Passion + Passion = Passion

"Moonlight over Paris", that's the name of the flowers you see in this lovely little bouquet.  I've been taken with them for some time, the delicate pink outer petals and the lemony yellow inner layers.  Yesterday I was curious what the back story of this rose is, so I did some research.  

Turns out my passion to bring beautiful flowers to life on the canvas is a by product of the passion that went into growing them. 

Prior to 1935 Georges Delbard, resigned from his two previous d employers because he was repeatedly passed over for promotion when outside staff were brought in to fill a vacancy.  He realized he would never be more than 'staff' and wanted to create something for himself. 

He began in Paris purchasing plants and reselling them in a street side stand, moving on to open his own storefront a few years later. 

He created a catalogue that people ordered from, pictured above, and they would pick up their items from the store. He sold fruit trees and roses.  Keep in mind around the second world war most of Europe were needing to produce food to feed the country so the fruit trees were particularly important. 

Georges soon realized that he wanted to grow his own trees/flowers versus buying the plants already started from a wholesaler.  He approached his father in Malicorne, France and convinced him to give up the meager farming he was doing on a 10 acre plot and let Georges start growing his trees and flowers. 

Once Georges was established he published a book on the care, pruning, growing and propagation of fruit trees. 

This book was so well received that Georges soon starting receiving cuttings from around the world as other enthusiasts wanted to share their unique varieties of fruit trees.  Georges spent 10 years growing these new samples.  It takes about 5 years for a fruit tree to bear fruit.  From these early trees he realized he had amassed a genetic storehouse of trees and began the process of cross breeding the varieties. 

Have you ever had a Golden Delicious or Royal Gala apple?  You have Georges to thank.  These are two varieties that he developed.  The company developed many different varieties of fruit trees and in fact have 1500 varieties of pears to choose from, as an example.

We are fascinated with French cuisine, the uniqueness of the flavour, the variety of aromas and textures, which are derived from the abundant variety of fruits and vegetable available.  It's a passion for the cultivating of those variations that give cuisine such intrigue.

Georges had a vision and he was dedicated to his focus for the entirely of his lifetime, passing on his passion to his son and now the company is run by his grandson Arnaud. 

When asked what is different about their roses Arnaud responded he wants to create a feeling that overwhelms you.  Wants to talk with you and share its beauty with you. Roses that evoke emotion. It's not enough to have a lovely bush that is disease resistant with lovely blooms.  People want the emotion, they want to share in the beauty.  

There are 250 different olfactory notes possible in just one rose - fragrance is a big deal. The Delbard's developed a scent triangle that is a signature for each rose they produce.  It outlines the different notes that a specific rose exhibits. 

Currently the company has a plot of 10 hectares or 25 acres dedicated to the breeding of roses.  They collect 150,000 seeds from that breeding program every year and only 4-5 seed will be used to yield a new variety.  

The company started with the 10 acres of land from Georges father and has now amassed over 600 acres of land for the growing and propagation of plants.  They also have farms across Europe, the middle east and the United States. 

From the breeding beds they may have a wonderful flower but the bush it grew on may not be very strong.  They will graft that flower onto a more robust bush in order to improve the variety.  This takes time.  5-10 years to develop a new variety.  The standard is that the rose be disease resistant, grow across many zone/climates, and consistently yield the gorgeous blooms they are striving for.  Growing across climates requires testing plots around Europe from the southern warmer climates to the northern countries such as the northern fields of Germany.  They are testing for frost resistance, drought tolerance etc.  Their goal is to use no sprays and only necessary watering.  

At the time of the interview Arnaud disclosed that they grow 2 million fruit trees and equal amount of roses.  Despite this massive volume of products they grow he is aware that you need to reinvent a thing or it dies.  The active propagation of new varieties is an ongoing passion. 

"A product just can't be good, it must bring emotion."

And that emotion is best shared with others.  Arnaud is very clear that the real gift is in the sharing of the products they grow with other people.  Spreading the passion and joy for the unique and wonderful.  

I was pleasant surprised to learn all this because I feel a link to the companies philosophy.  I too believe that a painting is more than a technical skill, I want the image to invoke something in the viewer.  To share the beauty, the hint of a fragrance, a memory, a mood, and an atmosphere with the viewer.  If I can do that, then I can bring that flower to life. 

I titled this piece "Passion + Passion = Passion". It is all transferrable.  From the passion of Georges Delbard and the propagating/breeding of exquisite flowers, I get to grow them in my garden and experience them first hand.  I get inspired by their characteristics, capture them in my memory and photos, then bring them to life on the canvas. I like to think my paintings are steeped in that passion. My goal is to have that passion felt when you experience my work.  

The Delbard's passion + my passion = passionate paintings.

I think we all want to feel something.  The sensual qualities of living with taste, sound, texture, smell, feel and I'll add energy here too.  Much of the world is mundane and monotone, it's the highlights that stand out for us.  Those moments that are unusual - the heightened sensual experiences. 
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This is the source photo for a current painting that I'm working on. 12 x 12" Oil on Raymar board

These are three additional source photos from my 'Moonlight over Paris' rose that are proposed upcoming paintings.  

My heart is full when I realize that I get to spend my days with these beautiful blooms and sharing that love/passion with you. 

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