Late April Challenge plus May!

[PaintBoss]

Thank you Joy. I appreciate that.
I’ve been to Scotland and we did a flying trip all around. We didn’t really stay in one place, we saw a lot. I enjoyed the breathtaking beauty, the changing landscape. Driving up from Prestwick airport along the West Coast was lovely-the vegetation was very lush and I did not expect it. It must be from the warm currents. There were beautiful, empty beaches. We stumbled onto this little Kirk north of Glascow-that was the most amazing place we went to. It’s just really very, very cool. It has a whole mishmash of styles and it captured my imagination. It’s in a beautiful location. On Loch Awe. The day we were there we could just wander in and put a little donation and we got a little pamphlet describing it’s history. It’s a favourite with people. And there’s something to see in every little nook and cranny. There were small spiral stairs to nowhere. It was just a wonder. When I was there, the gardens were lush and lovely. It is one hour and 43 minutes away from Glasgow and worth it if you can get there. The link here also shows Kilchurn castle which we also went to on our visit. I hope you have a lovely trip. We want pictures! Lots of reference photos, please!
Here we are- blurry but there! August 1989.

St. Conan’s Kirk: A Captivating Architectural Marvel on the Shore of Loch Awe

Loch Awe is Scotland’s third largest freshwater loch, stretching for 22 marvellous miles through the wild and wonderful Highland landscape. It’s a sight to behold as you travel along its curving sh…

ourcrossings.com

There are many videos on the Kirk that you can check on YouTube. I like this one because he really understood and expressed what I felt. Nothing can capture the entirety of this building though -I’m always dissatisfied with every video. Lol

Here are the brushes:
They are Silver Ruby Satin extra small and medium. Paid a little bit more for these for the point and because of the bristles that can hold more water.
Off Amazon.

I haven’t tried them yet. Hopefully tomorrow. Here’s what I’ve got so far. Work in progress.I still have things to do on this piece. To change, to clean up and define. Gouache. Very fun using this medium, which is so different-how you can build up light over dark! I really encourage people to try this medium. It’s easier than watercolor. More forgiving and a lot of fun. Remember paints dry a little darker.

 

[Jo Castillo]

Joy, your flower is gorgeous.

PaintBoss yours is as well. Love the dark background.

 

[Joy]

Jo, thank you!

Christine, those brushes look very nice. Thanks for the Glasgow info - we likely will just explore the city, as we are only there for the day. In the eighties, I did a whirlwind student European tour after my undergrad education. Your painting looks good. I like the different shapes and orientation of the flowers for interest. If I tried gouache, I would keep adding to it until it was a relief work!

 

[TK H-H]

Oh, it’s all beautiful around the gorge and all around the area-the rivers and the valleys and the rocks and trees. Beautiful, small village. I have some history there.
It has created an art centre and yearly art festival there and a lot of artists are there and they do a big studio tour. Very diverse very highly skilled artists live there. It’s a wonderful little town. It’s beautiful. But the best artist at least for landscape and he’s a lovely guy, (I’ve been to his home and studio.You can get on his mailing list for classes), is Barry McCarthy. He had a big show around 2008. I walked in and it was quiet this morning I went in. His landscapes were huge. They were stunningly gorgeous. And yet even with the best photographs, you can’t see what I saw. They sparkled. Not in some tacky way. I can’t even say that he used any type of special paint that sparkles. But they were just gorgeous.. They were breathtaking. If I had the money I would’ve bought one. I never had the confidence and then later the health to get involved in that community which I lived close to. I should have. He definitely was very welcoming to me and I would love to have taken some of his classes. Now I wish I had.

Barry McCarthy

mccarthyart.ca

Apologies, late reply.

I took a look at his website. Lovely paintings. The Gorge looks really pretty. I hope I can visit one day. His painting "Monet's Window" really caught my eye too. The plants in the center and foreground look like a photograph. Really well done!
I miss that little town/village. I haven't been in quite some time... but I remember feeling so cozy there. Something really charming about Elora.

 

[Donna T]

Joy, my jaw dropped when I saw your flowers! Beautiful work and thanks for reminding me that sometimes a crop is the way to go. I like how your colors merge so well between the warm yellow-oranges near the center to the cooler blues of the shaded parts: no mud to be seen.

Christine, you handle gouache so well! Your flowers are gorgeous and the leaves are beautifully done too! Your new brushes have amazing points and I hope they behave well for you.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thank you everyone. Donna that’s the work without the new brushes. And it’s the reason I bought some more. So let’s see what I can come up with as soon as I feel well enough to complete this painting. There’s lots of things to be fixed on it but you know what that’s a pretty strong start if you don’t mind me saying. I gotta recommend the dark background. It’s really cool being able to build light on top of dark like that.
And you’re so right that Joy can make that transition without making mud. She does not give herself enough credit!
TK, Elora is a lovely spot. My dad loved it so much. He ended up moving there.

 

[Ellen Easton]

Thank you Donna. Yes, I’m still having lots of dizziness, but hopefully I can still work away at times. They’re playing a lot with my steroid and I’ve been on it for years so we’re having interesting times! Lol It’s never boring, however I would prefer excitement in a different way! Lol.
That is my dog Finn. Can you believe that? His bed head is worse than mine! Lol His fur never stops growing-it would grow down to the floor! I’m pretty sure he has Maltese in him. his parents are a miniature poodle and a Pomeranian. The poodle makes him extremely calm, funnily enough. He looks really cute at different stages of length of fur. When it gets really long he runs and it’s literally flowing behind him like waves. He reminds me of Pamela Anderson running down the beach or Farrah Fawcett.
He’s a good little guy. very gentle and a real gentleman. He’s been my shadow with me lately. He follows me everywhere. And I mean everywhere. I think knows something’s up. They always know with their people.
But you know, I’m very excited. It’s gonna be spring soon with all the flowers. They cheer me up. I hope they cheer up others too.
I hope you are doing well and will join us and do some painting!

Oh yes, our little Secret Service Dr. Dog attendants always know, don't they? You too with the ster

 

[PaintBoss]

I think your post got cut off there, Ellen.
Well, I have hardly been able to touch my paintings, but I did get working away a little bit yesterday and today, very slowly working up the leaves. But there’s a lot of tidying up to do around them later. Trying different brushes. Don’t have a favourite yet. I think I need to watch some of those videos where people make those puffy flowers and the leaves with a very loaded brush and very simple brush strokes. But I’ll show you what I’ve got so far as I’ve made some edits.