Gill Stewart Art, Lochgilphead (2025)

09/02/2025

A little painting and writing retreat in the garden…

A glorious winters day… early morning frost , blue skies and sunlight as the day went on.
I ventured out not long after dawn to ‘Spring Clean’ my little greenhouse .
My fingers nipped with the tenacious bite of Mr Frost.
I was only going to do this, and then come in to paint. But the day was so invigorating I had to stay outside pottering preparing for Spring.
My day was filled with such joy my heart was bursting.
An entirely unplanned day, I simply ceased the moment, and so glad I did.

I have now created a little Winter retreat for painting and writing before the season begins and everything jostles for position.
I think this year the green can share a mix of growing , writing and painting space.
To be out there looking over the Glen , all snug inside is so inspiring.

Too cold now, so in by the fire before going up to bed with a book.
A simple and happy life led by the heart 🤍🕊️

07/02/2025

The beginning of two west coast abstracts …let’s see where they will take me.

When opening new paints it always evokes a feeling of fancy. The glamour of new paints before my eyes never wears off.
I bought a box of Unison pastels , very expensive!
To open the box was to me like the most beautiful box of chocolates you could imagine.
The colours, the sumptuous powdery texture . The magical effects when mixed with water and Acrylic. Sheer luxury!

There is always a slight hesitation to use the first one, or to squeeze the pristine new tube of paint.
But once opened they join the gang, and take on all the gnarled and lived in look that has its own beauty and story .
A painting table with all its used paints. The palette thick with paint holds so many stories.
Stories of accidents, happy surprises, mistakes, successes and all mixed in with every human emotion.
Like a deeply lined face with eyes of wisdom and intelligence.
A life well lived.

To abstract distorts and breaks perfectionism, that dull and uninteresting thing that it is.
We want individuality, uniqueness, our voice however that may sound and look through paint. An authentic expression.
Thst is my hope for this way ahead in my practice this year.

Prompt ‘A feeling of fancy’

06/02/2025

Flowers often speak where words no longer suffice.
They hold a language of love for all human experience.

I introduced myself earlier this week to new followers. But I didn’t talk about my time as a florist . A chance happening that lasted for 15 years . I worked all across the Scotland and a beautiful corner of Southern Ireland .

These days were all about my getting to know a client and expressing the love that felt through flowers.
Following an accident I had to retire that aspect of of my business , but I am happy to say I have said yes to a rather beautiful wedding here in Argyll this Summer. I want to capture the love.
I will share my journey with you because it is important to me to be back creating in a way I love, and given the permission you create the love felt by a client.
A huge privilege.

Another privilege is to create a fresh installation for the great hall in I am very excited about this .
The cover of .beale book A Place in Scotland has my current installation, but I am so looking forward to forward to creating a beautiful flower cloud. More of that later.

After many years of healing I am back creating beauty.
Weddings are a possibility again

05/02/2025

Backyard tales… a little Snowflake….
It’s enough

This Winter this wonder …a calling card comes to mind .
Do you remember the days when a calling card was left. A very British thing.
I think a rather lovely thing.
A card placed often on a silver platter by the door. I remember this from my youth
Guest decked in their best left a card.

I rather think it might be be lovely to re introduce such a thing .

I think of visiting a friend and leaving behind me a hand painted card of a Snowdrop or Snowflake as a sign of hope an wellbeing for the months ahead

With love,
Gill 🤍🕊️

04/02/2025

Been prompted to think what I like to create, make….

Perhaps also a good time to say hello to new followers. Welcome,so lovely to have you along on the journey.
And a huge thank you to my older followers. You brighten my days on here.

I am Gill, a Scottish artist living in on the West coast of Scotland in the heart of historic Kilmartin Glen .
My inspiration to create is drawn from shore and hill that surrounds us.
The Well never runs dry.

When not painting, I am gardening or cooking. My three passions with photography being a later arrival. And something I now love.

Making memories is something important to me as I get older. There is the beautiful thought that the days ahead are shorter and so they accrue a certain magic .
Each day, each moment is to be lived with the wonderment of childhood.
Here I am with our little granddaughter. A bright star in my life.
We are in ‘the cooking corner’ as Ella calls it making supper.
Also playing ‘ lipstick & swapping glasses’
The chat is all about ‘Wicked’ I was just catching up with Harry Potter…but hey, life moves fast in these little lives.

