Wee Scottish Paintings
Plus, the 50% Off Holiday Studio Sale!
I just completed my series of small paintings of Scotland for the patrons who supported my last trip. Here they are, above, and you can see them in a larger format here.
After returning from a painting trip, I often like to head to the studio right away to see what I can make of the reference material I gathered. From this one, I came back with a completely filled watercolor journal of gouache sketches plus an abundance of photographs. Once in the studio, I went through the photos, picked the ones that showed promise, and then downloaded them from my phone to a tablet I use in the studio for display. Next, I went through the sketches, looking for interesting color “notes” that would be helpful. (As we all know, the smartphone camera lies, and the colors you see aren’t always the colors that were there.) Once I’d done that, I set up my tablet on a flexible gooseneck arm beside my easel and placed my watercolor journal on a second easel so I had all my references easily available.
And then I got started. I toned all my 6×8 panels (Ampersand Gessobord) with Gamblin’s FastMatte Transparent Earth Red for a nice warm glow. Once they dried, I launched in with FastMatte colors to block in and finally paint, using occasionally some Galkyd Gel when the paint got too tacky to work. (I should mention here that I love the FastMatte colors, which are alkyd oil paints and designed to dry with a flat, matte finish; but alas, Gamblin has discontinued that line. I treasure the tubes I have, but they are rapidly emptying. Maybe someday Gamblin will make them again.) Finally, once they had dried, I varnished them with Gamvar, which can be applied once the paint surface is dry to the touch. Each will go into a beautiful frame and go out now in a few days.
I’m very pleased with these, and I hope my patrons will be, too. Now, it’s on to creating a few more larger paintings for my new book, Through a Painter’s Brush: Scotland and the Border Lands.
50% Off Holiday Studio Sale!
Yes, the sale continues till the end of the year! Get half off on any of my Southwest paintings. Paintings are shipped unframed with FREE shipping to the continental US. (I will charge actual shipping costs for areas beyond.) See what’s available, here.
