Leaves 1963

Mary Fedden’s ‘Leaves’ is a warm encounter with the everyday, painted in a palette of earthy reds, gentle greens, and muted blues. I imagine her, brush in hand, circling the canvas, coaxing these colors into a still life that feels both composed and utterly spontaneous. There’s this great push-and-pull in the painting – a dialogue between intention and accident. Look at that pear nestled against the patterned bowl. Did she place it there deliberately, or did it just happen to fall into place? I love that tension. And the leaves themselves, they're not just green; they're a whole world of subtle hues, layered and built up with a confidence that only comes from years of looking, seeing, painting. It’s like she’s saying, “Here are some things I saw, some colors I felt, and now, they're yours to feel too." Fedden is in conversation with artists who came before, and in turn, inspires those who follow. Painting, after all, is about embracing uncertainty and trusting the messy, intuitive process.