In progress, mixed media on 30×30 inch wood panel

Almost finished with the largest painting (above, 30×30 inches) of the Iona Series, for the up-coming Limetree Gallery exhibitions. All details below …

‘Pisces Moon, Isle of Iona. Mixed media on 10×10″ wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

‘Sea Mist, October, Isle of Iona. Mixed media on 10×10 ” wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

‘Ochre Rocks, North Beach, Isle of Iona. Mixed media on 10×10″ wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

‘Marram Grass, North Beach in October. Isle of Iona’. Mixed media on 10×10″ wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

Ifyou’re in Edinburgh this November, drop in to see the Edinburgh Art Fair, where the Limetree Gallery will be exhibiting all five paintings at the top of this post, as part of a group show.

The Edinburgh Art Fair runs from the 23rd to 25th November, all details here ..

http://www.artedinburgh.com/home

On November 29th, The Limetree Gallery, Bristol, launch their Winter Exhibition, which will also include some of my Iona series as part of a group show.

If you’re interested in any of these paintings (above) you can contact the Limetree Gallery through their website, on this link ..

http://www.limetreegallery.com

‘Sea Mist, Isle of Iona. Mixed media on 10×10 ” wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

In progress, mixed media 30×30 inches

A somewhat cloudy and blustery day today, very productive though – two paintings sent off to the Resipole Gallery, the rest of the smaller paintings nearly finished, and the biggest one on its way.

The Resipole exhibition starts on the 9th November, so if you are interested in either of these two works below, you can contact the gallery through their website – http://www.resipolestudios.co.uk

‘Cerulean Sea, October, Isle of Iona’. Mixed media on 10×10″ wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

‘October Tide, Isle of Iona. Mixed media on 10×10 ” wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

A nice sunset this evening, here’s a Highland machine and it’s offspring in the gloaming. (My alternative to Highland Cattle) ..

‘Pisces Moon. Isle of Iona, October’. Mixed media on 10×10″ wood panel. Rose Strang 2018

Another bright and sunny day, though freezing and windy.

It made me work with extra energy in the studio, just to keep warm. Here they are so far, some in progress ..

I’m now happy with ‘Pisces Moon’ (at the top of this post) which has more depth, and something of the weird opalescent colours and mood I saw that evening last week.

I’d heard the full moon was in Pisces and forgot about it. Then about 5:45 after feeling quite agitated I decided to get on my boots and coat and despite the blustery rain, walk down to the north beach, which is just a few minutes walk away from the hostel.

I was immediately soothed and entranced by the way early evening light played on the sea, which seemed to be in a slow motion tumult, lit by diffused, misty pale greens and lavender.

Then I remembered that the moon entered the constellation of Pisces at precisely 5:45, and I suppose this fed in to my wish to create a painting that captures all of that. I always fall short of what I want to achieve, and usually the paintings that really work are those I’m not so invested in, it makes me more free with paint and brushwork – some people prefer a photo-realistic look, I don’t, but anyway, at least I’ve captured a bit of the mood and colour of that evening.

It’s interesting to experience the tides of people here at the hostel too, depending on mood it’s enjoyable, or not!

Being a fairly introverted person at times, I was concerned I’d feel as though I was stuck in the ‘Big Brother’ house with nowhere to run! Not so, thankfully. I’m very happy to have met some folks here..

Such as Mary McCormick, who’s staying for the duration of my time here. Mary’s nomadic life is admirable, I empathise with her wish to travel and experience new places, since I too get restless within a week of being back home, but I know it’s also a challenge to not have the luxury of a permanent base to return to every so often to unwind and do your own thing. Maybe that’s why Mary’s easy to be around, grounded and friendly while quite self contained in a good way.

After painting today, I bumped into Mary at St Columba hotel and we visited St Oran’s. Chapel ( the oldest intact building on the island, 11th cent.) I love those cloud-like shapes in the wall plaster.

Also, I really enjoyed meeting fellow travellers Marcus and Mary. Here they are (below) on the hostel communal sofa. Excellent people – Marcus very warm and humorous, Mary also fun and convivial, with the added bonus of a beautiful singing voice – they’re  missed!

On Halloween, or Samhain, the hostel staff plan a get together around the stove in the art studio/byre. I look forward to that.

I’m making more progress on the new series, and will send two of these paintings to the Resipole Gallery by Tuesday, then hopefully the rest will be finished for the Limetree Gallery by the 3rd Nov.

It was a beautiful day today – calm, bright and still. Everything looks astonishingly crisp with lavender shadows.

More work on the October Iona series, these are for the Resipole Gallery in Acharacle on the west coast of Scotland, and the Limetree Gallery in Bristol.

This is my fourth day on Iona and I’m settling in to something resembling a routine. I’m exploring ways to capture the chaotic energy of October – the feeling that everything is in tumult and change, it’s unsettling or refreshing depending on mood.

I find it’s characterised best in paint by loose brushwork, waves, clouds and birds to suggest wind direction and energy.

So although I’d imagined painting wintry monochrome skies I’m now focussed on the lines and shapes of rocks and waves.

It was a beautiful day today – biting cold north wind and ever-changing light, very bright, with a final blast of icy hail.

Here’s a fragment of writing by Adomnan (monk who lived on Iona in the 7th century) …

‘Calm’

‘Stop bailing now!’

He commanded

In a storm.

‘Be still and pray.’

The holy man

Stood in the prow,

Raising his hands,

And as they began

To understand,

So, slowly,

The storm

Passed away.