Independence for Scotland

I was inspired by the increasingly fierce debate on Scottish Independence to paint this picture.Everyone will interpret this painting differently. The Scottish National Party will see it as leaving the burning wreck of the Union. The Better Together campaign might see it as a warning as to what might happen if there is a yes vote and then of course there is the Braveheart element! As an Englishman living in Scotland I am entitled to vote in next years referendum.How shall I be voting? Well that is between me and the ballot box. What does this painting mean to you? The painting is acrylic on deep framed stretched canvas and is 20" x 20" ( 51cm x 51cm ) It is for sale so if anyone would like to buy it for Alex Salmond let me know.

Sold from Picture this Art Gallery

This original was sold today from the ' Picture This ' art gallery in Inverness where I am currently working two days a week. The gallery specializes in Scottish art and is worth a look, not least because you might be tempted to buy my other original work ' A Retreat Cottage in Autumn '

Conventional Buyers

 My artist friends tell me that my latest work is more exciting and better than my older paintings. However given the choice between these ' exciting ' paintings and more conventional work buyers have opted for conventional. These originals or prints of originals were sold at my recent exhibition. What does this tell us?

To see my more recent stuff go to

www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk

To see my brothers more adventurous paintings go to.http://www.saatchionline.com/tony-gaunt

Retreat Cottage in Spring

This is my third painting of Retreat Cottage. I have completed Autumn and Winter and will shortly paint Summer to make a quartet. I am enjoying working with these quite large canvases. They measure 24" x 24" and make a colourful wall feature. I have added this to Saatchi on Line and it will be on my website soon.
www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk
To see the other two in this series go to-http://www.saatchionline.com/Lightwaterart1

Saatchi on Line

I have started selling my art work on the Saatchi on Line website.




To see some of my latest paintings go to the following link.
http://www.saatchionline.com/Lightwaterart1

Retreat Cottage in Winter

Here is the second painting of Retreat Cottage, this one in winter. I have already painted autumn with spring and summer to go.The size is 24" x 24" on stretched canvas and is ready to hang. If you want to buy this you can see it plus Retreat Cottage in Autumn at saatchi on line.
http://www.saatchionline.com/art/Painting-Retreat-Cottage-in-Winter/653049/1798690/view

Retreat Cottage in Autumn

A place for peace.
A place of renewal.
Acrylic on stretched canvas. 24" x 24"
It is for sale. Contact me for details.

The Five Sisters of Kintail

The Five Sisters of Kintail are the iconic range of Scottish mountains overlooking Loch Duich not far from the Isle of Skye.
This painting is 60cm x 50cm

Ben Lomond from Loch Ard

This painting is 60cm x 60cm ( 24" x 24" ) acrylic on stretched canvas. I was inspired to use these colours by another artists work. I liked the primal way they made me feel.

The subject is Ben Lomond from Loch Ard. It is interesting the way we relate to colours and what they do to our emotions. I get a feeling of tranquility from this. How do you feel?

Exhibition at Blue Angel Cafe

 My exhibition at the Blue Angel Cafe in theFindhorn Foundation has started and is on until mid November. I have hung 20 paintings all original and I have kept the prices affordable as I am donating 10% to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. SSPCA. I also have three paintings in the Moray Art Centre close by so why not give that a look too?

Staying in Tonight

Staying in Tonight is the title of this the third of my cat trilogy. These paintings follow the adventures of Ginger. The first is called A Night on the Tiles the second is titled A Near Miss They will all be in my exhibition at The Blue Angel Cafe Findhorn Park from 14th October to mid November.

River of Light

This is the third semi abstract from my trilogy. This one will be in my forthcoming exhibition at the Blue Angel cafe Findhorn Park from 14th October.

River Bank ( Abode of Ratty )

Here is the second semi abstract of my trilogy.

