Winter Grass

 One of the things I like about winter in the western highlands is the growth and colour of the wild grasses.

 There are many different types of grass.  There is the deer grass in the hills and on the moors, sending out its delicate spikes in December. There is the untidy grass on the shores that lies flat over pebbles, combed by the sea into swirls and waves.  And there is the thick grass that grows in woodland clearings and morrland - it turns into clumps of pale ochre curls and sends out delicate tall spikes.  Close by Lochcarron there is an area which was once a plantation woodland of sitka spruce trees.  This ground is now in community ownership and the trees were cleared a few years ago, leaving rough ground with a few residual native trees.  Significant replanting with little tiny trees - native species - has already been done in places. I think of it as a “recovering landscape” and I like to go and sketch there – I particularly love the wild winter grass with the backdrop of the hills around.

I've done several sketches of the grass and trees and I was determined to develop the sketches into a painting or two.  I started out on a scene looking towards distant hills, flanked by trees.  

This was a large square painting.  I quite liked the simplicity of this, but at a large scale I was not satisfied. I continued to develop ideas, adding different textures and got to this point.

I still wasn't happy, so I altered the composition slightly and added more spectral greys.

However, I felt that this was a bit dumbed down....not very exciting....it had lost its freshness and drama.  So I put it aside and reached for a fresh piece of paper, to start again.   This time I did a landscape composition rather than a square one.  I focused much more on the grass rather than any other element within the composition.  Looking at it now, I see a hint of Paul Nash's "Wood On The Downs" in the composition, but these, of course, are Birch trees, not Beeches.

It is now finished and framed - title "Wild Winter Grass, Kirkton Woodland" - and I've just heard that it'll be in the RSW open exhibition in January/February this year.  Delighted!

As I quite liked this composition, I've been back to sketch in the same place from time to time.  It looked different in summer colours, in strong light.   I thought I'd try a wee acrylic painting of a similar scene.  Thia one is also framed - "A Delicate Light" - and it was in the Gairloch Museum Winter Show.

I'm continuing to make paintings of grass (winter and summer) and some of these will be ready for an exhibition in Gairloch Museum in May and June this year - "Our Fragile Land".  Here's a work in progress....

It makes me think of the Three Graces....but I don't think that's a good title...is it?

At Last....A Little Sketching.

Been so busy with the Lochcarron Gallery set up that I haven't sketched for ages - maybe a whole month - I have missed getting out and about sketching but there's just been no time!
This afternoon I escaped for a little sketching outing. Went to Shieldaig for a walk around the aird.
It started well with an atmospheric view of Shieldaig Island.

Sheildaig Island

 There was some bright sunlight in the sea which I haven't really captured here - I wanted to try and record the sea patterns. But already there were a couple of raindrops - you might notice the smudginess....

Wet sketch!

Anyway, I walked on and found the perfect spot for sketching a long view down Loch Torridon. A nice rock to sit on. I made a start...but then the heavens opened and my paper got soaked. Look at it! But it is a good composition, isn't it? I think it has a bit of promise for a big pic. Such a shame to be rained off.  Anyway, I think I can remember where that spot is, so I'll be back.

Contorted Birch

Carried on round the aird and saw a birch tree I couldn't resist....here it is.

It's so windblown and contorted. Might be a good subject for an etching. But I would need to work out what sort of background to include. I also liked the fact that the path is right beside this tree and should somehow be included in the pic.

Finally got to the farthest point and the sun came out. It's such a beautiful spot. I could see the hills of North Harris from here today (there was a chill in the air). And I could also see Beinn Alligin and Liathach, both with snow on their tops.  I identified what I thought was a good composition - a long portrait-sized pic. But the only dry paper I had was a little lightweight so I had to use pastel and pencil only. Spent a lot of time looking at the colours of the sea.

Well, it's a start. I'm hoping to get back to painting in the studio soon too!

The Big Picture

In the studio I've been working on a big painting recently. Oil on canvas. Haven't worked in oils for a year.  The subject is based on this sketch I did of Loch Torridon, looking east.

I made a conscious decision to work on a big painting in oils. I reminded myself of Egon Schiele's approach and started in oil paints and turps, and pencil marks. I got it as far as this on the first day.

I was pleased with this, but it is a bit colourless really. I was wanting to try and capture the beauty of the scene but not be too heavy-handed. I find it more of a challenge working in oils, and have been determined not to lose a lightness of touch that I'm striving for in acrylics and I'm keen to capture in all my paintings.
 
As we've been up in these parts again this week, I wanted to do some extra colour studies. So I went back to my sketching place and did a couple of sketches in pastel.  First I focused on the long view. I was struck with how colourful the water looked. But I think now I was exaggerating this a bit.

Then I focused on the trees on the promontory. I really want this to be the focal point of the big painting.

When we got back to the cottage, I had a go at painting these views as studies, using acrylic and conte and pencil.  First the long view, trying desperately hard to capture the feel of the water in the loch, so many different subtle colour transitions.

And then the view of the trees, with the dark water and the bright trees. Thinking about colour relationships and juxtapositions...

Interesting....but where do I do from here?  Back into the studio on Monday. The big painting should be dry enough to work on, but the challenge for me is to retain that lightness of touch, I think.

Composition is so interesting, isn't it?

Continuing The Struggle....

Still up north, and finally, yesterday, it was good enough for a proper sketching trip. I headed over to Sheildaig and turned off into Applecross.  I thought the clouds were coming over so with no time to lose, I stopped and did a couple of pencil sketches. Sheildaig was looking lovely in the sunshine, with a snow-capped Beinn Alligin rising in the background.  Had to sketch in pencil for speed as it was a bit cold.

In terms of composition, I was keen to try and capture the pine trees in the foreground. There was a lovely specimen close by, so I had a go at sketching it too.

By this time I was freezing, so it was back in the car, and on to Fearnmore, to visit my favourite corrugated iron hut. I thought I should sketch it from a different angle, so here's my first attempt.

Fearnmore Shore (sketch)

I thought a composition with the boats in the foreground might look interesting. I then followed up with a closer view, making more of the old wooden posts.  This time I used some wax crayon to get the rusty colour of the hut.

Fearnmore Fishing Hut (Another sketch)

I was quite pleased with this composition, and I was trying really hard to capture the birch trees slightly silhouetted against the sea in the middle distance. Again I was a bit cold after this, so it was back to the car to warm up. Then another couple of sketches of Fearnmore before heading off again.

The Road Past Fearnmore (Sketch)

I like this view of the road at the entrance to Fearnmore and have sketched it before. There are some nice little shapes of colour.

Abandoned Cottage sketch

And I did this abandoned house very quickly - I liked the little window and took photos of the textures....there may be a painting somewhere in this.....

I was a bit sketched out by this time and headed back to Kenmore, by the sea.  Had a walk in the adjacent woodland and then came across this lovely group of mature birch trees clinging on to the edge of the hill. I loved the angle of tilt, thought they were a crazy little group, showing so clearly how they struggle against the effect of the wind. It was beginning to get dark, so this was definitely my last sketch of the day.

Old Birch Trees (Pencil Sketch)

On reflection it reminds me of Cezanne's picture of Olive trees. I'm not sure of the title.  Actually, I just tried to find it in google, but couldn't see it; however my search has alerted me to just how many paintings of trees Cezanne did, and Van Gogh too. Gosh, I've got a long way to go...