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Latest Blogs | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings - Part 29

Taking five days off ….

Posted by admin on January 19th, 2013
At the top of the Wrekin

At the top of the Wrekin

Taking five days off to visit family (enjoyable as it was) does have its problems, especially when I have an exhibition to work towards ….and only just over five weeks to get everything ready.  This time last week I was thinking that everything would be fine and nothing to worry about.  Now, after getting back from Shropshire yesterday evening, I’m starting to panic a bit!!  I’ve been lying awake this morning trying to work out how many paintings I still need to do …..and what they’ll be!  On top of the actual work (the paintings and drawings), there’s all the ‘paperwork’ to be done, (creating cards and prints, sending out invitation cards and emails and writing and sending out press releases).  So then, there’s much to do and this is going to be rather a short affair this week.

On the Wrekin

On the Wrekin

As I say, we had a very pleasant time in Shropshire and although there is no real art or no big walks to report, we did manage two very pleasant short walks in the Shropshire countryside.  For anyone who hasn’t visited this county, well, I would certainly recommend it.  The countryside is a beautiful mixture of farmland and low hills, lots of trees and pretty villages and towns.  Nita’s folks live a few miles from the famous Ironbridge Gorge with all its famous industrial history and heritage.

River Severn near Hampton Load, Shropshire

River Severn near Hampton Load, Shropshire

Ever since my parents moved from Essex to Welshpool, (on the boarder with Shropshire) back in 1969, I’ve wanted to walk the prominent little hill called the Wrekin.  It sits on the edge of Telford and we could easily see it from the top of our local hill The Rhallt …even though it lies about 30 miles to the east.  Daft as it sounds, its taken me 43 years to finally walk to the top of it.  We went there on Monday afternoon and wandered up the path through woodland to its snowy top.  I had always imagined that there must be great views from the top but of course on this cold January afternoon everything was shrouded in cloud.  We did see a bit of ‘art’ …a rather fine snowman that someone had built! Within a few minutes of leaving the top and heading back down, we were engulfed by a heavy hail and snow shower and we were all looking rather like the chap on the summit!  Our other walk, a gentler wander the following day, took us along the banks of a rather swollen River Severn near Hampton Load.  It’s a very rural setting and at the place where you park there is a fine pub serving excellent food and beer …which we just had to sample before going for our walk by the river!  I think the place was called The Rod and Railway. Highly recommended!

We’re now back in Irvine and I’m already working on the painting again. We got out of England on the right day ….much snow fell yesterday apparently …but not up here in sunny Ayrshire! We’re heading up to Rannoch Moor on Tuesday with a bit of luck …so a full report at the end of the week.

‘Towards Achaladair, December morning’

Posted by admin on January 12th, 2013
'December morning, towards Achaladair'

‘December morning, towards Achaladair’

‘Towards Achaladair, December morning’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2013, 30 x 30 cm

This little painting is the first piece to be completed in 2013. I posted an image of it the other day on my Face Book page, Keith Salmon – Scottish Landscape artist, but at the time it wasn’t quite finished. It was harsh with more contrasts and the whole had a very flat appearance. I said at the time that I’d probably have to do some more work on it ….and I did….and here it is.

The painting, a view looking towards Achaladair from the west, tries to capture a little of the cold December morning as we headed off along the undulating ridge towards Ghlas Beinn. For a while, a small bank of mist rolled up the glen below us and it made for a very atmospheric scene.

This painting will be included in my exhibition at ‘the gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh during March.

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

-o-o-o-o-

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

Posted by admin on January 3rd, 2013
‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’

 

 

‘On Blackmount, December afternoon’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 30 x 30 cm

If you read the blogs, you’ll know that we were out walking Ghlas Beinn on the edge of Rannoch Moor just a couple of weeks ago.  The light and colours gave the mountains of the Blackmount great atmosphere.  This painting, still in progress, is my first attempt at trying to capture some of the mood of the place that afternoon.  I’m planning to start several more while the memories are still fresh in my mind.  I may well work on some new drawings too …I really like the contrast between the snow covered mountains and the dark heather and grass covered moor lands below.  If this painting is completed successfully, I’ll be exhibiting it in my exhibition at ‘The gallery on the corner’ in Edinburgh …..make a note in your diary …the preview is March 1st and the exhibition will run until the end of the month.

