Blog Name Change

You may have noticed that I have changed the title of my blog. I have three blogs - my floral art blog, my daily paintings blog and my artbymarion blog for my larger works. I am finding it difficult to maintain all three, plus my website and keep enough time for painting LOL.

I am combining this blog (my daily painting blog) with my artbymarion blog, and I have renamed it "Joy of Colour" which I feel is more appropriate and reflects my style of painting. It also means that you will see more of my paintings, not just my small daily paintings. I hope you like the change.

I am going to continue with my "art of flowers" blog, specifically for my florals.
http://artofflowers.blogspot.fr/ so please pop over and have a look.

Autumn Reflections Palette Knife painting

Autumn Reflections

Oil on canvas, palette knife painting

30x30 cm on narrow box canvas
This painting is SOLD

I love painting water and reflections. When I noticed this photo in my archive of wetcanvas.com photos, I thought AH-HA I must try that one while I am in autumn mode. It turned out colourful (but that is no surprise for me) but I like it. The water adds another dimension to an autumn scene.

Reflections Tip
Reflections should never be as bright as the original. One way to avoid this is to paint the reflections into the wet paint of the water. This ensures that the colours will always be dulled down.
 You might be interested in my Autumn Explosion painting

Autumn Explosion, palette knife painting

Autumn Explosion by Marion Hedger

Oil on canvas panel

Heavily textured palette knife painting

18x24 cm (approx 7"x10")

When painting forest scenes, I usually like to show some sort of path to encourage the viewer to 'walk' through the painting, as can be seen HERE in this larger painting. With this painting, I wanted to show the 'denseness' of the foliage and the way that the colour can confuse the senses.

Here is a close up of the impasto knife work

This is a sister painting to Autumn Birches which was painted with the same palette and also shows a path.

 

 Find my small paintings in my ETSY STORE

Fracture Abstraction No 6, varnished watercolor

"Fracture Abstraction No 6." Varnished watercolour abstract.
Painting size = 9.5 x 17.5cm (approx. 4"x7")
Overall size = approx 13.5 x 21cm (approx 5"x8")
Initialed on the front, signed on the back

Can be framed without glass

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP  

This one turned out completely different to the others -  that's the beauty of this type of abstract and letting the 'feel' of the painting take charge. Sometimes the painting takes over and you just have to go with the flow. 

View showing the rough edge

Fracture Abstraction No.4 and No.5, watercolour abstracts

Another two of this set

"Fracture Abstraction No 4." Varnished watercolour abstract.
Painting size = 9.5 x 17.5cm (approx. 4"x7")
Overall size = approx 13.5 x 21cm (approx 5"x8")
Initialed on the front, signed on the back

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP 

"Fracture Abstraction No 5." Varnished watercolour abstract.
Painting size = 9.5 x 17.5cm (approx. 4"x7")
Overall size = approx 13.5 x 21cm (approx 5"x8")
Varnished
Initialed on the front, signed on the back

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP 

The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that no. 3 is missing. The photo did not turn out very well on that one and I need to take another when the weather brightens up.

Fracture Abstraction No.2, watercolour abstract

"Fracture Abstraction No 2." Varnished watercolour abstract.
Painting size = 9.5 x 17.5cm (approx. 4"x7")
Overall size = approx 13.5 x 21cm (approx 5"x8")
Varnished
Initialed on the front, signed on the back

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP 

The second in my abstract watercolors.

In the spirit of play and creativity, I let watercolour washes merge together and then using pen, I enhance the shapes and used a bit of my artist's licence to extend and colour some areas. A white border has been left around the edge to enhance the colours. I have stressed the edges to give a bit of a handmade paper look, but this can be trimmed straight. I am enjoying myself with the freedom this brings. Hopefully, I can carry this forward in my more structured paintings.

This shows the 'stressed' edges.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale

I have joined the Etsy promotion for Black Friday. I am offering a 10% discount on all my available paintings in my store. Use coupon code BFCMWEEKEND1 at checkout to receive a 10% discount on any painting.

