A couple of images

Here are a couple of the watercolours I've done this year. Both were painted on the Herbridean Isle of Eigg. (Learn more about Eigg here )
The first is a view of Rum. Painted from the Bay of Laig on Eigg...I painted all these Eigg pictures by resting a board on whatever was around - in this case, a sand dune. I've found this forced me to views that weren't necessarily the most obvious ones... with all the watercolours I've done recently, I've just wanted to paint in a very pure way...not getting caught up in subject or composition too much,simply enjoying painting whatever was in front of me. The downside to propping a board on whatever's around, is that it can be very uncomfortable on the back...so I'm using an easel more often now...still, it's something I'd recommend doing every now and then as a good exercise.

This second image is of the Sgurr, as seen from Kildonnan, where we were staying (Highly recommended! say hi to Marie if you go).

The swirling lines within both these pictures have developed over the past 18 months or so. I like the way they define the shapes, while adding a slightly abstract/impressionistic/fun element to the pictures. I've taken this a bit further by using masking fluid in a couple of pictures, this gives an interesting effect, but the fluid doesn't flow like paint, so gives a more chunky effect...interesting when washed over though...I'll post those ones soon...Wow, two posts in two days, it'll never last...;)