Brilliant month for tulips

 A late winter of snow and daily frosts tried to dampen down the tulip displays, but warm afternoon sunny spells helped them recover. After many years of adding a few bulbs each autumn tulips are now established in large colourful drifts all over the garden.

Tulips underplanted with drifts of grape hyacinths

Tulips have their moment in the spotlight, then Peonia Doreen and Delphiniums will take over for a summer display of flowers.

Large Darwin Hybrid tulips

These tulips are underplanted with oriental lilies to flower in summer

These strong tall Darwin Hybrid tulips rise above a drift of aconites which have now finished flowering.

Apeldoorn (red), Golden Apeldoorn and white Haakun tulips

Garden comes alive in early spring

 The recent warmer weather, after the snow melted has brought out the young crocus flowers, enjoying a bit of sunshine. Had to take a few photos. However I also went mad with the camera when the snow blizzard gave us a foot of snow. Went up to City Road Allotments for a few ideas for snow scenes, but deep snow was covering too many interesting garden sheds and greenhouses. First winter landscape in acrylic completed. More information on my website at www.johnstoa.com

Mixed crocus amongst the heathers

Winter on the Allotment

Yellow crocus and Erica carnea Springwood Pink

Old Auchterhouse

 Another winter landscape at Auchterhouse just outside Dundee painted in acrylic on board.

Back in the Scottish Highlands in the Trossachs with Loch Lubnaig and Ben Ledi in winter.

Old Auchterhouse

 

 

 

Loch Lubnaig and Ben Ledi

Loch Achtriochtan Glencoe

 This winter landscape painting is in Glencoe on the banks of Loch Achtriochtan. This acrylic in on a box canvas size 12 x 16 inches. I just received ten box canvases from Art Discount so my next snow scenes will all be on 12 x 16 inch box canvas.

Loch Achtriochtan in Glencoe

FARM IN GLENSHEE

 Winter landscape paintings continue with this Scottish snow scene of a farm at the Spittal of Glenshee.

This is painting number 1844. This acrylic painting on canvas is 24 x 18 inches unframed.

Farm in Glenshee

First flowers appear

 Snowdrops and aconites are coming into flower despite a few frosty nights, but then we are in a short dry spell as snow bypasses Dundee again.

Continue to work on winter landscapes at the easel with a snow scene on the Cottage in Glen Clova.

Early snowdrops

Winter aconites

Cottage in Glen Clova

Winter Landscape Paintings of Scotland

 A new project to start 2021 is my plan to paint a series of Scottish landscapes in winter followed by a few allotment plots in winter. These will be based on images from my City Road Allotment Gardens. I have already done about 20 allotment plots in all seasons, but these will all be snow pictures 

Glencoe Village with the Paps of Glencoe in winter

Winter in Glen Clova looking towards Glen Doll

Auchmithie in Winter

Loch Fyne

End of a Turbulent year

 Most folks will be glad to see the end of 2020, to be remembered as the year Covid virus emerged and infected people all around the world. We all endured a year of isolation to prevent the virus spreading, but I feel I was one of the lucky ones. Although in lockdown all year, I have a big garden and allotment for fresh fruit and vegetables, so exercise and a healthy diet keeps us strong, and at home in my studio an artist is at peace in the world of artistic creativity.
My last three paintings finished for 2020 are shown below.

Random Thoughts

Journey into Colour

Two are semi abstracts and one a winter snow scene landscape in the Spittal of Glenshee. This view was taken from the back of the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel before it got burnt down.

Spittal of Glenshee

 

Three figure studies

December was a very wet month so the garden got a rest and I spent some time at the easel.

Three figure studies completed using the contrasts of light against dark with both sunlight and studio lighting. The first study was Enjoying the Sun

The next study Into the Night was indoors using back lighting and the last one was Time to Relax.

Enjoying the Sun

 

 

 

 

 

Time to Relax

Into the Night

That Loving Feeling acrylc painting

 

John completes the painting, "That Loving Feeling".

Rain arrived as forecast, so no gardening today. Time to relax, so after putting up the Xmas tree and lights I got out this painting in need of updating which I started some time ago. Reckon it has to be finished now, so it got signed (the last bit of paint) Yesterday it was cold but dry so it was up to the allotment to put a new felt covering on the roof as water leeking in was very serious. Help arrived to get it completed before the sun set. Brilliant teamwork. Ronnie nailed around the sides, I nailed the roof and Robert kept us supplied with materials. I think now that the Xmas tree is up, the lights on, the shed waterproof and my painting complete only task left is to open that bottle of Dalwhinnie Winters Gold. Well it is the festive season.