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Visual Disability | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings - Part 3

Archive for the ‘Visual Disability’ Category

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.

Posted in abstract scottish landscape paintings, Information Updates, New Artworks, Studio, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , , No Comments »

Visually impaired people see more …..sometimes!

Posted by admin on October 25th, 2012
Clearing weather and bright colours, below Goat Fell, Arran, Ayrshire, Scotland

Clearing weather and bright colours, below Goat Fell

Sometimes,………there really are advantages to being a visually impaired hill-walker!  Many times I have to admit, there are not!

Yesterday Nita and I headed over to the Isle of Arran to walk Goat Fell, ( the highest point of the island’s magnificent mountains).  A couple of days ago the mountain forecasts seemed to suggest that there was a chance that the cloud would be so low that the higher tops would break through them.  This is a magnificent sight to see and one that we’ve been lucky enough to experience on a couple of occasions in the past ten years. I’d often thought that seeing the dramatic rocky peaks of Arran in such conditions would be very special. It was of course a complete gamble and the chances were that we’d just have a walk in low cloud ….which for the most part we did.

Below Goat Fell

Below Goat Fell

We went across on the first ferry, arriving in Brodick at just before eight o’clock.  It certainly looked promising as we looked across the bay to see a very low thick line of cloud shrouding Goat Fell and I immediately started to imagine the summit being clear and in bright sunshine.  We did our normal thing of walking along past the golf course and up the beach to get to the start of the main ‘tourist’ path up Goat Fell..  It’s a beautiful little walk especially first thing in the morning and it gets the legs going before the need to do any ‘up’!  The path climbs up through the edge of the Brodick Castle grounds before emerging onto the open hillside at a point where for many years a small foot bridge had crossed a small but fast flowing stream.  At this point we were somewhat dismayed to find that a new ‘land rover’ track had been built from the estate to the bridge ….and said bridge had been replaced with a much larger one suitable for vehicles ….a small turning space made on the other side of the stream.  We presumed that this was to help during the stalking season ….the main path up the hill passes through the deer fence by way of a large gate just a short distance further on.

Autumn colours, late afternoon near Brodick Castle

Autumn colours, late afternoon near Brodick Castle

Anyway, we didn’t really think too much about it and continued on our way.  The cloud level though had risen somewhat and our hopes of getting above it at the summit now seemed very unlikely.  It was good to get out again though and even though I was finding it difficult picking my way up the boulder strewn path in this rather gloomy light, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.   We entered the cloud just below the point where the path reaches the main shoulder of the mountain.  There was a brisk cold wind blowing and it encouraged you to keep moving!   From this point the going gets steeper and the path rockier before you emerge at the summit.  In fine weather this is a breath taking moment especially if it’s your first visit to the summit of Goat Fell.  Yesterday however we could have been anywhere, the cloud was quite thick and I certainly didn’t feel like it was going to clear.  It was cold too and after a brief stop for a summit picture we decided we might as well just head back and try and find a spot out of the wind for lunch, lower down. It was surprisingly busy despite the conditions and many people passed us both on the way up and down.  My poor sight makes descending a slow and difficult thing and everyone seemed to go rushing past us.  By mid afternoon we were back below the shoulder of the hill and most of the folk who had walked to the summit had long since got back to their cars.

Back to sea level!

Back to sea level!

At this point though, the cloud suddenly started to lift and break and very quickly the scene around us transformed from a dark and sombre one to a beautiful autumn afternoon with bright patches of sunshine illuminating the vivid autumn colours of the moor land around us.  We found a spot out of the breeze and sat down to enjoy the warm afternoon sun, the beautiful views across to Beinn Nuis and the peace and quiet.  This lasted for about half an hour and was then broken by the noise of an engine.  A good way below us Nita said she could see a strange vehicle moving quite quickly and as we watched it was driven at speed across the boggy moor-land below the steep flanks of Goat Fell.  The vehicle and it’s occupants came to a sudden stop about one hundred metres from us ….and everyone got out.  I can only hope that whatever the reason for this off road jaunt, it was a good one as its wheels had scarred the peat, grass and flora of this wild spot.  Perhaps though, this was something to do with the local mountain rescue group…it would certainly get them up the lower slopes of the hill quickly.  Anyway, whatever was going on, we left them to it and continued down the path to the new bridge …where we could plainly see the tracks of the vehicle at the point it had driven onto the moor.

