Magnolia Still Life

Magnolia Still Life

 by Marion Hedger

Oils, 40x40cm on boxed canvas

This painting was painted using an old watercolour painting as the basis. The original was painted on grey paper as an experiment. It originally had just the one open magnolia on the bottom left and three buds. When I came across it again, I thought "That doesn't look too bad" so ,as I am still in my oil phase, I decided to paint it in oils. Disaster. The comp did not look right at all.

When I analysed the original, I think it worked because I had painted it on the bottom right of a large sheet, and this gave the open flower lots of breathing space which it didn't have when transferred to a 40x40cm canvas. After looking at lots of magnolia photos and playing around with the comp, this is the end result. Let me know if you think the composition works.

Magnolia Trio Oil Painting

 Magnolia Trio

by Marion Hedger

40x40cm Oil on boxed canvas

This month's challenge in the Floral/Botanicals forum of wetcanvas was that beautiful spring flower the magnolia. This was painted from a combination of two photos, one of my own and the other from this month's host.

Unfortunately I have no progress pics as my camera gave up the ghost. The good news is that I have now bought myself a new DSLR - so from now on, my photos should be top notch - but first I have to learn how to use it LOL

Cup cake fun

After the success with my bronze iris, I started on a yellow iris. Yellow is such a hard colour and I have found it hard work. I decided I needed a break from the concentrated work and had a bit of fun with these. Cup cakes seem to be the rage at the moment - and the best part is that they have no hip expanding calories!

They are all 5"x7"

Acrylic on canvas board

Art exhibition this Sunday

On Sunday 22nd May I will be participating in 'Journée des Chevalets' - A day of the easels - along the Promenade des Flots Bleus in St Laurent du Var, here on the riviera. This is where several local artists, from all over the Côte d'Azur get together to display their art to the public en plein aire. During the summer months there are several  'Journée des Chevalets' and 'Artistes dans la Rue' (Artists in the street) days located in the various small villages around here. The old villages provide a superb backdrop for the art and as a non-participant in the past, I have always enjoyed going to 'have a look'.

This is the first time that I will be participating in a group event like this. Please come along and have a look if you are in the area.
Some of my artwork that will be displayed:

Bronze Iris - Oil painting

Bronze Beauty

30x60cm
Oil on box canvas

by Marion Hedger

This is on my easel at the moment. Not sure if it is finished so need to look with fresh eyes tomorrow.

Here, in Provence, Irises are king at this time of year. This is one that I planted a couple of years ago from a small rhizome. It looks wonderful in real life with a beautiful colour that changes from almost black through to a red purple and a red bronze with orange highlights depending on the light. I have tried to capture some of that colour and I really enjoyed painting it.

Calla Lilies in oil pastel WIP

Calla Lily Lights by Marion Hedger

30x40cm oil pastel painting on blue colourfix paper

I have some lovely calla lilies growing under the shade of my magnolia grandiflora. They give a great stately display from early April until May lightening a shady corner. Here are some WIP pics.

The drawing with reference photo

Stage 1 blocking in the lights and darks

Step 2 - breaking up the masses

For some reason, I do not seem to have a stage 3 photo, but it was more of breaking down the masses working towards it looking real.

Stage 4 the finished piece

This started out as a study for a larger piece but I liked it so much I worked it up into a finished piece, although I will probably create a larger version at some time in the future.

Oil pastel works very well on colorfix paper allowing several layers to be added to achieve a real richness to the painting.