Marion Aitken

Marion Aitken High Realism Art by Canadian visual artist, Marion Aitken. Open to commissions.

Because I love detail, accuracy and ‘functional’ art (art that communicates clearly), I chose Scientific/Technical Illustration for my post-secondary education. Though my subject matter varies widely, my work generally contains these elements: Realism; minute detail; vibrant colours/strong tonal range; and unique angle of view. I am happy to work with clients to create custom art to fit their unique vision and space.

Finished a small acrylic piece (10"x12" oval) based on the gorgeous photo by the incredible Marja Heiskanen (thank you!...
03/18/2026

Finished a small acrylic piece (10"x12" oval) based on the gorgeous photo by the incredible Marja Heiskanen (thank you!!).

I always think it's so special to see a mushroom with snow on it. Often the arrival of snow means the end of the 'fruiting bodies' of fungi (ie. mushrooms). But for a brief interval, the two abide in the same space and that seems special to me. So I've called it "The Icing on Top", because on a cake, that's the special part, and the ice on top of the mushrooms here makes them special too!

The colour in the unframed piece is the more accurate of the two images.

I'm proud to be part of such a generous artist community ( Foyer Gallery ). Thanks to all our amazing clients for your p...
02/24/2026

I'm proud to be part of such a generous artist community ( Foyer Gallery ). Thanks to all our amazing clients for your purchases - supporting local artists - so we could help support the Ottawa community!

Foyer Gallery donated 10% of the sales from the recent Joy of Art exhibition to the Ottawa Food Bank.
Here is our own Glenn Bloodworth presenting the cheque to Nicholas Hupé, Coordinator, Community Engagement & Events / Coordination, mobilisation communautaire et événements
Ottawa Food Bank

Joy of Art / L'art en exubérance 2025
📍Nepean Sportsplex, Entrance 1

Another little painting entitled "Tucked Away" (8.5" diameter), completed last week. I'm not sure why I feel like it's i...
02/18/2026

Another little painting entitled "Tucked Away" (8.5" diameter), completed last week. I'm not sure why I feel like it's important, but the little vignette is painted in there. Without it the brightly colored surrounding leaves just felt too overpowering.

Anyway, the painting is 'tucked away' in a clock frame that used to dwell in my dad's office years ago. But then the clock broke. And decades later, I found it and decided to repurpose its frame.

I enjoyed the kind of unusual magenta/mauve tones in this little mushroom scene. Hope you do too! The colour is most accurate in the frame-free image.

Final 15"x30" acrylic on gallery canvas. Title: "Reminders and Promises"The shriveled leaf is the reminder of fruitful, ...
02/17/2026

Final 15"x30" acrylic on gallery canvas. Title: "Reminders and Promises"

The shriveled leaf is the reminder of fruitful, abundant days (back in summer). In "winter seasons" we can lament their absence, rather than appreciate a cold, seemingly dead period of rest and hibernation. And the sun is the promise that new days of warmth, life, and plenty will come again. The sun even warms the icy days of inaction and helps make them more tolerable.

Loads of metaphor in there. Enjoy!

At the end of 2025 (I think?!) one of my favourite recent paintings quickly found a home! This whimsical scene that I ti...
02/03/2026

At the end of 2025 (I think?!) one of my favourite recent paintings quickly found a home! This whimsical scene that I titled "Snail's Dream" was painted from a reference photo by the very talented photographer - thank you for permitting me to use your lovely photo.

My big 5 foot by 4 foot tree painting is on display for this weekend before our show ends Sunday at 4 pm Foyer Gallery .
01/24/2026

My big 5 foot by 4 foot tree painting is on display for this weekend before our show ends Sunday at 4 pm Foyer Gallery .

Acrylic by Marion Aitken:
"Glorious Dream Tree", A massive painting of a splendid, elegant, many-branched Camphor tree arrayed in its vivid green foliage, beckoning viewers to climb up and onto its limbs. Painted on gallery-wrapped canvas, the artwork wraps around the sides of the canvas.
46" x 60"

https://www.facebook.com/marion8ken/
https://www.instagram.com/aitken.marion/

https://foyergallery.com/product-category/marion-aitken

Cool Surprises/ Des surprises cool
JANUARY 6th - JANUARY 25th 2026
📍Nepean Sportsplex, Entrance 1

Address

Ottawa, ON

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Marion Aitken posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Marion Aitken:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Artist Statement

There is much more to everyday existence than initially meets the eye. Only when we pause to really observe do we appreciate the colours, textures, shapes, patterns and diversity found absolutely everywhere our gaze falls. I desire that my paintings would serve as reminders to look deeper at our surroundings and experiences in order to seek the quiet or unusual beauty hidden therein.

There are three constant threads woven through my paintings: unusual angle of view, intentional lighting that molds the form of my subjects, and a high degree of realism. I love to use unusual vantage points when I render vibrantly coloured compositions because the slightly different perspective and the play of light that is mimicked causes the viewer to see commonplace items with fresh eyes.

My work celebrates the smaller parts that humbly work together, often unnoticed, to compose grand vistas and complex structures. Essentially, my paintings are an Ode To All Things Small because I know that all great things are simply a magnificent collection of countless, minuscule elements.