Goat Fell from the beach, late afternoon

Goat Fell from the beach, late afternoon

If there was a genuine and urgent reason for this kind of off road vehicle use, then fine, but it would be a great shame if this new track and bridge are just encouraging more irresponsible off road driving enthusiasts

The afternoon was now a very fine one and we had a very pleasant wander back down through the woods to the beach.  The trees in their autumn colours looked stunning in the late low sun.  As I made my way back along the beautiful beach I reflected on the fact that my visual impairment had so slowed us down that we were still on the mountain when the weather finally improved ….I’d seen more than all the fully sighted walkers who had rushed past us and were no doubt in the pub by the time the sun came out …..smug or what?!

Posted in Information Updates, Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos, Personal, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment »

A week of work

Posted by admin on August 3rd, 2012
216 'Breaking cloud, near the Pap of Glencoe', Acrylic & Pastel, 2012

‘Breaking cloud, near the Pap of Glencoe’

It would be nice to be able to report on another good walk this week.  Instead though, it has just been a week of work and the fine weather on both Tuesday and again today, went by without a boot being laced or a rucksack lifted.  Oh well, that’s the way it goes sometimes and we’re now looking ahead anxiously to Sunday in the hope we might catch another fine day.

The good weather, has though, brought folk out for a walk along the harbour side and this has been good for business.  Yesterday a gentleman visited my studio and seemed very interested in one of the small post card sized paintings.   This afternoon, he returned with his wife and after much looking, they decided to buy the piece.  Thanks to them if they’re reading this and I hope you enjoy the painting.  I’ve had a few other very positive enquiries these last few weeks and so it certainly gives me a little confidence during what are quite difficult times for everyone.

Work wise it’s been a slightly up and down few days. Last weekend I tried to develop the large drawing I had started the previous Friday, but instead of finishing it and having something to be pleased with after my three days work …I wrecked it!!!  That’s the way it goes sometimes but mighty frustrating even so.  This was the second largish drawing I’ve done this year, based on sketches I did of Quinag …..and both have ended up in the bin after what seemed like a promising start.  It’s got me thinking though and I may start another one but using graphite sticks or pencils rather than oil pastel.

The paintings have been coming on slowly.  Until today I’d spent the remainder of my time this last week working on the smaller (30 x 30 cm and 76 x 23 cm) acrylic and pastel pieces.  I have I think completed one, though will leave it to stew for a few days before I get excited and photograph it.  The other one is about three quarters finished but will now be left for a while …until I have an idea of how to finish it!

Today, I went back to the larger oil on canvas paintings.  I have four on the go but decided this morning to tackle one of the less worked on pieces.  I had a good day and it was good to get the large six inch brush out again after much work earlier this week with small paint brushes and magnifiers.  No photos of any of this I’m afraid …so this week you’ll have to make do with just the one image …of the small painting I sold today.

'Breaking cloud, near the Pap of Glencoe'

‘Breaking cloud, near the Pap of Glencoe’

 

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Seeing the best of Ben Nevis

Posted by admin on June 22nd, 2012
Ben Nevis CIC Hut

Ben Nevis CIC Hut

One of the most difficult things about painting the landscape is I think, working out how to convey how big everything is. Without a point of reference ….something man made, capturing the vastness of a moor or mountain can be very challenging. With my fuzzy sight, I have just as much a problem when I’m actually out walking in these wild places ….judging whether I have an hour to walk to reach the top of a crag, or five minutes, without the aid of a map, is tricky. Occasionally though, you go somewhere that just reeks its huge scale.

On Monday we went to just such a place ….the base of the North Face of Ben Nevis.

We walked this, Scotland’s and the UK’s highest mountain several years ago by the standard ‘tourist’ path and although I stood at the top, I never really felt quite how big this mountain was. On Monday though, I got the idea.

