Magenta Rose No. 4 Original Contemporary Painting by Susan Havens

Details

Description

What interests me most is how the flowers seem to float above the vessel. The painting almost glows, and I … Read more What interests me most is how the flowers seem to float above the vessel. The painting almost glows, and I find myself wondering whether I am actually painting flowers or simply painting light—the instant impression of an object before the mind begins to define its details.
Thoughts of a large, overstuffed bouquet of roses, fully opened and spilling over the edges of a classical vessel. This is perhaps the most abstract painting in my botanical series so far. I've reduced the flowers to loose, rounded shapes, with just enough suggestion of petals to recall a bouquet of roses.

The Flowers: The roses are suggested through overlapping circular forms and soft, irregular edges. Only the movement and fullness of an abundant arrangement. The individual flowers dissolve into one another, creating a luminous mass that feels almost suspended.

Color: A rich, saturated deep magenta background dramatically contrasts with the creamy ivory-white silhouette. The limited palette allows the flowers and vessel to emerge through light rather than detail, giving the composition a bold, modern presence.

Texture: Soft transitions and glowing edges that make this painting possible. Fine overspray, scattered speckles, and subtle variations in opacity give the flowers a sense of movement and depth. I enjoy the unpredictability of the medium, particularly when the paint produces an effect that is more interesting than what I originally intended.

Vessel: A classical footed bowl provides a substantial foundation beneath the bouquet. Its simple silhouette is recognizable, yet its edges dissolve into the surrounding color. The contrast between the grounded vessel and the floating flowers is central to the composition.

This painting continues my exploration of botanical forms reduced to their simplest expression. It is less about depicting a vase of roses and more about capturing the immediate visual memory of one—an illusion of flowers, light, and abundance created through paint.

Specifications
• Type: Original painting, one of one
• Medium: Spray paint and ink on Birsol paper, unframed
• Year: 2026
• Artist: Susan Havens
• Size: 18" x 24"
• Color Palette: Deep Magenta, Creamy Ivory, and White

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Susan Havens is a New Orleans–based artist who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With over 27 years of experience as a graphic designer, art director, and creative director, her work reflects a refined understanding of composition, color, and visual storytelling.

Her artwork is held in private collections and has been placed in residences, private clubs, and hospitality environments by interior designers, and has been featured at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. See less