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Information Updates | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings - Part 6

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Work on display

Posted by admin on June 6th, 2013
'The Saddle from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, March'

‘The Saddle from Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran, March’
-Currently showing at The Framework Gallery-

My apologies for the lack of a blog last week but unfortunately I managed to pick up a nasty bug and although I’ve been working at my studio during the day, I’ve felt too rough most evenings to tackle the computer! In all honesty, I’m still feeling far from good now and so this is just going to be a short ‘picture’ blog this week highlighting a few of the paintings I currently have on display at both The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff and The Framework Gallery in Troon.

I currently have four paintings showing at The Strathearn Gallery in Creiff as part of the ‘New Beginnings’ group exhibition. The exhibition opened on June 1st and runs for a couple of months. To view the exhibition on-line and for further details of the exhibition and gallery, follow this link:

http://www.strathearn-gallery.com/current-exhibition.php

'A hazy spring day, Culter Fell'

‘A hazy spring day, Culter Fell’
-Currently showing at The Strathearn Gallery-

'NE from Stob Ghabhar'

‘NE from Stob Ghabhar’
-Currently showing at The Strathearn Gallery-

I also have four paintings showing at The Framework Gallery in Troon in Ayrshire. For further details of the gallery you can follow the link at the side of this page.

'Sun and snow, in the Blackmount'

‘Sun and snow, in the Blackmount’
-Currently showing at The Framework Gallery-

If you’re living near either of these galleries or fancy a day out why not pop in and see all the work on display.

That’s it for this week. Hopefully by next week I’ll have got my voice back!

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A great trip to Harris

Posted by admin on May 18th, 2013
Towards An Cliseam

Towards An Cliseam

Well, as most of you will know, we’ve just returned from a two week stay on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.  Last May when we stayed up on the north coast of Sutherland, we managed to get a good Internet connection by driving up to a high point just outside the village of Betty Hill.  We had hoped that this year we’d be able to find a similar spot on Harris and I could keep up with the regular Face Book updates and at least one blog.  The fact that this is the first time I’ve written anything since 26 April, will tell you that our hopes were in vain.  We did make an effort and on the first day of our holiday we drove around checking out all the high points on the local roads ….but nothing.  We even drove up to Stornoway to buy a different Internet dongle ….but this was only slightly better.  We did get brief spells where there was a signal …but not long enough to actually use!  So then ….a brief update is probably now called for.

Rough ground - the hills of Harris

Rough ground – the hills of Harris

Neither of us had ever been to Harris before but I’d long hoped to do the trip as I’d read great reports of the hill-walking there.  We’d booked a small cottage in the village of Tarbert and as it turned out it was just two minutes from the ferry terminal, so we could see sea from one of the upstairs windows and the low hills rose up steeply behind the village.  Just to the west of the village the sea once again encroaches and a ten minute drive on the main road opens up spectacular views of the rugged Harris hills.  They really are quite dramatic despite being relatively low.  That said they are very rugged and there is a huge amount of rock everywhere.  The highest point on Harris and the whole of the Outer Hebrides is An Cliseam, a steep sided hill rising to 799 m.  Before getting to the island, I’d hoped that we might get to the top of this hill but with the weather doing its best ….much rain, wind and even snow on one day ….we didn’t even get around to attempting it!   That said, we did have four relatively fine days and managed several good walks with spectacular views.  You really don’t have to get very high on these islands to get huge views and even the numerous small hills of around 300 – 400 m give some rough and exhilarating walking.

Looking south from one of the low hills on Harris

Looking south from one of the low hills on Harris

The coastline is spectacular and on the west side of the island there are some incredible beaches of pale sand.  We did a drive down the west coast on the first Wednesday of the holiday.  The forecast had been poor but it turned out to be an almost clear blue sky making these incredible beaches look like something from the Caribbean …..only the strong and very cold wind told you different!  The following day it started raining at about nine o’clock in the morning and continued for thirteen and a half hours, turning to sleet in Tarbert around lunchtime.  By late afternoon we watched as the local snow plough returned to the village, (with snow caked on the front of it) having been called in action to help clear the main road over the hills to Stornoway.  When we went out the following day we found the snow down to below 100 m and the hills looked spectacular.  What a difference 48 hours makes ….one day walking on a beach in bright sunshine ….two days later walking in several centimetres of slippery snow.  This really is one of the reasons I love having a holiday in NW Scotland in May ….you never quite know what you’re going to get …a bit of winter or a bit of summer.