Back home now from the weekend away with a swag bag of memories.

The garden shows more growth in the bulbs in that short time of being away.
Snowdrops popping up everywhere before my eyes. Sadly not in my garden. They either don’t like it or the mice eat the bulbs.
We have a handful in flower, perhaps they will spread. I hope so.

Back to painting. I am working on a new body of work for this years Open Studios .
Some new practices being introduced, which excites me .

Time to plan our ‘Art In The Garden’ painting retreats/ workshops for this year .
Last year was our first , and very successful. We welcome only two to four people at a time to keep an intimate flow giving time to get to know one another.
I will announcing dates soon . There will be Spring , Summer and Autumn classes.
Private workshops can be arranged too, also 1-1 please dm if that is something you might be interested in.

31/01/2025

Winter Rainbow

Thou Winter, thou art keen, intensely keen; Thy cutting frowns experience bids me know,
For in thy weather days and days I’ve been,
As grinning north winds horribly did blow,
And pepper’d round my head their hail and snow:
Throughout thy reign ‘tis mine each year to prove thee;
And, in spite of every storm I’ve beetled in ,
With all thy insults, Winter, I do love thee,
Thou half enchantress, like to pictur’d Sin!
Though many frowns thy sparing smiles deform,
Yet when thy sunbeam shrinketh from its shroud,
And thy bright rainbow golds the purple storm,
I look entranced on thy painted cloud:
And what wild eye with natures beauties charm’d,
That hang entaptur’d o’er each ‘witching spell,
Can see thee, Winter, then, and not be warm’d
To breathe thy praise, and say, ‘I love thee well! ‘

John Clare ( 1793- 1864)

A quieter Wintry weekend than last.
Our fourth attempt to attend family celebrations!
Let the journey henceforth…

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend
With love,
Gill x🤍🕊️

29/01/2025

Good morning from Dove Cottage on this bright and sunny January day…

I am spending time doing 30 second experimental drawings.
I choose an object and firstly paint from memory, then touch , then holding the piece in my hand and then observation.
I am having a lot of fun, and lots of ideas are flowing for some new work.

I am also working on some Winter flower studies. All very natural and spontaneous.
Some are on wood blocks, some on paper.
This is a little cyclamen . Lots of Snowdrops coming up.
Looking forward to sharing what’s on my studio table as I develop these ideas.
I am also going into the Glen as darkness falls to draw blind inspired by the burn ( small river) and from the sounds of the wild geese flying overhead.
We had over a 100 last night in the gloaming. Then just the sound as the sky became inky black.
Some sounds on yesterday’s stories.

January has been such a quick month, with mostly kind weather except for the storm.

Hope you are all safe, and power returned to your homes.

With love,
Gill 🤍🕊️

24/01/2025

The wonders of nature…

Today storm èowyn blew with vigour and destruction.
A hurricane warning indeed for Scotland. I expect that sort of news from my brother in Florida and California, but not here.

As a Scot living on the west coast we are used to windy days.

I always remember laughing when my brother was commissioner of Police in the Cayman Islands, he told me they battened the hatches at the least of storms declaring it to be a hurricane .
My brother used to laugh saying this is just a windy day in Scotland.

But today was no laughing matter. It truly was of hurricane nature.
Tonight I am so thankful the old Elm at the bottom of the garden didn’t come down otherwise we may well not be here .
The providence of angels.

Today we should have been travelling to family for a late Christmas and Birthday celebration. This is our third cancellation due to Flu in the family and now the storm.
All food bought , party balloons, and Gypsy’s special party bow all ironed.
It can wait until next weekend.
The main concern is all are safe.
Our daughter’s garden is trashed, fencing down, but they are safe .

As I watched the storm today I noted the birds behaviour.
I filled the feeders for an early breakfast before the storm picked up, so the birds could be nourished.
My surprise was they dipped in and out all day. These tiny weightless little beings sitting on the branches of the Apple tree as the storm raged.
How on earth were they not blown away.
Jack the Woodpecker came three time , he was furious. He nutted the peanut feeder in such a temper, then went back to the old Elm, then back to the nut feeds even more furious!