Ben Nevis North Face

Ben Nevis North Face

A very good path leads up through the forest before following the stream that flows out from beneath the great cliffs of the north face. Your first view is from a small view point created in the forest but at this stage it just looked to me like another mountain. Once above the forest line though I started to realise just how big a lump of a hill Ben Nevis is. I thought the first cliffs were quite near but as we continued to walk towards them I realised we still had a good distance to walk. As we got closer the dark crags grew bigger and bigger and what I had thought was a single line of cliffs, became a series of great buttresses and a deep corrie – Coire na Ciste. Tucked up at the head of the glen beneath this and complex face, is the CIC Hut. It has been very well built so that it blends in with its dramatic surroundings and it was to this that we were heading.

Our friend and walking companion Guy had in the past climbed a couple of the routes on the North Face and it was his idea that we walk up to the CIC Hut. He assured me that it would not be time wasted and that I just had to see and experience this magnificent setting …he also suggested that it would be an excellent place to do some drawing and painting. Well, I can’t argue, he got it right on all accounts! We sat gawping at the face, so big, so complex and so beautiful. On this occasion I just brought my camera but this is definitely a place to return on another fine day to sit and draw.

I’m not quite sure why, but walking up this magnificent glen underneath the North Face of Ben Nevis, reminded me so much of the time I spent in Speyer the other summer …walking around the massive cathedral there. Just like on Monday beneath Ben Nevis, I used to end up with a crick in my neck from staring up at its highest towers and buttresses trying to work out how it all fitted together and how I might do a drawing or painting of it. In the end, I solved the problem in Speyer by matching scale with scale …in other words doing a very large drawing …4.2 m long by 1.5 m high. As we stood, tiny against this great natural structure …the highest in Scotland, I remembered the Speyer drawing and started to ponder on whether I ought to attempt another …this time based on the North Face of Ben Nevis.

Dom drawing, Speyer

Dom drawing, Speyer

  ‘Photographs by Gjuy Hansford and Mike Lauter’

Posted in Buildings, Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos, Personal, Photography, Speyer, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Back! A short picture blog

Posted by admin on April 1st, 2012

Loch Lomond1. I’ve just got back from a few days away doing some walking.  I was staying with a few friends in a lodge on the east shore of Loch Lomond at a place called Rowardennan.  This is the view across the loch from near our lodge.


2. Perfect weather for a walk up the Cobbler …or Ben Arthur….but like us, many folk were drawn to its rocky heights.


3. We met up with a couple and their dog at the base of the final steep section …they asked if they could follow us …little did they know they were following a chap who couldn’t see very much and another (my friend Mervin) who hasn’t got a head for heights!  Thankfully we were all following Nita!


4. This is a very impressive hill especially when you get up in amongst it’s rocky peaks.


"The Cobbler"

5. To be able to say you’ve climbed the Cobbler you should actually clamber up this final pinnacle.  Suffice to say that I’ve never climbed the Cobbler …just got to the point immediately below its summit ….like many others I imagine!


 

6. After stumbling about three quarters of the way up the ‘tourist’ path on Ben Lomond we decided we’d had enough of the uneven and rubble strewn path and headed off across the moor.  We aimed for some small craggy hummocks just below the south end of Ben Lomond…this is a view back to the big hill.


7. Our walk took us south from Ben Lomond across a mix of grass, bog and heather.  We were well off the main paths and the peace and quiet was wonderful…..just the occasional sound of birds and passing bugs and the trickle of small streams running through the peat.


8. On the Thursday we had a gentle walk up Conic Hill.  The West Highland Way passes around its flanks and a short detour takes you to its grass and heather covered summit.  It’s a fine view point situated as it is at the very southern edge of the Highlands and overlooking the southern end of Loch Lomond.


9. We were so lucky with the weather last week …every day being dry with almost clear skies and bright sunshine.  We saw some great views and some amazing colours …lots to think about and remember.  This is the view overLoch Lomond from the path on Conic Hill.