On one of the numerous granite slabs - photo by Nita

On one of the numerous granite slabs – photo by Nita

I had planned to get some work done this holiday but as usual the drawing stuff stayed in the bag.  I have though come away with some good ideas for new work and in fact I’ve already started one new large drawing.  As we approached the Isle of Harris on the ferry it was gloomy and wet with a slightly choppy sea.  We’d sat in the café by a window looking west and with the rain on and the spray hitting the window ….the view looked very much like one of my paintings or drawings.  This first piece of work since I returned is based on my memories of this slowly changing view.  It’s not finished yet but I’ll get some photos of it posted soon.

Suffice to say, we had a great time and it is a place well worth visiting ….we’ll certainly be going back again another year …it’s a real gem and thoroughly recommended.

Towards the main group of hills on Harris - Photo by Nita

Towards the main group of hills on Harris – Photo by Nita

Waves breaking on a Harris beach - Photo by Nita

Waves breaking on a Harris beach – Photo by Nita

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An invitation to exhibit my work in Germany

Posted by admin on April 24th, 2013
Jürgen's work

Jürgen’s work

When I was last over in Speyer in November 2011, (exhibiting a collection of my Scottish paintings in the Künstlerhaus) I got talking to a chap called Jürgen Fischer.  He had come along to see the exhibition with a friend and he told me that several years previously he’d lived and worked on the west coast of Ireland.  He is a sculptor and he’d spent his time creating work from the bog oak he found there.  As we talked we realised we both had a very similar outlook to these wild and rugged landscapes and shortly afterwards he wrote and suggested that we try and hold an exhibition together sometime.

As you know, I didn’t hold any exhibitions last year. I wanted instead, to use the time to try and develop my work.  This year though, I have organised two exhibitions …the first you know about ….the exhibition at ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh back in March.  The second one will take place at Blairmore Gallery near Dunoon from 19th August – 5th October 2013.  I’ll be posting more details about this as the time approaches.  The gallery owners there have kindly invited me to hold exhibitions on a number of occasions over the past 5 or so years and I’ve always enjoyed showing work there …it’s a great little gallery and one that’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Jürgen's work

Jürgen’s work

Jürgen's work

Jürgen’s work

Jürgen's work

Jürgen’s work

Jürgen's work

Jürgen’s work

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I received an email from Jürgen asking me whether I’d like to hold an exhibition with him in Germany in the autumn.  Wow ….great stuff ….and of course I’ve said ‘yes’.  The details are to be confirmed, but with a bit of luck we’ll be holding an exhibition together for a few weeks in late September – early October.   It is going to be quite a congested time but well worth it if it all goes to plan.  Anyway, I’ll give full details once I have them, but in the meantime, here are a few photos of Jürgen’s work.  I’m already thinking that I may well do more large graphite drawings for this exhibition …I think they will work well with his sculpture. It’s certainly going to be an exciting few months with much drawing and painting needing to be done!

Latest Glen Rosa drawing, 'Towards Cir Mhor, a winter afternoon'

Latest Glen Rosa drawing, ‘Towards Cir Mhor, a winter afternoon’

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A very late blog!

Posted by admin on March 18th, 2013
Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor

It’s now Monday and I should have had this written and posted by last Friday 15th March…..I’m not quite sure where all the time has gone this last week.

No great things to tell either.  I seem to have been down the studio most of the time working on one of the large 80 x 80 cm paintings.  Normally I would have taken a photograph of it to show you with this blog …..but ……I didn’t get around to photographing it.  The painting is coming on though and I think it may be finished, so later today if the light is OK in studio I’ll get a few snaps to put up on my Face Book page.