Valid from today through to Monday.

What better gift to give at Christmas than an original painting.

Fracture Abstraction - watercolour abstract painting

"Fracture Abstraction No 1." by Marion Hedger

Varnished watercolour abstract.
Painting size = 9.5 x 17.5cm (approx. 4"x7")
Overall size = approx 13.5 x 21cm (approx 5"x8")
Varnished, can be framed without glass
Initialed on the front, signed on the back

FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP

I have taken a break from oil painting for a couple of days and decided to do something different and try to stimulate my imagination.

In the spirit of play and creativity, I let watercolour washes merge together and then using pen, I enhance the shapes and used a bit of my artist's licence to extend and colour some areas. A white border has been left around the edge to enhance the colours. I have stressed the edges to give a bit of a handmade paper look, but this can be trimmed straight. I am enjoying myself with the freedom this brings. Hopefully, I can carry this forward in my more structured paintings.

This shows the 'stressed' edges.

Provence Poppy Extravaganza palette knife oil painting

Provence Poppy Extravaganza

Oil palette knife painting

15 x 20cm (6" x 8") on box canvas

55€ Click HERE to purchase

This is the last in the current series of poppy paintings. Although, as I get so much pleasure from painting them and I still have lots of photo references, who knows .... LOL

Painted with a palette knife, on a highly textured ground with a pink underpainting which is allowed to show through the finished painting.
Another view of the poppy meadows can be seen HERE 

Path through the Poppy Meadow, oil painting SOLD

Path through the poppy meadow by Marion Hedger

Oil palette knife painting

15 x 20cm (6" x 8") on box canvas

THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

I really love painting these small Provencal scenes. They always take me back to my trips to the interior Var and Haut Provence region.
Another view of the poppy meadows can be seen HERE

Lavender Farm Provence oil painting

Lavender Farm in Provence by Marion Hedger

Oil on canvas panel

15 x 20 cm (6" x 8") painted with a palette knife

This painting is now SOLD

After painting several autumn scenes with lots of yellows and oranges, I had the urge to use blues and purples again. I returned to my photos and created a few more Provencal lavender paintings. I will post another Provence lavender scene tomorrow. I gessoed the canvas quite thickly to give a heavy textured ground, and then painted it with a pink underpainting which I let show through in the finished painting, adding an overall liveliness.
Here is a close up of some of the impasto paintwork.

Autumn Vineyard Vista palette knife painting

Autumn Vineyard Vista

18 x 24 cm on artist quality canvas panel

Oil, palette knife painting on a textured surface.

SOLD

The third of my autumn vineyard paintings. I shall have to pay a return visit to these Provence vineyards in the summer, when the grapes are growing.

Here is a close-up detail of the knife work


See the other two paintings in this Autumn Vineyard group HERE

Autumn Vineyard Provence oil painting

Autumn Vineyard Provence by Marion Hedger

18x24cm, palette knife painting

oil on canvas panel
Another vineyard scene from the same area as yesterday's painting.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE From my Etsy Shop

Painted with a palette knife on heavily textured canvas panel.

Autumn light, Provence Vineyard

Autumn Light, Provence Vineyard

Palette knife painting

18 x 24 cm (approx. 7"x10")

Oil on textured pink ground on canvas panel.
This painting is now SOLD

Last week we took a trip to the vineyards in the Var. Beautiful scenery, with the autumn colours of the vines set off by the background of the mountains.
I took several photos of course and I have painted some small landscapes and have several ideas for some more.

This is painted on canvas panel which I treated with thick gesso giving it a thick textured surface. I then painted a ground of pink and let this show through to add life and sparkle. Using a palette knife gives it a heavy impasto look.

Tomorrow I will post another of the vineyard paintings.