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On the go

Posted by admin on March 3rd, 2012
Pentland Hills

Pentland Hills

This time last week, almost to the hour, we were being blown off the Pentland Hills just to the SW of Edinburgh! We weren’t actually knocked off our feet, although a couple just ahead of us on the broad grassy ridge, were ….but the wind was so strong that it was almost impossible to make headway and so we reluctantly turned back and headed down. The most frustrating bit though was that once out of the wind, it was a beautiful spring like day …almost clear blue skies. Oh well, it made for a pleasant if short day and for the hour we were doing battle with the gale, it was quite an experience. We had asked our friend Guy if he’d like to join us but he was busy ….which as it turned out, was a good thing. He, as you may remember, broke his leg last year and is gradually getting out walking again. We’d thought that the easy slopes of the Pentlands would be a good ‘next step’ on his recovery to full hill fitness. As I staggered along on Friday however and it was taking all my strength to stay up right, (I could certainly feel the strain on my lower legs) I was very thankful that Guy had had a meeting to go to! Hopefully the next time we can all get out together it will be a calmer day and we can enjoy a relaxed wander over several of these beautiful little hills.

In the studio

In the studio

Since then, my week has simply been one of work. However, with our holiday in mid May, just around the corner, I’ve wanted to try and get a little fitter generally. I spent too much time sat on my backside last year and accepted too many offers of a lift in the car down to the studio from my partner. Even when she was working I was catching the bus from the top of our road into the town centre …and then just walking the mile to the studio from there. Irvine is as I’ve said many a time before …almost completely flat but I’ve decided to start walking the three and a bit miles from house to studio on a regular basis …it’s not serious exercise but it should help get me ready for the holiday. It takes me just on an hour …so in all honesty, only about 20 minutes longer than if I caught the bus, and it’s quite a pleasant little wander most of the way. One of the good things about Irvine for me is that much of it was developed into a ‘new town’ back in the late 70’s and early 80’s and as such they incorporated numerous footpaths that make getting about when you can’t see too well, fairly easy. The one big road crossing is missed by an underpass…..leaving only a couple of other awkward side junctions to cross.

In the studio

In the studio

When, in 1996, I went to the RNIB college in Torquay one of the things that we did was, mobility training. One of the things they emphasised was that it was important to work out ‘routes’ that you could use. In doing so, you get to learn the obstacles and can therefore move much quicker and with more confidence and safety. It doesn’t mean I can walk to my studio without concentrating but it does mean I can relax more during the hour long walk. My time at RNIB in Torquay all those years ago was well spent. It took me a long time to get used to using my white cane …I felt dreadful using it for the first couple of years, but now it goes with me everywhere and it allows me to be much more independent ….so a big thanks to Denis and Uwe, my two mobility training officers …they did a great job during the nine weeks I was at Torquay.

As for my work, well it is going along OK. I still haven’t quite finished my second 80 x 80 cm oil painting …but it’s getting very close now. I have three other oil paintings on the go now also and have been enjoying developing these over the last few days. This is where the Jolomo Award is really paying off for me. Almost three years on and it is allowing me to use this quiet period to just get on and try and improve and develop my work …I don’t have to panic ….people may not be buying as many paintings because of the economic situation but I can use this time to create a new and hopefully better body of work …ready for when things start picking up again. I realised at the time that the Jolomo Award was not a quick fix …that it would assist me in my career for many years …and so it is proving.

In the studio

In the studio

One good bit of news to end this week’s blog with. Yesterday, a couple (who have bought paintings from me in the past) came into the studio. They explained that they were moving house soon and had come in to give me warning that they’d be looking to commission a painting from me for their new house later this year. The interesting bit for me is that they said they’d like something done in just white, greys and black. That could be quite a challenge ….but very interesting and exciting too. Anyway, I’ll look forward to doing that as and when they make their move …I’ve got plenty of time now to think about it…..in fact I can use a little bit of time thinking about this as I walk to the studio each day.

Posted in Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos, New Artworks, Personal, Studio, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , No Comments »

A brief lull ….