I had a visit on Friday from a couple of chaps who are doing research at the University of Edinburgh.  They’re looking into the way visually impaired people see paintings.  There were many questions and we must have been talking for several hours ….and all the time the whole thing was been recorded and videoed.  We were all a little shattered at the end and retired to the Harbour Arts Centre Bar for a pint.

Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor

As anyone who follows my Face Book page will have seen, we went out walking on the Saturday before last.  The plan was to walk a track east from the King’s House Hotel towards Rannoch station.  Our friend Guy needed to check the route for a group of Cadets he works with ….they’re planning to go this way as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award expedition.  Back last autumn Guy had caught the train to Rannoch station and walked west ……this time he wanted to get to the point he’d reached that day and we just fancied tagging along.   As it turned out the weather was pretty foul, certainly for the whole of the morning.  We started at about 8 o’clock in the morning from the King’s House Hotel and within a short distance it had started snowing wet flakes that were being driven into our faces by a very strong and cold east wind.  After about an hour, Guy decided to head off at a faster pace and slowly he drew further ahead …lost to sight for me but every now and again Nita spotted him way ahead through the gloom and what had turned into sleet and rain.  After just under four hours Nita and I decided we’d had enough and on finding a spot that was a little less windy, we stopped for lunch and an hilarious five minutes trying to get ourselves ensconced in our two person group shelter!  When we were eventually inside it was remarkably warm …but I don’t think we quite had it worked out as the small clear plastic window was by my backside and the panel Nita was supposed to be sitting on, was by her head!!  Oh well, needs some working on before the next time we use it …but it did give us a warm and relaxed lunch stop.

Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor

We kept in touch with Guy by phone and he reached his previous outward point by about 13.00.  It was certainly easier walking with the wind at our back as we returned and much more pleasant once the rain had stopped.  The last hour was great as the cloud started to rise and we got some impressive views of the big mountains.  Needless to say, we returned to the hotel a couple of hours before Guy and just had to make the best of it in the climbers bar!!!  A tough job but ….  When Guy arrived …he summed it up as ‘ten hours of tedium’!!!  Not the greatest of days but we’d all stretched our legs, Guy had completed the route and we all had a good meal and a laugh ….you can’t always get perfect weather on a day out but you can still have a fun time …even if you moan a bit!

Rannoch Moor

Rannoch Moor

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Business & Pleasure…

Posted by admin on March 8th, 2013
On Fell Shin

On Fell Shin

Well then, after many weeks of preparation, my exhibition finally opened last Friday.  Nita and I arrived at ‘the gallery on the corner’ about half an hour before the preview started and I was delighted with the way the work had been hung.  The 18 pieces looked good together I’m pleased to say and we were ready for a good evening.  In short, it was a success, with a very good turn out, four paintings sold and other folk interested too ….so that bodes well for the next four weeks of the exhibition.

Looking across the northern slopes of Culter Fell

Looking across the northern slopes of Culter Fell

A good friend of mine from Iceland told me a few years ago, that in his country, when they hold an exhibition preview, the artist is always introduced and someone always says a few words about the work.  When I went to Germany the other year, I found they did something very similar.  Strangely most of the previews I’ve attended in Britain, don’t do this and so if you don’t actually know the artist or anything about the work, then it’s just a case of looking at the work and drinking a glass of wine and then leaving.

When we were discussing the preview for this exhibition we decided to take the more ‘continental’ approach.  Rob, (one of the assistant managers at the gallery) agreed to do a brief introduction and then I spoke for about five minutes.  I tried very briefly to give some back ground to my paintings and work in general.  It all went by in a bit of a blur, (and that was before I’d had a glass of wine) but folk seemed to think that the evening was better for it and there certainly was a very good atmosphere in the gallery.  Apparently someone was taking a video while Rob gave the introduction and I spoke and this is going to be posted on ‘the gallery on the corner’ Face Book page.  Gulp!  It’ll be interesting to see this short clip once it’s up ….and I can find out exactly what I said.  Anyway, a very big thanks to all at the gallery who made the evening so enjoyable and to all those who managed to get along for the event.  The exhibition runs until March 30th so there’s plenty of time to see it if you live in the area.