Mountain Scene Challenge in Pastel

 Mountain Abstract in Green and Purples

Pastel on Pastel paper

22x30cm

A while ago I participated in a challenge in the Pastel forum of wetcanvas.com which involved choosing a landscape photo and creating different versions of it using various techniques and style. I am cleaning out my studio and am now offering these for sale at Etsy to make room. There are 10 paintings in all, with two of them shown here.

Click here to see all of the series for sale

Sunshine in Provence No.2, oil painting

Sunshine in Provence No.2 by Marion Hedger

15x20 cm (approx 6" x 8")

Oil on box canvas, painted with a palette knife.

A sister painting to the one posted yesterday but with a more distant view, from the batch of photos taken while on a photo shoot of the lavender fields near Valensole. Scattered amongst the lavender fields were fields of sunflowers, quite a contrast to all the lavender elsewhere.

This was painted using a palette knife and has an impasto texture.

AVAILABLE FROM MY Etsy store

Click Here to see one of my lavender paintings of the same area

Sunshine in Provence oil painting

Sunshine in Provence by Marion Hedger

15x20 cm (approx 6" x 8")

Oil on box canvas, painted with a palette knife.

This is painted from the batch of photos taken while on a photo shoot of the lavender fields near Valensole. Scattered amongst the lavender fields were fields of sunflowers, quite a contrast to all the lavender elsewhere.

This was painted using a palette knife and has an impasto texture. Here is a  close up of the paint application

Available from my Etsy store

Click Here to see one of my lavender paintings of the same area

Abandoned Garden in Provence Oil painting - SOLD

Abandoned Garden in Provence by Marion Hedger

Oil on canvas

20x20cm (8"x8")

Inspired by a photo of an outbuilding I took while on a photo shoot looking for painting inspiration. The poppies are added from my imagination.

THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

Golden Marsh Palette Knife Painting in oils

 

 Golden Marsh by Marion Hedger

Oils using palette knives

18x24cm (approx 7"x10") on Canvas panel

A study following Lois Griffel's method of painting. I have previously used Susan Sarback's process with pastels and this is the first palette knife oil painting using Lois's method which is a very similar process and way of thinking. I took her example photo and flipped it and changed some of the marsh detail. I like the sense of distance achieved and the light shining through. I shall try a few more of these but larger I think as working small is quite difficult.

THIS PAINTING IS FOR SALE IN MY ETSY SHOP

Autumn Colours Abstract - sale benefitting the American Red Cross

Autumn Colours Abstract by Marion Hedger

Oil on box canvas

20x20 cm (approx 8"x8")

A lively abstract representing the colours autumn. Painted with a palette knife and a cut up plastic lid to give a smoother effect than my normal palette knife paintings.
Proceeds of the auction will be donated to the DPW Hurricane Sandy fundraiser for the American Red Cross, so please bid generously.

BID ON THIS PAINTING HERE

If you like autumn colours, take a look at Autumn Birches palette knife daily painting

If you like this colour combination but would like a larger painting with a similar scheme, please contact me HERE

Autumn Birches palette knife painting in oils

Autumn birches

Oil on canvas MDF board

18x24 cm (approx 7"x10")

I am still on my 'using a palette knife' phase. After all the blue/violet paintings of the Provence landscape I have been painting autumn scenes using yellows and oranges trying to suggest the sunlight bouncing off of all that colour.
This is my first small mini daily painting of the colour changes.
This is available by auction on Daily Paintworks CLICK HERE TO BID

To see a larger autumn painting, "Autumn Light" please visit my Artbymarion blog

Provence Vineyard and Lavender knife painting in oils

Provence Vineyard and Lavender, by Marion Hedger

 

Overall size 18x24cm. 

Actual painting is slightly smaller and is mounted on MDF to fit a standard photo frame.

Painted in oils using palette knives.

A slightly larger version of Provence Landscape #2, showing more details of the vineyard. The vineyards in this area produce a lovely rosé for which Provence is famous for.
This small work is currently for sale on ETSY

Poppy Meadows Provence #1 knife painting - SOLD

Poppy Meadows Provence oil painting

Poppy Meadows Provence #1

15x20cm oil on boxed canvas

Can be hung without a frame.

THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

The poppy field in the Haut Alpes are a lovely sight in spring and early summer. This is a sister painting to Poppy Meadows Provence #2. I used a palette knife and oil paint with a small amount of liquin mixed in to aid the drying. The liquin also gave the paint a nice consistency suitable for the palette knives. Getting a sense of distance is the hardest part, with the mountains just popping up in the background.

Poppy Meadows Provence #2 - knife painting

Poppy Meadows Provence #2

15x20cm oil on boxed canvas

Can be hung without a frame.

CLICK HERE TO BID ON THIS PAINTING

The poppy field in the Haut Alpes are a lovely sight in spring and early summer. This was a nice change from the lavender fields. I used a palette knife and oil paint with a small amount of liquin mixed in to aid the drying. The liquin also gave the paint a nice consistency suitable for the palette knives. Getting a sense of distance is the hardest part, with the mountains just popping up in the background.

Provence Lavender Fields oil knife painting

Provence Lavender Fields by Marion Hedger

Oil on MDF canvas board, 18x24cm

Painted with palette knives on a textured ground, tinted pink and allowed to show through to add interest.

A typical lavender farmhouse scene near Valensole, Provence. During the summer months the air is filled with a lavender haze. The fields of sunflowers are striking against the lavender.

AVAILABLE BY AUCTION BID HERE

White Ice Iris painting in oils

I still haven't got around to cataloguing my paintings so far, so not sure which number I am up to.

The next two paintings are of white bearded irises, which is one of my favourite flowers. It is very majestic when it blooms.

Bearded Iris, standing tall

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

18x24cm, on canvas board (MDF)

White Ice Bearded Iris

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

18x24cm, on canvas board (MDF)

I have joined Daily Paintworks and this piece is for auction

Click Here to Bid

Loose and Lively Irises #3 and #4

Another two irises painted in situ as part of the Garden 101 series of daily paintings. Oil on canvas board.

Loose and Lively Iris daily paintings

Here are two of my plein aire iris paintings. These were painted end of March/beginning of April. I'm falling a bit behind again with my postings.

Loose and lively irises 1- Garden series daily painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board (MDF), 19x27 cm (approx8"x11")

Loose and lively irises 2- Garden series daily painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board (MDF), 27x22cm (approx11"x9")

It's such a lovely time of year when the irises start appearing in the garden. It's a sure sign things are warming up. The vivid blue of these irises really gives the garden a lift, when the daffodils and tulips have finished flowering and before other plants decide to make an appearance.

I have another two irises to post tomorrow.

Provence Landscapes knife paintings

Here is the set of my small Provence landscapes shown all together

Provence Landscapes knife paintings in oil

by Marion Hedger

Each 6"x8" oil on gessoed MDF

For sale on Etsy 45€ each.

Use code FREESHIP1 at checkout for Free shipping

anywhere, valid until the end of May

These little paintings make a lovely set all together. I really enjoyed the freedom of using the palette knives, although they also presented some of their own challengs. This little project has given me the impetus to try another set only larger.

Provence Landscape Knife Painting #4 in oils

Impressionistic Provence Landscape Knife Painting #4

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board, 20x15cm (8"x6")
 THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

The fourth in the set of four small landscapes featuring the scenery of Provence, France and showing the vinyards, fields and distant mountains.

Here is a close-up of the knife work which is a mini abstract in itself.

The little gem is painted from some of my photos taken on a trip to the lavender and sunflower fields last year and is a compilation from serveral photos. I wanted a loose lively feel to these small landscapes to show the brilliant colours before the mid-day sun bleached out all the colours.

Provence Landscape Knife painting No.3 in oils

Impressionistic Provence Landscape Knife Painting #3

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board, 20x15cm (8"x6")
 THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

The third in the set of four small landscapes featuring the scenery of Provence, France and showing the vineyards, fields and distant mountains.

