Light

We all know that one of the most important things for any artist is light. Before anything else, I believe its the light that I see, then the color, sound, feel of a place, person, scene that makes me want to paint it. Then, once back in the studio - since I live in a place where pleinaire work is difficult to do, due to the weather - I need to recreate that light on the canvas. I'm saying all this, because since my last blog, I lost 2.5 weeks due to the dreaded flu, then of course, the dry, cold, sun that was present most of the time I was ill, disappeared. And I've been attempting to work for the past few days, even with daylight bulbs, on a painting from the Cote d'Azur. I need to feel the heat, hear the cicadas, as well as come up with the right light on the canvas. Difficult, when the daylight outside approximate's about 4pm all day..... I'm proceeding, slowly, with this painting; but, I've got to make sure that the street scene from Biot has Biot light, rather than rainy Scottish day light! I realized I wanted to talk about this light, this need to remember a quality of light I've not FELT in nearly a year when I sat and looked at the painting and screamed ,"aargh!" at my frustration about how slowly this complicated little painting is actually going! Part of me says, "ok already! I've watched enough NCIS/NCIS LA/HAWAII 5-O, read enough trashy novels for a lifetime! Its time to let it flow....!" Forget the fact that it IS flowing....just slower than I'd like. (Again, the puritan work ethic!) Next blog you read will include the finished piece. Among others - since this creative slow streak is also creating a backlog of sweet little paintings itching to come out!

GLENFINNAN OCTOBER, 12 x 16 in., oil on board, £1,250.00

Floating

Autumn Days on the Mhuidhe, 16 x 24 in., oil on canvas, £2,000.00 This post's title, FLOATING, is about the state of mind I've been in since finishing the painting above. Clarity is what I began with in November, and once the painting was done in early Dec., I found myself floating - like in a warm ocean, calm, waiting for the clarity to jell, and inspiration to find itself once again. I think I've been floating for about 6 weeks, not all that long, but long enough! While I'm not swimming hard yet, I'm taking a few exploratory breast strokes as I look around with interest and begin to engage again. Its not been easy, this floating.... the puritain work ethic is strong in me, and I always find it difficult to 'allow' these quiet times - so necessary in my creative life! Finishing this painting that was begun in October - before my trip to the USA - was part of the journey into floating.... I hope you enjoy it! Now for the next hurdle, to uncover the paints again, and begin to let out all the stored energy of the last 6 weeks. GAIL

Trail to Pienmeanach, 12 x 16 in., oil on board, £1,250.00