Posted by admin on December 29th, 2011
'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

It’s the morning of Wednesday 28th December and I’ve just seen my old college mate Mervin off.  He’s been staying with us for the last couple of nights and is now driving up to visit his mum and sister who live on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde.  He drove up from his home down south on Boxing Day and the plan was to go for a walk over on the Isle of Arran on the 27th (yesterday).  That said though, it was very much depending on the weather, more so than normal as we’ve had another succession of gales blowing in from the south west recently that have been disrupting the local ferry services somewhat.  It was certainly pretty windy all through Christmas Day and Boxing Day but the forecasts seemed to agree that there would be a short lull in proceedings during the early hours of 27th before another band of rain and wind arrived from the south in the afternoon.

It wasn’t great, but better than nothing and despite having driven around 300 miles the day before, Merv agreed that it would make sense to catch the early, 7 o’clock ferry to Brodick.  We only live a short distance from the ferry terminal at Ardrossan but even so this still meant leaving the house by about quarter past six in the morning!  The one advantage though of this early ferry (as I’ve no doubt said before) is that you can get a good breakfast on board during the 55 minute long crossing and arrive fuelled and ready to go.  I must admit though that I was a little surprised to find it still completely dark as we walked off the boat in Brodick ….don’t ask me why …I just never thought about it.  The ferry was quiet although we did meet one other chap who like us was heading for a walk …in his case, up Goat Fell.

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

At this time of year, especially on days where there is heavy cloud, the light is very poor and makes seeing where I’m going even more difficult than normal …and even slower more to the point.  For this reason I knew I’d not have enough daylight to get to the top of one of the hills and back and so we decided to walk up Glen Rosa between the mountains instead.  Mervin had never been to Arran and so we thought that this would at least give him an idea of the wonderful quality of the mountains here.  When he next makes a visit in the summer we can then go over and get up onto the tops.    The forecast seemed to be about right as the crossing was quite calm and there was little wind.  Even the grey clouds were above the summit of Goat Fell (the highest point on Arran) and it was looking good as we walked towards the start of Glen Rosa in the first light of the day.  Much of the snow that had been on Arranjust the other week had gone but Nita and Merv said they could still see some on the higher slopes and crags.

It was so quiet as we entered Glen Rosa; just the sound of the river rushing along and the odd pheasant and crow calling…..it was so peaceful.   We did meet the local farmer walking back to his farm and he reckoned it was wonderful in the glen that morning with the river flowing fast and clear.  He was right and it was hard to believe that it was just two days after Christmas.

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

After a mile or so the glen takes a hard turn to the north and the path crosses a bridge over another very busy stream that flows down the steep hillside in a series of waterfalls ….needless to say really, it was looking and sounding impressive.  Beyond the bridge the path gets narrower but over the years it has been well maintained and makes for good walking ….if for me, a little difficult in the gloomy light.  Care very definitely needed as in places the River Rosa, flowing on our right, cuts a small almost gorge through the rocks and there is a long drop into the torrent if you miss the edge of the path!

We had no real aim for the day and so fairly ambled along taking in the wild scenery of the glen and watching as the cloud slowly descended onto the tops once again.   Luckily Mervin did get to see the wonderful pyramid that is Cir Mhor, standing dramatically at the end of the glen, but then it too, slowly succumbed to the clagging mists.  We reached the head of the glen just before midday after many stops to take photos and eat Christmas cake.  At this point the path splits, one half crossing the River Rosa and climbing up to the Saddle between Cir Mhor and North Goat Fell, the other heading up to join the ridge on the other side of Cir Mhor.  We didn’t really have time to go much further and the river was high enough that to attempt crossing it would almost certainly have ended in wet boots or worse!  Up to our left though Merv could see a large boulder  several hundred feet  up on the hillside and we headed up towards this for a short while in order to get some views over looking the river…..but very quickly the cloud that had been getting lower by the minute, decided to let out some of its rain.   It was only fine, but the kind of stuff that really soaks you.  Mervin made it to the boulder and then it was just a case of walking back out in the increasingly heavy rain.  The light got even more gloomy but there was a strange stillness in the glen ….thankfully the rain might have arrived but the accompanying gales had not.  We made it back to the ferry terminal in Brodick as it was once again getting dark and had time to get out of the wet gear before catching the ferry home.  It wasn’t a classic Arran walk, but very enjoyable all the same and just great to once again get out into the fresh air and the quiet.