The landscape is painted from some of my photos taken on a trip to the lavender fields last year and is a compilation from several photos. I wanted a loose lively feel to these small landscapes to show the brilliant colours before the mid-day sun bleached out all the colours.

Provence Landscape Knife Painting #2 in oils

Provence Landscape Knife Painting #2

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board, 20x15cm (8"x6")
 THIS PAINTING IS NOW SOLD

The second in the set of four small landscapes featuring the scenery of Provence, France and showing the vinyards, fields and distant mountains.

The landscape is painted from some of my photos taken on a trip to the lavender fields last year and is a compilation from serveral photos. I wanted a loose lively feel to these small landscapes to show the brilliant colours before the mid-day sun bleached out all the colours.

Provence Landscape Knife painting in oils

Provence Landscape Knife Painting

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

Oil on board, 20x15cm (8"x6")
 Available for purchase in my Etsy store

One of a set of four landscapes featuring the scenery of Provence, France and showing the lavender fields and distant mountains.

The landscape is painted from some of my photos taken on a trip to the lavender fields last year and is a compilation from server photos. I wanted a loose lively feel to these small landscapes to show the brilliant colours before the mid-day sun bleaches all the colours away.

Provence Landscape oil painting

Provence Landscape

Oil painting by Marion Hedger

22x27cm on canvas board.

Varnished for protection and

Mounted on MDF board to fit a standard photo frame.

For Sale 75€ contact me HERE

I love the purple and yellow ochre colours of the provence landscape in July. The lavender and sunflower fields with a backdrop of the mountains are made to be painted. I have deliberately kept this loose with no real detail to try to capture the overall feel of the countryside.

Beautiful Daffodil - Garden Series 101 Oil paintings

Beautiful Daffodil

by Marion Hedger

Garden 101 daily paintings series No.9

22 x 27cm, oil on canvas board.

I've jumped ahead as the photos of numbers7 and 8 did not come out and I will have to retakes them. I had some beautiful daffs this year but sadly they are mostly all gone now. There is nothing that quite matches that lovely yellow colour throughout the garden after the winter. A real heralding of better things to come.

I quite like the way the brushstrokes are visible on this one. I managed to avoid overblending and I love the result. 

"I have challenged myself to paint 101 small daily life paintings inspired by my garden. My main aim is to improve my my eye to brush skills with a loose lively style. At the moment I plan to use oils, so that as a bonus I will improve my oil handling skills. I don't doubt that some will be done in different media depending on how the mood takes me. I aim to do at least 5 a week."

Orange Slice, Daily 101 #6 oil painting

'Orange  Slice' oil painting

by Marion Hedger

Garden 101 daily paintings series No.6

22 x 27cm, oil on canvas board.

Number 6 in the garden 101 series - I have been keeping up with my paintings but not with my photography. I took a load of photos this morning so will gradually post more. I enjoyed this one. I love the way the orange slice turned out, and apart from the sharp corner at the bottom of the glass, I am very pleased. I still need to go a little thicker with the paint. I used a little linseed oil a a medium in this one.

Garden series 101 #5, Orange Tea, oil painting

'Orange  Tea' oil painting

by Marion Hedger

Garden 101 daily paintings series No.5

22 x 27cm, oil on canvas board.

Number five in the series of oranges picked fresh from the tree. I cut the oranges to give the segments, and to add something different I placed a cup sideways to give the composition more depth and also add to the challenge! I like painting orange segments - strange I know, but they are challenging to paint with their rounded ends and the light hitting the flesh.

"I have challenged myself to paint 101 small daily life paintings inspired by my garden. My main aim is to improve my my eye to brush skills with a loose lively style. At the moment I plan to use oils, so that as a bonus I will improve my oil handling skills. I don't doubt that some will be done in different media depending on how the mood takes me. I aim to do at least 5 a week."