Moorland Burning
"A Hill on Fire" - watercolour -- 16 x 26 cm
When I looked out of the window the other day, I saw this plume of smoke rising from the hill across the loch. It looked dramatic and I thought it would make an interesting subject, so I decided to paint it there and then. I wasn't sure how long the effect would last, so I decided not to do any drawing; I just wet a block of paper all over and floated in various colours. As the paper dried, I gradually defined some of the forms until I had built up a soft-edged impression of the subject. Then I left it to dry and finished the harder-edged areas later.
I don't know whether this fire was accidental or deliberate. The moors are managed with controlled burning at this time of year, known locally as 'Muirburn'. The mature heather is burned off to leave tender new growth for the grouse to feed on. However we also get wildfires in dry periods, and it has been fairly dry until recently.
Comments
I so enjoy touring about with you! I'll be back to posting this next week to share my travels over the past two weeks with my brother Don... and new paintings! Excited to return to my routine!
Happy Easter to you and your family!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
All the best,
Keith