Pennan's Off the Easel!

It’s 10 days till Christmas, the time of year when we traditionally run ourselves ragged pursuing cultural dictates of overspending, overindulging, overextending. Years of buying into the ‘program’ have taught me well: when holidays rear their demanding heads, do what feels best: paint, play music & socialize! Everything will still be there in January, right where I left it!

The very early spring scene of Pennan, ‘High Shore’ is completed, although rather more realistic than I’d like. The stark white exteriors of Scottish buildings are a challenge to render ‘artistic!’ Practice…..squinting…..more practice…..

Studying Rust

Rusty metalwork is to me like candy to a toddler – just can’t get enough! The COLOURS!! Especially near salt water – it seems to add a particularly kaleidoscopic quality to the array of colour found in rust & decaying metal. I’d like to do an entire series on rusted objects, which, hmm, seems to surreptitiously be materializing…..rusted boat hulls & parts, rusty locks, eroded doorknockers….! Technorati Profile

This ‘gorgeous’ padlock & hasp secures a yellow-painted door on the High Street in Montrose, a seacoast town full of history and interesting wee shops. The light is often diffused & softened in Scotland, no matter the time of day, so strong contrasts of darks & lights using shadow is not as much of an issue as in clearer atmospheres. This offers the enjoyable challenge of speaking through subtlety, creating depth with an emphasis on value & warm/cool colour contrasts. Fun!