Bow Fiddle Rock

This is 'Bow Fiddle Rock', 18.5 x 12", watercolour. Bow Fiddle Rock is located on the south side of the Moray Firth and is made of quartzite, or metamorphosed sandstone. The rock is very old. Now it provides a home for many seabirds, a few of which I have included in the painting. I really wanted this painting to have movement, so that it didn't look just like a photograph. The sky is therefore lively, as is the water, with a few splashes bouncing off the seaward facing part of the rocks. With a million cracks and fissures visible, I really wanted to avoid getting tied into detail so it is painted in a loose style, with a minimum of detail added. I think it really works, and the loose treatment of the rocks matches the similar treatment of the sky and water. I was really pleased with this one, which made the tricky climb down to the water's edge from the cliffs above worthwhile! At least I found it tricky!