Tag Archives: Applecross

'Through Kintail'. Oil on 14x11" wood. Rose Strang 2020

A Subtle Touch

Leave a reply

'Ardban. Shimmering Sea'. Oil on 14x11" wood. Rose Strang 2020

‘Ardban. Shimmering Sea’. Oil on 14×11″ wood. Rose Strang 2020

My latest paintings series of Ardban and Kintail are now on exhibition at the Limetree Gallery, Bristol. The exhibition launches from the 31st of October but you can reserve paintings now or make enquiries at the gallery on the link below which shows the full catalogue of works by myself, Anna King and Mhairi McGregor…

A Subtle Touch – Exhibition at the Limetree Gallery, Bristol

The series follows a journey through the Highland Glen of Kintail, then the peace and tranquility of Ardban in Applecross. All the works are oil on wood and sizes vary from 14 by 11 inches to 33 by 23 inches. The link above has all details of prices, sizes and contacts at the gallery.

I’m honoured to be showing alongside two artists whose work I admire, and as always it’s an absolute pleasure to show at the Limetree Gallery, Bristol. My only regret is that I can’t travel down to the launch, with Covid restrictions making that a bit unpredictable. I can’t complain though, it’s been a pleasure to paint and I’m lucky to be able to keep working on creative projects!

Wishing everyone the very best of health and happiness!

Kintail to Ardban

Leave a reply

Below – the complete series Kintail to Ardban created for a three-artist exhibition opening at the Limetree Gallery, Bristol on the 31st of October.

Applecross series day 7

Leave a reply
;Through Kintail 2'. Oil on 33x23" wood. Rose Strang 2020

;Through Kintail 2′. Oil on 33×23″ wood. Rose Strang 2020

'Through Kintail 3' Oil on 14x11" wood. Rose Strang 2020

‘Through Kintail 3’ Oil on 14×11″ wood. Rose Strang 2020

Above (and below), today’s paintings in progress for the new Applecross series, which will be on show as part of a three-artist exhibition at the Limetree Gallery Bristol from the 31st October.

These paintings are all in progress, since they’re in oils and will take a bit longer to dry, but I’m happy with the way the series is developing. I’m exploring new subjects – travelling through the mountains of Kintail before arriving on the Applecross coast.

I’ve always enjoyed sketching from the car, it’s a nice test of observation and it often makes the eye work faster to see what’s essential. The three paintings titled ‘through Kintail’ capture the changing weather of the Highlands.

Though often misty and wet, the mood when there is strangely comforting – a soft gloom with the fresh wildness of heather and ferns. Against the deep ochres and greens the bracken turns a beautiful russet colour.

I love the feeling of reaching the coast after the rainy mountain valleys – the soft light of the west coast. I’ve tried to capture the dreamy mood of mist lifting from the sea on a calm sunny morning, and that distinctive sparkle where the clouds part above the sea and mountains. In ‘Ardban. Sea Shimmer’ I had to tone down the mountains of Skye which are so picture-esque they resemble a child’s ideal drawing of a mountain range! It’s better to smudge them up with some rainy clouds.

More paintings tomorrow …

Applecross Series day 3

2 Replies
'Ardban Evening' Oil on 17x112 wood. Rose Strang 2020

‘Ardban Evening’ Oil on 17×112 wood. Rose Strang 2020

'Ardban, Morning Mist' Oil on 17x112 wood. Rose Strang 2020

‘Ardban, Morning Mist’ Oil on 17×112 wood. Rose Strang 2020

Today’s paintings of Applecross for the Limetree exhibition which launches 31st October.

A bit more experimentation today as I feel my way into this new series. These are both in oils – I wanted to say a bit more with less. It’s not quite getting there yet but these have more of the mood I’m trying to capture. I’ll be painting seven seas in different moods, also forests. Just to try something completely new I’ll be painting some road sketches sine the journey to Applecross is so dramatic.

More tomorrow …

Paintings for Limetree Gallery, Bristol

2 Replies

‘Dawn, Ardtoe’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

‘Early Evening, Ardban’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

Above, three paintings for the Limetree Gallery in Bristol for their upcoming Christmas Exhibition. I’m very happy to be showing again at the Limetree Bristol, which showcases some of Scotland’s leading landscape artists. If you’re interested in any of these paintings, please contact Limetree Gallery on their website:

http://www.limetreegallery.com/

In this series I’m trying to capture the mood of changing light at dawn and early sunset. The term ‘gloaming’ – used to describe a particular pre-twilight Highland light, sounds romantic and it is quite magical. It’s a light that makes things slightly difficult to see;  a sort of subdued glow. I think I’ve maybe captured it in ‘Early Evening, Ardban’. Dawn on the west coast, looking out to sea, usually appears misty with suffused light since it’s coming from the east – colours are softened and low contrast – very tranquil.

These three paintings are worked up from sketches I made this year while at Ardban in Applecross, Sanna bay and Ardtoe beaches in Ardnamurchan – beautiful, remote places on the west coast of Scotland. I couldn’t resist a hint of chimney smoke from Ardban cottage, we had great times around the fire! Here are a few photos from my stay there in August …

Cottage. Rose Strang

Euan, Adam and Donald (playing guitar) outside the cottage. Rose Strang

 

 

Idyllic

4 Replies

Adam and I painting on the beach. Photo by Euan Ferguson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I felt really lucky last week to be painting in a remote and beautiful part of the west coast with three lovely people – Donald (who organised staying at the cottage, thank you!) Adam and Euan.

Our cottage was 40 minutes walk from any roads, on the Applecross Peninsula, which has I think the most stunning views of the Cuillin in Scotland.

Also no TV, and internet connection only findable if you walked up a little hill outside the cottage. The cottage itself hasn’t been much changed since the 30s, and as you can see in photos below, the walls are festooned with art from visitors over the years (one of them was a painting I made there about ten years ago, which someone had kindly put in a clip frame!)

We all painted or took photos, so I’m treating readers of this post to a few of these, below.

I was busy painting for an upcoming exhibition in October for The Lime Tree An Ealdhain Gallery in Fortwilliam. (I’ll post more details on that soon, but in the meantime you can view the paintings in progress on this link – https://rosestrangartworks.com/gallery/ )

It was really special to spend time with folks in such a beautiful place – the lack of distractions from TV and internet made for some highly entertaining evenings, cooking, painting, listening to music, watching sheep in the garden, but mostly interesting (at times insanely ridiculous!) conversation.

Thank you Adam, Donald and Euan, for one of the loveliest holidays I’ve ever experienced!

(From left) Donald, Adam, me, Euan. Photo Adam Brewster.

Wild conditions! Photo Donald Ferguson.

Preparing paper in the sea. Photo Adam Brewster

Adam painting watercolours. Photo Rose Strang

Adam’s lovely watercolours. Rose Strang

Etching on found slate by Donald. Photo Rose Strang

Cottage. Rose Strang

Euan, Adam and Donald (playing guitar) outside the cottage. Rose Strang

Summer dress weather. Photo Adam Brewster

Cuillin across the sea. Rose Strang

Molto romantico sunset! Photo Adam Brewster

Idyllic! Photo by Donald Ferguson