A Concert of Scotland Paintings

Cascading Falls, Ben Lawers
Framed: 35 x 25½ inches
Image: 27 x 17½ inches
Transparent Watercolor
$2750

I did this piece in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands near Ben Lawers Park. I imagined doing a thousand paintings here among the cascading waterfalls, aqua green pools, red rocks, and heather. I slid down the hillside, knee deep in heather, to get to my spot by the stream. It was open and unprotected and very windy. I did much of this painting on my knees to keep the board from flying away. I was most interested in the composition, the positioning and breakup of space.

Sheep Pastoral, Blair Atholl
Framed: 29½ x 22½ inches
Image: 21½ x 14½ inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

I did this painting at the east edge of Blair Atholl village, beside a meadow. Light and shadow played down the hillside with a few Scottish cottages partially exposed through the trees. Black faced sheep, certainly symbolic of the Scottish Highlands, grazed in the field where I set up.

Glamis Castle Monument & Ivy
Framed: 29½ x 22½ inches
Image: 21½ x 14½ inches
Transparent Watercolor
$1400

Glamis Castle, located in the southeast of Scotland, is the childhood home of the “Queen Mother” of Great Britain , who died at the age of 102 in 2002. There are long rolling green parks surrounding the castle, and outside the grounds is a beautiful small village. I chose to paint the ivy covered lion monument that was located in front of the castle. My inspiration came from the sunlight on the ancient sculpture contrasted against the strong color and texture of the ivy.

Heather Hillside near Sma' Glen
Framed: 25 x 35 inches
Image: 17 x 27 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

In the Highlands there are remote single carriage roads with pullout passing places. On one such road, over a mountain pass, I discovered a hillside covered with heather in full bloom. I went through a gate and stood knee deep in the heather and autumn bracken to do this piece.

Flowers, Kenmore #2
Framed: 17¼ x 18 inches
Image: 9¼ x 10 inches
Acrylic
(SOLD)

I did this painting of a hanging planter in the small Highland village of Kenmore. For me, one of the unexpected discoveries of Scotland was the wealth of gardens and flowers everywhere. I don’t believe I have ever been so inspired by the colors and shapes of plant life as I was all throughout Scotland.

Bridge by Blair Castle
Framed: 35 x 25¾ inches
Image: 27 x 17¾ inches
Transparent Watercolor
NFS

Adjacent to Blair Castle is a majestic ancient forest, cascading stream and an old stone arched bridge. I was inspired by the light, shadows, and texture of the stone bridge against the variety of green vegetation patterns surrounding the arched pathway.

September Garden, Blair Atholl
Framed: 19¾ x 32½ inches
Image: 11¾ x 24½ inches
Acrylic
(SOLD)

I discovered this flower garden in the back yard of a cottage in Blair Atholl. I studied the random colors and patterns many times during the first week of my time in this village, and finally had the opportunity to paint this subject. I chose acrylic for my painting medium because of its intense color and the variety of ways in which it can be applied.

Window at Atholl Arms Hotel
Framed: 19¾ x 30½ inches
Image: 11¾ x 22½ inches
Acrylic
(SOLD)

Our hotel had flower boxes in every lower window. There were peonies and other flowers, yellow to orange, blue to violet. I wanted to paint these flowers from the moment we arrived. Finally, I set up in the parking lot to do this piece, using acrylic. The medium has brilliant color and can be applied in many diverse ways—thick to thin, opaque to transparent. An important part of this painting is the reflection of the flower patterns in the window.

Stream & Falls, Birks of Aberfeldy
Framed: 22½ x 22 inches
Image: 14½ x 14 inches
Acrylic
$1150

The Birks of Aberfeldy is a park managed by the Scottish National Trust. It is a wooded site, rather dark and damp, with cascading waterfalls. I set up on a sloping hillside in the forest and painted the rocks and water patterns, beginning with a transparent, neutral gray and built it up with opaque applications of acrylic.

Study, Late Evening, The Gyles, Pittenweem Harbor
Framed: 20 x 27 inches
Image: 12 x 19 inches
Watercolor & Gouache
(SOLD)

Pittenweem is a small fishing village located one hour northeast of Edinburgh in the Kingdom of Fife. Next to the small flat we rented on the harbor, I set about sketching, and did this study of the evening lights in some cottages called “The Gyles”, and the reflections in the harbor.

Late Evening, The Gyles, Pittenweem Harbor
Framed: 30 x 37 inches
Image: 22 x 29 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

On the first full day in Pittenweem, I did this study. I set up on the harbor and referred to my sketch and color study I had done the evening before. While painting for the day, I had conversations with some of the local fishermen and the harbor master. They were all extremely kind and complimentary, making it a joy to work there.

Harbor View, Crail
Framed: 36 x 26 inches
Image: 28 x 18 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

I spent the day painting in Crail, five miles from Pittenweem, with my friend and painter Lou Morton. We set up at the edge of the pier, not far from fishermen unloading catches of lobster. I was interested in the low tide, dry docked boats, the stone pier wall, and the red and ochre stone buildings in the upper part of the painting. People ambled down the street to the harbor from the village.

Rooftops & Harbor View, Pittenweem
Framed: 19¾ x 29 inches
Image: 11¾ x 21 inches
Acrylic
(SOLD)

Pittenweem is located on a hillside sloping down to the harbor. There are a number of walkways connecting the upper part of the village and shops to the lower part of the harbor. There are a few vantage points overlooking the marvelous views of the rooftops, harbor and fishing vessels, and the sea beyond. I set up in one of these spots and did this piece in acrylic.