Plockton, Scotland

Always enjoy visiting Plockton when returning to Scotland.  It has been 16 years since I last visited and it is still as beautiful & picturesque as always. The village is located on the west coast just about 5 miles north of the Kyle of Lochalsh where the new Isle of Skye road bridge meets the mainland.

Due to the currents the seas are warm but it is quite a surprise to see palms trees (similar to the Pandamus trees we have in Australia) lining the shore front. If you were a fan of the TV series Hamish Macbeth starring Robert Carlyle, then it will look familiar as it was the setting for the fictional town of Lochdubh.

Stayed in the pub and we had a great view from our bedroom over Loch Carron.  In the evening the loch is usually very quiet, but this evening we were lucky to see a regatta as a fleet of sailing boats in the distance - they emerged from "who knows where". One with blue sails joining them from the just in front of the village. We were able to get a few watercolour sketches done on the spot and afterwards an oil of the boat with blue sails

Watercolour over 2 pages of a foldout watercolour sketch book

Oil on Board  16 x 8 inches (40 x 20 cm)

Watercolour over 2 pages of a Strathmore Watercolour Sketchbook

More information on the website for "Undiscovered Scotland"

Click here to contact me 

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Into the Light , Luna Park, Sydney Harbour

Oil on Board 7 x 5 inches (17cm x12 cm)

A small painting near Luna Park at Lavender Bay in Sydney Harbour

If you are interested in purchasing this painting click here to contact me 


         

Daily Paintworks Challenge - Red Onion

Daily Paintworks has been around for a while, featuring a group of  highly regarded representational painters who do a painting a day.

Recently they have started  "Challenges" in which they anounce a subject and invite artists to take the challenge by painting their version of the subject. One of the recent "Challenges" raised over $28k to  assist various charities with their Japan relief effort.

I took this weeks challenge to "Paint a Vegetable" and contributed a Red Onion. 

Red Onion
4 x 5 inches on Canvas

The painting  is available at Daily Paintworks for $95 plus $15 freight

Art on the Boardwalk, Lavender Bay, Sydney

Last Sunday I participated in Art on the Boardwalk for the first time. Despite the forecast it turned out to be a fine Sydney day. For those not familiar with Sydney, Lavender Bay is on the north shore, just west of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It overlooks the Sydney skyline and it is a fabulous location for "plein air" painting particularly on a day like this with plenty of sunshine. It is amazing to realise that this location is only minutes (or 1 train stop) from the CBD.

About 30 artists participated with musicians and mime artists, and whilst the day was about painting on location it was nice chatting to the many people passing by. Mosman Daily newspaper  reported that there was 10,000 people who walked the boardwalk on the day. It kept us fairly busy chatting and answering questions about painting, etc. The interest people had in the paintings was very heartening, also  many people talked about wanting to learn how to paint. In short it was a great fun day and very well organised by the North Sydney council.

 I did not get my demo painting finished on the day. Too much chatting , but here is the finished painting below.

Opera House, Luna Park and Harbour Bridge from Lavender Bay
Oil on Board 10 x 12 inches (25cm x 30cm)

Working hard.

Chatting to people about painting 

If you are interested in purchasing a painting click here to contact me

Leonard Cohen in Sydney - Oil version

Leonard Cohen in Sydney

Oil on canvas - 10 x 8 inches

Oil painting based on the watercolour sketch done at the concert. Click here to see that post

This painting is available from my website , click to see a larger image. at my website www.marshstudio.com

Into the Light, Cremorne Point, Sydney Harbour

10 x 8 inches

Oil on Canvas

I enjoy the sparkle of light when it ripples across the harbour as we look past Cremorne Point to the Sydney Opera House.

At Cremorne Point there is a very pleasant walk with spectacular views around the harbour foreshore to Cremorne Point, and then continue onto Mosman Bay. More information on the walk at this link

This painting is now sold.

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Sails on Sydney Harbour

5 x 3 Inches - Oil on Canvas

The first post to the blog & its appropriate to capture a still day & the beautiful light on Sydney Harbour. Its something special.

The stock market may heading south at a rapid rate but that doesn't stop the yachties getting their priorities right & enjoying the day.