Mending Nets on a Rainy Day, Pittenweem
Framed: 28½ x 35 inches
Image: 20½ x 27 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

One morning I began my painting in misty and windy conditions. I started out at a point along the coast, outside of town, painting the sea, rocks, and a distant view of the village. However, I was quickly “blown away” and packed up my work. I relocated at a sheltered wall in the harbor, protected from the heavy wind. However, it began to rain. I set up an umbrella and worked throughout the day. The paper was so moist that the paint slowly crept down my paper. But I continued on, painting the boats and the fishermen mending nets. As the day continued fishermen unloaded their catch of lobster, crabs, and prawn. I was soaked and chilled to the bone when I quit that evening. The next morning I finished it.

Sweet Peas & Lavatera, Kelly Castle
Framed: 37 x 27¼ inches
Image: 29 x 19¼ inches
Acrylic
$2750

Kelly Castle is located about eight miles from Pittenweem. It is in the countryside of the Kingdom of Fife and is run by the National Trust of Scotland. I painted on a soft day with my friends Steve and Peggy Willman. I had toured the gardens earlier with Marta and had visualized painting this patch of sweetpeas and lavatera. I chose acrylic as my medium because of the vivid color and variation of patterns.

Sunflowers, Kelly Castle
Framed: 18¼ x 18¼ inches
Image: 10¼ x 10¼ inches
Acrylic
(SOLD)

Kelly Castle is located about eight miles from Pittenweem. It is in the countryside of the Kingdom of Fife and is run by the National Trust of Scotland. I painted on a soft day with my friends Steve and Peggy Willman. I had toured the gardens earlier with Marta and had visualized painting these sunflowers. I started this work by toning the paper with transparent yellow acrylic. I then carried on with this square format in translucent and opaque applications of the same medium.

Rock, Stone & Sand, Twice Summers, Pittenweem
Framed: 28½ x 22 inches
Image: 20½ x 14 inches
Transparent Watercolor
$1400

Steve Willman and I began early one day at low tide in an area called “Two Summers” because of the brilliant weather and lack of wind in this south-facing part of the shore. I chose to focus on the sea and sand, and rocks along the sea wall. I needed to work fairly quickly to capture the composition before the tide shifted.

View from Twice Summers, Pittenweem
Framed: 27½ x 35½ inches
Image: 19½ x 27½ inches
Watercolor & Gouache
(SOLD)

On a hike I had taken a few days earlier from St. Monans to Pittenweem on the coastal path, I came across this view and did a sketch. It was a partly cloudy afternoon at high tide. The water seemed purple blue, and the lighthouse, seagulls, and central cottage gleamed warm white. I liked the still reflections creating vertical patterns that broke up the composition of the piece.

Early Morning Light, Pittenweem Harbor
Framed: 25 x 35½ inches
Image: 18 x 27½ inches
Watercolor & Gouache
(SOLD)

One brilliant still morning the light gleamed yellow-white off the ocean and harbor, and the back-lit Gyle Cottages were enveloped in light. I worked quickly to get the positioning and mood of this light and stayed with it, even as the sun rotated. Yellow and orange against the blue and violet was the theme of the day.

Lobster Pots & Blue Boat, Pittenweem Harbor
Framed: 35½ x 25½ inches
Image: 27½ x 17½ inches
Watercolor & Gouache
(SOLD)

I had noticed this subject and waited for a sunny day to claim it. I was interested in the white stucco wall shapes against the blue of the sky and boat, and the rhythm of the lobster pots. The cobblestone patterns and tiles repeat these shapes. While I worked an older man would come and go from his place on the harbor.

The Prophet, Abbaye de Villers
(Monastery - Villens, Belgium)
Framed: 37 x 27 inches
Image: 29 x 19 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

Marta and I flew to Belgium for one week, where I taught a workshop to European painters. For two days before the class we were free to explore. We spent Saturday viewing a Belgian paint mill, having a long elaborate lunch, and visiting a Belgian estate and garden. On Sunday I spent the day painting in an ancient monastery ruin. I had never painted a subject like this and I wanted to capture the texture and age, the immensity of it, and its spiritual presence. I was lost in it all day.

Blue Boats, Pittenweem Harbor
Framed: 26 x 33 inches
Image: 18 x 25 inches
Transparent Watercolor
(SOLD)

When we returned from Belgium to Edinburgh , we spent one more day at Pittenweem. I did this loose composition of some boats in the harbor. The yellow and orange floats were important notes in this composition. I did this work on a quiet Sunday, with some fishermen working nearby.

Beach View by Arisaig #1
Framed: 17¼ x 27 inches
Image: 9¼ x 19 inches
Acrylic
$1250

We stayed in a self catering cottage by a beach near Arisaig. The first day was spectacular, and I painted on this beach with views of Eigg, Rum, and the Isle of Skye . I worked in acrylic to capture the soft sky and the mountain views of the islands and the coast of the Atlantic . This is part of the beach that was used in the film “Local Hero” with Burt Lancaster.

Beach View by Arisaig #2
Framed: 14½ x 27 inches
Image: 6½ x 19 inches
Acrylic
$950

We stayed in a self catering cottage by a beach near Arisaig. The first day was spectacular, and I painted on this beach with views of Eigg, Rum, and the Isle of Skye . I worked in acrylic to capture the soft sky and the mountain views of the islands and the coast of the Atlantic . This is part of the beach that was used in the film “Local Hero” with Burt Lancaster.

Cottages, Field Patterns & Sea View near Arisaig
Framed: 27¼ x 35½ inches
Image: 20¼ x 27½ inches
Transparent Watercolor
$2450
(SOLD)

I did this piece on a cold, blustery day among the bracken and heather on a hillside overlooking the sea. I was inspired by the shape of the cottage at the lower left, the slight diagonal field patterns countering the diagonals of the sky, and the water patterns against the rocky coast. I was chilled to the bone by 1:00 p.m. and had soup, tea, and a scone at the local village. I returned that afternoon to carry the painting further.