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.

Adeniums Oil Pastel Painting

Oil Pastel 30x40cm on black Somerset velvet paper

Another painting created for a wetcanvas challenge. Thanks to Dewi for introducing me to these beautiful flowers.

I chose a black backgound for this painting because I love the way the black makes the oil pastel colour really sing. This also works for soft pastels, and gives a more vibrant look to the painting.

Somerset Velvet is a printing paper. It has a soft springy surface and is ideal for pastels.