Still life, Merindol 

Mary Fedden painted this still life with oil on canvas, using a dry brush technique that gives the surface a pleasing, almost chalky quality. Notice how the material treatment is very straightforward. Instead of meticulously blending and layering, Fedden keeps the marks direct, letting the texture of the canvas assert itself. This honesty about the process becomes part of the picture's charm. The quick, assured strokes bring a sense of immediacy, as if she captured the scene in one go. Look closely, and you’ll see how the orange under-painting glows beneath the other colors, creating a sense of warmth and light. In a way, Fedden’s style democratizes painting. It suggests that the joy of art-making is available to anyone who is willing to pick up a brush. The painting celebrates the sheer pleasure of applying paint to canvas, reminding us that the process of creation is just as important as the final result.