Donna’s Mount or Hillside, North Glen Sannox.
Continuing my travels with a sketchbook I took on this lump of rock from the perfect one-car parking lay-by, having to reverse in thereby allowing me to get the car boot open with easy access to all my materials.
“Cnocan Donna”, mixed media (pencil and Neocolours) in sketchbook, A5x2.
The real fun began later when I launched into plein air painting in acrylics. With easel set up and paints, brushes and water pot laid out on the ground in front of me a bold start was made. The dark clouds which were building up over the cnocan and it’s initial risible spits and spots of rain (I laugh in the face of smirr!) should have forewarned me of approaching disaster. Undeterred I kept going under a large umbrella held in one hand and a brush in the other. When the spits turned to steady rain I knew I was in trouble – how the heck to get my painting into the car without having it wash off onto my feet?
First thoughts were to tough it out, after all it was only a bit of rain. You would think it couldn’t get any heavier, but it did – the downpour turned into a deluge!
With the brolly protecting the painting but not me and water running down my neck I finally gave up, chucked the painting and gamp into the boot and dived into the car soaked from head to toe.
“Cnocan Donna”, acrylics on paper, 42x59cm.
At least the acrylic paint didn’t wash off and I eventually dried out with a flask of hot tea to warm my cockles and a buttered gingerbread slice. Happy days.
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