Shimmer colours of Olive Trees

Olive Tree Trio
SOLD

by Mairon Hedger

30x24cm (approx 12"x10")

Oil on gessoed panel
palette knife painting

This is one I painted a while ago.

Olive Trees
This is an amalgam of trees from different photos but I quite like the way it came together. I wanted to show how olive trees are blue, turquoise and green all at the same time, particularly if there is a slight breeze blowing.
It is slightly larger that the other four paintings (which can be seen HERE) and this allowed me to concentrate on the form of the trunks. I love the rough, tactile, gnarled bark of the olive trees, a product of the hard pruning they receive.

Niçoise speciality
Here around Nice the olives produced by the trees are very small, but they are delicious and are a Niçoise speciality. We have three olive trees in the garden but I have never preserved the olives as it takes ages to get them to the edible stage. Raw they are extremely bitter and have to be soaked in brine to be edible.

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Sunflowers Miniature treasure - Oil Painting Giveaway

Sunflowers Miniature Treasure painting

Palette knife painting on loose canvas

10x10 cm (4x4 inch)

Day 25 of the 30 day challenge

View my other Miniature paintings HERE

No red today!. Instead today was a yellow day.

WIN THIS PAINTING
I am currently preparing my first Newsletter which will go out at the end of this month. To celebrate this, I am holding a raffle for this painting. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletters which I plan to isuue once every month - see the side bar for the subscription box. The draw will be held on the 7th February and the winner announced on the 8th.

Some close-ups of the knife work

Summer Light still life Palette knife Impressionist painting, Day 17

Summer Light still life after Henri le Sidaner

Palette knife painting

Oil on canvas panel

24x30 cm (10" x 12")

Day 17 in the 30 day challenge

Available in my Etsy Store

Another painting based on a Henri le Sidaner painting. This one had a lot of details with all those items on the table which were hard to capture with a palette knife. I should have reduced the number of items and just concentrated on the light. I changed the grapes from the original, to the bowl in the front. Initially I was just going to paint the cloth without anything there, but it did need something green to balance the greens in the grass.

Close-ups of the knife work

L'ail rose - pink garlic still life palette knife painting, Day 15, 30 day challenge

L'ail rose - pink garlic still life

Palette knife painting
This is painting No.15 in the 30 day challenge

Oil on box canvas

15x20x1.5cm (6"x8") 

For auction on Daily Paintworks

This was painted in response to the Daily Paintworks challenge a couple of weeks ago which was a "Root and Bulb challenge". OK, its a week or two late for the challenge but I have been meaning to paint this since then!

This type of garlic is a speciality of the region, this excert is from "Chocolate and Zuchinni" blog -

"Pink garlic?", you ask, your right eyebrow arched in curiosity. Well yes, it is a unique variety of garlic, grown exclusively in and around the medieval town of Lautrec, in the South of France. It is protected by an IGP (Protected Geographical Indication, a European certification of origin), benefits from a Label Rouge quality certification and, most importantly, it has been awarded the honorific title of Prince des Condiments.

Here are a couple of close-ups

Honesty and glass, Day 13 of 30 day challenge

Honesty and glass palette knife painting

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Oil on archival canvas panel

Today's painting is a floral still life. To see more and some close-up crops visit my art of flower blog

Day 4, 30 paintings in 30 days January 2014 challenge

Morning Light Silver Birches

palette knife painting

oil on canvas panel

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Available to purchase US$120 international shipping incl.

I actually got down to painting something new for the fourth day of the challenge.

Theme for the challenge
I have been trying to think of a suitable theme for the challenge. I came up with several ideas but couldn't narrow it down to something I would want to do for 30 days. The one thing I was adamant about, was I wanted to paint smaller than my norm (24x18cm) so that I could paint more quickly and leave time for continuing on a larger painting.

I ordered some super heavy liquitex gesso and had my 6x8" box canvases all stacked up waiting. The gesso arrived today and I found out that it takes a minimum of 24hours to dry! So I have fallen down at the first hurdle and painted this on my usual 18x24cm canvas panel.

So for the theme for my challenge is THERE IS NO THEME! I will just continue to practice and work on my techniques with ideas as they pop into my head, having fun along the way.