A good start

Posted by admin on January 3rd, 2013
On the southern edge of the Ochills

On the southern edge of the Ochills

Well then, 2013 is up and running.  It started for us, in grand fashion with a beautiful walk on New Years Day.  We managed some very good walks last year but alas only managed a few with our friend Guy and all of those in the first half of the year.  A mixture of work, family commitments and bad weather conspired to mess up any plans we had and so we’d decided to try and get out for a walk together some time over the Christmas period.  It did seem quite hopeful for a short while but that terrible trio struck once again and before we knew it we’d run out of available days, leaving Guy with the only option of a walk on Monday 31st  Dec and us, a walk on January 1st.  Weather wise we were certainly the lucky ones, there being a brief break in the severe mountain weather, especially over in the east and so Nita and I decided to have a walk in the Ochill Hills to the east of Stirling.

Above the forest

Above the forest

Of course a walk on New Years Day does mean forgoing the usual festivities as a reasonably early start is called for.  That meant getting up at 06.00 but this allowed us an easy drive on empty roads through Glasgow to Stirling and we were in sight of the hills by half past eight and they were looking fine in the early sun …especially with a coating of fresh snow.  We were walking through the beautiful woodlands on the south side of the hills by about half past nine and so had a good six hours of daylight ahead of us.  Our plan was to walk the same route we’d done on a couple of previous occasions, following tracks beneath the side of The Nebbit, then up onto Ben Ever and across to Ben Cleuch, the highest point in this range of hills.  If time allowed we’d then wander over to Ben Buck and back down to join our outward route.

Into the snow, on Ben Ever

Into the snow, on Ben Ever

We really had picked the right day, the light and colours were amazing.  Big dark clouds interspersed with patches of blue sky and bright sunshine coupled with the patchwork of snow, grass and shadow, made everything look superb.   By the time we were well up Ben Ever there were several centimetres of snow underfoot and on the open flat and wind swept top of this hill, the snow had been blown into numerous little ridges like sand on a beach.  Ben Ever is a cold spot.  We’ve walked over it on several occasions and it’s always been freezing cold …it seems to catch whatever wind is around …and some that’ not, I’m sure!  It’s definitely a place for plenty of hats and gloves especially as you just have to stop and take in the views.

The Nebbit from Ben Ever

The Nebbit from Ben Ever

Ben Cleuch looked beautiful in the sun and snow and for the most part it had a feint shroud of misty cloud on its very summit.  This increased as we neared the top and it was a strange cold place when we arrived with weak sun shining through the mist.    We followed the ice covered fence over to the lonely little top of Ben Buck and only then did we get below the mist and once again had the beautiful views.   The snow was melting and the lower slopes of Ben Ever were now an intense yellow green in the low afternoon sun.  We were back at the car by half past three and feeling very glad we’d made the effort to get up early and out ….it had been the perfect start to the New Year.

In the mist near Ben Buck

In the mist near Ben Buck

Our friend Guy had an equally good walk to end his year although conditions were pretty miserable for the most part.  Forecast for the mountains on December 31st were not good…..gale force winds with frequent snow showers creating whiteout.  Definitely not a day for the tops, so instead he chose a low-level route from Inveruglas on the shores of Loch Lomond following forestry tracks over to Arrochar and then the road to Tarbet to catch the bus home.  It’s a very nice route following around underneath a couple of the big Arrochar hills and despite the wet weather he had a good time by all accounts.  That said however, I was a little worried as the route involves crossing a quite large stream.  This isn’t a problem under most conditions but with all the rain and snow over the last few weeks I imagined it might prove problematic.  Well, Guy is not one to easily be beaten back by stream crossings and he did get across this one …but it wasn’t easy with fast flowing water up to his knees by all accounts.  I have to admit that I’d have turned back at this point but then I’ve never been very good with ‘whooshing’ water!  Guy sent me some photos so here is one …..I think he probably deserved a large malt whisky after crossing this!  Oh well, it’s certainly a different way of seeing out the old year.  Hopefully we’ll get to see him on the hills a little more often during 2013.  Plans are afoot to join him in a couple of week’s time for a walk on Rannoch Moor ….so watch this space!

