Sometimes detail is not required. In fact, sometimes detail would undermine a painting. This is 'Randolph's Leap', watercolour, 35 x 25 cm. It is at a point where the River Findhorn is at its narrowest, and the rock formations get quite close together. Its name comes from a chase, where one group of men were chasing another during Scotland's tribal past. The man knew that if he didn't get across he would be killed by his pursuers. So, with little to lose, he leapt, and got away. Perhaps the most surprising element of all this was that the man's name that made the leap was not called Randolph. In fact, Randolph was doing the chasing, and this is just another example of how history is written by the victors!
In any case, it's a beautiful area and a wonderful spot to spend the day. Located in Moray, in northern Scotland, it's not a busy spot, despite its beauty. When I returned there to paint recently, I spent most of the day there with my wife and dogs who played in the water. In all that time we only saw a couple of families: the children playing on the rocks came as an idea from one of them. It's a spot which unfortunately would put off many painters - the scene is very complex, with hundreds of trees, lots of scrub and many, many rocks. But this is where watercolour comes into its own! By allowing the sunlight to simplify the undergrowth into a glowing haze of leaves, the scene has been simplified. Hopefully, the detail which might have been seen on the rock formations has been pleasantly replaced by another sunlit glow. It was an exercise in simplification, but also one in letting the light and atmosphere replace anything which might have detracted from the simple, luminous appearance. I hope you like it!
1 Comment
23/10/2018 12:13:06 pm
I am very happy and finding the more surprising and elements for the more views for essential couple of services with us. The undergrowth and prepares the wonderful thoughts and detached the tips.
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AuthorA professional artist living and working in the beautiful north of Scotland. My work is realistic and quite traditional, though strongly interpretational in nature. My inspiration is the beauty of Nature, and the wonderful colours and moods she shows everywhere. Archives
April 2022
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