Squall Imminent

 
Typical Highland weather, sun one minute, showers the next and sometimes both and much more fun to paint than a clear blue sky.

"Squall Imminent" began with dribbly PVA and a scattering of good west coast sand followed by some finger painted gesso and topped off with acrylic.

The result will be in the Art Society exhibition which runs for 2 weeks from next Monday, 25th July in Eastgate Centre, Inverness.

New Work at Beauly Gallery

 

This blog has been dormant for quite some time, unlike myself. Life has been exceedingly hectic this year mostly in a good way with major family events. Now the dust is settling and I am getting back to my beloved studio.

Over the last few months I have been exploring different media and techniques to create images of the Orkney landscape and seascape.

Warebeth Bay, just west of Stromness, has wonderful warm, textured flagstones and the beachcombing is fascinating. There are rusty old bits of wrecks and the usual flotsam and jetsam to be found. Weather is constantly changing bringing varied light and colour to the sea and coast.

Working in acrylic or oil, I have tried to convey an atmospheric sense of place in a number of paintings. These are being exibited in Beauly Gallery in the Highlands for the next few weeks.

The title of this piece is "Stormy Skies".

In the Studio

 

Just had a fantastic if exhausting weekend at a workshop in Edinburgh College of Art. The theme was painting and colour.

Our excellent tutor, Robbie Bushe introduced a variety of methods of painting with acrylic and then we were let loose in the studio.

Colourful buckets and fabrics, the odd skeleton and some other bits and bobs formed a backdrop for our model. Here he is, just exiting my little painting. This was done on a black (payne's grey actually) background.

Other techniques included starting with a tonal monochrome underpainting, that I liked, and a Seurat style approach at which I failed miserably.

Watch this space for an example of my narrative work!

Curly Wurly and Seaside Rock

 

 

These little sweetie abstracts are on the wall in Leakey's Bookshop and Cafe in Inverness.

I love doing the whole texture thing and playing around with colour and pattern. One never knows quite what will appear. Such fun.

There are other Art Society of Inverness artists on the wall (not literally though that could make a fine surreal exhibition) and some interesting work from a group based outside Inverness.

Have a coffee and check it out!

Follow the Path

 

Where did the last six weeks go? Festivities, family and flu! Now the bulbs are pushing through and the days here in the far North are getting longer. Hurray!

Some of the local galleries close the early part of the year. Beauly Gallery opens again this week, (8th Feb.) spruced up and with lots of new work.

"Follow the Path" is one of my wintry paintings. The stark trees, an icy path but the warmth of spring promised in the sky. Can you find the wee bit of map?

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.