The stream crossed!

The stream crossed!

-o-o-o-o-o-

‘From Beinn Dubh, the Luss Hills’

Posted by admin on December 22nd, 2012
263-from-beinn-dubh-the-luss-hills-acrylic-pastel-2012-30-x-30-cm

‘From Beinn Dubh, the Luss hills’

‘From Beinn Dubh, the Luss Hills’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 30 x 30 cm

Here is my latest 30 x 30 cm painting.  I’ve already posted an image of this on my Face Book page, so apologies to those who have already seen it!

As you know, we visit the Luss Hills quite regularly and this painting was based on a walk up Beinn Dubh last December.  It was a perfect short winter walk with big views all around.  As we gained height though, the wind picked up, blasting along and picking up all the icy snow crystals.  It looked great in the afternoon light but the wind chill was noticeable….especially when I had my mitts off to take photos!   This small painting is currently available at my studio, so if you’d like to see it, just wander down ….best though to give me a ring first …we’re planning another walk soon.  Tel: 07742 437425.

Ghlas Beinn again

Posted by admin on December 22nd, 2012
Morning light, towards Beinn Toaig

Morning light, towards Beinn Toaig

On Tuesday we went back to Ghlas Beinn, the small hill on the edge of Rannoch Moor that we’ve walked twice before.  As I’ve probably said before, it’s not a huge walk, just a few kilometres each way and probably around 300 m of up and down ..but its location makes it very special.  Sat on the edge of the moor it offers big views all around and on Tuesday they were exceptional ….better even than on our previous visits.   I’m not going to ramble on, suffice to say that we spent five hours wandering along this gentle undulating grassy ridge to the small cairn marking the top of Ghlas Beinn …and back, continually stopping to take photos or just to look and marvel at this very special landscape.  Below are several of the photos I took …hopefully they’ll give you an idea of what it was like.

Winter patterns

Winter patterns

At the summit of Ghlas Beinn

At the summit of Ghlas Beinn

On the ridge to Ghlas Beinn

On the ridge to Ghlas Beinn

Winter scene, Blackmount

Winter scene, Blackmount

From Ghlas Beinn

From Ghlas Beinn

Beinn Dorain & Ben an Dothaidh, last light

Beinn Dorain & Ben an Dothaidh, last light

It has been a good last couple of months despite the general economic gloom and I’ve sold a number of paintings which has certainly put a smile on my face …and no doubt that of my bank manager too!  Anyway,  do remember, should you still be looking for that special gift for someone who loves Scotland, there’s still time to get an original Keith Salmon painting!  You will find a small selection of my work at the following galleries:

The Strathearn Gallery, Crieff

The Framework Gallery, Troon

The Gallery on the Corner, Edinburgh

Scotlandart.com, Glasgow

Scottish Showcase Gallery, Kirkcudbright

 

I also have a good selection of work for sale at my studio …just give me a quick ring (07742 437425) to check that I’ll be there ….we’re hoping to go walking again one day before Christmas!  Contact details for the galleries above can be found on their websites …see the links at the side of this page.

Right then, that’s it for this week.  My best wishes to everyone over the festive period.  Have a great time.

‘Early morning, October,Loch Lomond’

Posted by admin on December 15th, 2012
early-morning-october-loch-lomond-acrylic-pastel-2012-30-x-30cm

‘Early morning, October, Loch Lomond’

‘Early morning, October,Loch Lomond’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 30 x 30cm

This is one of my latest small 30 x 30 cm paintings.  Based on the early morning light on the hills above the western shores of Loch Lomond.  We had been travelling up to Tyndrum back in October to do a walk up Beinn Odhar and as we drove up the side of Loch Lomond the rising sun illuminated the tops of the hills.  In their autumn colours the scene was particularly good and we just had to stop and look.

