Millport

Millport

I was asked to do a painting of a place I had never been to, Millport.

I learned a great deal from this experience. The first thing I learned was that in spite of all the walking I do there are still little hidden gems of my land , Scotland  I have yet to discover.

As an artist who paints from the heart, more about the atmosphere and the feeling of a place than the reality of the place, this was a real challenge. I spent ages looking a pictures of Millport trying so hard to get a feel for the place.

I learned that here was a place I so desperately need to visit.

I took all the picture I had seen and let them sink into my inner being. This is what I painted.

I have been shocked to discover that the person who asked me to paint it wants to own it. But more than that I have had more than four other people from all over the world wanting to purchase it from  me.

In the light of my other blog that is linked to this one this is a joy and an uplift. Why Do I Care

The Warrior Prepares

The Warrior Prepares

Yesterday I painted nonstop for most of the day. I was working on the same theme I have been working on for my last two paintings. I have now done enough of these to call them the Warrior Series. I did promise not to inflict too many of this series on you and I will try very hard to keep to my promise.

I am finding it strange that I , a confirmed pacifist have painted a warrior series, but then not all battles are the battles against others, there is also the inner battle to be fought, and I have been fighting that these last few weeks.

Using the same palette and feeling full of good painting vibes I prepared four canvas. This one that I have used here which measures 40" x 16" and three smaller box canvas that together will measure pretty much the same size.

Ont the three box canvas I painted a triptych of The Warrior Waits, I wonder how long it will wait until somebody wants to give it a place to hang.  At the same time as painting these I worked on this one also, The Warrior Prepares. When complete I set them up where I could see them. A very good friend discussed them with me and pointed out, in a very kind way what might have been a mistake. I went to bed and in the middle of the night I awoke and was compelled to get up and put that "mistake" to rights. I also noted that the shield was far from straight but i have left that because in painting these I have looked at many shields and spears and dress and I am happy that shields were not made to perfection but to protection.

I hope the change i made has left this painting with the feeling i was trying to convey and removed the opportunity for the critics with the nails of despair a little less room for emptying my bucket of life.

For more on this idea see my other blog. I Do Not Need My Bucket Emptied.

Love Along The Coast on a Rainy Day.

Love Along The Coast on a Rainy Day

This was just a very fast painting to keeping me out of the way of the heating engineer who was trying to fix my boiler. As you know I spend a lot of time along the coastal paths where I live. I therefore spend much time drawing in the atmosphere of the place rather than trying to depict just what I see.

Now and again I catch those little intimate moments. A couple standing in the rain under an umbrella what can be more romantic? I ask you for real.

Done on a small box canvas and painted over the edges.

This painting like another recent painting of mine sold within five minutes of appearing on Facebook. Sometimes I just seem to do something right.

The Summer Knows

The Summer Knows

 I have had summer days of many years

And wandered midst the greens and reds.

I have seen birds soar in delight

As fledglings took flight

I have blown dandelion clocks

And watched the time float on summer breeze.

I have made daisy chains

With the  jewels of summer flowers.

I have watched butterflies flutter

And brighten the bright blue skies

And tasted the joy of fruiting trees

I have listened to the music of the bees

As they buzz on daily chore

I see them now with inner eye

And feel them in my heart.

The summer knows the joy it brings

And make my heart rejoice

And forward on the path I go

To find what summer my way will throw

The things I love and the lessons learned

As ever onward I daily go.

This blog is linked to my other  Oh To Be Perfect.

Enfolding Love.

Enfolding Love.

I wandered empty paths

And tramped ore’ lonely dales.

The hands of time moving ever onward

As the sun chased the clouds across the sky.

The tramp of foot echoed the beat of heart.

Enveloped in natures bliss.

Alone was I on path and life

And felt the desolation.

But each little bloom of daffodil

And celandine

Smiled my way to cheer me down the miles.

I saw a tree majestic.

Head reaching high to catch the racing clouds.

As I walked, it stood

And held me in its its grasp.

Down through the years

On sentry stood.

I saw the rocks

Beneath its feet

Its roots embraced and held on tight

Caressing in love

Protecting each other.

Deep Enfolding Love.

Life moves ever onward

The path of life on forward march

The journey could be full of fear

But to know that love enfolds,

chases every tear.

To be held by one

In deep enfolding love

Makes the step grow light

And the way a path of joy.

This blog is linked to my other.  Try Again

The Finished Painting

The Finished Painting

Well here it is the finished painting. I am aware it is not detailed look at the alley. I am aware that it is not a representation of reality in terms of that famous bridge. Then it was never meant to be any of those things.

This was a painting like so many of my landscape and seascape paintings, it was an attempt to capture the feel and the mood of the place.

Do I like the finished painting? Yes I do.  Does the bride and groom I told you of like it? I do not know. They are aware that it is finished and I would never want them to feel they had to like something just because it is. I have not heard from them so I will leave it.  Who knows it may be just like the first two versions, in a year from now somebody may like it.

Since writing and posting this blog I have had a lovely email from the bride I spoke of telling me that she does indeed like my painting. I do so hope that in years to come they look at this work and remember that wonderful day when they set out on the journey of marriage together. 

My next painting? It is done and gone you can read about that on my other blog. 

Little Unattached Moments