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Archive for the ‘Artwork of the Week’ Category

‘From Ben Oss, winter’

Posted by admin on November 27th, 2011
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'From Ben Oss, Winter'

‘From Ben Oss, winter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 60 x 30 cm

This is the latest small painting I’ve completed.  Developed from the larger 80 x 80 cm painting I did earlier this year, I have re-worked the composition to suit this 60 x 30 cm format.   The original painting was done after an interesting day walking Ben Oss in heavy snow and cloud.   As the snow stopped and the cloud started to break and disperse, we had some beautiful views ….a mixture of hillside, cloud and space.  This piece does I think have a good balance between being a Scottish Landscape and an abstract painting.  I’m hoping to include this with the pieces I currently have with Scotlandart.com, but have to send a photograph and wait to see if they’ll accept it.  If they do, I’ll post full details.

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‘Moor land mist’

Posted by admin on November 18th, 2011
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'Moor land mist'

‘Moor land mist’, Pastel, 2006. 38 x 53 cm

To be honest I can’t remember where this drawing was based on …..but it must have been one of those dark gloomy days where you plod along through the mists with little around you to give a clue to distance or scale.  Even in these kind of conditions though, there is a strange beauty to the landscape and I’ve been looking at this early drawing and thinking that it could be the starting point for some new larger paintings.

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‘LochTay from Beinn Ghlas’

Posted by admin on November 11th, 2011
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'Loch Tay from Beinn Ghlas'

 

‘Loch Tay from Beinn Ghlas’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2009, 76 x 23 cm

The walk to the summit of Ben Lawers via Beinn Ghlas is a very popular one and as such, the paths on the hill are large and well used.   That said however, the views from these hills are extensive owing to their height ….Ben Lawers being just a few feet short of the 4000 foot contour.  We often do this walk in the autumn when for one thing it’s a little less busy and also because of the fact that its National Trust land and so not restricted at this time of year by stalking.  On the day this painting was based on, we’d walked to the summit of Ben Lawers in rain and cloud, but as we returned back along the ridge towards Beinn Ghlas, drier, brighter weather moved in and we had some wonderful views down to Loch Tay far below.

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‘South of Speyer’

Posted by admin on November 5th, 2011
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'South of Speyer'

‘South of Speyer’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 80 x 80 cm

 This was one of the paintings I completed while in Speyer last summer, 2010.  It was one of just two that were based on the rural landscape of the region as I spent most of my time in the city.  However on the few occasions I did go out into the countryside and hills, I was particularly impressed by the colours and lines created by the vine yards.  During my recent stay in Speyer, we once again visited the wine growing areas and walked through the vine yards and up into the wooded hills behind.  We were particularly lucky with the weather and the late autumn colours of the vine and surrounding trees were quite beautiful …shame I didn’t have a bit more time ….and my paints of course!

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‘NE from Arkle, Sutherland’

Posted by admin on October 21st, 2011
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‘NE from Arkle, Sutherland’

 ‘NE from Arkle, Sutherland’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 76 x 23 cm

This is one of the paintings that will be showing at Gallery Q in Dundee(22nd October –11 November 2011).  It’s based on the day back in May when we walked part way up Arkle …in the far northwest of Scotland.  The hill is a mass of quartzite screes and blocks and made particularly hard walking for me ….the light was bouncing off of the white /grey stones and it was difficult for me to see where I was putting my feet!  But it was worth the effort getting to the first (false) summit.  The views were huge and as we sat with our backs against the strong cold wind, we could see right over to Ben Hope …the most northerly of the Munros.  We saw no one else that day …total peace and quiet …wonderful.

For details of the exhibition at Gallery Q, Dundee, visit:  www.galleryq.co.uk

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‘Winter afternoon, Rannoch Moor’

Posted by admin on October 14th, 2011

'Winter afternoon, Rannoch Moor', Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 76 x 23 cm

‘Winter afternoon, Rannoch Moor’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 76 x 23 cm

Here is another of my recent Rannoch Moor paintings.  This painting is now hanging in the Künstlerhaus in Speyer as part of my exhibition of Scottish Landscape paintings.  I shipped all 19 paintings last Friday and they arrived safely in Speyer on Tuesday.  I understand that members of the Künstlerbund Speyer e.V were planning to hang the work yesterday evening in readiness for a press evening and preview next week.  The preview is at 7 pm on Friday 21st October.  My partner Anita and I will be travelling to Speyer on Wednesday and so if you live in the region, it would be great to meet you at the preview.  For further details:  www.kuenstlerbund-speyer.de .  I’ll be showing images of several other paintings in the exhibition with my blog this week.

