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Archive for the ‘Artwork of the Week’ Category

“Upland scene”

Posted by admin on September 9th, 2010
"Upland scene", acrylic and pastel, 2008. 200 x 100cm Ref: 83

"Upland scene"

“Upland scene”, acrylic and pastel, 2008. 200 x 100cm

This is one of the big paintings I did a couple of years ago and since returning from Speyer, I’m starting to think about doing some more pieces on this or a similar scale. I really enjoyed the 2 larger paintings I did this summer, which were 140 x 100cm. There is something really exciting about having the space to swing your arm with a big, 6inch brush and lots of paint! It won’t do much for the newly painted studio, or my T-shirts and jeans, but what the hell, when you’re a painter you expect a few splashes! I will be buying some new large boards soon and will no doubt keep you updated.

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‘From Beinn Inverveigh, October’

Posted by admin on September 3rd, 2010
´From Beinn Inverveigh, October´

´From Beinn Inverveigh, October´

‘From Beinn Inverveigh, October’,
Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 60 x 60 cm

Back in October 2009 a friend and I visited this little hill in very bad weather.  The forecast was for persistent heavy rain and severe gales.  As it turned out, it wasn’t quite that bad and despite a drenching we had a great day that even included a short break in the conditions.  For a while the sky got brighter and the wonderful colours of the various grasses, heathers and bracken were rally intense.

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Pfalz landscape

Posted by admin on August 27th, 2010

'Pfalz landscape'

'Pfalz landscape'

‘Pfalz landscape‘ Acrylic and Pastel, 2010, 140 x 100cm.

During my stay in Speyer most of my work has been based on the city’s fine cathedral. As a landscape painter though, I felt it important that I try and paint at least one typical Pfalz landscape. This new painting is based on the view from the edge of the hills, overlooking the vineyards and out over the Rhein plain to the hills of the Black Forest beyond.

The painting is quite an abstract composition, but its scale lends itself well, I think, to this big, open view.

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‘Late March, above Loch Rannoch’

Posted by admin on August 21st, 2010
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'Late March, above Loch Rannoch'

‘Late March, above Loch Rannoch’
Acrylic & Pastel, 2009, 60 x 30 cm

This painting is based on the splendid view one gets when on the grassy and heather clad hills above Loch Rannoch.  It’s wonderful easy walking with huge views all around.

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On the edge of Rannoch Moor, December

Posted by admin on August 17th, 2010
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On the edge of Rannoch moor, December

‘On the edge of Rannoch Moor, December’
Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 76 x 23 cm

This is another of the paintings I’ve completed since our memorable short walk on the edge of Rannoch Moor back in late December. It really was a wonderful mixture of light and colour that day. As the big threatening clouds wandered by it would suddenly become quite dark for a few minutes with just odd patches of dim sunlight catching the moor-land grass. In this painting I’ve used a gold acrylic mixed with other colours to try and capture a little bit of the magic as the sun catches the beautiful winter vegetation.

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‘On Beinn a’ Ghlo, autumn’

Posted by admin on August 6th, 2010

'On Beinn a' Ghlo, autumn', Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 30 x 30 Ref:163

'On Beinn a' Ghlo, autumn'

‘On Beinn a’ Ghlo, autumn’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 30 x 30 cm

At the end of the summer a couple of years ago we got up very early and drove up to Beinn a ‘ Ghlo, the big range of hills near Beinn a ‘ Ghlo. It was the perfect early autumn day, warm with hazy sun and the clouds well above the tops …and a slight breeze to keep the midges off. Earlier that summer we’d been and walked Carn Liath, the closest of the three Munroe that make up Beinn a’ Ghlo. This time we wanted to walk its other two tops. It made for quite a big day but as we’d left Irvine around 4.30am we’d a lot of day to play with and it proved a wonderful walk. This little painting tries to capture something of the rather hazy views we had that day.

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‘Heavy weather, Drumochter’

Posted by admin on July 30th, 2010
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'Heavy weather, Drumochter'


‘Heavy weather, Drumochter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 76 x 23cm

With all the rain and dark skies we’ve been having in Speyer for the last week, I thought it fitting to select a similarly damp image as this week’s work of the week. It seems to be a place that catches the weather, or at least when we drive through these hills heading north or south on the A9 over the Drumochter Pass. But it’s so wonderfully wild and raw and I always get excited when we heading up or down this bit of road.