Wild Wood ( the abode of Mr Badger )

I have been painting a trilogy of abstracts. Free flowing watercolour backgrounds with a few brush strokes of acrylic to develop the story which emerges from the settled watercolour. All done at speed to avoid too much conscious thinking. The size is approximately 40 X 30cm for all three paintings.
This one is called ' Wild Wood where Mr Badger lives ' and may be in my exhibition at the Blue Angel cafe from 14th October.

Ferry Port Iona

This is another painting inspired by my recent stay on the sacred island of Iona. Sunrise on the empty ferry terminal before the day tourists and pilgrims arrive.The painting is acrylic on canvas and is 60cm x 50cm

Findhorn Original Garden and the Cat

Every Saturday members of the Northern Lights Sangha meet for a morning of meditations. I quite often join them and it is always wonderful. One of the meditations consists of walking slowly and mindfully around the Findhorn Foundation's Original Garden.

The garden is a delight, an eclectic mixture of wild flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and cultivated flowers. Now whether you believe that the story of giant vegetables on extremely poor soil is a myth or not, it is absolutely undeniable that there is a terrific energy here.

Almost always during our walking there is a zen like black cat in the garden. He is completely unfazed by the 15 to 20 humans walking around his domain and just gets on with his business. This mostly consists of just being, although he is not adverse to the odd stroke and ear tickle.

It is sobering that we, advanced beings supposedly, have to make a constant effort to be in the moment and yet for this cat it is effortless. Is he affected by the gardens energy I wonder?

Traveling Dolphin

My good friend Bryan is continuing with his camper van murals. He has completed the back and is working on this side. It is beautiful and always raises smiles and lifts spirits. In these days of increasingly dark and violent news we need to be reminded that the vast majority of humankind is decent and generous.
To view Bryan's web page and art go to http://www.baj-art.co.uk/a1-page.asp?page=0

Blue Poppies

As the summer draws to a close I wanted to celebrate the extraordinary exuberance of this years floral growth. Is it my imagination or has everything grown more strongly as if to make up for last year's lack of sun. Even the bees are making a comeback! I also read that Red Squirrels have increased for the first time in 50 years. This is a watercolour size 36cm x 26cm

Red Tractor

Just playing with a fun abstract while waiting for inspiration. Acrylic on canvas 50cm x 40cm

Last Swim

 On Saturday a dwindling number of the members of our informal swim club took a bracing swim in the icy waters of the Moray Firth.
In Buddhism we are constantly reminded of the impermanent nature of existence. The arising of certain conditions give birth to something and then dissolving when those conditions no longer exist. Therefore given that the conditions drawing us to swim in the icy Scottish waters may be changing, this could be our last swim of this year! We are also reminded to be in the moment so accordingly we enjoyed every freezing minute. Hopefully conditions will arise to draw us into the water again. Perhaps next year now!

Mini Poppy Prints

This painting of poppies has been so popular that I have been selling mini prints ( 6" x 4" ) on ebay.co.uk where I have a shop and they have been selling well. The original has been sold but if you would like to buy one of these small prints at only £3.50 go to www.ebay.co.uk and search for Chris Gaunt or go to this direct link http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Light-Water-Art
If you would like to view some of my other work go to www.chisgauntartist.co.uk

Innocent child.Innocent nature

I have been on a bit of a road trip for 10 days. visiting friends and family. My furthest distance from Scotland was Frome in Somerset. This was a long overdue visit to my niece Vanessa and her mother Belinda. So good to catch up. Then back up to Northampton to see my step brother Maurice and his wife Margaret. Finally on to Norfolk to catch up with my extended family including my son Julian. This picture is of my granddaughter Isla and mum Vicky. She is so beautifully, mischievously innocent.The photo below is the river I used to frequent in my boyhood and I sat there yesterday with my son. We both like sitting quietly observing and feeling the beauty and innocence of nature.

Beautiful Bindweed

It's only a weed they say but wild flowers are every bit as glorious as their cultivated relations.
I was stuck by the intensity of this Bindweed against the sun dappled dark undergrowth. Painting takes my mind off my little problems and more importantly all the horrible things going on in this world. These flowers keep reminding me there is beauty and goodness too.

