A Month of Yellows

  

Woodland Study Culzean 2

10x12" Oil on board

Woodland Study Culzean 1

24x20"Oil

November Woods

Acrylic  8x6"

Everywhere I've walked this last few weeks it's been like walking through a land of yellow and because, until recently, the air has been relatively still the leaves have remained in all their glory.

I'm lucky to live a short drive away from Culzean Park where I regularly go, not only to walk, but also to work sometimes in the Charity Bookshop which raises funds for The National Trust. 

Its a treat to be there amongst a few thousand secondhand books and at the same time to enjoy the wonderful parklands.

Trying a Box Canvas

A Vase of Spring

Oil on Canvas 8x8"

February has brought longer hours of daylight and that means more time to paint in natual light.

In the garden the signs of Spring are already showing - the snowdrops through and other bulbs beginning to grow.

And it's impossible to resist buying bunches of daffodils from the local gift shop.

And it's impossible not to try painting them.

This time though I've been using box canvases and trying out ways to paint the edges, trying black at first but settling on using the background colour.

I'm not sure whether this type of support is for me. I think I prefer a canvas with a frame.

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

Coffee and an Exhibtion

Oil on Box Canvas  10x10"

Oil on Box Canvas  8x8"

Oil on Canvas  8x10"

Print available

My friend Margaret Law and I are taking part in a joint exhibition at a venue in Mauchline, Ayrshire.  It's a new local gallery which started out life as a gift shop. It's now a Coffee Shop and Gallery and well worth a visit for the cakes alone. 

Carol, the owner, has started evening craft classes there too and, from what I've been told, I hear these are very popular.

It's great to see a new local Art Gallery becoming popular.

Above are 3 of the paintings and prints I'm exhibiting.

North Ayrshire Art Exhibition

Road to the Loch

 Oil on Canvas  24x20"

I got word today that my two paintings entered into The North Ayrshire Art Exhibition had been accepted and that's always a good feeling.

It's been a few years since I tried for this exhibition as I never seem to have enough works for 

the shows that come along in groups, like buses, in the summer months.

But this year I've involved myself in less and so have more paintings ready.

The Garden Poppies

Oil on board  10x12"

The exhibition is held in The Raquet Hall at Eglinton Park

and starts Saturday 12th July 2014

Join us for the preview

Friday 11th July
7.30pm

Visit the exhibition

Saturday 12th - Saturday 26th July
10.00am - 4.00pm

The Raquet Hall
Eglinton Country Park
Kilwinning

Join us for the preview

Friday 11th July
7.30pm

Visit the exhibition

Saturday 12th - Saturday 26th July
10.00am - 4.00pm

The Raquet Hall
Eglinton Country Park
Kilwinning

And the dog came too !

My home with the Open Studios Banner and a visitor at the door.

It's been a week since our Open Studios event and I think I'm still recovering from all the painting and tidying and welcoming and talking.

It was extremely busy and I think most people had a successful time .

Here are a few photos of inside my house though they don't feature the studio which is up a few stairs and was also open for browsing thfough. 

Most works are oil paintings though there are a few gouache too.

I didn't have greeting cards ready nor prints as I ran out of time and realise this was 

something I should have organised.

Ah well, note to self for next year.

The Red Corner

Lemons on Red

Oil on Board 20x20"

This is the latest painting combining that wonderful Amaryllis with the cool yellow of lemons. 

I used this other painting below as the resource reworking the idea in a different format and enjoying the mark making and the rich warm and cool reds.

Amaryllis with Red

Oil on Board 30x24"

I've now got a red corner in the back room and it's a great place to sit with the morning coffee.

So, more work ready for Open Studios and also another exhibition in May, one red still life for each.

Two for Open Studios Ayrshire

Oil on canvas   12x12"

Oil on board  12x10"

Bridget Hunter 2014

Painting to pull together some unfinished works that have lain under a bed waiting for inspiration but the truth is I've been really afraid to tackle them. 

It gets like that sometimes, I just don't know what to do next so I hide them and just hope  !

However the Open Studio event is getting closer and a few other exhibitions so I need to finish some of those .

Both show trees growing behind Burns Cottage garden which is very close to where I live.

There are some Scots Pines and its their shapes that I find fascinating.

I'd like to draw these pine trees in charcoal and look forward to having the time to go out when the weather is a bit warmer.

Amaryllis and Red

Amaryllis and Red

Oil on Canvas  30x24"

Bridget Hunter 2014

I've wanted a painting for the corner of the back room and always had in mind that something predominately red to hang near a favourite blue chair would be good.

In the end I decided to base a painting around two amazingly red Amaryllis I got at Christmas.  

 I've no confidence in arranging a still life so I thought I'd try to limit the number of elements and just enjoy playing about with lots of different tones and shades of red.

