Summer Containers - Colorful Petunias

Summer Containers - Colorful Petunias by Marion Hedger

5x7 inch on gallery wrapped canvas

Oil painting, painted with a palette knife

 Purchase details

A companion piece to my last post Fuchsia basket. This is painted from life. The local nursery always have some baskets planted up early in the season. I couldn't resist and bought 3 for the carport and front entrance. It is a nice sunny spot and they flourish there. Elsewhere I will have to wait a little longer.

There is something therapeutic about painting these small paintings full of colour. I am definitely 'in the zone' mixing the colours and playing (sorry carefully considering) with the placement of colour and what will work with what.

Preparing for summer - Fuchsia Basket 5x7inch

Fuschsia Basket

palette knife oil painting

5x7inch on gallery wrapped canvas 1.5cm thick

Available for purchase

Over the last week or so, I have been potting up my container plants ready for the late spring and early summer show. We had a few nice, warm days which always spurs me into action. Since then it has got a little colder and today we didn't see the sun at all. I know - I'm spoilt as normally our weather is so good.

As well as container gardening, I've been attempting to clear up my studio and even threw out a lot of earlier (bad!) paintings - I was really proud of myself! Maybe I'll treat myself to this lovely easel I found on pinterest

Looks good doesn't it?

Miniature oil painting, Sunshine smiles palette knife painting

Sunshine Smiles Miniature Treasure painting

4x4" on gessoed panel.

Painted with a palette knife.

Purchase information 

TIP: hover over the photo to pin it.

See all my miniature treasures on DPW

Sunflowers are one of my favourite flowers, although they are not as easy to paint as you may think.  Getting the right amount of detail and looseness right is a juggling act. I like the way this one turned out, with lots of layers and textures.

How it would look framed in a floating frame

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Miniature treasure oil painting - Poppy Waltz

Poppy Waltz palette knife painting

Oil on mini box canvas

10x10cm / 4x4" n

Purchase information

I've been painting a few miniature paintings in the last few days. This one is part of the poppy series along with Poppy Song and Poppy Dance.

These small paintings are an affordable way to start an art collection.

Red Hibiscus - Day 19 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

Jewel Red Hibiscus

Palette knife painting

Oil on box canvas with sides painted black

30x30x4cm / 12x12inch

See paintings for days 12 to 18

An alternate title for this painting was 'Before the Hail'. I painted this en plein air in my garden in brilliant sunshine. When finished, I took a trip to the shops. While there the heavens opened and we had a tropical downpour. What I didn't know was that a hail storm was happening at home. When I returned my garden was covered in white and many of my plants had been shredded by the hail, including this beautiful hibiscus.

Some close-ups

Magenta Oleander posy still life - Day 11 of the 30 day challenge

Magenta Oleander posy still life

Palette knife painting

15x15cm (6"x6")

Oil on box canvas

Available in my Etsy store

A companion piece to yesterdays painting. This time painted from life.

I looked around the garden for flowers and it is pretty bare of flowers at the moment. Normally in September the plants come back into their own after the summer, but we haven't had any rain in a while so it's lacking much colour. The Oleander however, is still flowering away. I have several, all different colours - I'm thinking of painting the pink ones to form a trio of small posy paintings. 

About this painting

Oleanders are difficult to paint, especially alla prima. I tried to just capture the form of the petals and the general attitude of the flower. The background has more light green in it than appears in the photo, to off-set all that pink. I'm musing on whether or not, the background behind the flower needs to be darker.

White Posy still life - Day 10, 30 paintings in 30 days

White posy still life

Palette knife painting

15x15cm (6"x6")

Oil on box canvas

Available in my Etsy store

I have kept up with the challenge so far painting mostly landscapes which I post on my Joy of Colour blog. Today I took a break from the landscapes and painted flowers. Initially it started out as roses, but wiped it out twice as it just didn't seem to be working. I substituted the white flowers (forgotten what they are called, but begins with p..) form my white roses bouquet painting.

I like the texture of the flowers in this.

This would make a great gift for a flower girl or mother of the bride.

Some close-ups

30 paintings in 30 days Challenge - Mia's White Roses

Mia's White Roses

Palette knife painting

24x30 (approx 10"x12") box canvas

Contact me here about this painting

I have joined up again for another 30 paintings in 30 day challenge (will I never learn?).
This is my first one, actually painted a few days ago because I knew I wouldn't have time today because of family being around for their annual holiday.

About this painting
These roses were a present to my granddaughter from a neighbour, who has almost adopted her as a her de facto granddaughter. 10 year old Mia was thrilled and so I painted them as a reminder and keepsake. The palette knife work gives the roses a lovely 3D effect.

Close-up of the knife work

Using small paintings for stress relief

Poppy Dance Miniature Treasure

Palette knife painting

10x10cm / 4"x4"

oil on mini box canvas

Available on Daily Paintworks

Poppy Song Miniature Treasure

Palette knife painting

10x10cm / 4"x4"

oil on mini box canvas

Available on Daily Paintworks

I have been busy painting a commissioned landscape. My first commission and on an unusaul format 30x80cm (12"x32"). For a little light relief I took time out to paint these small paintings using a limited colour scheme. They were fun to do, they have lots of texture and would brighten up a small space either individually or both together.

