Stormy Weather

You're doing absolutely the right thing there - use all the information you've got, from whatever source, to paint the best picture you can. There are so many incidental details in this, it rewards lengthy inspection - don't know if I might have been inclined to leave out, or reduce in intensity, that secondary bright spot to the right of the lighthouse and down; it confuses my eye a little; it seems to be as bright as the lighthouse light, and yet not to cast the same degree of reflection; in physical terms I can see that it would have got lost, as it's lower down, but it does just distract me a bit. But it's a complex scene, and was, I imagine, extremely challenging to paint.

Glad you like it Robert. Yes, interesting point about what is in fact a real , quite dramatic, physical hole worn by water right through the rocky outcrop of Fidra island - its quite a landmark feature of Fidra - the light you can see in the rather small image of the painting is simply the sky beyond - so it is considerably less bright than the lighthouse light - on the full sized painting the cloud formation beyond the hole, and part of the Fife hills beyond, is clearer - but would that light finding its way through the hole be reflected as a distinct light across the water ? Hmm I think it just might do, though not sure if any reflection isn't masked by the wider base of the island mass - or so other night time photos seem to suggest - - OR I could put in more background cloud beyond the hole to lessen the glare. I'll have to ponder that one.

This painting is well worth enlarging ( on the screen) as there is so much to see in it. I have probably just said the same as Robert only in a different way LOL. I love that sky and the birds on the rocks, which I should know the name of but I'm having a senior moment. Although I live in central Scotland I have never been to Yellowcraig but this painting certainly makes me want to visit there.

Glad you like it Val. The birds on the rocks are cormorants - very distinctive the way that they hold out their wings to dry them off. Do visit Yellowcraig if you live so near in central Scotland - at low tide on a fine day the circa 3 mile beach walk from Yellowcraig to (the nowadays much poshified) North Berwick must be one of the finest walks in Britain ! And amazingly you probably wont meet a soul the entire walk once you've left Yellowcraig until you near North Berwick !