Paved with Gold - Assemblage art, Day 2 Jan 2017 30 paintings challenge

Paved with Gold

Abstract Art

21x30cm (A4 size)

Acrylic, cardboard, wire, gold leaf

Contact me about this painting

Day 2 of Jan 2017 30 paintings challenge

I feel I am in a bit of a rut with my art and I have hit a plateau and so loosing inspiration to paint. To kick start myself again the challenge has given me the impetus to try something different.

I like doing different things and often get bored of doing the same thing, not that my palette knife painting is always the same but the techniques are. With the challenge I have given myself permission to play, trying things I have never tried before.

I have been a fan of Carol Nelson for a long time and always admired her abstracts. Although admiring Carol's work, collages have never been my favourite type of art, but in the spirit of trying new things I decided to give it a go. So I enrolled in a course she has on Craftsy to learn some of her techniques.

I have been busy creating acrylic films, painting silver foil, creating plaster stones and clay leaves, painting corrugated artwork, making paper 'sandwiches' (ask me if you are interested in what this is) etc. Having made all this I now needed to put it together. I scoured the internet for ideas and eventually decided on how to begin. I particularly liked a gold, silver and black skin I had made so used that as my base. NOTE: the white on the photo is actually irridescent silver paint.

As usual, once something is started, putting the rest into place became easier. I tried various combinations, crushing a few stones and loosing the stems of the leaves in the process, and hit on this one. It looked a little sparse at first, but some gold leaf tied to whole thing together.

I am not sure if it is 'my thing' or not, but I am pleased with my first effort and will try a few more.

What new techniques have you been learning lately? Let me know.

Namibia Impressions Coastal Morning - Adding Scale

Well I've decided to do another 30 paintings in 30 days challenge hosted by Leslie Saeta. I have a love/hate relationship with these challenges - I like to see the new body of works at the end and making sure I get into the studio each day but the self-inflicted stress well... it is not so much the painting, it's the posting on the blogs and social media that I find taxing.

My first painting for 2017 is another Namibia Impressions of the sunrise on the coast line just after the fog has lifted.

Namibia Impressions Coastal Morning

40x50cm (16x20inches)

Oil on stretched canvas
Day 1 of January 2017 30 paintings in 30 days

Contact me about this painting

450€

(50% goes to Save the Rhino Fund)

I started this in 2015 when I did my first Namibia Impressions series, but somehow I always felt something was missing. I scaled my concept up to a 40x50cm stretched canvas but it wasn't quite working.

Here is how it was

the colours are a bit off, especially in the sky as the photo was taken indoors but it will give you an idea of the previous shapes.

As I looked at the painting, to some advice from Nicholas Wilton - he has great tips and I have followed him for his advice for the last six months or so - came to mind about 'scale'. I noticed that all my marks were more or less the same size. I covered the canvas with liquin and but in larger areas of paint. I should have taken some photos at this stage, but as so oftern happens I was in the painting 'zone' and didn't even think about it. It immediately made the painting come more to life. As I worked on it some more I realised that the marks were still similar shapes, so adding the vertical marks gave another dimension. I am more pleased with it now and I am calling it finished.

Leave your feedback in the comments, as I'd love to hear from you.

My Personal Favourites of 2016

As 2016 draws to a close I would like to wish you all the best for 2017.

A huge thankyou for all your support and encouragement.

. You all allow me to continue in my art journey.

Here is a flashback to my favourites of the year. Which were yours?

Light Catcher

18x24cm

Shadowland

24x30cm

Bluebell Wood

24x30cm

Autumn Gold

24x30cm

Wildflower Fenceline

6"x8"

Lavender and Yellow

18x24cm

A Quiet Place

18x24cm

Impasto Roses - SOLD

Impasto Roses by Marion Hedger

Old Fashioned

Roses still life palette knife painting

Oil Painting

24x30cm (approx 10x12")

Oil on canvas panel

SOLD

 
Commission a Similar Painting

Sweet Memories - Roses still life

Oil Painting

palette knife paintings

 SOLD

 

Commission a similar painting

 

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• MY ETSY STORE

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Poppies Commission Painting

Poppy Trio

30x30cm (12x12) on MDF canvas board

SOLD

This painting was a commission painting based on a previous painting.

Coincidences do happen...

The orignal was painted a few years back and had no interest. It eventually sold at the end of last month. The next week I received a request for a new version of this for a commission. Funny how something can be ignored for ages and then suddenly two come along at once - a bit like buses.

My collector was so pleased with it, that he has requested another two slightly larger paintings...

The original Painting

He wanted a lighter background and the poppies to stand out more. Obviously he felt I had achieved what he requested. He's happy and I certainly am.

CONNECT WITH ME:

• WEBSITE

• MY ETSY STORE

 • DAILY PAINTING BLOG

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• INSTAGRAM

Needs no water and lasts forever...

Red, White and Blue Floral Still Life

Available

Spring Daffodils

Available

Almond Blossom

Available

Varnishing Day

Paintings ready for varnishing

I normally leave my paintings as long as I can before varnishing so that I know the paint surface is nice and hard before I send them, and I usually varnish right before posting. I have a standard 3 day turnaround for sale to allow for that.

Of course, at this time of year there are always last minute orders so today I busied myself varnishing them plus some extras in anticipation... Monday is the last comfortable day to ensure they will arrive in the US/Canada in time for Xmas so the varnish should be nice and dry by then.


I like to use a satin varnish as I feel this gives a nice balanced semi-glossy surface which enhances the texture of my knife paintings. I make up my own mixture usually 1 part gloss varnish to 2 parts matt. My brand of preference is Winsor and Newton and I buy the small bottles which I tip into a jam jar which is the perfect size.

When I painted in acrylics I only used matt varnish which toned down some of the shinyness of the acrylics but nowadays, I find myself more drawn to the more glossy finish. Maybe I shall start using gloss varnish, but I feel that can be a bit harsh when the light shines on it.

What do you use? Do you varnish or not? Leave your comments below.