I have a new solo exhibition open now at Lime Tree Gallery (17th Sep to 15th Oct 2016). This page is a small insight into my process of capturing the Western seaboard of Scotland for this solo show. The full exhibition can be seen here.
MALLAIG
Mallaig is a fishing port in Lochaber and a hub for the West Coast railway line and ferry terminal to the Hebrides.
Over the years I have become very familiar with the landscape, history and geography of this area particularly the harbour and fishing boats which I get a lot of my inspiration and ideas from. The two oil paintings featured on this page, Gaff Rigged Fishing Boat and Fishing Fleet, Mallaig started as a series of sketches and pastel drawings. This was then followed with Plein Air paintings on fairly large 30 x 30 inch linen canvases. Both paintings were finished off in the studio.
Sketchbooks are the fundamental material for all my work .I always carry three sketchbooks one small for writing down thoughts and quick drawings of fleeting moments of interest. A larger one for more detailed studies and a third book for watercolour studies.
The sketchbooks and materials I use for quick drawings are a 9 x 12 inch seawhite 140 gsm white with willow charcoal sticks or compressed charcoal pencils and almost any type of pencil I have to hand. For larger work I like to use compressed charcoal and Rembrandt soft pastel for colour on white Daler Rowney 17 x 24 inch heavy mixed media paper . The watercolour studies are done on Aquarelle, Seawhite 225 gsm 9x 12 inch paper using Winsor and Newton and Old Holland Artist watercolour paint.
Quick drawings of thoughts and ideas.
Pastel sketches for oil painting – Gaff Rigged Fishing Boat
Finished painting – Gaff Rigged Fishing Boat
Watercolour studies of harbour and fishing boats
Pastel sketches/studies for oil painting – Mallaig, Fishing Fleet
Finished painting – Mallaig, Fishing Fleet
The end of a summer of hard work. Ready for the exhibition.