Welcome to Painting from Home

Greetings Girls and I hope you are all keeping well and are busy painting and tending your gardens.  Here is Wallace Bear! Our traveling companion when driving around the highlands a few years ago. I remember this day so well, we were up along the coast not far from Gruinard Bay. A fine day for being out and about, just look at that lovely blue sea and golden sand!

Once again many thanks for your beautiful paintings from home. Good to hear from you! It looks like by towards the end of next week Lock down will be less restrictive and we may be able to go to garden centres and play golf!! Do take care everyone and remember your social distancing!



Now for some paintings! Click on the images to see them at a large size.

Angela has been very busy painting indoors, the walls of her guest house! So no time for her own artwork, but she is very happy to share this beautiful painting of a bird she did at class.  She used fiber pens and the effect really is very realistic!

Carole's beautiful painting of her dog Poppy was from a photo. Really well painted and I must say the blue towel really does suit Poppy so well! I like the simple background that sets off the main colours of the dog and the towel so nicely.

Alison Macdonald has been inspired by a photo of her family holiday in Harris.  Here is a fine beach view. The top painting has been created using watercolours. Very nice use of strong colours and contrasts. While the colours are strong they are very natural looking.  Alison then decided to try the scene again using coloured pencils, natural colours again and that lovely blue sky sets off the drawing perfectly. It really is so interesting to see these lovely works side by side. I do like them both very much and the drawing is also very nicely done. Those could be an early evening and morning take on the scene! Well done!

This fine Spring weather has Susan busy in her garden along with her new friend, the little wild rabbit that lives near her wood pile. The tame little rabbit happily eats the grass while Susan gardens, hope the rabbit doesn't take a liking for the flowers once they come up!!
When taking a wee break from the garden Susan carries on with her new project two new Monet's! Using acrylics on canvas.  I just love the colours in these beautiful paintings. Well done!

Here is Vera's delightful Deeside croft beautifully painted in watercolours on paper.  Very nicely done and those trees are so well painted. 

Here we are again at sea! with Margaret's lovely painting of a lighthouse. Bridges and lighthouses are a favourite painting subject for her.  This painting captures the joy of standing by the beach, the sea breeze, blue sky and sea, while boats and birds float by. The lighthouse is really nicely painted too. Well done!

Yvonne's serene and beautiful watercolour painting of a Lewis landscape.  I feel very peaceful when viewing this scene.  Love the gentle watercolour wash of sky and the delicate hills in the distance. 

During Sandra's walk around Gordon Castle she came upon this bonny gal!  This is Sandra's third attempt at using pastel pencils, I think you will all agree she has done a grand job indeed. Lovely work!

Avril's beautiful delicate flower painting using pastel paintings on tinted paper.  The petals are very realistic and so fragile looking. Well done Avril.

Some new paintings from home

Greetings girls, here I am on my holidays! two years ago exploring the beautiful coastline of Sutherland.  Further along this path we came to the remains of an old gathering of crofts that were lived in by the folk left behind during the clearances. The Duke of Sutherland had a few of his workers tending the sheep here in this barren place on a cliff edge. The winds so raw and fierce the mothers were said to have to tie their bairns to the rocks to stop them blowing away! There is a memorial that gives the names of all those who once lived there. As I remember one of the children made good and got educated and returned with money for the stone for the memorial. 

I have a very nice selection of paintings from those of you painting from home. Thank you again for those who have emailed me to say how much they are enjoying seeing everyone's beautiful paintings from home. 

For those of you feeling inspired to paint in watercolours on a canvas so make sure that the canvas is primed ready to accept the watercolours. Some brands do state on the canvas that they are suitable for watercolours. But if you only have a regular canvas you can use two coats of gesso. Or you can use a watercolour ground especially for the job. Once you have finished your watercolour on canvas you will need to seal it, as the watercolour will remain sensitive to water. You seal it with a spray varnish which will make the painting waterproof. Make sure the spray is very finely sprayed.

Vera created her beautiful flower painting using mixed media.  The use of colour and free expression is really nice in her painting. 

Sandra has used acrylics on a square canvas. Inspired by the beautiful fruit blossom in her garden. She has used a little iridescent medium on the bumble bee's wings. Her bee looks very life like! well done! Her second painting is nicely done and captures the beauty of Spring time.

Alison Murray has been away in her garden painting in watercolours the apple blossom on her trees by the wall in her garden. You can see a detail from her painting in the second image. The old mill stone comes from her husband's family.  Alison has really captured the joy of Spring! Lovely painting.

When Susan was in Australia visiting her family they went to a beautiful location called the 'Getaway Cafe'. Where they serve wonderful cakes while you can sit and view the palms and the water lilies which Susan plans on painting next. She has focused on a palm and her beautiful painting is well suited to a round canvas! Lovely work! I am sure a lot of you will now be on the look out for a round canvas!

Margaret's fine Scottish landscape is painted on a long canvas.  The water reflections are beautiful and I think you would agree this looks a fine place to be!

Margaret loves the challenge of painting bridges, she has done a few over the years. I remember one she was working on at class that had snow! Her pretty painting is done in watercolours. Her choice of frame sets off the painting perfectly!

'Thoughts of home'! Carole has painted a lovely cottage from her hometown. Inspired possibly by the 19th century art Henry William Carter.  I had a search for this artist on the internet but couldn't find a biography on this artist. He does paint some wonderful rabbits though! There is a nice feeling of distance in this painting, very good work on the cottage, sky and trees, well done!

