Snow Falling ThroughTrees

 

What a busy time of year this is! Does much painting get done I wonder?

I had the best intentions to make some hand painted Christmas cards but it didn't quite happen. However, inspired by the snow laden trees and Ingeborg Smith's lovely quirky paintings, I produced several little works like this one above.

This wintry weather can cause total chaos but the landscape can be starkly beautiful, especially in our low northern light. I haven't quite managed to make the most of it by painting outside. Memory and imagination in a warmish studio do me just fine.

A couple more days till the winter solstice, then roll on more hours of daylight.

Sometimes I think I am blethering into the ether , but if anyone is out there, have a good mid-winter and all the best for 2011.

Strathpeffer Art Fair

 

If you are interested in art and live in the Highlands, then get along to the Strathpeffer Art Fair.

Hundreds of artworks, large and small are exhibited in the Strathpeffer Pavilion from Thursday till Sunday, not forgetting the convivial preview held tomorrow night (Wed 17th) 7 tll 9pm.

This mixed media painting takes a low flying bird's eye view of an Orkney sea shore. Now there's another place I'd highly recommend. Perfect for blowing away the cobwebs.

Autumn Exhibitions

 

I'm gradually getting back into some serious painting, not that serious, it's still fun, especially this painting which has gone through many incarnations. The Autumn/Christmas exhibitions are looming so my little attic studio will be well used this month. My head is buzzing with ideas. It's just a matter of translating that into some good artwork. Not always easy.
So, come November, there will be new exhibitions in Beauly Gallery, Tore Gallery and Inchmore (under new ownership)and the splendid Strathpeffer Art Fair runs from 17th to 21st November.

Guess where I've been!

 

Just back from Canada where I travelled from Calgary to Vancouver and Victoria.
The journey from Canmore to Jasper lives up to it's reputation as one of the best drives in the world. The views were absolutely astonishing, scenery on an epic scale. The landscape wasn't the only eye opener. There is a rich and vibrant history of Canadian First Nation art. This is the Thunderbird House Post, a replica by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Charlie James erected in Stanley Park, Vancouver. I didn't visit the museum with the original house post but I can thoroughly recommend the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria for it's First Nation collection.
First Nation art seems to be alive and kicking with lots of galleries and shops dedicated to selling good quality work.

Art at Beauly

 

Today I spent another day as artist in residence, along with Eileen Addly, at Beauly Gallery. The gallery is part of an Art around the Firth trail for Highland Open studios week. Lots of fellow artists, friends and holidaymakerscame to see the exhibition so there was plenty chat over lunches and coffees. I was billed as a mixed media artist so I had my table littered with papers, scraps and work at different stages. The "Mountain with Linen" featuring the defunct teatowel was of much interest! All in all, a convivial couple of days. The exhibition runs till the end of the month.

Wrecked

 

Came back last week from a wee holiday on Tanera Mor in the beautiful Summer Islands. The idea was to paint but walking and relaxing were also high on the agenda. This is a stunning location with views across to the iconic Coigach hills and south across a scatter of islands to more epic mountain ranges. There's lots to paint here, sea, sky, mountains, piers, boats and a cracking wreck which is submerged daily. Painting outside is a challenge, the eye does funny things with distance, scale and perspective. Stac Pollaidh was tantalising, appearing and disappearing but always spectacular, except of course when the mist came down. Now I'm home I hope to weave my sketches and images into some new paintings.
Meanwhile, I'm at Beauly Gallery for a couple of days as artist in residence. More later....

Mountain with Linen

 

I had a favourite old linen tea towel which faded and began to fall apart. So I ripped it into pieces and stuck the largest chunk onto paper to form a textured base for a painting. It was fun to paint on and Mountain with Linen is the result. This artwork is one of a number in the exhibition at Beauly Gallery. The Gallery is one of a number of locations taking part in Highland Open Studios week, from 24th till 31st July, with "Art around the Firth"