Today's Painting
This is a photo I took while out for a walk one morning in an area called Sherwood Pines. The sun was shining and although it was cold, it was a nice morning for a walk. You might ask -

"Where are the pines?"
Sherwood Pines is an old pine plantation right in the middle of Sherwood forest (yes THE Sherwood Forest of Robin Hood fame) where they grew pines for pit props. As the mining industry no longer exists, they are gradually replacing the pines with indigenous trees. The area has been converted for  leisure use with bike and walking trails and an adventure playground for the kids. A great use of the area.

Sherwood Pines revisited
You might remember my previous painting from the September challenge of another walk in the same area, see here

Some close-ups of the knife work

Much of the pink ground is left showing to add 'sparkle'

Some of the initial brush stroke block-in is left untouched

The foreground is left deliberately loose and suggestive

Day 3, 30 paintings in 30 days January 2014 challenge

Day 3 of January 30 paintings challenge

Monastery Gardens at Cimiez

Palette knife painting

Oil on canvas board

24x30 cm (approx 10" x 12")

Available for purchase US$210, international shipping included

Another 'one I made earlier'. I am determined to start painting again this afternoon. I haven't picked up a palette knife or paint brush since well before Christmas and I am itchy to go.

This is a view of the gardens at Cimiez monastery in Nice. If you look over the wall at the end, there is a sweeping view of Nice (albeit including the railway sidings). Cimiez is the place the Russian Tsar had a palace, the site of a Roman amphitheater, Matisse's house and an ancient olive grove. All in all an interesting place.

Some close-ups

See yesterday's painting HERE

Day 2, 30 paintings in 30 days January 2014 challenge

Day 2 of January 30 paintings challenge
Provence Expressions

Palette knife painting

Oil on canvas board

18x24 cm (approx 7"x10")

Available for purchase $100, international shipping included

Thank you to all for your good wishes, I am feeling much better today but still not got into the painting frame of mind - although I am feeling not quite so sorry for myself LOL.

This is another painting 'I made earlier'. It is more expressionist than impressionist and, of course, full of colour. I am still finding realism tugging at me when I paint, so I deliberately tried to push the colours. The scene is from a combination of photos, with the typical trees and shed that define the landscape.

Some close-ups of the knife work

Cheat for day 1 of the January 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

Ikebana 4 - Burnt Orange Chrysanthemums

Oil on canvas panel

24x30 cm (approx 10x12inch)

Palette knife painting 
100€, international shipping included

I have just returned from spending the holidays with my family in the UK. I thought I might be able to pull something together tonight, but as usual for this time of year I have picked up a virus and I am feeling sorry for myself. So I am cheating and posting this chrysanthemum still life painting that was part of the November Wetcanvas.com floral and botanical forum challenge. It does fit, more or less, into the challenge to my self this month, to push my painting style further.

Provence Lavender palette knife oil painting

Provence Lavender

Palette knife painting

Oil on box canvas

23 x 30 cm (approx 9x12 inch)
Available in my Etsy Store

A different format and orientation for this small painting. I have lots of canvasses that have accumulated over the years waiting for inspiration to strike. I had already painted a ground on this in a mix of blue, pink and yellow horizontal blocks and then did not do anything with it. I noticed it again a few days ago and as the block in was horizontal, it suggested a portrait format, not the typical orientation for my landscapes. The light bulb went on and this is the result.
Here are some close-ups of the knife work

The Smell of Lavender - Finished, palette knife painting in oils

The Smell of lavender

Palette knife painting

Oil on stretched linen canvas

46 x 55 cm (approx 18"x22")

For sale in my Etsy store

This painting is now finished. I changed the shape of the lavender fields from the first block in (see my previous post) a little, as compositionally they did not make sense. (Thank you Carol for pointing me in the right direction). I don't know what I was thinking, they joined smack bang in the centre of the canvas - I knew it was wrong but was persevering with it anyway. Carol made me stop and think - it's funny how sometimes it needs someone to say "Hold on a minute!".

Carol Hopper is another artist I connected with on the 30 days hath September challenge. See her blog here.

Champs de Lavande et Tournesols Provence Landscape palette knife painting

Champs de Lavande et Tournesols -

Fields of Lavender and sunflowers

Provence landscape palette knife painting

Oil on box canvas

15 x 20 (6x8") x 1.5cm
Available in my Etsy store

Take time out to Play

At the beginning of the week I was running out of ideas of what to paint and I was questioning my use of oils. I wanted to do something less representational than my normal work and had a hankering to create abstracts. 

I spent two days playing around with mono-prints as well as ink and gouache resist. I had never done either and I didn't quite know the techniques, so I read up on them and off I went!

