Peony posy oil pastel painting

Peony posy

Oil pastel painting on watercolor painting

5"x5"

Available for purchase

This is the third and final painting in this mini-series all from the same discarded watercolour. It's been fun painting these and it has reminded me that I should use my assorted collection of different media more often. I have found it refreshing rediscovering oil pastels. I have already gessoed some paper with black gesso ready for another series.

You may be interested in a previous oil pastel Work in Progress of calla lilies I painted over 3 years ago. This used a very different approach to these three.

How this painting might look framed

All three together.

Summer Posy oil pastel painting

Summer Posy

Oil pastel painting

5"x5" on watercolour paper

Available for purchase

This is the a continuation from yesterday's painting also using a section of the same discarded watercolor. I loosely laid in the areas of colour and once again used a cloth dipped in liquin to blend the colour. This beauty of using liquin is it's extremely quick drying time allowing the second layer to go on within minutes. This also helps to minimise the 'slippiness' that can occur when using several oil pastel layers.

About this painting
After blending the first layer with liquin. I laid in increasingly thicker layers of pastel in loose strokes. I use a back and forwards scribbly motions not distinct strokes. I wanted the painting to have a loose feel to it.

After leaving the painting to harden overnight, I added the final 'sugar' in the form of heavy pastel dots and highlights. I like the romantic look of this one.

How it might look framed

Flower Posy oil pastel painting

Flower Posy

Oil pastel on watercolor paper

5"x5"

Available for purchase 

It has been such a long time between posts on the blog, and I apologise for that. I haven't been blogging much at all over the last few months. I have just returned re-energised from a superb holiday in Namibia. This painting is inspired by an article I read in the UK magazine 'The Artist' by Soraya French - an artist I much admire - on oil pastels. I used to use oil pastels a lot after I had to stop using soft pastels and before I started painting in oils. Her article inspired me to get out my oil pastels and paint especially the part where I discovered that Liquin can be used as a solvent to blend the pastel for the first step.

Recycling old watercolours

I have been recycling a lot of my old watercolor paintings that didn't make the grade by cutting them up and reusing the paper for smaller paintings. Usually there are some nice washes that make a nice ground for floral paintings.

About this painting

 I based this painting on some of my previous painting and included some reflections which always adds something extra. I lightly laid in large areas of colour and blended the pastel with a cloth dipped in a small amount of Liquin. I left large area of the watercolour wash alone.

I have a mixture of various oil pastels for example Daler Rowney, Neopastel and Sennelier. The Sennelier are the creamiest and are superb for the last couple of couple of layer. I left it overnight to harden, and then added a few thick dots and dashes using Senneliers.

How it might look framed

Poppy Medley in triplicate - poppy paintings by Marion Hedger

I always love the way the flower petals catch the sunlight and give that lovely transparent glow. There is one reference that I have painted several times because I like the colour and the effect of light. It is of a group of poppies. Here are my different versions, all in different media.
The first in colour pencil - previous posted as a work-in-progress demonstration. Here is the link Poppy Medley Colored pencil demo

Poppy Medley 1 - Coloured pencil painting by Marion Hedger

30x30cm coloured pencil on sanded card.

The second is in Acrylic and my favourite.

Poppy Medley 2 - Acrylic painting by Marion Hedger

46x55cm Acrylic on box canvas.

The third is in oil pastel

 Poppy Medley 3 - Oil pastel painting by Marion Hedger

33x20cm on sanded card.

All three are colourful and look stunning in a contemporary setting.

NOTE: Thanks to wetcanvas.com reference image library for the reference photo

Blue Delphiniums in Oil Pastel

This is the second painting for the blue flower challenge on wetcanvas.com

 Blue Delphinium

30x40cm (12"x16")

Oil pastel on black Somerset Velvet paper

Somerset velvet is a printing paper and it has a nice soft springy feel. I love using it for oil pastels and soft pastels. I also like using black as the background for florals as the black makes the colours sing, as is the case here where the blue really zings.