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I have been painting close up images of roses. They began as studies an attempt to better understand the structure of the rose so that I can paint them more accurately.  I use digital images printed on regular paper as reference material.

While working on these images I had trouble navigating their complexity, I often lost my place and found I did not know which way was up.  I thought to myself, “I keep getting lost: what I need is a map or a compass to find my way around here” 

That is how the Rose Compass came about.  The rose compass is based on a compass rose, the ornate design element indicating the cardinal directions or direction of the winds.  Known since ancient times, now we find the compass rose on maps and navigational charts showing the orientation of north south east and west. On any journey it is essential to know where true north lies, a compass points the way.

Ah yes, True North.  Doesn’t every artist need to know where that is?