Painting with Sound exhibition, Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine
The final configuration of the visual and audio elements, using QR codes to give a very immersive experience, proved very successful and I will now be looking for venues in which to exhibit and sell this kind of innovative landscape work. Watch this space!
Painting with Sound exhibition, Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine
Of course, this audio-visual work has taken a huge amount of time to develop and even doing the large 120 x 120 cm oil paintings has been very time consuming, with each one of the 11 such pieces in the recent show taking anywhere between two and four months to complete……and that doesn’t include all the hours Graham and I have put into creating the soundscapes. As such I have done almost none of the smaller acrylic and pastel paintings for which I became known and which sold well enough to pay for the upkeep of my studio over the years.
I have therefore decided to get back to painting some of these smaller pieces and now have three new 76 x 23 cm acrylic and pastel paintings completed:
478 ‘Towards Glen Sannox, Isle of Arran’
479 ‘A passing view from near Crianlarich, January’
480 ‘An afternoon in December, Creag Meagaidh’
Something completely new
In the past I have only ever used oil for the larger paintings but have really enjoyed building the oil colour for these in thick layers. I have decided to try and do this on a much smaller scale, creating small, (20 x 20 cm) semi abstract landscapes in thick choppy oil paint. I have been doing these small pieces quite quickly in just one or two sessions. I’m quite pleased with them as they are a nice cross between the smaller acrylic & pastel paintings I have done in the past and the more recent larger oil pieces. Here are images of several of these new pieces, I hope that you like them:
463 ‘Luss Hills sketch, early winter’
473 ‘An early winter afternoon, Glen Lyon’
474 ‘In the Drumochter Hills, early spring’
475 ‘In the mountains above Glen Shiel, winter’
476 ‘Above Glen Ogle, Febraury’
Finally, if you run a gallery and would like to exhibit and sell some of my work, please don’t hesitate to contact me: Email: keith@keithsalmon.org or Tel: 07568 380552
So of course, everything is very different right now. No longer the casual routine of going down to my studio most days and heading to the hills two or three times a month. Instead, like most folk I guess, I’ve been working from home ….or trying to at least and we haven’t walked further than a few miles from our house.
Prior to the pandemic, Nita and I had already made some big changes with regards our studios. As anyone who has visited my studio will know, for the last few years I’ve been renting an individual unit comprising a large space downstairs and a small space upstairs. This has allowed me to do all my painting work as well as the audio stuff too. It’s been important to be able to play the audio without it affecting another artist. At the same time, Nita (who makes ceramics) was renting a separate small studio in the old part of the Courtyard Studio buildings. With the studio rents increasing significantly over the last few years and my sales sadly falling over the corresponding time, we decided that we should perhaps down size a little. After much thought, we decided that the best way to go about this was for me to give up my small upstairs studio and for Nita to move into it ….giving up her own space in the process. It meant moving a lot of my older work to the house, along with Nita’s kiln, which wouldn’t have been safe alongside all my paints. We spoke to WASPS and they were happy for us to make this move as there were plenty of people on the Courtyard Studios waiting list and we started moving all the gear back before Christmas. It took a lot longer than we originally thought but we had everything done by February and we were just starting to get things sorted …..when the virus changed everything. At least we got all our gear moved before the lock-down and so when we can get back in, we can just start working.
‘Canisp, a winter afternoon’
A Busman’s Holiday
We didn’t of course, get away for our annual two weeks of walking and relaxing in North West Scotland this May, but did manage to get away for two weeks back in December and so as things have turned out, it was a very good move. Instead of heading up to Assynt and Sutherland as we do in May, we decided to visit a couple of areas a little further south that in the past we had only ever driven through. Our first week was spent staying in Taynuilt, a few miles from Oban. The days involved dodging the rain, visiting numerous cafes and bars and grabbing short walks down to the shores of Loch Etive. I made several lengthy sound recordings close to the point where the old ferry used to cross the narrow section of the loch. It was an interesting mix of sounds, both natural and man-made. Although it was a beautiful location, we were only about a mile from the main road and railway to Oban. Add to this the day to day noises coming from the village and the small airport a few miles away to the west and it made for very different recordings. That said, the overall feel, despite these human intrusions, is still quite wild with the sounds of the huge sea loch, its accompanying wildlife and the general sense of space all around.