Acrylic on canvas. 40cm x 30cm


The Bridge

I have always loved the contrast between light and dark early in the morning or in the evening. This painting is of strong evening sunlight picking out a little bridge across a small stream. It is acrylic on a large canvas. 60cm x 60cm ( 24" x 24" )  The title is ' The Bridge ' and is available to purchase.

Mo Farah. Gracious Human Being. Great Athlete

I was thrilled by the wonderful second gold medal Mo won at the Moscow world championships. I was only one of hundreds of thousands of emotionally moved spectators. I was moved, not only by the race, but by the man himself. He is a truly gracious gentleman in all senses of the word.Really happy for him.

Iona Abbey

Iona Abbey from the slopes of Dun I. Another of my paintings from my recent stay on the sacred island of Iona. Scottish West Coast.

Elgin Open Art Exhibition

 The Moray Art Club open exhibition at Elgin Library starts with a preview on Saturday 10th August and runs to 23rd August.

If you are near please take a look. Entries have been selected from numerous talented artists.

I have entered these two quirky cat paintings.

Iona Sacred Isle. Scottish West Coast.

Iona Sacred Isle

I have just spent a week on Iona staying at the Findhorn Foundation's cottage. Seven strangers came together to create a wonderful group dynamic.We were blessed with exceptional weather and I took advantage of that to swim from the white sandy beaches. The water was clean, clear and cold, very energizing!

I also painted a couple of pictures. This one is of Lagandorain ( now a hostel ) with the islands tallest hill behind painted in early morning light. The hill is called Dun I ( pronounced Dun-ey much to the amusement of Aussie visitors ) and I painted it from Croc an Suidhe ( hill of the seat ) which is reputed to be saint Columba's favorite spot..

A Near Miss

A Near Miss is the title of my acrylic painting of Ginger out hunting. It is 12" x 12" ( 30cm x 30cm ) on stretched canvas. If you are interested in purchasing this painting please contact me. Thank you for looking.

Flowing into Loch Morlich.

This is my painting of the stream that runs into Loch Morlich ( Cairngorms National Park, Scotland ) and was painted at the scene. It is acrylic and is 40cm x 30cm
The stream is called Abhainn Ruigh-eunachan and I must look up it's meaning in Gaelic.
The Cairngorm national park is very beautiful and if you have never visited please put it on your bucket list

Andy Murray, Wimbledon and Maitreya the future Buddha

Now that we have got a British winner of Wimbledon in Andy Murray I must revise my Blog of the 3rd November 2011. In that Blog ' Maitreya the future Buddha. Why the long wait ' I said waiting for Maitreya to appear was like waiting for a British man to win Wimbledon! Now we have one. Does this mean Maitreya will arrive soon to lead the world out of darkness? Well why not? Andy's win according to channel 4 news is adding to a resurgence in the British economy and British spirits.Well done Andy, fantastic achievement and so much more than just a wonderful tennis match!If you are interested in reading my now outdated Blog click the link below or go to Buddhism, my personal exploration.http://chrisgauntartist.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Buddhism.%20My%20personal%20exploration.

Popular Poppies

My Poppy paintings seem to have struck a cord. Sold this one entitled ' Red Haze ' this week.


My Generation. Black Sabbath top charts. Oh Dear!

They should be dead but you have to hand it to ' My Generation ' they are still very much around! Who would have believed it? What's going on? Black Sabbath top after 30 years. The Rolling Stones headlining Glastonbury! Definitely not ' Fading Away ' Keith Richards may have fallen out of a coconut tree but how many men of his age would even be able to climb one, especially after his determined rebuttal of a healthy life style! Anybody a Ray Davis fan? Check out his last few releases, still the master of ironic social comment. Not sure if I will be buying Black Sabbath's latest as I was never a big fan. I prefered Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and other heavies. Hats of to these Gerry Active heroes and I shall continue to shuffle to the Rolling Stones.