Snow on Culter Fell

Snow on Culter Fell

Needless to say, I was keen to get back out walking again.  We hadn’t been out since our trip to the Luss Hills three weeks ago and we’re now reaching the time of year when the days are long enough for me to do a reasonable length walk again.  So then, yesterday was the day, with a perfect weather forecast for the southern uplands of Scotland especially further east.  A good number of years ago we’d gone with some friends from Lanark, to their favourite local hill ….Culter Fell, just to the south of Lanark.  Unfortunately on that occasion one of our friends was feeling unwell and we decided it would be best if we turned back.  We did though see enough to realise that this was a splendid part of the world and well worth returning to at a later date.  Yesterday then, was the date and our earlier impressions were justified entirely.

Culter Fell from Tippet Knowe

Culter Fell from Tippet Knowe

On this occasion we decided to park the car at Coulter village and walk the two and a half miles up the single track road to the base of Culter Fell.  This was probably a good decision as it’s quite a steep pull up and the walk in from the village gave our legs a chance to loosen up before having to get into serious ‘up’ mode.  The countryside hereabouts is gentle but stunningly beautiful.  It reminded me very much of parts of mid Wales.  The glens are steep sided and the hills rounded…..and yesterday morning in the very spring like weather, it was quite idyllic.  As we followed the road up the glen we were accompanied by the calls of Curlew, Oystercatchers, Great Tits, Blackbirds and a Buzzard ….as well as the sheep bleating in the adjoining fields.

We took a circular route, tackling the steep prow of Fell Shin first.  You certainly gain height quickly and the views, even on this very bright hazy day, were lovely.  As we got further up, the angle eased and we had wonderful views across the steep northern slopes of the fell.  Here surprisingly large amounts of snow were still lying and it made the hills look very special indeed.  We stopped regularly to look, take photos and just take in the peace and quiet …it was wonderful.  We reached the trig point that marks the 748m summit of Culter Fell, at about half past one and found a nice spot for lunch.

Over looking an ancient hill fort, from The Bracs

Over looking an ancient hill fort, from The Bracs

Our descent was by way of Tippet Knowe and then along to The Bracs before a final descent to an ancient hill fort and back down to another single track road leading to Coulter.  It was a very fine circuit and definitely a place we’ll be returning to in the future …there are plenty of equally inviting hills all around.  As we left the village at about half past four we passed a very nice looking pub …with the sign outside reading, ‘No horse in our Haggis!’ …food all day, draught beers’.  Next time we’ll have to get our timing right so that we can pay it a visit too.

Back down to the tree line

Back down to the tree line

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‘In sun, rain, mist and snow’, an exhibition of recent work by Keith Salmon.

Posted by admin on February 28th, 2013
'From the east ridge of Beinn Lui, April'

‘From the east ridge of Beinn Lui, April’

‘In sun, rain, mist and snow’, an exhibition of recent work by Keith Salmon.
‘the gallery on the corner’, 34 Northumberland St, Edinburgh EH3 6LS
Preview, Friday March 1st, 6pm – 8pm
Exhibition runs until March 30th
Gallery open, Tues – Sat, 11.00 – 17.00

Well then, this time tomorrow the exhibition will just about be under way. It’s been a lot of work putting it all together, especially as I wanted to get a number of very new paintings completed in time. But I got there and we delivered the work on time last Saturday.

In the end, I selected 18 paintings; 10 of the 30 x 30 cm acrylic and pastel pieces, 4 of the 76 x 23 cm, 1 of the small 210 mm x 148 mm paintings and 3 of the 80 x 80 cm oil paintings. The choice of the last three larger pieces proved a difficult one. I think I must have changed my mind over which to take, about ten times over the last month or so. Part of the reason was that I was keen to include the new 80 x 80 cm acrylic and pastel painting of Beinn a’ Ghlo, that I’ve been working on. If you’ve been following my Face Book page you will have seen various versions of it ….but as I type I’m still not sure whether it’s finished or not. So then, as realisation dawned that it wasn’t going to be ready on time, I then had to find a substitute. In the end I went for three of the more abstract oil on canvas pieces I’ve done over the last year and I think they should work well and compliment the smaller acrylic and pastel pieces quite nicely.

'Snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal, Sutherland'

‘Snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal, Sutherland’

Even the selection of the 30 x 30 cm paintings wasn’t quite as straight forward as I’d thought. I’d initially planned to include eight pieces this size, but when they were framed and all together in the studio a few weeks ago, I realised that the selection didn’t sit as comfortably together as I’d hoped. Something wasn’t quite right and after much thought I decided that it was probably the mix of colours that wasn’t working. I decided that to pull them all together I needed a couple more paintings but done in more subtle blues, grey and green…..and so started painting again. Sometimes working under pressure is good and on this occasion it seems to have been so. I managed to complete the two new paintings and I’m very satisfied with both of them. They’ve done the trick too and the ten pieces now work well together I think, …though of course until I see them on the wall tomorrow evening I can’t say for sure!

'Dusk, on Rannoch Moor'

‘Dusk, on Rannoch Moor’

If you read last weeks blog you’ll have seen the seven new drawings I’m including in the show. There wasn’t enough space to hang them framed so I’ve just had them mounted and covered with acetate and they’ll be displayed in a stand. The more I’ve seen these drawings since they came back mounted from the framer, the more I’ve liked them and at £285 I think they’re a bargain! But then again I would say that wouldn’t I?!

Right then, that’s it for this week. The images here show paintings that will be in the exhibition, so if you like any why not either pop along to see them for real or contact ‘the gallery on the corner’, (tel; 0131, 557 8969) …or of course you can contact me.

I do hope some of you can get along to see the exhibition while it’s on and remember, if you would like to attend the preview tomorrow, then you’d be very welcome indeed.

'Memories of rain, mist and melting snow, Beinn Chonzie, January 2007'

‘Memories of rain, mist and melting snow, Beinn Chonzie, January 2007’

Keith Salmon, exhibition poster

Keith Salmon, exhibition poster

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Posted in abstract scottish landscape paintings, Exhibitions, Galleries with Keith Salmon artwork, Information Updates, Painting Themes Tags: , , , No Comments »

Well worth waiting for

Posted by admin on February 10th, 2013
Ben Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

Ben Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

It’s been over two weeks since we last had a day off to go walking….on that occasion, a wander up Glen Rosa over on the Isle of Arran.  Since then there seems to have been a continuous stream of gales racing in off the Atlantic  There have been a couple of quiet and fine days in between but one or both of us have been working!  This last week has been another busy one and with Nita working this weekend it looked like we wouldn’t get out for a walk until next week at the earliest.

Earlier I’d spent quite a bit of time getting images and text ready for the invitation cards for my exhibition, two new business post cards, and four new greetings cards.  For a number of years I’ve been asked by Steve and Sylvia up at Blairmore Gallery, if I’d have a few greetings cards made for sale at their gallery.  I’d never really got around to looking into it until now but as I had to go to our local printer for the new business cards I thought I might as well ask.  In short, not only could they print the greetings cards, they could also supply them with envelopes and packed in clear cellophane bags.  I’ve decided to have four different cards printed and have ordered 100 of each.  This will allow me to pass some onto the Blairmore Gallery, have some for the forthcoming exhibition in Edinburgh and also have them for sale at my studio and possibly on-line through my website too.  Anyway, as you can imagine, all this took quite a lot of time …probably the reason I’d put off doing it previously if I’m honest.  I got the proofs back from Kestrel Press on Thursday and they look quite good I think ….so have given the go ahead and am now waiting to see what the actual things look like when they’re printed and packaged.  Exciting stuff!

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

As I said, I got the 8 different digital prints back on Thursday and I’m pleased with the majority of them.  A couple haven’t quite come out as I’d hoped but the other six look great and I’ll be taking two copies each down to my framer to get them mounted ready for the exhibition.  Like the greetings cards, this is all rather new and so will be a learning process for me.  It’ll be interesting to see if I’ve made the correct selection of images for the prints and cards….whether the more abstract images are as popular as the others.

