Edinburgh Art Shows

Spent a few hours yesterday enjoying some of the exhibitions currently on show in Edinburgh. The first was a visit to the Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street to see a wonderful show by one of my favourite artists, Kurt Jackson. He journeys along the length of the River Forth, which flows past Edinburgh and paints on site. A video is projected onto a wall showing Kurt at work creating some of the paintings in the exhibition.
http://www.lemonstreetgallery.co.uk/exhibitionImages/kurt-jackson-the-forth/F12.jpg

Next I viewed the RSA Exhibition (Royal Scottish Academy building) at the Mound. This shows work by some of the most important Scottish Artists and caters for all tastes.  I derived most pleasure from looking at the sketchbooks on show in some of the cabinets. I believe you get an insight into the artist's way of thinking and planning for larger works.

I then had a quick look in some of the Independent galleries in Dundas Street.  The Open Eye Gallery has some lithographs by Joan Miro and prints by Dali.

Scottish Borders Holiday

This week I am staying in an apartment in Peebles. The apartment is within a property called Kingsmeadows situated right on the River Tweed (see photo).

The weather is pure blue skies, the temperature only chilled by a wind off the North Sea. In sheltered corners it is pure bliss.
Spent some time cleaning out my dirty palettes ready for a season's painting en plein air. Yes, I did say palettes in the plural. I do have a few. Why you may ask? Well, they do have different colour set ups, are different sizes and weights. Lightweight ones tend to travel abroad and the bigger metal ones stay more local.
Painted a small cottage scene today on Khadi paper. I have a pad which measures about 5 inches square and I am working on a series of these cottage paintings. This one took about 30 mins including drying time.