A short walk, somewhere in the Campsie Fells!

Posted by admin on December 15th, 2012
Towards Glasgow from the Campsie Fells

Towards Glasgow from the Campsie Fells

This blog clearly shows the problems inherent in using a map when you’re visually impaired. On Tuesday Nita and I decided to visit the Campsie Fells for the first time. This small range of hills lie just to the north of Glasgow and so are quite close to us, but for some reason we’ve never made it over to them before. Anyway, as I was saying, there’s a problem ….I’m writing this blog at home and Nita is working a night shift, ……and I can’t see the map well enough to read the names of the hills we walked! I can’t even see the road number by which we parked the car. This then isn’t going to be a very informative blog. The nearest village was I think Lennoxtown …but don’t quote me on that.

The Campsie Fells

The Campsie Fells

Suffice to say that Tuesday was a beautiful day, very cold, but clear and bright and an ideal day for a wander. We’d set out quite late but even so were walking by about 11 am, following a small path that led up grassy slopes over a series of false tops. The sun was almost directly in my eyes forcing me to wear my peaked cap sideways on and at a very jaunty angle …it allowed me to make out something of the ground underfoot but didn’t do anything for my ‘street cred’! The ground underfoot was frozen and it was a case of trying to avoid the patches of dark ice as we went up. We’d parked at a lay-by which was at just over 200m I think and so if it wasn’t for the blinding sun I’d have seen some wonderful views out over Glasgow …..according to Nita anyway. I’m afraid I missed much of these but with my back to the sun the fells looked stunning. After a relatively short climb we reached a small cairn at the start of a long broad undulating ridge. It was a great view point and with my monocular I could see several very snowy peaks to the north. On our hills there was the last small patches of the snow but even this made the hills look extra special.

Ice on the fells

Ice on the fells

We then just continued along the ridge over and past another high point marked with a cairn and on to a third little top where we stopped for some late lunch. The path carried on up to the highest point at something over 500m …but of course I can’t see its name ….so I can’t tell you where it was, or exactly how high it was either! We retraced our steps after this short break and got back to the car around 3pm. It wasn‘t a long walk but we saw enough to know that we’ll be returning before long. It’s lovely walking country especially in the winter when it’s reasonably quiet …I imagine that being so close to Glasgow it’s probably quite popular in the summer. By the time we’d changed out of the boots the sun was getting very low but according to the car it was 6C. By the time we’d driven back down into the valley it was -2C! So then, that was our walk …….nothing like a bit of a mystery tour is there!

Clouds above the Capsie Fells

Clouds above the Campsie Fells

 

Afternoon colours, the Campsie Fells

Afternoon colours, the Campsie Fells

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‘Below Shalloch on Minnoch’

Posted by admin on December 7th, 2012
'Below Shalloch on Minnoch'

‘Below Shalloch on Minnoch’

‘Below Shalloch on Minnoch’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2007, 30 x 60 cm

I think I’ve shown this painting here before, but, well, I like it.  It was one of three 30 x 60 cm paintings I did in order to try out ideas for a large commission I received in 2007.  In the end I used one of the other pieces as the basis for the commission but as I say, I, always liked this one.

It was based on a view we had as we were walking along below Shalloch on Minnoch several years ago.  The ground in this part of the Southern Uplands is very rough…..a mixture of grass tussocks, heather, boulders and bog …interspersed with hidden holes to catch the unwary.  We had crossed the summit of this hill, (the highest point in Ayrshire I think) in patchy mist but as the day went on the weather improved along with the views.

Anyway, despite being painted in 2007, this piece has never sold and so is still in my studio.  If you live in Ayrshire and want to come and see this piece, one of my more local paintings, just give me a ring.  Tel 07742 437425, or email, salmon21@freeuk.com .

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    Contact Details

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