Ardvrek Castle Ruins

Like it - the ideal combination, really, ruined castles, water, and Scottish weather... you don't stint on watercolour, either, do you? Old Holland ... and Arches paper .... only the best for Fiona!

PS - and quite right, too .... why do people handicap themselves by using the cheapest paper they can get and the most basic watercolours?

Nice, fresh watercolour Fiona, the castle with it's strong tone, stands out well from the lighter hillside and the reflection works too.

you have successfully painted a typical gray day in the west highlands of Scotland.

really catches the atmosphere of the place - nice one Fiona

Very well done, Fiona. For me the tonal values are exactly right to convey distance and the water reflections are convincing. I can also see the rain hanging in the sky. You certainly seem to have captured the bleakness that you refer to.

You didn't waste any time getting back to painting Fiona and what a lovely picture this is. You seem to have the skill to portray an effective scene with a limited palette -including all the depth and reflections plus a beautiful sky.

lovely loose style you have Fiona :-) and this is another lovely loose painting :-)

Love this one Fiona, beautiful refelctions and fresh colours

Lovely palette Fiona, I like this.

Robert like you I think using cheaper and more basic paper and paint is a false economy, you certainly don't get the same results. Thank you for your comment.

Many thanks Stephen, John, Michael, Lionel, Carol, Rebecca, Glennis and Carole for your lovely comments. It's looking a bit like this painting today....rain, rain and more rain!!

Hi there. I was worried you had run away! See we do notice when you are not posting. Lovely tones and depth of colour. Works a treat.

I'm still here!! Thanks Gudrun x

A typically Scottish scene expertly painted in your own inimitable style Fiona. I hope you are selling these to the tourists in the summer :)

I don't know about expertly done Val but yes, it' a typical Scottish scene especially at the moment! No I don't bother selling any paintings, I wouldn't part with good money for them!!! Lol! The gallery in the next village wanted to exhibit a few but I declined....I would be too embarrassed to hang them and put a price on them. Thank you for your very kind words.

I think you should take up the galleries offer Fiona, I'm sure people would like your work.

That's a very nice thing to say Stephen, thank you.

Dear Fiona, Thank you so much for your message - I was delighted to receive it. It was strange, because I was thinking of you while watching early morning TV. There were a couple of message from viewers - the first from Fiona, (in Kilmarnock, which I am sure is not you), and the second was from Lionel, (in Dunmow, which I am equally certain is not me!). It struck me as odd. Health is not too bad. I had my usual check-ups in November and, apparently, I am good for another six months. Unfortunately, any artistic skills I may have had seem to have deserted me and all my art stuff is dumped in the garage. However, my wife got a bit concerned so I have recovered some of it and will attempt another start today. Thanks again for the message. Seasons greetings to you and yours. Lionel. x

Beautifully done Fiona! Full of mellow light and crispness.

Thank you Seok.