counter hit xanga
Artwork of the Week | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings

Posts Tagged ‘Artwork of the Week’

‘On Beinn Damh, Torridon’

scottish mountain landscape painting

‘On Beinn Damh, Torridon’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2015, 148 x 210 mm

 

‘On Beinn Damh, Torridon’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2015, 148 x 210 mm

Price: £325

Price from 1st September 2015: £455

Over the years, we’ve walked many a hill in thick mist and seen little or nothing from the top.  Our walk up Beinn Damh the other year was just such a case.  This small painting is based on the only view we had and it didn’t last long before the mists closed in around us again.  Beinn Damh is a wonderful peak that rises at the head of Loch Torridon and the views should have been spectacular.

In the last couple of years we’ve been attempting to re-visit some of the summits whose views we missed the first time due to thick cloud…… Beinn Damh is definitely on the list of hills to go back to!

‘From Ben Oss, winter’

'From Ben Oss, winter', Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 60 x 30 cm.jpg

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

This painting is currently hanging on the wall in my studio and is one that I did several years ago after a very snowy ascent of Ben Oss.  I’ve always liked this piece and feel that it really captures the moment as we stood at the summit and the snow stopped falling and the cloud began to break.  Prior to this we’d climbed the hill in driving horizontal snow and strong winds and it really wasn’t very pleasant.  The weather changed so quickly for the better once we’d reached the summit that we descended in rapidly clearing skies and in bright sunshine.  Anyway, if you’re interested in seeing this piece and live in the Ayrshire area, do call in to the studio sometime.

‘Above Glen Coe, spring’

'Above Glen Coe, spring', Acrylic & Pastel, 2015 30 x 30 cm

‘Above Glen Coe, spring’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2015 30 x 30 cm

This is one of my latest 30 x 30 cm paintings and it is currently on show as part of my exhibition at the John Muir Trust Wild Space Visitor Centre in Pitlochry.   For more information about this exhibition see my latest blog.

The painting is based on a view we had the other spring when we walked the ridge north from the Devil’s Staircase in Glencoe.  We’d taken a mate of mine there but during the drive north and for the first hour or so of the walk; it was thick cloud and steady rain….. I don’t think he was too impressed!  Thankfully as we got higher the rain stopped and the cloud started to break off the tops.  Large patches of snow lay around the edges of the escarpment and by the time we reached the summit the cloud had lifted completely and the views across the bigger snow capped summits of the glen were amazing.

‘Approaching Am Bodach, the Mamores’

'Approaching Am Bodach, the Mamores', Acrylic & Pastel, 2014, 30 x 30 cm.jpg

‘Approaching Am Bodach, the Mamores’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2014, 30 x 30 cm

This small painting is currently hanging in my studio and is one of several paintings I’ve created over the last few years based on this theme.

Am Bodach, one of the fine Munros on the Mamores ridge, is a really great hill.  Nita and I have climbed it twice over the years and on this occasion we had a real mix of weather.  Despite it being well into spring, we were caught in a couple of heavy wet snow showers  that left the hill dark and brooding as we approached its steep rocky upper section.  Not that it lasted long, as by the time we’d reached the summit, the cloud was breaking all around and we sat there enjoying the views in increasingly bright sun.  One of these days I’ll try and do a painting that captures something of these brighter conditions at the top … but in the meantime you’ll have to make do with this grey sombre and rather damp view of the hill.

Work in progress – Towards the Mamores

Work in progress, 'Towards the Mamores'

Work in progress, ‘Towards the Mamores’

One of the reasons I have always kept my studio door open to the public is that I think it important that people can see work in progress ….be it in a good state or not. This painting is one that I’ve been working on over the last week and is I guess about half way to completion ….if it ever makes it that is! You can see the way the painting is built up in layers of paint and pastel and get an idea of the rough nature of these pieces. I’ve used a magnifier to see what I’m doing on a couple of areas but generally I’m working with broad brushes in a loose manner.

The painting is about a view we had last summer as we looked out towards the Mamores and the big hills around Ben Nevis beyond. They were all partially shrouded in cloud as big rain showers came and went with bright warm sunshine in between. I’m not sure quite how this painting will turn out or the direction it will take. I’m away walking for the next couple of days so I’ll see what I make of it when I get back. This for me is the exciting part of painting ….if I knew what I was going to get before I started painting ….well.

‘Below Goat Fell, winter’

3 'Below Goat Fell, winter', Graphite pencil on paper, 2013, 125 x  80 cm

‘Below Goat Fell, winter’

 ‘Below Goat Fell, winter’, Graphite pencil on paper, 2013, 125 x 80 cm

We’re heading over to the Isle of Arran and Glen Rosa again tomorrow.  I need to walk up to the head of the glen to do some more sketching and to take some more photos as preparation for my big drawing project in November and December this year.  I am starting to get quite a good idea now as to how to go about this big piece of work and tomorrows visit to the glen will hopefully give me all the information I need.   That said, the forecast is a little ‘iffy’ so if the cloud is right down we may have to make another visit later in the summer.

Anyway, this got me thinking about the work I’d already done on Glen Rosa and I thought I’d use this drawing as my ‘artwork of the week’.  This is one of several I’ve created as trial pieces for the big drawing ….this is approximately 125 x 80 cm and is currently at the studio …rolled up.  Should you like to see it up close however …do pop into the studio.

‘Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead’

70-late-december-afternoon-above-wanlockhead-acrylic-pastel-2007-102-x-200-cm

‘Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2007, 102 x 200 cm

Yesterday I was asked if I’d undertake a commission.  It’s always an exciting prospect and I’ll no doubt be posting more information about it as things progress.  Anyway, I thought I’d use this painting as my ‘Artwork of the Week’……it’s the biggest commission I’ve completed and I was and still am, very pleased with it.  Hopefully the new work will turn out well too.

‘Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2007,  102 x 200 cm

‘Towards Blackmount, winter’

202-towards-blackmount-winter-arylic-pastel-2011-76-x-23-cm

‘Towards Blackmount, winter’

‘Towards Blackmount, winter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 76 x 23 cm
Catalogue number: 202
Price: £575 (this painting is supplied mounted but unframed)

About this painting
I did this painting last year after a walk along the low undulating ridge leading to Ghlas Beinn on the edge of Rannoch Moor.  It was our first visit to this wild spot and there was just a light dusting of snow on the moors.  The temperature though had been cold for a number of days and the lochs on the moor were all frozen and this was made even more pronounced by the light snow cover.  It is a magnificent view point and I’m already planning another visit shortly.

For more information about this painting or to arrange to view it at my studio, contact me:
Tel: 07742 437425
Email: keith@keithsalmon.org or salmon21@freeuk.com

‘Towards Beinn Toaig, winter’

207-towards-beinn-toaig-winter-acrylic-pastel-2011-80-x-80-cm

‘Towards Beinn Toaig, winter’

‘Towards Beinn Toaig, winter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2011, 80 x 80 cm

I’m using this painting for the ‘Artwork of the Week’ as I’ve just delivered it (along with four other paintings) to The Strathearn Gallery in Crieff. The paintings will be included in the Summer Exhibition at the gallery. Full details of the exhibition can be found by following the link at the side of this page.

‘Towards Beinn Toaig, winter’, is based on a glimpsed view of the hill one winter morning. The cloud was breaking off of the top of the snow topped hill and the colours and patterns were very striking. This is quite a bold version of this view….I used large brushes and quite heavy paint. It is one of my favourites and so I reckon it’s worth your while getting along to see it if you can!!