Clashnettie: fields, stream

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Clashnettie,  fields, stream, 37.5 x 29.5 cm

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My work at Clashnettie Arts Centre

This picture brings to a close my period working in Clashnettie Arts Centre, which is about 10 miles north of Dinnet and the Dee Valley, but feels much more remote, located as it is behind twisting roads and at the end of a unpaved track.

I was fortunate with the weather, with day after day of dependable sunshine, or, at least, rain-free. 

I`m ok about with the work I did - at least, most of it -though perhaps it surprised me less than I expected it to. 

Does it make any sense to expect to be surprised? It sounds self contradictory.

 What I mean is that this place did not give me many views or motifs which I had not encountered before, thus my responses were likely, an accessing of old solutions. And it is not just the motifs, but also the quality of light, the weather and the flora.

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Pines

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Pines, Clashnettie, oil on card, 23.3 x 29 cm - available

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Large Beech, Clashnettie

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 Large Beech, Clashnettie, oil on card, 24.5 x 30.3 cm - available

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Beech tree, Clashnettie

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Beech tree, Clashnettie, oil on card, 30 x 35 cm - available

Having painted this, I shall take a pause before attempting some pictures in colour.

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Clashnettie: clouds 1

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Clashnettie:  clouds 1, oil on card, 20 x 15.5 cm - available

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Clashnettie: clouds 2

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Clashnettie:  clouds 2, oil on card, 20 x 12 cm - available

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Clashnettie: Scots pine

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Clashnettie: Scots pine, oil on card, 27.2 x 22.6 cm - available

In this,  I attempt to work with a paler monochrome - a grey brown, made with Cobalt Blue and Red Oxide.

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Clashnettie - Beeches

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Clashnettie - Beeches, oil on card, 20. 7 x 28.7 cm - available

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Clashnettie - a view across fields

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Clashnettie - a view across fields, oil on card, 20 x 28.6 cm

I am experimenting with different "black" mixtures - using Burnt or Raw Umber, Ultramarine and Red Oxide.

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Clashnettie - a view from the house: beginning my Residency here

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Clashnettie - a view from the house, oil on card, 25.7 x 21.7 cm - available

This is the first from  my Residency at Clashnettie Arts Centre, which is near Strathdon in Aberdeenshire, and which was paid for by a VACMA Creative Scotland grant.

It`s very peaceful here. The main challenge is the weather which is very changeable.

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VACMA Award, Clashnettie Arts Centre

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I am very grateful to have been awarded a grant from VACMA (small professional advancement grants funded by Creative Scotland, part of the Scottish Government).

This will allow me to go to Clashnettie Arts Centre near Huntley, Aberdeenshire and take up a residency in July, producing a body of Scottish paintings for my portfolio.

I thank Alison for her encouraging Information Session, which persuaded me the Award was worth applying for.

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