Spring time paintings

Hello Girls,

Looking out of my window this afternoon it is good to see that the sun is shining and that all of the daffodils have finally flowered.  Spring is finally here!

It is a year since our opening night of the 'Student's art exhibition' at Elgin Library, how the time has flown by! Here is a photo of me wishing you all a Happy Spring! From the open evening of our exhibition.

I have today for you all a nice selection of some of your paintings painted at home.  I look forward over the weeks of us being safe at home to see more of your lovely works. Please email me or send in a facebook message your works in progress or finished works. Let us stay in touch during our time away from class.

I am sorry that this blog doesn't allow you to leave a comment. You need to have your own blog I think or be able to sign into the blog. This is all the information I have for now. If any of you who are computer literate have any other information regarding this matter do let me know. I had thought of starting a class facebook page but I think the same rule applies in that you also need to be a facebook user in order to make comments etc.

For now let us enjoy seeing some of your work! Keep busy painting girls and have a great week! If you click on the image you should be able to see the image a bit larger.

 Avril's lovely pastel portrait.

 Ann's pretty pastel seascape.

Carole using iridescent inks for her lovely magnolia painting.

Elaine has a big project being undertaken here of birds by St Kilda. Fine work!

Anne Murray's pretty watercolour painting on canvas of Monet's Trees.

Margaret has been very busy with the challenge of a Thomas Kinkade project, she has produced a lovely painting and has framed it too!

Painting at home

Hello Girls,

Great to hear many of you are working at your paintings at home!  Many thanks to you who have sent me your latest paintings.  I will over the next couple of weeks post more of your work here for you all to see!

Many of you have been working on Monet's trees on the banks of the River Epte.  Some of you will remember that Susan painted this scene a little while ago.  While she has been on her trip to see her family in Australia many of you have taken on the challenge of painting this scene on a large canvas.
She is now home safely and sends you her very best wishes.

I will post the original so that everyone of you can have a go at painting this fine scene.

Here is the original. If you click on the image you should be able to get a bigger size of image.

Here is Susan's lovely painting framed up in her home.

Carole has been busy painting her lovely version of the Monet painting. On a large canvas.

Alison MacDonald's pretty version of the Monet painting. Done on a large canvas.

We also have some other paintings done at home for you to see!

Margaret's lovely pastel painting of boats on the shore.

Ann's fine beach scene makes us all wish we were here!

Susan's recent work in progress of a distillery.

Alison Macdonald's sensitive drawing of one of her grandchildren.

The family dogs! beautifully captured by Carole.

I will be posting more of your paintings next week, keep them coming in!

Greetings to you all!

Hello Girls,

I hope you are keeping well and safe at home during these uncertain times.  I have heard from a few of you that you are indeed keeping very busy painting and gardening!  We are so fortunate to live so close to nature and are able to walk either by the sea, parks or countryside close to our home.

I am going to post some of your works here on our class blog during our time away from class!  I thought it would be nice to see what some of you are painting at home!  You can either send me your images of your works in progress, or finished to my email or to my friend's facebook in a personal message.
Always lovely to see your drawings and paintings!

I am starting off this week with a selection of some of your past works.  I hope you enjoy viewing them and there will be more to come!

I will let you know via the email or my friend's facebook pm when I have posted.

I look forward to hearing from you all and your painting news!

 Yvonne's mountain scene showing a very expressive style of adding texture and a limited palette to create a cold atmosphere.

 Jane's trees have a lovely contemporary feel to them, very nice tapering branches and good use of colour.

 Ena's impressionist painting from Monet shows us her delicate use of her brush to create a fine scene of texture and movement. The colours of the sea are very nice.

Avril's fine detailed drawing and pastel work is very confident, portraying the man Vincent with sensitivity. 

work in progress reflections

My work in progress on the 'river scene'. It is mid winter and the values of the sky and river are very close.  The day is still, no breeze to disturb the reflections in the water.

I will be tidying up the tree, finishing the distant trees. Giving more definition to the path along the river. Perhaps some hills if all goes well!

The canvas board is 16 x 20 inches and the painting is in oils.

January exercises

Some of the class work from the exercise set on a winter landscape at Tuesday afternoon's art class. Looking at how tonal values improve the landscape giving it shape.  Each has to decide where is the lightest and darkest area of their painting.

 Sandra's watercolour has good
light and dark areas. The work also has a nice atmosphere 
through good use of colour and tonal values.

 Alison's delicate work is nicely
composed, good feeling of distance and drawn
and painted well. 

 Pat's painting work in progress, already it has the 
appearance of a softly painted atmospheric
work. 

 Another work in progress shows
Susan's delicate watercolour work.
She has chosen to use different
colours and the result is very
attractive and gives the viewer a 
feeling that winter is here!

 Jean's work has a good understanding
of tonal values and the dark sky gives
the work a feeling of atmosphere.

 Alison Macdonald has captured
the cold wintery feeling of ice and extreme
weather conditions. Very nice attention
to the foreground.

 Carol presents us with a very cold
wintery scene full of atmosphere
made special with her beautiful
sky.

Geraldine learns how to use her
watercolours in a confident way. 
Nice loose work and use of colour.

Sad News

Dear Girls,

I am so sorry to bring you sad news today.  I received a phone call this morning from Anita to say that Gill who had recently been admitted to hospital has passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Gill joined the class from the very first day it started! and has during the many years shown her dedicated love of painting by creating many beautiful paintings.  I know she has been a great source of inspiration to you all.  She will be so sadly missed, yet her great spirit and love of painting will always remain with us.

For those who wish to attend Gill's funeral will be held at Watsons Elgin at 11 am. And then back to the Lhanbryde Community Centre afterwards for refreshments.

Winter trees and Monet

Monet's frosty cold winter landscape.

My sketch of the River Dee

Lilac tree in my garden, tapering and branches coming forwards and leaning away.

Norwegian maple at the end of the forest near my home.

Watercolour painting of the maple.

I used coloured pencils for this tree in the grounds of Leith Hall Castle.

I used oil paints on linen canvas to create atmosphere and texture on the main tree bark. 


Introducing winter trees. My work on trees here (apart from Monet!) shows how interesting it can be to explore the structure of a tree. By understanding how to taper trunks and branches, to give character to trees by focusing on certain parts of them and to use different mediums to express their texture and beauty.