Lighthouse on Fidra

Lighthouse on Fidra, Scotland

Oil on canvas12x15inches

Fresh off the easel! From just a short drive down the coast, this wee island looks pretty spectacular. The author Robert Louis Stevenson (who lived in these parts) supposedly was inspired to write Treasure Island after being inspired by these little islands here- according to the tourist board anyway!

Ryan

View to Cockenzie, Evening Light

View to Cockenzie, Evening Light

Oil on canvas

18x14 inches

Painted this mostly with painting knife and a little brushwork. Not a traditionally beautiful scene for a painting- dirty big coal burning power station!! That made for an interesting challenge. This is a view along the East Lothian coastline from the beach where I live. Had really interesting colours and hazy effect going on that I wanted to capture.

Ryan

Life Class sketches

Life Class sketches

I just did another Life class through the National Galleries of Scotland- which have been really excellent.

For the first 1/2 hour we go up into the gallery and look at the master paintings, with our tutor pointing things out. Then we have a 2 hour life class working on the techniques discussed.

There is a great exhibition of on at the moment of drawings, which were the studies for major paintings. Edgar Degas, Seurat, Raphael, Poussin all are represented here. I was taken by a sketch by Poussin done in ink and wash, the finished painting was also on display. (will try to get a link)

Here were my attempts in this medium- quickly done ~5 mins each. We used sharpened willow sticks to dip in the ink and draw. The wash of diluted ink was applied with sponge. These unusual implements really made you consider line and mark-making. First one on the left I put down to learning the marks made by the tools!! I think they improved!


15x12 inches

Ryan

Bass Rock at last light

Bass Rock at last light

Oil on Canvas

1meter x 1meter

Applying the final touches!

This was a really challenging painting due to the size, composition and colour strategies. It has forced me to really study the Bass Rock and get to know it intimately. All the other studies that I've done certainly paid off as painting the final parts (the rock and sea) were done from memory/imagination and previous paintings.

Ryan

Female Life study

Female Life study
Soft pastel on Ingres paper
12x15inches

A painting I've worked up from my recent Life drawing classes

Ryan