‘Towards the Bridge of Orchy Hills from Ghlas Bheinne’
We moved a little further north for our second week and stayed in a lodge several miles from Fort William and close to the Caledonian Canal. Whereas the first week was very much holiday, the next 7 days were more about work. Prior to coming away, I’d been contacted by a small TV production company. They had been commissioned to make an hour long documentary about how artists with different kinds of sight, perceive their surroundings and go about their work. They had heard about the new audio visual work I have been doing with Graham Byron and Drew Kirkland and asked if they could include a small piece about this work. In short, it was agreed that they would travel north and meet us on the final day of our holiday so that they could get some film of us walking in the landscape and me making recordings. They would then travel back to Irvine on the Saturday and meet me at my studio to record a short interview.
Filming near Loch Lochy, Scotland
Of course, as we were staying in an area we didn’t really know, we had to spend our time trying to find a suitable location for them to film. It had to be somewhere that would make sense with the work I was doing and be somewhere that was easily accessible for people carrying heavy film and recording gear. As it turned out we actually found the perfect spot on our second day out. It was a section of the Great Glen Way as it winds its way along the western shores of Loch Lochy. It was perfect with the sounds of the loch, numerous busy streams and the regular call of birds ….and very little manmade noise. I actually made five recordings and worked out plans for several paintings by the end of the walk and so it was time well spent. Everything went well on the Friday and the small team got their film without any rain. We did the interview at the studio on the Sunday morning and they were back down in London by the evening. They said they thought the programme wouldn’t be broadcast until the end of the year and so I’ll have to wait some more before finding out whether I made a complete tit of myself!
Recording interview in my studio.
The walk along Loch Lochy was really important as it turned out because it gave me new material to work on during the lockdown. I’ve actually been working on three 80 x 80cm canvases since I brought my painting stuff home back in early March. Each painting is based on one of the slightly different recordings I made as we walked along the side of Loch Lochy back on December 9th. Each one was recorded at a different time of day, morning, midday and late afternoon. They aren’t finished yet but they are close I think.
Loch Lochy painting 2 , work in progress
Exhibitions – New Dates
As you may know, our first big audio visual piece, called the Kylesku Project, is now finished. See excerpts from the digital version:
https://youtu.be/4kBVUsDuDww
Kylesku project – Keith Salmon, Graham Byron and Drew Kirkland
We had arranged to exhibit it at a venue in Lochinver in Assynt this summer, but this has had to be postponed due to the pandemic and we are now planning to hold the exhibition in May 2021. Sadly we’ve recently also heard that the Courtyard Studios annual Group Exhibition at the Harbour Arts Centre has had to be cancelled this year too. That all said, we are still on for an exhibition at the Barony Centre in West Kilbride in March 2021. We’ll be showing the full Kylesku Project for the first time along with a new video work and a selection of my recent paintings and drawings. I am also hoping to do another ‘Big drawing’, along the lines of the big Glen Rosa drawing and so there should be plenty to see and hear. The Barony Centre, being in a big old church, is probably the perfect venue in which to hold an exhibition during times of social distancing ….lots of space!
‘Towards Beinn Leoid, Sutherland’
Still Open For Business
Finally, I just wanted to say that I am still open for business even if I’m not currently at the studio. If you see and are interested in any work here on the website, just email or phone me and we can work something out. Stay safe and I look forward to inviting you back to the studio before too long ……even if it is one at a time!!!
The paintings included with this blog are all currently available and were created between 2018 and 2020.
‘Squall, on the edge of Rannoch Moor’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2015, 30 x 30 cm, RP £675
This is one of my latest 30 x 30 cm acrylic and pastel paintings. I had it framed recently and it’s now on the wall in my studio. I have to say that I’m quite pleased with this piece as it captures well the memories I have of the very showery spring day we had the other year walking near the edge of Rannoch Moor. It was a day of bright sun and beautiful colours ….followed by dark skies and a soaking! It certainly made for dramatic views…. I must get back there again soon.
This painting will remain in my studio for the next couple of weeks and will then probably be included in the selection of the 10 pieces I’ll be taking to the Biscuit Factory in Newcastle upon Tyne for their Winter Exhibition. More information about this exhibition shortly.
‘In the Flow Country, Sutherland’, Oil, 2012, 80 x 80 cm
In the last few days I’ve started working on a couple of paintings in oil on canvas. With all that has been going on since last summer I’ve not had a chance to work with oil, so it’s good to get back to it again.
This is one of the canvases I did a few years ago and it’s one that I’ve always liked. As with many of the oil paintings I’ve done, I used a very large brush to create this rather abstract landscape. The painting is currently framed and in my studio should you wish to see it up close.
