Friday 11 July 2014

Wee houses


A few bits and pieces to share today'
I have been working on some more small wooden panels.
I have often wanted to put a small cottage,(or croft as they are called in northern Scotland) into one of my large canvas paintings. However they never seem to look right, so I thought I would experiment on a small scale.


These little panels are work in progress shots. the light was not to good so sorry about the photo quality.

And here are the finished wee houses......






The houses above are very reminiscent of houses built around a hundred years ago, the older crofts look like this.....


Skye has many beautiful little croft houses, this one is near the Skye bridge. If you look closely you can see the stones which hang from the thatched roof. The winters are harsh and the strength of the wind would blow un-weighted thatch away! I noticed in the corner of the photo which I took, a satellite dish. I was going to crop it out, but it made me smile, with the combination of old and new.

sketching in the sunshine

I have been working for the past few weeks on a large canvas which I posted as my Summer of color entry this week. Miraculously the colours I used fitted with the theme. I get my inspiration from both photographs and outdoor sketching.

The island   (Mixed media on canvas)
Linking to Paint party Friday

24 comments:

  1. Love the little croft panels, they are beautiful! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely gorgeous piece, Morag. We are so lucky to live in such an inspiring and beautiful place. Big hugs and have a lovely and creative week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are just so lovely! Love the 'croft' in your painting...so rich in texture! These cottages feel so warm and welcome!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your little houses are wonderful. I always enjoy looking at all of your paintings!1

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your paintings of the cottages are beautiful, Morag. I used to paint scenes and put weeds and grasses in the foreground as you have done. Both are really gorgeous. I think you are ready to add crofts to larger paintings, for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  6. it's always a joy to see your beautiful projects- along with glimpses of the Isle of Skye. Your small cottage canvases are just wonderful and of course I love your soc challenge scene!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Morag..thes are most spectacular and speak to my soul..my wandering spirit...very deeply moving and emotionally sparked for me.....the home/houses are such powerful symbols in life on so many levels..outstanding works! Amazing and deeply meaningful...wow!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I also like to work small; for some reason it seems I can think better small. These are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  9. WOW! I love your cottages...the color, texture! WOW LOVE LOVE!!

    Happy Paint Party Friday!
    Tam Hess

    ReplyDelete
  10. morag, these paintings make me smile! there's something about houses/cottages/crofts that's inviting - and mysterious. i can't put my finger on why i love them in paintings, but i do. and i love the photo of your painting outside... : )

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your little house painting...it's adorable and still to your style...so sweet!! The large canvas is amazing too!!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh how beautiful! Those cottages are so picturesque, they look wonderful in your beautiful painted landscapes, your work is truly enchanting, such an inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  13. superb and I liked learning about the crofts

    ReplyDelete
  14. this is a fabulous post of work... those small panel paintings are simply lovely and the seascape was wonderful as well... what a great week's painting you have had...xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. These are gorgeous! Are they in the same mixed media style as your larger pieces?

    ReplyDelete
  16. those small paintings are wonderful. And I really love the colours in your big canvas. It's a beautiful painting. Love the textured look...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Those house panels are so lovely - I love the quirkiness of those houses (which I see in the photo as well). I prefer quirkiness to perfect every time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am always so intrigued by your art. You have a such a talent and I am happy that you share your art with us.
    Nicole/Beadwright

    ReplyDelete
  19. love these smaller pieces! My favourite is the second photo, you really get a sense of the croft hunkered down into the landscape :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I didn't know the word 'croft' was used for all houses, I thought it meant a particular type. :) I'm glad to learn something new. I love the top picture as much as the finished ones, you could definitely put these in a big canvas painting, even at the size they are, as though they were in the distance.
    It must really windy there needing those weights on the roof! It's hard to imagine because when I was in Skye it was glorious sunshine all the time but I know this isn't the norm! Love the old and new!
    Jess xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Belated PPF greetings! I'm behind this week (as usual). Your paintings are so charming and sweet. Beautiful colors and textures, and of course, the subject matter is wonderful. I know what you mean about trying to go bigger. I used to always work big, but with collage, I can't seem to work on a large scale.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely, lovely miniatures Morag. Adore your cottages!

    Annabelle

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely small houses. Thanks for posting the photos of the unfinished ones, too! It's always so exciting to have a glimpse of the process.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by, I love to hear from you.