I didn't produce anything worthy, but I had a really good time. Since then I have been re-energised. I have finished several small paintings, have plenty of good ideas milling around and I have finished my larger painting I posted last week (keep tuned tomorrow to see it).

Conclusion

Play is good for you.

Lavender Scent Palette knife painting

Lavender Scent Palette knife painting

oil on box canvas

15 x 20 (approx 6x8 inch) x 1.5cm
Available in my Etsy store 

 Today is a lavender day. 

Some close-ups

Sunny Sunflowers in Provence palette knife oil painting

Sunny Sunflowers in Provence

Palette knife oil painting

20x15cm (approx 6x8inch) on 1cm box canvas
This painting is now SOLD
Visit my Etsy store to see a selection of available paintings

This is a scene I return to when I want something nice and sunny to paint. It always makes me smile to imagine those sunflowers bobbing away. These sunflower fields are adjacent to the lavender fields and the contrast of the yellow to the lavender is truly a feast for the eyes

Here is a collage of my previous paintings of the same scene (available in my Etsy store)

Looking through to the lavender

Looking through to the lavender

palette knife painting

40x33cm

Oil on stretched canvas

During the 30 days hath September challenge, I painted a study (see here) which I used for the concept of this painting. I searched through my lavender photos for suitable trees to use and cam up with these two groups. The dark green trees and the silvery green-grey trees are a feature of the landscape and I thought it would be good to combine the two to stop the foreground from looking too heavy.
As always, your comments are appreciated.

Winter Light - Oil on stretched canvas

Winter Light

Oil on stretched canvas

45x37 cm approx (18x15 inches)
Available to purchase HERE
325€ international shipping included

This was painted during a Johannes Vloothuis paint-a-long webinar earlier in the year. It was my first time painting snow and ice, brrrrr!

This painting is also available as a Christmas card on Greeting Card Universe

Ikebana paintings of Chrysanthemums Collage

Collage of Ikebana series

Oil palette knife paintings

Contact me about my paintings HERE

Here are three of the paintings in my Ikebana quartet. Pop over to my floral art blog to see the original posts.

I have reworked No.2 and will post that when the weather allows, we are have constant rain at the moment and more storms are forecast - but shouldn't moan as this does not happen very often.

I have also painted two rose still lifes in the same style and will post them later.

Back to landscapes
I enjoyed this break painting florals, but today I am back at the landscapes. I have someone interested in a larger painting of the lavender fields. Scarlet Poppies was my only large painting of Provence, and although I bought the canvasses about 6 months ago, I have not got around to using them.

Special Prices on selected paintings for Christmas

I am offering a selection of my paintings at special prices as a lead up to Christmas in my Etsy store. All are oils on canvas board or panel.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall was 115€ NOW 75€

Quite Backwater was 115€ NOW 75€

Poppy Jungle (18x24cm) was 75€ NOW 50€

A Perfect Cove (18x24cm) was 85€ NOW 65€

Stay tuned to my Etsy store as I will be adding additional paintings in the next few days. These specials will continue until 15th December.

Contact me about these or any other painting HERE

Ikebana 1 - pink chrysanthemums

Ikebana 1 - Pink Chrysanthemums

22x27cm (approx  9"x11")

oil on canvas board

Palette knife painting

I've taken a break from painting landscapes for the last couple of dates to paint some floral still lifes.

This is inspired by a book on Ikebana given to me by a neighbour, the monthly floral forum challenge on wetcanvas.com to paint chrysanthemums and my imagination. I wanted to achieve an ethereal 'look' in this painting.

I have completed four paintings for the challenge and will post more tomorrow.

Isolated in Provence - Mini Landscape tips part 2

Isolated in Provence

Oil, palette knife painting

15x20cm (6x8inch) box canvas

65€ International shipping included

This is the finished painting from yesterday. Let's see if I covered all the points discussed:

• All four corners should be different.
  - The leaves solve the problem of the sky corners
• Things should not line up
  - I changed the shape of the mountain and added another layer to increase the sense of distance
  - The bottom of the fence posts do not line up
  - The foliage is no longer in straight lines
• Verticals should be an interesting shape
  - The tree has a few indentations and perhaps could be more 'gnarled', but I think the light on the trunk compensates for this. As this is a small painting, this should be sufficient.
• Ensure items of a group are different sizes
  - The fence posts are all different sizes and the cross braces are on longer in a straight line. Now I have uploaded the photo, I see the cross braces are parallel, but I think I shall leave this.

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE