Petunia Bonus oil painting, Day 21, 30 days hath September

Petunia Bonus oil painting

18x24cm

Oil on MDF canvas panel

Day 21, 30 days hath September

This painting is a bonus. Every year I buy several hanging baskets in the spring, like most of us do, of course. The petunias last until about the middle of August and then just seem to fade. 

I put this pot of petunias at the back of the garden (I hate throwing away any sort of plant). Early this week I saw that it had sprung back to life and the petunias were so nice and bright. I placed them on a ledge to admire them and then a shaft of sunlight hit them lighting them up nicely. Of course I had to paint them - hence the title.

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Container Colour garden flowers oil painting

 Container colour

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Oil on MDF canvas panel

Started paitning using a brush and finished with a palette knife

 Another painting of my container plants. This one has some lovely coral coloured pelargoniums (trailing geraniums). I wondered how I was going to translate that wonderful colour in paint. After deliberating which red to use, it turned out to be quite simple. With my last order of paints I purchased some Scarlet Lake, a colour I had never used before. When I mixed it with white, the perfect coral hues appeared.

Here are some WIP photos.
Step 1 - I used a red ground, which in hindsight was the wrong choice. Something that contrasted with the coral would have been better and would have made it easier to give the coral colour more pizazz.

I used a thin wash of paint to block in the local colours.

Step 2
More colour and thicker paint added trying to define the lights.

Step 3
In step 3 involved using more of the palette knife and adding more shadow and highlights using thicker paint for the highlights. I also added more breathing space to the upright geraniums and lightened the background. Unfortunately I was so involved in painting I forgot to take a photo.
 
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I painted some of my container geraniums last year. See HERE and HERE

Looking up, Pink Lilies painting in oils

Looking Up, Pink Lilies

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Oil on canvas panel, 
painted with a brush and finished with a palette knife.

Each spring I plant up several containers with a mix of flowers. Several years ago I planted several containers with lily bulbs. Once they stop flowing they are put into a corner of the garden and forgotten about. But each year they perform wonderfully. Their only care is watering and a bit of feed. These are lilies from one of those containers. Painted alla prima, in situ. It's lovely painting outside, but the sun does have a habit of moving around making it difficult to catch the light. You have to make up your mind early on where the lights and darks are to be placed.

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Casseroled Pansies oil painting

Casseroled Pansies

Oil on canvas panel

18x24cm (approx 7"x11")

The third of my pansy paintings, this time in one of my favourite little casseroles. As well as going into the oven, this casserole will also go onto an open flame or electric element. I unpotted the pansies, and much to their disgust, I squashed the roots into the casserole (it is quite small) to give me this arrangement.

I am not sure about the lid? It looks sort of OK but every now and then, it bothers me - I've been looking at it for a few days and I am unsure of whether or not to correct it. Hubby says leave it alone - it looks OK. What do you think?

I painted a second, slightly larger on of this composition which I will post soon. You'll be pleased to know, I rescued the pansies and re-potted them, lol.


Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

You may also be interested in my first two pansy paintings:
Pansy Fever and Colourful Pansies 

Pansy Fever Oil Painting

 Pansy Fever by Marion Hedger

Oil on canvas board 24x30cm (approx 10" x 12")

Painted wet in wet.

Another pansy painting straight off the easel. I love painting these pansies, and those yellow ones really talk to me. This is slightly larger than my earlier pansy painting (see HERE) and more of a still life composition. I painted it wet in wet, trying to stay loose. I succeeded in parts, but I still find myself trying to put in all the details.
This is still wet and I will look at it tomorrow to see what needs tweaking. Those blue shadows are too blue in this photo, so I will also see if I can get a better photo. I always have trouble with photographing blues.

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In progress Colourful Panisies Oil Painting - Garden 101 series

Colourful Pansies Work in Progress

Oil on canvas panel, 18x24cm

I am working on some pansy paintings at the moment. I am cheating a little because they are not strictly from my garden, but on the way into the garden. I need something floral and colourful to paint after trying to get back into the swing after a long vacation, and these fit the bill nicely.

I am still looking at this painting to see if it is finished and what tweaks may be needed. I think I may need to work on the back purple pansy as does not recede enough.

I will post an update when finished

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Pink Hibiscus syriacus still life painting

Hibiscus syriacus by Marion Hedger
18 cm x 24 (approx 7" x 10") oil on MDF canvas panel

These flowers were picked form our hibiscus syriacus tree which produces these beautiful double flowers every summer. It was in the garden when we bought the house and is featured on the original house plans so must be at least 45 years old. I placed them in a green jug and placed some striped fabric behind it to set off the flowers. Part of my Garden 101 daily paintings.

This painting is for sale on Etsy CLICK HERE TO VIEW

See also my painting Orange Delight which uses the same striped fabric as the background.