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

'In Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran'

The gales though, are back with a vengeance this morning and Mervin left here not knowing whether he’d be able to get over to the Isle of Bute …reported disruption on the main ferries again.  There is though a small very short crossing over to Bute that is apparently still running …but this involves a long drive around to get to it.   He just left here armed with food and a large flask of hot tea just in case he gets stuck and has to wait for the winds to abate …it could be a long day for him.

On the subject of brief lulls ……there is not going to be a blog next week I’m afraid …normal service will resume the week after that.  I will however, endeavour to post regular updates on my Face Book page for anyone interested, so why not check that out if you’ve not yet visited it.

I hope you’ve all had a good time over Christmas and have an equally fine few days over the New Year.  Back in 2012!

Posted in Information Updates, Inspiring Mountain Walks, Mountain Photos, Personal, Visual Disability Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

Moving around

Posted by admin on December 8th, 2011
New Art Studio - December

New Art Studio - December 2011

It is now just over two months since I moved into my new bigger studio and yesterday I decided to move everything around!  I guess it takes time to work out the best use of a new space and the way I’d set things out on first moving in, well, it was far from that.

I’d put my easel and palette (a large piece of white ‘kitchen’ board on a battered and very old Black & Decker Workmate) close to the door.  This is the main source of natural light in this studio, so it seemed to make sense.  Opposite this are the stairs to the upper studio and the gap between the two had to accommodate my chair …a rather large rocking chair to be exact!  Suffice to say it didn’t leave much room to get past and into the main body of the studio.  This didn’t really matter to me; after banging my shins on the rockers of the chair a few times, I’d learnt.  However, this wasn’t good for anyone visiting as they had to negotiate their way past these obstacles in order to get to see the finished work hung on the end walls.  As I say though, in my defence, I had placed the easel in this position in order to get as much of the natural light as possible …so not that daft!

New Art Studio - December

New Art Studio - December 2011

However, this eye of mine is a strange beast and it does odd things in different types of light.  I always see colour now in a very subdued way but rather perversely not only does my sight fail almost totally in very dim conditions, it also fails if the light gets too bright.

In this new studio, the lighting is a series of six fluorescent tubes hung in two sets of three along the length of the space.  With the studio space above, the ceiling is quite low and so these tubes appear much brighter than in my old studio, which was in the old part of the building and had a very high ceiling.  So then, the problem I’ve found is that although my easel gets the maximum amount (not very much in reality) of natural light during the day, once the light outside fades, and the fluorescent tubes take over ….well, it’s just too damn bright for me.  At this time of year especially with the kind of dark gloomy wet days we’ve been having much of the time here on the west coast of Scotland, there has been precious little day light anyway and I’ve really been struggling to see what I’m doing.  Not that this is really that different from normal except that now under this great glare of fluorescent light …I can barely see anything of the colours ……except the very strong contrasting ones that is.  Any subdued colours just fade into a fuzzy nothingness!  Not great!

'Winter slopes, Glen Lyon'

'Winter slopes, Glen Lyon'

I had been working on one of my larger 80 x 80 cm pieces for almost three months and the other day I managed to completely wreck it.  The painting has been a bit of an experiment in all truth.  I’d been trying to create something that was full of marks and done in thick paint.  This was proving difficult but under this strange and intense light, it proved a step to far.

'October morning, Glen Lyon'

'October morning, Glen Lyon'

So then, with one wrecked painting, many hours and many pounds worth of paint down the drain, I decided yesterday that it was time to change.  The far end of the studio has less natural light but also, rather conveniently for me, slightly less fluorescent light too.  I have then taken all my painting gear up to the far end of the studio and hung some of my finished paintings on the wall on the right as you enter the studio.  It’s going to be much better for visitors, (no obstacle course) and the slightly less intense and more constant light should, with a bit of luck, prove better for painting.  I’ll let you know how things work out.

