November 3, 2019

Latest Work – Elephant Rock

One of my favourite walks is around the dramatic Elephant Rock, and the shore path to Boddin. After a recent visit I scribbled a drawing in my sketchbook, for the first time from the south side of the rock, which I thought would make an interesting composition.

A view of the rock from the south side is not the most obvious, and can be a bit precarious.

Here is the development of the painting, showing the site, work on site followed by some studio painting of the final stages. I am using a variety of dip pens and home-made quills with Indian ink for the drawing along with watercolour and a small amount of reduced opaque white in touches, on stretched Saunders 26olb paper.

The dramatic south side of the subject, looking north towards Montrose.

The easel and set-up, not too close to the edge, thankfully the wind had eased. Note the orange/red plants in the foreground.

Early stages of the painting blocking in the main areas.

Later in the studio, laying in some washes suggesting approaching rain.

Careful drawing of the plants in the foreground, a key aspect of the composition. These stems were taken in to the studio for reference.

The finished painting.