Morning light at Bass rock

Morning light at Bass rock

Pastel on paper

12x8 inches

I realised how long it was since I posted a landscape! I've been focussing mostly on figurative/portraiture work for the last year or so and have neglected landscapes

Better late than never! Here's one of my favourite muses, the Bass Rock. This was worked up in the studio from a plein air sketch I did a while back. I really liked the soft light that I saw that day- nice violets and peach/yellows.

Ryan

Early morning light over Bass Rock

Early morning light over Bass Rock

Acrylic on canvas paper

16x12 inches


I think the summer (what little we had here!) is just about over, so glad I managed to get out for this plein air sketch. This was from a clifftop walk down by Dunbar called Belhaven bay. All in all took about 2 hours.I was excited by the yellow band in amongst the purple/violets/blues going on in the sky.


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

Next installment of the WIP

Next installment of the WIP- re-worked the sky colours as I wasn't entirely happy before. I'll add some red/orange to the underside of the clouds next (when this layer dries a bit!)

Bass Rock (work in progress)

Bass Rock (work in progress)

This is a large painting I'm working on at the moment in the studio (1 x 1 metre). Its easily the largest I've atempted and it a subject I love to paint (as you can see from previous posts!), for these reasons I really excited about this one!

At this first stage I've decided on my composition. The horizon is placed on the traditional golden mean (dividing the canvas in roughly 2 thirds sky and 1 third sea). I've placed the rock off centre to the right hand side also. At this stage I've very loosely blocked in the rock itself using burnt umber and ultramarine blue, thinned with turps, this was done with my handy 2 inch decorator brush (felt like Rolf Harris at this point!), then my favourite 1 inch flat brush.

Next stage I blocked in the sky and sea. Again very rough at this point- not worrying about detail or anything, just want to get rid of the white canvas and try to establish the rest of the composition and tonal range.

Well this is where I'm at now. I've been working up the sky, trying to get the colours and tone right as this will define the light for the rock and the sea.

More to follow.....

Ryan

Bass Rock sunset with heavy cloud

Bass Rock sunset with heavy cloud

Oil on canvas

20x16 inches

Another Bass Rock painting, this time working up from my pastel ideas into oil. This was painted entirely with a pallette knife (except a couple of moments of finger painting- still the artists best tool for softening edges!)

I love the textured affect that can be acheived with the knife, it prevents you from being too detailed. Also I love paintings that from a distance are based on realism but as you go closer the image breaks up and can be quite abstract.

Ryan

Bass Rock at sunset (study#2)

Bass Rock at sunset (study#2)

Soft Pastel on sepia Murano paper

18x14 inches

Here's another study of the Rock, this time a bit more close-up and with a different colour strategy. I've toned down the sunset a tad and introduced some of the warmth into the colours on the rock. The water and the rock itself are also darkened helping to create more depth to the painting.

Also thought I'd publish a photo of the Bass Rock for those not so familiar with the subject

Ryan

Bass Rock sunset 1

Bass Rock sunset

Soft Pastel on red Murano pastel paper

18x14 inches

Trying out some ideas for a large new oil painting of the Bass Rock I'm about to start. The small photo here on the blog doesn't do much justice to the actual colours of this painting, which is a shame. I'll definitely get a better shot for the gallery image!

Sail Boats at Bass Rock, North Berwick

Sail Boats at Bass Rock, North Berwick.

Oil on board
15x12 inches

I love the Bass Rock as a subject. Its colour constantly changes with the light along the coast. On this day there were nice clear skies giving the sea a brilliant blue. The Bass Rock took on these same colours and with the haze coming off the sea, it had wonderful soft edges.

I added the sail boats from a previous sketch to add a bit more foreground interest and to help provide a sense of scale.

Ryan