What do you feed magpies? Almond Blossom Still Life

Almond Blossom Still Life

Oil, palette knife painting

24x30cm (approx 10x12inch)

On MDF canvas panel
Available on Daily Paintworks

We have an almond tree in the corner of the garden. It was here when we moved in nearly 10 years ago and I suspect it is about 40 years old. It receives absolutely no attention (apart from a good looking at!) but produces masses of blossoms and almonds every year. We don't profit from the almonds though, as the magpies get in first.

About this painting
Although the canvas panel is primed and could be painted on straight away, I always prime my panels with additional gesso. I have two reasons for this
- I prefer the feel of the fresh gesso
- the gesso adds some texture

The background is fairly smooth on this painting. I scraped back some of the paint which also has the effect of blending. On top of that I added more paint always with a slightly different hue. This produces so lovely rich layers. For the blossoms I loaded my palette knife with really thick paint and 'ladled' it on, leaving it and impasto. I love the effect this gives. The vase is one of a set of three which can only be described as square/triangular and makes for interesting painting.
Some close-ups

A challenging challenge - Daisies and Cherries still life oil painting

Daisies and Cherries Still Life

Palette knife painting

Oil on narrow box canvas

25x30cm (10x12inch) x2cm

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

A challenging painting for the Facebook Challenge from Evhe. Evhe post two challenges a month and this is the second time I have participated.
This is the reference photo

Quite a complicated scene and, as you can see, I simplified I always like to take part in these kind of challenges as I love the different way artists interpret the same scene.

 See my previous challenge entry here

Challenge Painting - Summer Romance, Pink Roses still life in oil

Summer Romance

Palette knife oil painting

15x15cm (6x6inch) on box canvas 1.5cm deep

Bid by auction on DailyPaintworks

This little painting is in response to a painting challenge on Facebook hosted by Evhe. It is always good to get together with a group of artists and compare paintings. I am always amazed at how different the paintings can be when painted from the same subject. But then again, that is what makes painting such good fun.
I have put this painting up for auction on Daily Paintworks. The auction runs for 5 days after which the painting will revert to normal price.

Summer Colour, container flowers oil painting

Summer Colours, Container flower painting

Oil Palette knife painting

25x30cm (10"x12") on box canvas (gallery wrapped)

The edges are painted black.

I was very good this year and potted up my containers early. My reward is a beautiful, colourful display on my patio.

Some close-ups of the palette knife work

Contact me about this or any other painting HERE

Stately Irises palette knife painting in oils

stately Irises palette knife painting

Oil on box canvas (1.5cm deep)

15x20cm (6"x8")

Available in my Etsy store

I love this time of year. After the tulips die down, the irises are the next to appear. As well as the dark blue border irises, these pale purple irises are amongst the first to appear. They are tall, and although not as showy as the bearded irises, they give a beautiful purple haze under the citrus trees.

About this painting
I painted this in a loose impasto style, dancing around the canvas with my palette knife, aiming more for the purple glow than true representation of the irises.

Some Close-ups of the knife work

Abstract Tulips palette knife painting, oil on canvas panel

Abstract Tulips

Palette knife painting

18x24cm (approx 7"x10")

Oil on canvas board

Available in my Etsy shop

My tulips are all finished now - but the irises are on their way - so it's not all bad!

This was painted while the tulips were in their prime. It started out as impressionist/realism but I got carried away. I took a palette knife to the surface and swiped it over the painting. This gave a lovely loose abstract feel. A few lines finished off the painting.

Some close-ups

Sunflower Duo Oil Palette Knife Painting 4"x4"

Sunflower Duo Oil Painting

Palette knife painting

10x10cm (4"x4") oil on panel

Available on Daily Paintworks

The edges of the panel have been painted black for display on a plate stand. Or the painting would look great framed.

Sunny Trio Miniature Treasure, Sunflower Floral Painting in oil

Sunny Trio Miniature Treasure
palette knife painting

oil on loose canvas

10x15cm (4"x5")

Available for auction starting at $36

This miniature treasure is painted with a palette knife on canvas from a canvas pad by Belle Arti from Italy, who also make the canvas panels I use. It is a medium cotton canvas and primed. The surface is quite smooth but it accepts the palette knife quite nicely and I enjoy painting on this surface. I used a ground of yellow on the canvas which breaks through in place and adds light to the painting.

See yesterday's miniature treasure painting of calla lilies HERE

At the edge of the sunflowers palette knife painting in oils

At the edge of the sunflowers

Palette knife painting

Oil on gessoed MDF panel

15x15 cm (6x6 inch)

Available on DailyPaintworks

My latest Miniature treasure painting. Still looking forward to the spring!

Some close-ups of the knife work

White Hibiscus Palette Knife Painting in oils

White Hibiscus Palette Knife Painting

Oil on gessoed MDF panel

15x15 cm (6x6 inch)

Available for purchase in my Etsy store

 A companion piece to Pink Hibiscus 

   Close up of the knife work

Pink Hibiscus Palette Knife Painting in Oil

Pink Hibiscus Palette Knife Painting

Oil on gessoed MDF panel

15x15 cm (6x6 inch)

Available for purchase in my Etsy store

For this painting I looked through my photos of hibiscus to find some that had  an interesting angle, I then made up this flower arrangement. The impasto knife strokes add some lovely texture to the flowers.

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