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.

Flower Studies in Oils

I have recently started using oils after joining an oil painting group each Friday. I have found that I really like the feel of painting with oils and it is fast becoming my favourite medium. I still have much to learn and so far I have only painted (not quite) alla prima.
I was hesitating how to start, and in the end decided just to go for it. Here are a couple of the flower studies that I did and are my first attempt at florals in oils.

Cosmos Fancies by Marion Hedger

20x20cm (8"x8")

Oil on canvas board

Poppy Stance by Marion Hedger

20x20cm (8"x8")

Oil on canvas board

AVF Watercolour Paintings Exhibition

Last week exhibited two of my watercolours at a watercolour and porcelain painting exhibition held at the Salle des Meules in Vence. The exhibitors are all part of AVF, an organisation that helps newcomers (and not so new) to the area settle in. It organises many activities and is a great way to meet new people. Each year the members of the watercolour club hold an exhibition together with the porcelain painters club. It was not a for sale exhibition, more a showcase of the artists' work.

This is one of the ones exhibited, unfortunately the other photo has too much glare to show up well.

This was painted for as a learning exercise from a watercolour by talented artist Fabio Cembranelli. Thank you Fabio for demonstrating your technique on youtube.