Ice House
"Ice House at Wester Haven" - watercolour - 13 x 18 cm
Before the invention of refrigeration, using ice for food-preservation meant that it had to be stored in some way. Ice houses are a common feature of the harbours around the coast of Caithness. They are vaulted stone buildings, set partly into banks or hillsides, and with turf roofs for insulation. In the winter ice was collected from lochs and rivers and put into the buildings through a hole a the top. Then in the summer it was taken out through a door at the front and used to pack around crates of fish for transportation. My painting is of a good example at the harbour of Wester Haven, below the Castle of Mey.
I painted this on Bockingford Eggshell tinted paper. It has a subtle green tint and gives a cool undertone to the watercolour. I don't use tinted papers very often, but they can be useful sometimes. This particular paper is produced in Cream, Grey, Eggshell, Blue and Oatmeal.
Comments
As to your painting what else can I say that I haven't said before. They are always the best. Your use of the tinted paper shows how versatile you can be.. Always like how you place those darks in just the right places.
I'm still struggling after 20+ years of w/c but always enjoy the journey. BJ
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We too... have a plethora such ice houses which were usually subterranean and laced with saw dust to insulate the ice blocks that were harvested from the river in winter and late spring. I think I will do a theme based on this facet of early life.... but that wilkl be a story and project for another time!
Thanks for sharing Keith! Really enjoyed the post!
Good Painting!
Warmest regards,
Bruce
One of the things I like about working from light to dark, in watercolour, is the way those dark touches pull everything together at the end.
All the best,
Keith