringe will speed progress to new levels. Peace!