Finishing with one of Elaine's bird paintings in acrylics. Elaine spends many hours and days slowly developing her paintings in fine detail. Now that the weather has changed bringing her in from the garden we may soon see the finished painting of the birds by St Kilda that we saw at the beginning of our painting from home blog. 

Wishing you a peaceful week painting from home. Best wishes Caroline

More paintings from home

Hello again girls, here we are again and another week has flown by! I was pleased to hear how you are getting on with your paintings and that the fine weather has a couple of you painting outside! I look forward to seeing your lovely works soon. Please keep them coming as I know many of you are feeling it is a good goal to work towards having your works posted here to share with your fellow students.

Here I am in Ullapool! You can just see the fine snowy mountain in the distance. I love this place so much, lots to see and indeed paint!

Margaret has a great love of painting lighthouses and here she has worked from two of Thomas Kincade's. She has given each her individual style and her skies are beautiful!

Jackie loves flowers and you can see this come through in her delicate watercolour flower painting. Fine work!

Jean's poppies in watercolours are always a joy to behold!

A stunning beach view painting of Bamburgh castle by Yvonne completed during her time painting from home.

Alison Macdonald's Jolomo inspired painting. Lovely how she has produced a delicate romantic impression of this scene.

Strong work in Ann's magical landscape painting full of colour and energy!

During the lock down Ann has been painting in her summer house in the garden. She was inspired by two ornaments on the table and created a painting from the idea. You can see a wee person sitting under the blossom tree. Well done!

Missy painted on a Birthday card for Carole's father, he has been missing seeing her during the lock down, fine work Carole!

Lovely fresh work from Carole who has undertaken an exercise from the SAA magazine, well done!
Important to try new things and to keep practicing. 

Many of you will remember Jane's lovely painting from the student art exhibition at the library last year. Those blues are stunning. Lovely wee girl and dog.

Sunny days painting at home

Greetings Girls,

Thank you for sending me your beautiful paintings and for your emails. Good to hear you are all enjoying seeing a selection of your paintings from home. 

Hello from me to you from a day trip up to Ullapool, we were fortunate with the weather that day.  One of my favourite locations and a few years ago I painted this beautiful location during the late autumn. This is by Loch Glascarnoch. A happy memory!

Pictures of Rainbows have been appearing in the windows of homes across the country as people try to stay positive during the lock down. Children and adults have been busy painting rainbows as a symbol of hope. Carole's lovely rainbow can be seen from her home and is indeed an uplifting and pretty painting to those who pass by.

Alison MacDonald's pretty rainbow painting with a sheep. Her grandchildren are going to love this painting that I believe she had them in her mind when she painted her fun scene. I love the line of sheep in the distance.  

Alison Murray's beautiful painting is titled 'Hope'. And portrays a time in the not too distant future when family members can be together again, dancing as the sun sets.

A tranquil scene, Susan's Spring garden looks out to the peaceful rural countryside. 

Watercolour, Narcisi by Sandra from her garden.  Light flows in from the window setting off this lovely joyful painting. Acrylic highlights have been added to the watercolours.

Shoes waiting to be worn out again. Pastel by Avril. Very nice work.

Sheep in a meadow. A lovely scene for the Spring. By Carole.

Kitchen window in Tolox Spain, from a photo. Texture on the white wall was created using rough, gritty watercolour medium.  The colours work so beautifully together! By Sandra.

Geraldine's fine work of Monet's trees. Nice use of colour.

Longmorn loch with the wee boathouse is set in this beautiful scene. Beautifully painted by Susan.

Alison Murray's lovely painting of Monet's trees. You get such a good sense of distance when gazing on this sun filled scene.

This was an early stage of Margaret's flower painting that she was getting ready for the student art exhibition last year at the library.  The greens and pinky red work so perfectly together. 

Spring time painting at home

Greetings Girls,

Another week has passed and this week we are greeted by sunshine and blue skies each morning.
The garden has more Spring flowers blooming and our large Cherry Tree is getting ready to display her pink blossom soon. A fine tree but always so late to flower.  Usually once the tree is looking splendid we then have a few days of very windy weather which soon has the petals flying everywhere!

I was thinking about Brodie Castle and how at this time of the year the daffodils there are so beautiful there.  I am sure many of you are missing being able to go out and visit your family and favourite walks.  I thought you would like to see a photo of me sending you a greeting from the castle, from one of my walks there during a past April.   Let us hope we shall soon be able to enjoy our days of venturing out once again.

This week we have a fine selection of works from you painting and drawing from home. Some of you are unable to take part due to not being able to down load photos onto the computer. But I will in the future hopefully be able to post some of your past works from the class here. So everyone can enjoy viewing them. Please do continue to send me photos of your paintings from home!
If you click on the image you should be able to see them at a large size.

Margaret's watercolour cottage by the sea. The soft blue behind the house sets off the building and surroundings so nicely.

Carole's wee croft is full of texture, colour and life! The reds catch the eye in the foreground while the lovely blue sea takes the eye into the distance.

Avril has an interesting project here those colourful houses and detail will keep her occupied. Avril works well using pastel pencils and has a love of detail in her work. Looking forward to seeing the next stage, it is looking lovely!

Carole was very inspired by Avril and Alison Macdonald's fine portrait work shown here last week. She decided to take on the challenge of painting her lovely Grand daughter Lily. Beautifully painted.

Ann's sky is beautiful. Evening paintings are hard to capture, she has done very well and the birds in the sky are a lovely touch to the scene.

Margaret's lovely Scottish landscape will have us all wishing we were there!