Will ten fit in the car?

                                                            

Walking in Bracken

Oil on Canvas  10 x 12

Where's Watendland!

Path at Watendland

Oil on Canvas 2011

Another legacy from November in the Lake District. There were some moments when the sun shone, the sky was blue and the Autumn colours just glowed. Watendland was a small place with an intriguing name where we sketched and painted - and it was just one of those special days.

www.thingstodolakedistrict.co.uk/.../Kings_and_Watendland_walk/

Under a Cloud!

Walking at Straiton

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Oil on board 20 x 20"

Bridget Hunter 2011

I don't usually have big skies - and I don't usually have such big clouds - but I felt this painting needed a large sky area. Its a view from a hill and when you're this high up the sky can seem vast. I spent time doing watercolour sketches of skies and clouds last year but all in good weather.  Maybe now I could move onto having an even lower horizon line - though I think I'd better do some more cloud studies first!

The blues!

Edge of the Loch

Oil on board 18 x 14"

Bridget Hunter

At the moment I seem to have the blues ! I seem to be making blue the main colour - ultramarine to be specific. Its not that I've bought a new ultramarine - a different make, a different quality - I can get carried away with a new colour sometimes. This is the same old blue I've always used. But I'm enjoying the intensity of it. And I can't think why.


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Is it really finished?

Oil on Canvas  12 x 10"
Bridget Hunter 2011

November Trees


Sometimes a painting just seems to paint itself. You have the idea - the colours, the shapes, the design - and the paintbrush does the rest almost on autopilot - no scraping off, no walking away in frustration, no real contemplation. But then you think, that, because it was done so quickly, is it really ok? Well -I've put the brushes down, taken a photo and accepting it as it is. It says what I wanted. I sketched these leaning trees with the vivid Autumn colours on a bright, chilly
 November day. 

                                          

Postcard from my Walk

A postcard from my walk – a global art exchange. . …pen sketch by Cathy Gatland… A postcard from my Walk  has its roots in Sketchercise, a group of artists  sharing a love for art and the outdoors, nature and different forms of exercise. As our project name suggests, we are painting postcards from our Sketchercise outings and mailing  them this way and that way to each other, criss-crossing over 4 continents. …a collage of works from our group.. Please visit our new blog, a postcard from my Walk, to follow along in our adventures the next year and more and where you can meet all the members on their introduction posts, see all the postcards and get fired up yourself to do more exercise and be creative while doing it. Many thanks to Ronell for her words.

"Her Indoors!"

Winter Grasses, Loch Doon

Oil on canvas 24 x 20"

Bridget Hunter 2011

I'm working on 10 landscapes for The Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright to be delivered on the 25th February so I'm "her indoors" and keeping going by inhaling turps fumes and working in my usually brush- it- on- scrape- it- off fashion!  And using one of my favourite sketching/painting places, Loch Doon, as the subject.

When we were young!

Watercolour
Bridget Hunter 1997

I was having a clearout of workspace as I've 10 landscapes to be ready for 25th February and came across photos of watercolours I did a long time ago - a time when my youngest was very young. I was thinking that I'd like to try this type of work again.

November Snow at Borrowdale

November Snow at Borrowdale

Oil on canvas  28x24"

Bridget Hunter 2010

I've mentioned before the wonderful art course I was on at Borrowdale, the lake District with tutors Jenny Wheatley and Mike Chapman - snow, rain, gales, excellent deomonstrations, great teaching and good company. I did many sketches and used one as a resource for this painting recently finished.  I've tried to capture the atmosphere and brilliant  Autumn colours to give a sense of place at that particular time.  It was freezing !

Across to Arran 2

Oil on canvas 12 x 12"

Bridget Hunter 2010

I haven't posted for a long time. So, to kickstart myself into 2011, this painting was completed mid December and is now being exhibited at the Arran Art Gallery, Arran. Its a view I've painted before but this time its on a square canvas and I've used a bluer palette. I find the square shape more difficult for composing landscapes preferring the traditional landscape format of 10 x 12, 20 x 24 etc. But this time I was more comfortable with the overall composition.

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Lake District

I've been very lucky to have had the opportunity to be on a painting course in the Lake District, England. Though the weather is freezing, the tutors Jenny Wheatley and Mike Chaplin are great - so its lots of laughter and working fast until fingers go numb!

Ten to go plus a small foot!