I’m taking a short break from the studio soon to visit some of the quieter more remote parts of northwest Scotland. It will be as usual, a chance for me to get out into the wild and to walk some of the rugged and very dramatic hills, mountains and coastlines in the region.
‘Suilven sketch’
In the past, when we’ve been away on these walking trips, I’ve always taken sketch books and have usually spent some time scribbling away, trying to capture something of the place in the lines I put down on the paper. This year however, I’m hoping to have slightly more purpose behind the work.
‘Suilven sketch’
As you know, I’ve been starting to play around with the idea of using sound as part of my work and have been experimenting with making some very basic sound recordings when we’ve been out walking. In all honesty though, I don’t really know what I want to do and in a way I’ve just been hoping that I’ll be able to generate a clearer idea through the actual process of making the recordings. Up until now, I’ve just been taking short time-outs from the walk in order to stop and record. On this next short trip however, I’m hoping to have the time to do some more considered recordings….. and some related drawings. Quite how exactly, the two might go together or be presented, I still haven’t a clue. I’m not sure whether the drawing will inform the sound recording or the sound will cause me to do a drawing. Whatever happens, it will be a great excuse to wander around in the wild, wild landscape of Assynt and just look and listen and think.
‘Sutherland coastline sketch’, Pen, 2012, 210 x 148 mm
‘Sutherland sketch, towards Ben Loyal’, Pen, 2012, 210 x 148 mm
‘Early evening, below Canisp’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2014, 30 x 30 cm
We’ve been looking for places to stay for our walking holiday this year. Still very drawn to Assynt although whether we’ll be able to find anywhere to stay at this late stage is debatable ….we left it a little late for booking anywhere. I guess it might have to be the tent this year! Fingers crossed for extra good weather!
If we do get up to Assynt, I’m hoping to get back to the summit of Canisp again. Nita and I climbed it several years ago on a beautiful fine spring day. The views from the summit were amazing. We stopped for a rest at a small loch tucked down underneath the main bulk of the hill on our way down and this little painting is about that time and place. It’s very very peaceful and as it is off the main track by some way ….it felt quite remote and quiet. This painting is currently hanging in my studio if you’d like to see it up close.
My current exhibition at the Harbour Arts Centre here in Irvine, ends on Friday January 9th and as you probably know, it has been an exhibition of paintings along with the creation of a new large graphite drawing.
‘Passing snow shower, on the slopes of Ben Loyal’
It has been a very enjoyable time working in the gallery amidst the exhibition and it has been great hearing people’s comments and remarks as they have watched the drawing develop from a huge blank piece of paper, through apparently random scribbled marks and slowly into a recognisable landscape.
‘Harris, west coast’
One of the most common questions has been ….when do you know that it is finished? This also has to be one of the most difficult questions to answer! I had done many smaller drawings prior to the exhibition, to try and work out quite what the big drawing might look like, but these were only ever going to give me a very general idea. Working on this very large scale I had to develop the composition and “feel” of the work, as I did it. Knowing then, quite when it was finished was tricky, but I think I’ve got it about right. There are plenty of things that I might do differently if I were to do it again, but I’m very a happy with this result. I’ve learnt a lot from doing this project and it’s given me a lot of confidence that I could do large scale commissions like this if I can get them……..if you happen to be part of a large organisation or commercial group looking to commission large scale contemporary work …. do give me a call.
‘A damp morning, Buachaille Etive Beag, Glen Coe’
As for this particular drawing, well, I’m giving this to North Ayrshire Council for their collection. We’re still discussing how and where the drawing might be displayed, but I’ll be formally handing the piece over at the “End View” on Thursday evening, 8th January. We decided to hold an “End view” so that we could invite folk back to view the finished work and it seemed the perfect time to pass the drawing on to the council. If I haven’t already sent you an invitation, please except my apologies and accept this open invitation to come along and help celebrate the successful conclusion of the exhibition and project.
‘Below Mid Hill, spring’
If you don’t live in the area or haven’t been able to get in to see the exhibition, the images displayed here show a few of the works.
‘A January afternoon, Glen Rosa, Isle of Arran’
“In sun, snow, mist and rain”, Harbour Arts Centre, 114 – 116 Harbour St, Irvine, Ayrshire, KA12 8PZ.
“End view”, Thursday 8th January 2015, 7pm – 9pm, all welcome.