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‘On Rannoch Moor’

Posted by admin on October 7th, 2011

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‘On Rannoch Moor’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 76 x 23 cm

This is one of the paintings I had on display at the Courtyard Studios Open Weekend last weekend.  It is now wrapped and boxed along with 18 other paintings, awaiting collection by the courier, for the journey to Speyer.   I had a very good response to these new paintings and it was particularly good seeing them up on the wall together for the first time.  A number of people commented that I was using brighter colours and I think they may be right …although it has not been a conscious decision, more just a case of my getting more confident with using colours.  This is certainly one of the brightest paintings that I’ve done of Rannoch Moor and although it can be a dark and brooding place in poor weather, when the sun comes out it can be full of colour.

My exhibition in Speyer opens on Friday 21st October and after seeing some of these paintings together for the first time last weekend, I think it should be quite a good show.  I hope you can get to see it.  I’ll be having the exhibition photographed so you’ll be able to see it on-line in a few weeks time.

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‘In the Bridge of Orchy Hills, late afternoon, January’

Posted by admin on September 24th, 2011

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‘In the Bridge of Orchy Hills, late afternoon, January’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 80 x 80 cm

I’ve been working on this painting for quite a few weeks now and have just finished it.  Although I use blues and purples a lot in my paintings, the pinky reds in this picture have caused me a lot of problems.  I’ve been trying to capture that wonderful colour the snow goes as the sun sets in winter …but this has been difficult for me as I really struggle to see red against other colours.  The very fact that I could see the pink colour last winter as we were making our way back after a fine winter walk, means that it must have been quite bright but as with all colours …it’s very difficult to judge their intensity either in the natural environment or in a painting.  Anyway, I quite like this piece and am already working on a second painting this size using the same colours …but with a greater emphasis on the pink / red and yellows.  The painting is with the framer right now but I’m looking forward to seeing it up on the wall once I get it back.

I may well display this piece as part of the Wasps Open Studios Weekend at the Courtyard Studios in Irvine next weekend 1st and 2nd October.  Entry as usual is free. Open:11am – 5pm Saturday, 12 noon – 5pm Sunday.   Other artists taking part include: Sheila Kerr, Graham McKean, David Reid, Alison Thomas, Margaret Carslaw and Gillian Beech.  If you live in striking distance of Irvine, why not pop along and see some fine work.  Lots of places to eat and drink near by including The Ship Inn and the Harbour Arts Centre Bar right next door.  Hope to see you next weekend.

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‘Below Sail Garbh – work in progress’

Posted by admin on September 16th, 2011
‘Below Sail Garbh – work in progress’

‘Below Sail Garbh – work in progress’

‘Below Sail Garbh – work in progress’, Oil stick and pastel, 80 x 80 cm

When I first moved into my studio at the Courtyard in Irvine in 2004, I decided that whenever I was in the studio anyone could come in and see what I was working on.  I think it is good that people can see not just the ‘finished work’….the good stuff, but also the work that so often has to be done to get there.  I think my website and Face Book page should also be a little like this too.

This week the image is of a drawing I’ve been working on recently based on some of the sketches I did back in May when we were staying on holiday in Assynt.  The original version …done just in very loose oil stick didn’t really work that well (see on FB) and so I started working back into it with oil pastel.  This is the stage it is here …and I’m not too sure about it either …oh well, it’s just part of the process I guess.  I’ve been thoroughly enjoying working on it though, which is the most important part.

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‘Beallach’

Posted by admin on September 9th, 2011
‘Beallach’

‘Beallach’

‘Beallach’, Pastel, 2005

This is one of my pastel ‘scribbles’, done a few years ago.  Not really based on any particular place this drawing was really more an experiment with colour and mark. This piece however, along with other drawings I did at the time, did lead to the more finished pieces I currently produce.

I am though planning to return to doing more of this kind of quick drawing …just playing with colour, mark and composition…..so keep tuned!

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