Scottish Landscape Painting:

There is a restaurant facing the Clyde River near Glasgow, Scotland. This Summer we had good Scottish food there, and a view of clouds over the river. I took too many pictures so I could revisit the cloud layers with watercolor, later. The image above is my first attempt and is most like the original scene. My idea is that you can break down any landscape, or any scene, really, into shapes. So where I tried to get the houses and church on the opposite shore, my second attempts became more simplified. Finally, I got tired of using all gray paint, and have been working on making neutrals using blending of opposite colors. Something I first learned about in my art major class, growing up in Germany, at my high school there.

Here is the original photo on the top left. Bottom left is my second attempt. My third try is below. Two more of the same scene are in the works and keeping me interested!

Ellen Hamilton

PS, My movie about how Scots came in droves to settle America, is available on disc here.

Hot Day and Awesome Customers

A moment of bliss after a VERY HOT Fairfax Saturday Market. On my way home I decided to try Fairfax gas for the van. It had been probably over twenty years since I last had a Dr. Pepper. The gas station on Route 236 was suddenly an oasis of comfort. In their fridge they had a line-up of classic sodas. You can still buy Dr. Pepper! Back in the van, I pulled onto the beltway with air on, classic rock playing and sweet cold delight of a Dr. Pepper sugar rush! A blissful moment felt like I was back in the 70's. It made me realize what a bonanza the automobile must have been as it gained popularity. A sanctuary from a hot sticky Summer day, especially for outdoor workers.

On a second note, I love it when people come to the market wearing my shirts! I try and get photos, so here are two from Fairfax Saturday Market, where we set up in the Courthouse parking lot. I did the art for Fairfax shirts last Summer just for this market.