Back from Scotland...

After the hot weather in Tuscany I was rather looking forward to a more moderate climate in the Scottish Highlands. What a surprise when I arrived at Inverness airport to find the area engulfed in a heat wave! But it soon cooled off to a manageable temperature.

I am always very excited to come back to the Highlands. The dramatic mountain scape just across the water from Brynaport and the rocky shorelines in the distance call out to be painted the moment you arrive. So on the first day it's good to stay closer to home and get going with painting the stunning views from the house and garden. We moved a little further down the road  to Achintraid  village the next day, where Loch Kishorn opens up a great view, surrounded by  interesting buildings from rusty red sheds to whitewashed cottages and usually a boat or so just in the right place.

One of our  painting excursions to the small fishing village of Shildaig, where we normally paint the village cottages along the seashore or the bay with fishing boats bopping on the water, disclosed another  painting subject: a bench on a strip of juicy green grass, overlooking the expanse of water and island opposite. Initially we were attracted to the little café nearby for those cappuccino breaks, and unexpectedly found the bench made a great foreground motive. So for a change we did not sit on it with our lunch picnic, since we were too busy painting it. Some of us had a delicious sea food lunch instead in the local pub and still did a day’s good work.

During our stay we explored the way 'Atmosphere' can be captured in painting. Watercolour lends itself particularly well to expressing  gentle tones in light effects and their reflections on water. Naturally the 'Wet Into Wet' technique came in very handy. After a few attempts everybody was able to lay down those exiting washes, watch the colours explode and doing all the work for you; well almost. A little bit of gentle teasing to assist the flow of paints was successfully administered, followed by some more controlled and decisive brush strokes to bring it all together. The mountain tops were a bit reluctant to show at times. We managed to capture them nevertheless, especially since they have to be painted quite sketchily and lightly to give them the necessary distance, so essential in landscape painting.

Near the end of our wonderful time painting together, I had to rush off  prematurely to my next course in Devon and missed out the last evenings feast and last night's show. But not before a little private view of all the paintings produced during the week. It was an impressive sight and I was sad not too be able to celebrate with everybody afterwards. However, my train journey home on the overnight sleeper train from Inverness to London made somewhat up for it. Wonderful sights from my little cabin, great service and a good night’s sleep to the rhythm of the train. I arrived rested and fresh, ready to repack for my trip to Devon.

With thanks to all at Brynaport and  everybody on the course for making it such a memorable week, Bettina