Finally, if you live in Ayrshire, why not pop along to The Framework Gallery in Troon.  They have a great selection of work by many Scottish artists and they now also have five of my paintings, (four small and one large).  Although you can see images of my work on this website, there’s nothing better than seeing and experiencing a painting for real.

The Framework Gallery
83 Portland Street
Troon
Ayrshire KA10 6QU

Tel: 01292 316144

Website:  www.frameworktroon.co.uk

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Starting again!

Posted by admin on December 2nd, 2011
'Harbourside, Irvine'

'Harbourside, Irvine'

It’s been a long time since I did some painting using oil paint ….probably about seven or eight years. On Wednesday afternoon though, I finally got the oil paints back out and slapped a very pale yellow onto the surfaces of two new canvases. It was quite strange. I’d forgotten quite how different the feel of the paint was from the acrylic I normally use…..and of course there was the strong smell of the oil paint in the studio too. It was good and quite exciting to be getting back to this type of paint, but it was kind of scary too. Although I still have much to learn about using acrylics, I certainly feel quite confident these days when handling them ….with the oil paint on the brush for the first time in years, it was a different thing ….if not a feeling of panic then certainly trepidation.

One of the reasons I first changed from oil to acrylic was that, (as I’ve told a few people) I’m a bit impatient and didn’t like the time it took for oil colour to dry. At the time I didn’t have the technical ability to paint confidently, wet on wet. My small paintings took a long time and although I think I ended up with some quite good little paintings, they did have the tendency to look as if they’d taken an age.

By moving to acrylic I hoped I could work faster and in doing so, create fresher, faster marks and brush strokes. I think this has worked well up to a point and as my paintings tend to be built up in many overlapping layers of paint, using a fast drying paint has been ideal. I’ve worked hard over these last few years to get vibrancy out of the acrylic colours and I’ve learnt a lot about mixing and applying colour. Without really thinking about it, I’ve developed a fairly distinctive palette.

'Harbour Blues IV'

'Harbour Blues IV'

I have over the years bought and tried many different commercial colours but these days tend to fall back on just eight main colours, plus of course, white. I do own a small tube of black paint but I’ve had this for years and it’s rare indeed for me to use it. I do use a number of different painting mediums from ones that thicken the acrylic to gloss and matt glazes and varnishes. I have many pots of paint on or under my bench that I’ve bought but find little use for …I can mix most of my colours from the main bunch, but it is nice to have these extra pots and as my paintings develop I’m sure most of them will get put to use. That is, all except one pot ….of fluorescent pink!!! Ahhhhh! I bought it by mistake last year, thinking I’d picked up a pot of permanent Geranium. I couldn’t quite believe it when I got it back to the studio and realised my mistake ….the joy of fuzzy eyes! To start with I conned myself into thinking I’d find a use for it …or could mix it into something else ….WRONG! The pot sat underneath my bench luminously glaring up at me, challenging me to find a use for it. I couldn’t even give it away. I did ask a couple of my colleagues but I think they thought I was taking the proverbial! I really don’t like throwing things away but in the end this 500ml pot of fluorescent paint, ended its days in the wheelie bin.

So then, when I ordered some new oil paints the other week I restricted myself to the normal eight colours, some turps, linseed oil and a small bottle of Liquin. Despite knowing that oil paints take longer to dry ….I was still somewhat dismayed to find the first layer of paint still wet when I got to the studio yesterday ….I have a lot to learn but it’s really exciting to be starting again. Hopefully some of the things I’ve learnt while using the acrylics will put me in a good position now I’m returning to using oils …but there’s going to be much to learn and much trial and error I think. It’s great though, that I now have a studio that is big enough to accommodate my working in both oil and acrylic. Now, when I’m waiting for oil paint to dry, I can move to my other palette and continue with the acrylics on a different painting. It’s all go!