In the Luss Hills, from Beinn Dubh

In the Luss Hills, from Beinn Dubh

I’ve now almost decided on the 17 pieces to be included in my exhibition …although to be honest my choice has changed several times already!  I’ve got four paintings waiting at the framers to be collected so once they are back and I have all the work in the studio it should be easier to decide.  One of the big questions is whether to have two of my new A2 drawings framed and on the wall …instead of two of the paintings.  I had planned just to get the drawings mounted and displayed in a stand.  Ahhhhhh …still can’t decide!

The Luss Hills, from the summit of Beinn Dubh

The Luss Hills, from the summit of Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

With all this on the go, it was a great pleasure to hear my partner suggest that we take advantage of a dry day on Friday to get away from it and out into the hills for a few hours.  As you know, we like the Luss Hills and they are about the closest to get to from Irvine.  They’re steep but not very high so they make an excellent work-out even though you can still have quite a short day.  This was just what we needed.  With Nita working 12.5 hour shifts today and Sunday, she didn’t want a long drive or a too exhausting walk.  We’re regulars to Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill but the views out over Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills of the southern Highlands are just so good you can keep on going back time after time.  Yesterday there was a little snow higher up which made everything look extra special and we had a slow haul up to the top, avoiding much of the path so that we could get better views into Glen Luss.  This also had the advantage of keeping off of the increasingly frozen and quite slippery path.  Higher up though we were back to the path and I came a cropper ….slipping on some ice hidden under some powdery snow.  I landed rather heavily on my backside but thankfully I was just shaken …nothing more.  I should have stopped to put on my ‘spiders’ earlier but had planned to do that at the top so that I had them for the more difficult descent.  What a prat …I should have known better after all these years.  There we are, no real harm done. except perhaps to my confidence and pride!  Back out again next week if we can catch another good day.

Posted in Exhibitions, Galleries with Keith Salmon artwork, Information Updates, Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos Tags: , , , , No Comments »

Looking for paintings

Posted by admin on January 12th, 2013
Cononish Glen

Cononish Glen

It’s been a week of painting for the most part.  As I think I’ve said before, I’ve been invited to hold an exhibition of my work at ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh during March.  The exhibition preview is on Friday March 1st and the show will run until the end of the month.  I’m looking at providing around 17 pieces of work for the exhibition including a good selection of the smaller acrylic & pastel paintings.  After three months of quite good sales in the lead up to Christmas, it’s meant that I’m a little short of the smaller paintings now and I’ve been working on some new pieces recently.  I’ve completed four 30 x 30 cm paintings and have several more on the go.  I’m also working on a couple new 76 x 23 cm paintings too.  All of these are based on our most recent walks, to Rannoch Moor, The Ochil’s and I’m hoping, from the walk we did in Cononish Glen yesterday.  On each of these walks we’ve had superb conditions creating beautiful colours, patterns and contrasts.  Each day was different but very atmospheric in its own right.  The latest small piece to be completed is based on the view we had looking across from the Ghlas Beinn ridge towards Achaladair a few weeks ago.  Needless to say, it was cold and as we wandered along the broad grassy ridge a line of low cloud crept along the glen below us.  This painting is my current ‘Work of the week’, ….just click on the ‘Home’ link to see it.

Cloud breaking around the base of Ben Lui

Cloud breaking around the base of Ben Lui

Our walk yesterday had similar conditions, except that we were down in the base of the glen, (Cononish Glen) and the banks of cloud and mist were drifting along at different levels, some at ground level, some higher, skirting around the hillsides like a tide-line.  It made for strange and interesting scenes.