Bridget Hunter 2010

The ten little paintings were collected from the framer, who wrapped them in cellophane for protection, and I took them earlier today to The Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright for their Christmas Exhibition of small works.
Grandaughter was, as always, trying to help and I've somehow shown her foot  - but its all part of the fun chaos that is my life. So the foot stays!!!

Painting in the attic!

Just thought I'd post photos of my painting place - which is above the kitchen. I call it the attic but its really light with 4 velux windows and a French door at the far end. Its very cluttered - things I can't part with such as old child's high chair and 3 chairs that I like the shape of. The red dress is something I'd like to create paintings of - but that's a future plan!

It also doubles up as a spare bedroom!!!!!

Great news for me is that I sold both paintings at The Macmillan Cancer Charity. So what did I do - bought an ipad from the Apple Store. Now I've got to teach myself how to use it to justify the spending- why do I do these things - the stress of technology!!!!

Kitchen Window

Watercolour

Bridget Hunter 2010

This sketch was done because I'd like to try some paintings looking through windows .I've recently come across the work of Jenny Wheatley and am looking to find other artists' work with the same compositional ideas.Perhaps other people could suggest some artists to look at. This would be a new idea for me - still life and landscape combined.

Small Pond at Culzean

Oil  8 x 6"

Bridget Hunter 2010

Bright sunlight and greens - reflected in pond which was really quite dark compared to trees. Added some mauves as a contrast. Hopefully it works. I'm still finding these small works challenging -  trying to keep it lively.

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Ardnamurchan Light

Acrylic  8 x 6"

Bridget Hunter 2010

Next painting for Whitehouse Gallery's Christmas Show. I'm at last becoming familiar with Acrylics - the fast drying time, the slight colour changes from wet to dry - but I like using it thin then adding thicker sections. And the Arylics I've now got have a fairly buttery consistency. Another 6 works to go!!!

Amaryllis and Friends

Oil on board  12 x 12"

Bridget Hunter  2010
sold

I love Amaryllis , especially the red variety - the hot reds of the petals combined with the cool reds in the shadow areas and the deep darks inside the trumpets. This painting is going to THE MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT EXHIBITION at Threave Castle, Castle Douglas tomorrow as well as Rum, Muck and Dark Blue also shown in this post. The exhibition runs from 16th - 31st october.

Oil on board  24 x 20"

Bridget Hunter 2010

Rum,Muck and Dark Blues
sold

Ardnamurchan and Moon

Farmhouse at Loch Doon.

'

Oil on Board  8 x 8"

Bridget Hunter 2010

Second small work for gallery. This time back to the wilds of Loch Doon and one of the blackfaced sheep farms. A hard way of life in that part of the world. 

And thankyou to all the people who add such encouraging and perceptive comments to my posts.

The Art of the Landscape: Places to Paint: Bridget Hunter's West Coast of Scotland

The Art of the Landscape: Places to Paint: Bridget Hunter's West Coast of Scotland

Boat at Portpatrick

Acrylic on board  8 x 6"

Bridget Hunter 2010

It's back to acrylic again because I've 10 paintings to be delivered to a gallery by 5th November for a mixed Christmas exhibition of small works. And they have to be framed !! As I've never painted work as small as The daily Painters regularly do its a challenge of a different sort. This is a first effort. One down - 9 to go. So much for retirement !

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Acharacle and Blue Sea -on purple.

I didn't think to be painting these views again but when I found a forgotten board which had a purplish ground I wondered how the blues would work on it. It was a bit of an experiment but I'm happy with the way its come together - the ground colour has added a new dimension coming through here and there. I don't usually work on a base colour but its made me want to experiment some more.  I was asked to exhibit two paintings in The Save The Children Charity exhibition and have decided  to submit this as one of my works.

Oil on board 20 x 24"

Bridget Hunter 2010

Walking in Twilight. But not really!

Kirkcudbright Exhibition 2010

This week I took part in an exhibition in a small harbour town called Kirkcudbright, which was very popular in the early 20th century with many Scottish artists. It still retains its art connections with a good number of galleries and  I submitted 8 works to show. The photo shows me trying to hang the paintings - not easy to get them in line!!!

Walking in Twilight is one of the works - though photo not good! But, though its a place I often walk, I've actually never seen it in twilight.So its not plein air1  I've tried painting at that time  but found it hard to actually see the colours on my palette as the light faded. So I've used remembered colours to depict the moonlight and how it can "silver" everything. Its different from most of my paintings as its really based on greys and  I'd like to work in these shades again.

