Landscape studies and paintings of trees in the area around my home in the north east of Scotland and of the highland moors and marshlands.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Glencoe
A graphite drawing on cartridge paper that depicts trees in the landscape.
Glencoe is a wild kind of place, you just can't forget the tragic history here however much you try to on a still fine day when the sun is shining brightly. Old windswept raggedy trees go well in the wild places I enjoy drawing I often find it has a simple charm in that you don't have to worry about color, just the lines and the values. The pace of drawing slows you right down so you can enjoy the moment and not feel you have to create something too precious or fussy. It is knowing when to stop that can be the hard thing, you don't want to keep going for too long or lines will become harsh and dark areas will become lifeless. This drawing is about 14 x 8 inches approx, it may be bigger. I like the traditional style of drawing that to me links the past with the present a bit like an old watercolor or oil painting does, it transports you yet you are still here living in the present. While the river shape and the size of trees may have been different in the Victorian times I think the feel of the place would have been the same.
Happy drawing to you all!
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Evening landscape
'Evening landscape' study in oils on linen 12 x 16 inches.
This simple study in oils of trees in the landscape was slowly built up using thin glazes of paint. I used opaque colors in the sky and in the water and transparent colors for the trees and land areas. This is one to do again as the result was rather orange! not easy to get the colors right, I am happy with the sky as it has a successful evening feel to it and a light area but I am not happy with the colors in the rest of the painting. I like the composition of the trees and the area of water that reflects the sky above. The painting took a long time to complete so it is a bit disappointing that it needs to be done again! However evening paintings are always a challenge! so it is back to the drawing board again!
Happy painting to you all!
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