Below Ben Oss

Below Ben Oss

I had actually planned this easy walk for quite a time, hoping to see the main big corrie on Ben Lui close up and under snow.  But of course, the best made plans and all that!  Instead of snow covered mountains as I’d hoped for in early January, we found almost no snow.  The exceptionally mild conditions since New Years Day had meant a rapid and almost complete thaw, leaving just a few obstinate patches high up on most of the bigger hills and none whatsoever on the smaller ones.  This said however, Ben Lui is one of the bigger mountains and rises to around 1100 m and its huge and magnificent corrie does face east …or north east ..I’ll have to check the map!  But whatever the exact direction, it does mean that the corrie and the big gullies leading up from it, do tend to hold on to their snow a good deal longer than elsewhere.  This was the case yesterday and although there wasn’t much snow, the big gullies leading up from the corrie into cloud and towards the summit, were still full and created a marvellous pattern against the dark rock of the upper mountain.

Below Ben Lui

Below Ben Lui

Our walk yesterday was really just one for looking, taking a few photos and trying to come up with ideas for new work.  It normally takes us just under two hours to walk from Tyndrum up Cononish Glen to the end of the estate track directly below the bulk of Ben Lui …the point where normally we’d ford the stream and start heading up.  Yesterday though, we took nearer three hours!  There was no rush and we could just wander along taking in the wonderful changing scene before us as the banks of mist and cloud came and went, sometimes dark and threatening, at other times,  light, wispy and translucent as it moved across the hillside caught in a brief shaft of sunlight.  Strangely, although I was hoping to get ideas for new paintings, I actually came away with ideas for some new graphite drawings!  Not quite what was planned, but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the years, it’s that you have to be flexible!  After a great little walk, now all I have to do, is the work.

Looking east from Cononish

Looking east from Cononish

Beinn Chuirn

Beinn Chuirn

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In need of a good wall!

Posted by admin on November 30th, 2012

As with last weeks, I’m once again using this blog to highlight a few of the paintings I currently have for sale at my studio.  My contact details are at the end of this blog ….please get in touch if you need any further information.

 

'From the studio, Irvine harbour side'

‘From the studio, Irvine harbour side’

‘From the studio,Irvine harbour side’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 122 x 61 cm
Catalogue number 196
Price: £1250 framed, £1125 unframed

About this painting
As the title says, this painting was based on the view from my studio window …or it was until I moved to my current space just over a year ago.  My old studio was in the old part of the Courtyard studios that face Harbour Stand across that, the River Irvine and the tidal saltings.  It was a great view and it changed constantly with the tide, light and weather.  This piece is a fairly large and abstract view of this scene.  I exhibited this painting in the large gallery at the  early this year and even though I say it myself, it looked great on the big wall.

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'On Beinn a' Ghlo, autumn'

‘On Beinn a’ Ghlo, autumn’

‘On Beinn a’ Ghlo, autumn’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 80 x 80 cm
Catalogue number: 194
Price: £1095 framed, £985 unframed

 About this painting
This is another of the large and more abstract paintings ….this time based on a view we had while wandering the high broad ridges of Beinn a’ Ghlo near Blair Athol.  The hills are heather covered lower down but a mixture of course grass and rock on the upper slopes and ridges. It makes for spectacular walking especially on the kind of day we had ….one of dark heavy clouds just clearing the summits and breaks that created a patchwork of light, colour and shade across the hillside.  This painting has been painted with thick paint using a large old traditional horse hair house painting brush.  Once again it needs a reasonable space …it’s quite big, bright and bold, and certainly one of my favourites.

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 'A walk in the wild. above Drumochter, winter'

‘A walk in the wild. above Drumochter, winter’

‘A walk in the wild.  above Drumochter, winter’, Oil on canvas, 2012, 80 x 80 cm
Catalogue number: 221
Price: £1035 framed, £985 unframed

About this painting
This was the first of my new oil paintings and was created earlier this year.  Once again it is erring towards the abstract but is based on a walk I did with my friend Guy in the hills to the east of Drumochter Pass a number of years ago.  The two Munro’s we walked over that day are really no more than slightly higher points set several miles apart on a huge area of wild moor-land.  Covered with a layer of soft snow it made for a very tiring walk.  Added to this, we were walking into a stiff and very cold east wind, and by the end of the day we were exhausted. It was certainly very memorable!  As with the other two paintings highlighted in this blog ..this painting appreciates a little space around it.