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Our Backyard

Oil on board 10 x 10"

Bridget Hunter 2005

Talking about paintings and emotions again!  This small work is in the present exhibition but isn't for sale. The memories of time and place are too precious,  having been done at my old home at a time of great loss.  Being in our garden on that particular day and recording it in paint was a way of getting through,  though strangely, I don't think this is reflected in the work. I loved the view up towards the back of the house and the slightly chaotic nature of the garden planting. I remember working quickly to get the image down as fast as possible before the clouds changed the tones of the shadows.

I recently saw a painting by Maggie Hambling of her mother on her deathbed and found the image has stayed with me - I find it a painting of great beauty in the way the artist has handled her subject, a tribute almost from daughter to mother. Maybe others would read it differently.

Emotions and a cliff.

I read that emotions play a large part in successful painting - that we need to have some kind of emotional response to the subject. For me it's usually light conditions that have transformed a colour and I feel the need to record it in paint. But can emotions also have a negative effect? There's a place that I've sketched in pencil and watercolour and have tried to use these to make a painting. Its a strong scene,  a place of crashing sea and soaring birds and deep aubergine cliffs. The work in oil started well but I've reached a complete standstill - because my emotional response to the place has changed. Initially it was a happy place for me but now all my emotions are negative because of later negative memories . My brushstrokes reflect this and do not dance. The creative process is blocked. Yet, visiting an exhibition of works by The Glasgow Boys I saw a watercolour showing a horse being gored at a bullfight, by Joseph Crawhill, who abhored the cruelty he believed he was seeing. Its a very strong image and shows his emotional response. So should I persevere at present - or wait until a future time when I hope I can remember my initial response to the colours and strength of the place instead?

The exhibition, The Glasgow Boys, is at The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow - and is breathtaking.  www.glasgowmuseums.com

Les Charrieres with Blue Shutters.

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Acrylic on board 12 x 10"  .

Bridget Hunter 2010

This painting was done plein air in Burgundy, using acrylic which, even though I was working in shade, was drying very fast and needed fast working - I much prefer working into wet paint! Les Charriers was a beautiful old house where we stayed for 4 nights run by Florence and her artist husband. Everywhere, inside and outside, there were painting subjects. I've tried to capture the shabby chic Frenchness of the building which I found so appealing. But I have only included part of the front of the house. I've got some photos of the interior and would like to try using them as source material for other paintings.This painting is in the exhibition but I adjusted the angle of the stairs, after this photo was taken and before it was framed, realising it wasn't quite right !!

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Exhibition opens!

Our exhibition opened today and it was very well attended. People were really kind and we were all thrilled by the positive comments. Two outcomes for me were that  a gallery owner asked me to take part in a mixed gallery artists' Christmas exhibition and that I sold two large paintings. What a day!

Landscape in Burgundy with vines.

Oil on board  30 x 24"

Bridget Hunter 2010

The exhibition opening on Saturday looms closer and I want to take all my works back and try again!

I think of Van Gogh saying  "Just dash something down if you see a blank canvas staring at you with a certain imbecility. You don't know how paralyzing it is, that staring of a blank canvas which says to the painter : you don't know anything." That's what it felt like knowing I needed all these paintings by a certain date- dashing it down. This work was framed while still damp ! But luckily its a Scottish habit to frame under glass .

The Loire in July

Oil on board  28 x 24"
Bridget Hunter  2010

The exhibition - Six Ayrshire Artists - starts this Saturday in The McLaurin Galleries, Ayr. We six were asked to illustrate a business calendar 3 years ago with  paintings. This led to great friendships, which has, in turn,  led to a joint exhibition featuring 10/12  paintings each. Having just recently returned from a trip to France the whole thing has been a frantic painting and framing experience. The others have been far better organised! But I always put myself under this kind of pressure. Will I never learn? However, France has given me new source material and the painting above is going into the exhibition. The Loire valley was vast and parts of it had grain fields which stretched way into the horizon. The impression was a deep yellow under a bright blue sky. I was able to do some watercolour sketching and used these as references. Tomorrow the paintings go to the gallery where we'll meet, try to instill each other with confidence and then have much wine for lunch. Its a scary business, exhibiting!

France!

Did it! Drove 3168 miles round France. Memories - good wine, great coffee, picking and eating fruit from trees, sunflowers, painting in the shade, being made welcome, long lazy meals with great conversations, being lost, finding wonderful shabby chic small hotels, glad of having a car with airconditioning, diverse landscapes.