Minch 28: Mid Summer

Shock, horror, not only isn’t there any Prussian blue in this painting, there isn’t any blue whatsoever! The dominant colour is quinacridone burnt orange (PR206, quite a transparent colour), which I think looks more like an earthy red than orange. I found it looking in the drawer for a spare tube of white, and suspect it’s going to live amongst my “usual” colours for a while.

I may still tweak the sun’s reflection in the water as it’s not quite straight, and the one hill that wants to have sharper point to it. Right now it’s at the pondering stage.

Minch 28: Mid Summer. 24x48 inches. Acrylic on Canvas.

Taking Two Sketchbooks for a Walk

I took two different sketchbooks out for a walk to Rubha Hunish, one a Moleskine with watercolour paper and the other a wire-bound sketchbook with Khadi paper. The latter is rough rather than smooth, and more absorbent once you’ve dampened the sheet. I rushed the sketching somewhat as the wind was freezing my fingers. Certainly motivates quick gestural mark making!

The first time I tried a piece of Khadi paper was during the life drawing workshop at Higham Hall, when someone swapped a piece for some cartridge paper. You can see what I did with it on the back easel in this photo.

Looking southwest towards the cliffs and stack at Camus Mor. Moleskine, watercolour and pencil (and some rain drops).

Looking across the Minch towards the snow-topped peaks of Harris. Khadi sketchbook with graphite pencil (soluble and not), watercolor and Inktense pencils, watercolour paint.

Snow-Topped Hills

Walking up the hill to the coastguard hut at Rubha Hunish, the snow-topped peaks of Harris suddenly popped into view, giving me an excuse to stop a Kodak moment.