‘Towards the Blackmount, winter’, Oil on canvas, 2014, 120 x 120 cm
This large oil painting was completed a few weeks ago before my trip to Brazil. At the time I thought I’d need to leave it for a while to make sure I was happy with it……and the two week long break for the Open Weekend and the flying visit to Brazil, were perfect. When I got back to the studio a few days ago and saw this painting, I decided that it was indeed finished.
The painting is based on an earlier smaller piece I did several years ago. I wanted to try and develop the image in this larger painting and have used thick layers of oil paint put down with a large course brush to build up the surface.
This painting will be included in my forthcoming exhibition at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine. The exhibition runs from November 28th 2014 – January 09 2015. I hope you can get along to see this piece.
‘Breaking mists, Isle of Arran’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2013, 30 x 30 cm
This little painting, based on a day we spent up in the fabulous Arran Hills is to be reproduced as one of my new gift cards. These should be ready in time for our Open Studios Weekend on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October.
High quality reproductions of this painting can also be obtained through the “Prints for sale” section on my website or directly from my studio.
It has become increasingly more difficult for me to see what I’m doing when I go to the polling booth on election days and so for yesterdays vote on independence, I decided to register for a postal vote. As such, I voted about a week ago and so while record numbers of people went to the polling stations, I had a very normal day.
It was in short, very like many other working days for me and started with an hour or so doing jobs on the computer. Being an artist isn’t just about splashing paint….. It’s also about doing all the things other businesses have to do ….in short, the paperwork! As my sight has very slowly deteriorated, this side of my work has become more and more time consuming. I’m currently writing this blog with the screen magnifier on 8x and the screen reader reading each word as I type it. This is still quite quick but once I’m using email or the internet it gets much more difficult I find. My morning sessions on this computer usually end up with me swearing at the thing as I make yet another mistake. Yesterday however, things went quite calmly for once and I managed to place an order for new gift cards. I’ve sold most of the ones I had printed a couple of years ago and suddenly realised I was down to the last card of one of the four designs…and that sold to a lady who visited the studio with her husband yesterday morning. With our Open Studios Weekend looming it was time to get some new cards made.
Once I’d checked my emails, ( and sent one off to the Harbour Arts Centre to arrange a meeting to discuss promoting my forthcoming exhibition) ….well, I’d had enough of this machine and it was time to do some proper work and get down to the studio. I grabbed a lift with Nita in the car down to town and then walked the half mile along the harbour side to the Courtyard Studios. I had a chance to have a close look at the new entrance-way to the Maritime Museum yard. They have somehow printed their sign directly onto the wall …and it looks very good. Quite how they got it through the local council planning department I haven’t a clue …but well done to them, it’s quite impressive and I certainly enjoyed standing looking at it.
I arrived at my studio about 11am I guess to find several of my colleagues there working away with Alison and David both running classes I think. I have to say that I’m not a quick starter when I arrive at work. First job is always putting on the coffee maker ….one has to get ones priorities right! Once that is bubbling and gurgling away I can relax, put my sign out and sit in my rocking chair looking at the work I did the previous day. This usually lasts a good half hour and only then do I start work. I have four main paintings on the go at the moment and with the paint still wet on the two large canvases, and the 80 x 80 cm acrylic and pastel piece almost finished, I decided I needed to get on with the new 122 cm x 61 cm painting I started about a week ago. It’s still in its very early stages and is based on a view of Buachaille Etive Beag. Unusually for me, the view point is from down low in the glen and the painting is in the more traditional “landscape” format. The early stages of these big acrylic and pastel paintings are pretty methodical work. I just slowly build up alternating layers of thin paint and pastel and this is quite time consuming. It doesn’t need too much concentration though and so I often play music or listen to one of my talking books while painting or scribbling away. Yesterday was just such a day but by the time I left in the early evening I’d got the piece to a reasonable state. Today, when I get down there, I’ll have to start concentrating and the talking book will be turned off!
My immediate priorities now are to make sure I have a good selection of work ready for my exhibition at the Harbour Arts Centre starting on November 27th. Of course, before that starts, we have our annual Open Studios Weekend at the Courtyard, on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October. This actually involves a lot of work as I have to clear all the surfaces, move the tables and hang all the work ….and paint the floor again as it’s really messy now. Some years I spend the whole of the week before the event getting the studio ready but this year I have so many other things to do that I may well carry on working until the end of Wednesday 1st October ….and then have two very mad days getting everything done! If I go down this line I’ll be very tired at the end of it and visitors to my studio over the weekend will probably find me slumped in my rocking chair …oh well, nothing new there!
I left the studio at 7pm and went home to watch the gathering news from the referendum.
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