Getting to Know Artist Marie Hartig
We were so thrilled to work with artist Marie Hartig on the commission for the 2023 10th anniversary Boyne Music Festival poster image. Having lived and worked all over the world, we were keen to learn more about her work and her time in the Boyne Valley creating our stunning new image. Read on to find out more…
Can you tell us a bit about how this collaboration came about?
Deirdre is a great friend and when she asked me to paint a landscape image expressing the vibrancy of the Boyne Valley with the River Boyne as a primary feature, I was delighted to take on the challenge and be a part of the festival. I am a big supporter of her work and this festival.
Much of your work centres around murals and wall art, have you much experience painting with oil on canvas?
My work mainly focuses on wall paintings and wall panels and therefore the scale of what I paint is usually much bigger than this small canvas. I also rarely use oil paints, which is why I wanted to play with that on this commission. Always up for a challenge. I really enjoyed it.
Can you talk a bit about what inspires your work in general and this painting in particular?
I am often inspired by my surroundings. A lot of what I paint is taken directly from the surrounding landscapes and inspired by specific elements of that landscape, such as the plants, animals etc. Having travelled extensively in my life, I’ve been inspired by fauna and flora of many beautiful places that I integrate into my work. For this piece the Boyne Valley itself was at the heart of the inspiration. It was so good that I got to spend time in that beautiful region. It was very clear to me what I was going to paint. The river runs through everything there, it is the essence and seems to connect everything the festival is about.
What was your starting point for the painting?
If I paint on commission then my starting point is always where, why and then what.
How did you get started as an artist? What led you to focussing on murals?
The way I paint now really just happened. I painted my goddaughter’s bedroom a while back and suddenly, I was inspired. I had never painted on that scale before and I loved it. I was asked back, got great feedback and it just happened organically and has developed ever since.
What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
The flexibility and the inspiring locations and clients where I get to work. The challenge to find a custom made one of a kind design for a specific place, for a specific purpose and meaning.
Will you be joining for the festival in person this summer? If so what are you looking forward to about it?
Yes I certainly will! I am looking forward to experiencing the creative talent all around and being in such a beautiful place!
The Boyne Music Festival is delighted to offer the opportunity to purchase a limited number (15) of signed high quality (50 x 70 cm) art prints of The River Boyne during the festival. The festival will also have smaller prints (30 x 40 cm) available for purchase. All prints were produced by FARBPRAXIS - Kunstdruck Gorisek in Vienna, Austria.
In addition to the prints, the original painting will be auctioned during the festival weekend. Bids can be made either in person at festival events or online via the festival’s website (details to be announced soon). All proceeds will go to support the Boyne Music Festival, which runs as a non-profit and is powered in a large part by volunteers.
You can find out more about Marie Hartig and her work via her website www.mariespaintedworlds.com