For more details about these three larger paintings or to arrange to view them at the studio, please contact me:

Tel: 07742 437425

Email: keith@keithsalmon.org or salmon21@freeuk.com

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Hard graft …

Posted by admin on November 24th, 2012

It’s been one of those weeks this week …a lot of rushing around, a lot of time down at the studio and a lot of interruptions .so not vast amounts achieved in the way of successful work done.  Oh well, I guess that’s just painting for you.  On top of this, it’s been horrible here in Irvine…no doubt like everywhere else…. I’d have been better owning a canoe rather than walking boots this last week …so much water.  With a lot of commitments too this week, one of the worst weather days coincided with our only ‘free’ day and so once again we failed to get out for a good walk.  On the up side though, in the last three days I’ve had two enquiries about paintings for sale which is very encouraging indeed…..fingers crossed!

So then …..there are not really vast amounts to tell this week and no nice landscape photos to show.  Instead I thought I might as well plug a few of the paintings I have hanging in my studio right now, what with it being that time of year.  You’ll have to excuse my blatant commercialism but well, even painters have to try and make a living.  Anyway, the following three paintings can all be seen in my studio so if you live in the region, do feel free to pop in and see them along with all the other pieces I have on show.  If you don’t live close by but are interested in one of them for a special gift, do contact me as I can always arrange delivery.  The paintings:

 

'Winter conditions, Ben Lui'

‘Winter conditions, Ben Lui’

‘Winter conditions, Ben Lui’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 76 x 23 cm,
Catalogue number: 260
Price £620 framed, £575 unframed.
About this painting

This is one of four recent paintings I’ve created based on memories of a wonderful walk / scramble on Ben Lui a few years ago.  Despite it being quite late in the winter, indeed, I think it was early spring; there was still a lot of snow higher on this big and craggy mountain.  We tackled the east ridge of the hill but due to my incredible slowness, only managed to reach the level middle section of the ridge.  Even so, this was for me a spectacular and exhilarating day.  Before descending back to the grassy glen below we stopped to take in the very wintry scene before us.  This is a view looking across the main corrie and central gully of the hill …the upper section of the hill remained in the cloud most of the day.

 

'Dusk, on Rannoch Moor'

‘Dusk, on Rannoch Moor’

‘Dusk, on Rannoch Moor’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 210 mm x 148 mm
Price: £285 framed, £245 unframed
Catalogue number: 228
About this painting

You may remember that earlier this year I did a series of small ‘postcard’ sized paintings.  This is one of them, and one, I have to say, that I particularly like.  Due no doubt to my strange sight, I find several colours much more difficult to see …and use.  Green is one of these and so this little piece was quite a challenge.  Anyway, I think this works well and it reminds me of the many times we’ve been walking on the edge of Rannoch Moor in poor light.  It’s a wonderfully wild expanse and I’m just going to have to keep on returning and painting my impressions of it.

 

'Above Glen Coe, late autumn'

‘Above Glen Coe, late autumn’

‘Above Glen Coe, late autumn’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 60 x 30 cm
Price: £620 framed, £575 unframed
Catalogue number 210

About this painting

A couple of years ago we had a fine day walking the two summits of Buachaille Etive Beag in Glen Coe.  It was cloudy as we made our way up to Stob Dubh at the south west end of the hill, but as we sat at its summit, the cloud occasionally broke giving views towards Glen Etive and the head of the loch.  On starting to retrace our steps down the short steep section below the summit, the cloud once again broke around us.  This time clearing to the east side but remaining thick to the west. It only stayed like this for a short time before filling in again and I took no photos. This painting is then, very much about my memory from the day.  Hopefully it captures a little of this amazing place.

For more information about these or any other paintings, contact: Keith Salmon

Tel: 07742 437425

Email: keith@keithsalmon.org or salmon21@freeuk.com

So then, it’s been hard graft this last week.  Being a painter isn’t always quite what it’s cracked up to be ….but I wouldn’t change it for anything!  I hope you can get along to the studio sometime soon.

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    Contact Details

  • Tel: 07568 380552 or 01294 216427
    E-mail: keith@keithsalmon.org