'Harbour Blues'

'Harbour Blues'

The images that accompany this blog are of several of my earlier small oil paintings.

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A short walk on the Isle of Arran

Posted by admin on August 21st, 2011
Holy Isle and Lamlash Bay

Holy Isle and Lamlash Bay

This time last week I’d just got back from a trip to the Isle of Arran with my partner Anita and good friend Norma. I can’t quite believe a week has gone by so quickly and this blog is now a day late! Norma had travelled over from Angus on Friday evening with the aim of getting out for a walk, catching up on news and grabbing a beer or two. We first met ten years ago (and hasn’t that time flown) when both Norma and I were on the Mountain skills course for visually impaired, at Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore. Ever since we’ve kept in contact and most years get to meet up once or twice, either over here in the west of Scotland or in Angus where Norma lives. Over this time we’ve done a good few walks including Goat Fell, Ben Lomond, and Meall a’Bhuiridh in the west and Mayer, Driesh and Mount Keen in the east ….and yes, we’ve sampled a few different east and west coast brews too!

Goat Fell ....clear

Goat Fell ....clear

Last Saturday we were a little undecided quite where to go for our walk. The forecast was for very low cloud …200 – 300m so there didn’t seem much point in gaining too much height. On top of this was the fact that Norma was still a little uncertain about one of her knees that she’d hurt back in February on a cross country skiing holiday over in the United States. She didn’t want to take on anything too gruelling for this reason and so all in all a low level walk somewhere seemed about right ….now all we had to do was decide on the somewhere!

A good few years ago now, (the year of the foot and mouth disease in fact) Nita and had had to cancel our usual spring walking holiday and instead took a two week long break over on the Isle of Arran in late October. It was a particularly bad couple of week’s weather wise and as such we kept fairly low much of the time. One of the walks we did was a very pleasant little walk south along the coast from Brodick to a point over looking Lamlash Bay and Holy Isle and then inland a mile or so and up and over the wee Clauchland Hills before returning to Brodick. This, or a variation on the theme, seemed an ideal choice as it meant a civilized start (catching the quarter to ten ferry over instead of the seven o’clock sailing and we didn’t have to fight our way onto the crowded buses ….we could walk straight off of the ferry.

Catching the later ferry on a Saturday in August does have one drawback though …it’s very busy and by the time we were aboard nearly every seat was taken and the storage area for rucksacks and bags was over flowing. In good weather this isn’t a problem as you can go and sit outside, but last Saturday morning it was grey and cool and everyone seemed to be jammed inside. After a bit of searching we did find one empty little corner in which to stick our sacks and we eventually got some coffee and cake. I was going to say that this was the busiest I’ve ever seen this ferry but then remembered we actually failed to get on once on a very busy summers day!

Our walk last Saturday proved a good one. As it wasn’t going to be a long day we just wandered along in no great rush, enjoying the views out over the sea and indeed enjoying the sun that was starting to appear. The cloud though was well down on the Arran hills and you’d never have known Goat Fell existed as we looked back across Brodick Bay. We had our lunch atop a prominent little headland in what was fast becoming bright sunshine with wonderful views over to Holy Isle accompanied by the occasional cries of either a Buzzard or an Eagle …we couldn’t decide …or agree!

August on the Isle of Arran

August on the Isle of Arran

After lunch we wandered on …uphill now and over the undulating heathery little lumps of the Clauchlad Hills to reach the high point at around 260m. If the cloud had lifted from the bigger hills at this point we would have had exceptional views I think …but still there was many bright patches of sun and the colours around us were lovely ….especially the heather which was well in flower. We returned slowly the same route and as we descended the wee road back into Brodick the cloud did finally clear and Goat Fell and the other big hills all came into view …it looked stunning. The ferry back to Ardrossan wasn’t as bad as the morning crossing and we even got a seat in the bar …and so enjoyed a fabulous bottle of Arran Blonde beer on our way back. The Arran Brewery really do produce some very fine ale and if you haven’t tried it …then keep a look out in your local super markets …many stock bottles. I prefer their Arran Blonde beer but they brew several different ones …all that are very fine.

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