We’ve explored some of the hills on either side of the pass, Gael Charn and A’Mharconaich the scene of one of my most memorable days – fine winter weather and my 100th Munro; A’Bhuidheanach Bheag and Carn na Caim – one of the hardest days I’ve had on a hill – bitterly cold easterly wind and soft sinking snow.

Anyway, this painting always reminds me of these walks and gets me reaching for the guides and maps to plan further trips. The painting is currently being exhibited at The Gallery on the Corner in Edinburgh …watch out for their new website …due to go live in the next few weeks.

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Last chance to see …..

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2010

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'On Rannoch Moor'

‘On Rannoch Moor’, Pen, 2009

The drawing I’m working on at the moment here in Speyer is 430 x 150cm …and it’s proving hard work! It’s coming on but there’s much work still to do on it. We’ll see how it goes I guess. Anyway, it’s certainly got me thinking about drawing and so here’s one I finished earlier …albeit somewhat smaller (28 x 23 cm).

This was one of the small sketches I did back in December last year on what was a beautiful day on Rannoch Moor. With the time racing by here in Speyer (I only have six weeks left) and masses of work to do on my return to Scotland, it’ll be December again before I know it. I may just have to go back to this stunning place and enjoy the peace and solitude for a few more hours.

Incidentally, this drawing is one of the works currently exhibited at Blairmore Gallery near Dunoon. I have ten pieces, (paintings and drawings) on show along with work by fellow Ayrshire artist Alison Thomas. If you live in the area, do pop along to see the exhibition and have a cup of tea in this great little gallery – they’ve just been ranked 4 stars by ‘Visit Scotland’. Be quick though as the exhibition ends on July 27th. For more details check out the link to Blairmore Gallery.

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‘Harbour light, winter’

Posted by admin on July 16th, 2010

1.1. 'Harbour light, winter', pastel, 2003, 61 x 30cm

‘Harbour light, winter’, Pastel, 2003, 61 x 30 cm

I’ve been planning to do a very big drawing and although I’ve got ideas about what the picture will look like, I’ve been looking through some of my old Irvine drawings for a bit of inspiration! Most of these were relatively small but were about buildings, man made environments and so have been of considerable help whilst planning this Speyer drawing.

This ‘harbour’ drawing has been of particular interest …not just because it was long and thin …but more because of the light. Here in Speyer on this very hot summer days the light is incredibly bright and even the great structure of the cathedral almost disappears into this bright soup of light. I don’t know yet, but this new drawing may well have a similar feel to the harbour piece in the end. It’s quite difficult starting such a large piece …and I’ve been putting it off ….and will probably put if off just a little longer …and keep looking and thinking. Hopefully there’ ll be some news of it before long.

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‘Coire an t’Sneachda, the Cairngorms’

Posted by admin on July 9th, 2010

'Coire an t’Sneachda, the Cairngorms'

'Coire an t’Sneachda, the Cairngorms'

‘Coire an t’Sneachda, the Cairngorms’, Oil, Acrylic & Pastel, 88 x 88 cm

There are two reasons for choosing this very wintry scene for my work of the week. Firstly, it’s apparently around 32 C this afternoon and forecast to go to 37C possibly by Sunday. Being used to the slightly cooler temperatures of Irvine, I’m finding it a little hot today and could really do with a nice cold snowy hill to sit on! But the main reason for choosing this painting is that my mind is very much on Scotland this weekend and in particular Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore. This is the centre where I did both the summer and winter mountain skills courses for visually impaired people. I’ve mentioned these courses before I know, and this weekend is really special as it’s the 10th anniversary this year for the course. Norma Davidson the co-ordinator for these courses, has organised a reunion for past course members and the fully sighted volunteer guides. I would have loved to be there this weekend and as I type this, my partner Anita (who has guided me over so many hills) is driving up to Glenmore to join the group.

The weather apparently isn’t so good but I’m sure everyone will have a good time and I’m sure there will be a lot of reminiscing done in the bar …and walks and adventures planned.

I did this painting after attending the one visually impaired winter mountain skills course that was run. We were taken up into the coire to learn some winter survival techniques …digging snow holes etc and we had this amazing view of the ice and snow covered crags. It was a special day for me too as one of the instructors spotted a Snow Bunting in the rocks close by and amazingly it sat there long enough for me to find it with my monocular…..I’d always wanted to see one of these.

Back to the heat and the work now and with a bit of luck a nice ice cold beer later this evening. Best wishes to all those at the reunion at Glenmore Lodge.

For details of the course, check out the Glenmore Lodge website: http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/

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