An Ochre Study with Windfarm

Oil on Board 24x20"

The weather is just as you would expect in Scotland in January though the rain seems a bit wetter and the winds that bit stronger.

The worst part of this time of year, if you paint, is the shorter daytime light. By 4 o'clock it's already getting dark and I don't find daylight bulbs all that sucessful. In proper daylight the colours always seem too fierce hough I know many artists seem to like them.

Working away on the series of paintings with a predominantly ochre palette of the hills in this part of Scotland though I've started adding a bit of a windfarm or two

which can now be seen in the landscape. 

In a cream frame

A New Year, New Medium

Tamzin with the Cowboy Hat

Pastel on Brown Paper

At the beginning of December I went on a pastel portrait course with Tom McKendrick in
 A House for an art Lover, Glasgow.
It was a beautiful venue for an art course and the teaching was inspiring.
This was the first time I've used dry pastels and the first time I've actually completed a colour portrait as my attempts in the past have ended up in the bin.
The resource was a photo I'd taken a few years ago.

My girls, with a hint or two from me, have given me money for pastels as my Christmas present and I'm so looking forward to going to Glasgow to spend it in a new art shop there.


Here's a photo of Tom McKendrick with his wonderful portraits of soldiers.