A Night on the Tiles

This Ginger Cat is contemplating a busy and exciting night ahead.

My Acrylic Painting. 

' A Night on the Tiles '

The painting is on stretched canvas and measures 12" x !2" ( 30cm x 30cm )You can buy this on ebay if you like it.

www.stores.ebay.co.uk/Light-Water-Art



Walking Meditation, My Poem

On Saturdays I sometimes go to The Northern Lights Sangha for meditation. One of the meditation sessions is walking meditation in the very lovely original garden at The Findhorn Foundation. I love this slow walking while observing closely the wonderful flowers and birds. There is so much change week to week. A reminder that nothing is permanent and today's intensely yellow flowers will be fading next week only to be replaced by another beautiful colour. This week my mind went back 20 years or so to when I walked slowly with a dear friend through gorgeous parkland. Recovering from an operation my friend could only walk slowly with many pauses. Without realising it I was doing a walking meditation for the first time. The intensity of that day was such that I wrote a poem about it. The poem was called.

MOMENTS

Slowly, slowly we walk. Time to absorb. First past the old Chestnut trees. Pausing we wonder. The white fountain of flowers are examined as never before. Huge with delicate subdivisions topped by red stamens. Beautiful. Glowing against the backdrop of green leaves. We observe the lushness and exceptional greenness of late spring, the result of heavy winter rain.

Slowly, slowly we walk. Onto the ancient parkland. The hot sun drawing the vigorous grass upwards. Buttercups and blue flowers populate the grass. So dense in the middle distance the grass turns blue and yellow. Everything pulsates with, throbs with, life's unseen power. The delicate ethereal blue flowers radiate and channel this most strongly. It penetrates us joyfully. We sit and rest in the extensive shadow of an old oak. We admire the gnarled bark and the light and dark greens of it's sun dappled foliage. Further away a low boughed tree casts shadow of such intense blackness that the sunlit Cow Parsley stands out like a light on a dark night.

Slowly, slowly we walk. Into the woods. Enveloped by coolness we listen to the unbridled joy of birdsong. Undergrowth alive with sound and movement. Two squirrels dance the tango of life around a tree trunk. We look at the Bluebells, their full glory gone. A reminder of the changing changelessness of each perfect moment.

Slowly, slowly we walk. Retracing our steps. Past those wonderful aged oaks. Observers of so many seasons of change and renewal, of rain, sun, wind, and snow. In witness today of us, as we enjoy each other and this perfect moment.



Cat Stevens and Poppy Painting

I finished this painting while listening to Cat Stevens Greatest Hits. This shows my age of course. I hadn't listened to this CD for a very long time and what struck me most was that some of the lyrics were very spiritual. Previously I had merely thought them good catchy pop songs. Cat Stevens famously gave up being a pop star and converted to Islam. I now realise that this direction was evident in his song writing. I also realise that I continue to change and while superficially the same person as my younger self I am not. However I wonder if anyone can spot the difference between this finished painting and the unfinished one on a previous post and did the same person finish it?

Red Haze

More Poppies. This time in water colour. 40cm x 30cm. I was working on this one simultaneously with the large canvas poppy painting. Both very different. I think I prefer the watercolour to the big acrylic although that one is not finished yet.

 

 

 

 

 

Reach for the Sky.

POPPIES IN CLUNY GARDEN

This is my painting ( unfinished ) inspired by the lovely poppies in Cluny Garden at The Findhorn Foundation, Scotland.

 

I need to sit with this for a while before finishing.

 

It is on a big canvas 90cm x 60cm ( 3' x 2' ) and is all acrylic.

 

When finished it would compliment a spacious room. Any offers?

Ravishing Red Glow in Cluny Garden

POPPIES

These beautiful flowers glow with spirit. They are in Cluny Garden, Findhorn Foundation, where I work on Tuesdays.

I know everybody takes photos of and paints Poppies but I feel I want to paint them too.

It will be my next painting after I finish my current work, Two Kittens at Play.