I think this has worked better for me and I'm going try this simple type of arrangement again.

Small Works in a Basket

Small oils  on canvas  4x6"

Sometimes I really enjoy making small studies in paint as opposed to the larger landscapes. 

These are usually little subjects found in and out of my house and 

this year I've been painting them on very small canvases 

and popping them into a basket for sale at the Open Studio event.

Cyclamen with a Samba Look

Cyclamen 

Oil on board 6"x6"

Bridget Hunter 2013

I just love the Samba sway of these miniature cyclamen .

Painting for Myself

Cyclamen in Miniature

Oil on Board 6x8"

Bridget Hunter 2013

I enjoy doing small studies and these cyclamen form a wonderful umbrella above the blue/green leaves.

The overall shape has proved fascinating to such an extent that I think I've now painted the plant 4 times, from different angles and on different shaped boards, though all quite small.

I'm now painting for me, myself and enjoying just looking and recording and using paint for it's qualities as "a visual language" to express an idea.

The painting "The Coastguard's Garden 1" is trying to show what it was like to be in a partly neglected garden behind a wall but where sea breezes were causing ripples of movement.

And I like adding the "1" in the title to show it's the first of a group of paintings, a series, which is another new way of working for me.

It's wonderful to feel free to paint what I want 

rather than be under pressure to produce.

The Coastguard's Garden 1

Oil on Board 20x20"

Bridget Hunter 2013

A Front Cover

I can't believe my painting's on the front cover of The MacLaurin Gallery magazine . It seems unreal, that it's someone else. It's because of a new venture, a wall featuring local artists.

             This, however, does feel real - three of my four granddaughters and their doting Grandma!

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Harvest Golds at Greenan

Oil on canvas  30 x 30 cm

Bridget Hunter 2013

A favourite sketching place near the ruins of Greenan Castle, Ayr.

It's been hectic trying to get all 6 paintings finished. And there's been lots of paint scraped off which is really such a waste of materials.

So, I'm trying to change the frantic way I paint and take time to stop and think and place more considered marks.

I think I might need to pin a notice above the easel as a reminder though. 

At the edge of Alloway

"At the edge of Alloway"

Oil on board 50 x 50 cm

Bridget Hunter 2013

Working on 6 paintings for a new venture at The McLaurin Gallery, Ayr featuring artists from the South West of Scotland. 

I think it's to be called The Showcase Wall but watch this space!

Anyway, no matter the name, I've to deliver on Tuesday 30th April which means 5 more to finish for next week. No pressure at all then !!!!

www.themaclaurin.org.uk/

Through the Gate

Oil on board   51 x 51 cm 

Bridget Hunter 2013

There's been more paint scraped off this one than put on in the fight to get it finished. I'm taking it up in my little car with a second work to submit for selection to The Paisley Art Institute for their annual exhibition. 

Needless to say there's painty rags and brushes needing washed everywhere as I try to get the other painting to a finished state.

This hobby is taking over my life but would be lost without it.

The Hills were Blue

"The Hills were Blue'

Oil 24x24"

I've been busy working away on 6 new paintings for The McLaurin Gallery Ayr for a new venture called a Showcase Wall featuring local artists.

It was very flattering to be asked to participate but

it's way too intense for a wee woman who just enjoys painting.

 Back to the easel!

The first ever Open Studios Ayrshire.

Part of the kitchen

Back of the living room

The hall

What a weekend - the first ever open Ayrshire Open Studios. I've a tiny house and over the 3 days  approx 100 people came for a 'look see' and much to my amazement bought and bought. I ran out of printed greetings cards the second day and couldn't make any more as the printer gave up the ghost 

The upstairs "studio" looking unusually tidy.

The visitors were wonderful to brave the bitterly cold weather to support all 36 artists involved in this new venture.

Because of the snowdrifts closing roads though a few artists living further inland only got a few intrepid visitors on the last day which was such a shame after their preparations. To think that last year at this time we were rubbing on sunscreen.

Watercolour cards I rushed to make because my printer stopped working!

This was the first but already we've a list of many more participants for next year so hopefully it will become a noteable event in the Ayrshire calendar.

Thankyou to the people who supported us.

And thankyou to some wonderful friends who came to help.

"Lilies in Purple"

Lilies in Purple

Oil on Board  18x14"

Bridget Hunter 2013

The inspiration

Framed but tweaked with a leaf crossing flower at rght. It was only after I saw the photo that I thought it needed this.

I had some friends over for lunch and was given beautiful flowers and a stock of wine. How wonderful. These lilies just cried out to be painted. Do we painters always see still life in everything, eyeing up shapely pears and ripe colored mangoes while getting suspicious looks from shoppers?