These are images from a recent painting trip to Black Rock Cottage on the Rannoch Moor looking towards Buchaille Etive Mor, (The Herdsman of Etive). This is a world heritage site and mecca for climbers, photographers and artists.
Wild camping in early May is a great time for working outdoors although it was cold with snow still being on the hilltops. The arrival of spring colours and the light never ceases to give me new ideas and inspire me.
I know this place very well from my frequent painting trips. This lets me site my easel in the spot I find most interesting. I usually start with some quick sketches to get my eye in but this time I started painting straight away as the light was so clear. I also had the added advantage of no midges.
Once I open my old battered suitcase full of Michael Harding Oil Paint, brushes, oily rags,sketchbooks and lots of charcoal and pastels I’m ready to begin.
Using a small round brush I loosely paint an outline of the landscape using Ultramarine Blue.
My work focuses mainly on landscape painting “Plein Air.” To really see and appreciate the colours of nature this means I have to get out from the confines of the studio.
As an underpainting I add colour and form with a large brush from a neutral palette of ochres, blues and greys. Then later as the painting develops I add stronger blues to the sky and warm colours to the foreground.
Painting at twilight at the end of a great days painting. Working quickly with warm crimsons oranges and yellows to catch the sunset.