The Goldfinches came and went in their glorious dozen, but one was so bad tempered he kept hitting everyone.
Quite a bully actually. I shall have a word after the storm .
But the miracle and tenacity of these little garden friends made my day.
Silver linings and all that …

Hope you are all safe and haven’t sustained too much damage .

With love,
Gill 🤍🕊️

23/01/2025

Hello everyone, hope you are well.
I haven’t been around much because of some difficulties in the background.

Here are my bright baubles that puncture a grey winter landscape, whatever that landscape may look like to the natural eye or the soul and spirit.

This image shows the rain forming a teardrop…a symbol of an aching confused world .

The red being a symbol of realistic and metaphoric pain.
Shed blood which comes in many forms .

I walked the Crinan canal the other day, the light like never before.
I felt I was walking on heavens plain.
I had forgotten my phone. I believe for a reason.
Some moments simply need to be stared at and wondered about.

The light in a few moments was an amalgam of Autumn and Winter.
It was late in the day, the sun going down but still strong. It’s last shout you could say.
The clouds cut curious shapes which divided shadows and light.
On one the moss was covered in ethereal blue light as powdery of angelic clouds.
The other as you crossed the line was of molten gold .
I stood for a time being washed in this light, now snd again stepping from light to shadow.
A surreal experience.

Our world right now looks dark. Monsters loom…
But they won’t forever. Their day will pass.
The light always wins over darkness, even if it takes a while.
The while is for a reason …

17/01/2025

It was wet and grey today, so decided to to float flowers…

The first flowers in my garden this year 🤍

#

16/01/2025

I arose to a pink world this morning.
The sunrise infusing everything it so delicately touched…

First cup of tea made and a wander in the garden as I fed the birds.
So many green shoots appearing.
It won’t be long until terracotta pots dotted all around the garden will be filled with these little faces ‘Honeybee’ they have a scent of honey too. And little faces like the lion King .

Alas, I still have tulips to plant. I am not overly worried because I have had great success before with late planting.
Part of the hold up has been the quandary of the old zinc vintage bath I bought. I bought it for plants, but then couldn’t face drilling holes in it.
I toyed with the idea of using it as mini Winter dipping pool.
I am really not that brave. So it is with great delight I have learned it has a slow leak.
All my problems solved. It can now be a planter without guilt.
I went to our greengrocer/ butcher today and asked for cardboard boxes. They really are the best!
I stashed my boot with enough cardboard to fill a third of the bath, the rest I will fill with compost and plant the tulips , hopefully this weekend.

Snow forecast for next week. Hoping tomorrow will be as pleasant as today to let me get some gardening jobs done .
Then back to writing …

12/01/2025

Sunday night…supper always has candles and wine…
Loved this quote George just read to me. We read to each other often.

“Remind me of my safari in Africa.
Somebody forgot the corkscrew, and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.

12/01/2025

Jack Frost has disappeared as quickly as as he came. A soft grey blanket has descended.
The apple tree is full of birds feeding. The fluttering reds and yellows of the Goldfinches punctuate the monochromatic day with vibrant colours and intricate dance.

I look through the garden door and find it hard to believe it will full of life and lushness in the not too distant future.
The bare bones remain at the moment allowing a clear palette to plan some new things .
The tulips last year were all peaches and creams. This year the clowns.
I hope they do as well as last year’s Tulips .
I dream of days and evenings sitting in the garden painting and reading .
Do you know we were able to to sit in the garden at midnight on the 31st December, Hogmanay to welcome 2025.
I rather liked that we welcomed this new year in the garden.
Going through seed packets today deciding what and what not to plant.
I don’t know about you but I always have packets out of date. Probably because I buy too many in my excitement at the thought of a new season.

Have a lovely Sunday whatever you are doing 🤍

11/01/2025

This land I live in…

Each season tells its own tale, weaves its own story into the whole, like a beautiful tapestry that at first you cannot see.

There is toil and labour, then the first sprouting of new growth .
Then sweet Summer results in abundance.
Then the fruitfulness of labour.
Seasons well spent.
Then there is Winter…
A time of content. Of rest

All goes to sleep, at least as far as our eye can see .
But in the darkness of the earth and soul new growth is preparing to burst forth .
In the land. In ourselves.

One of the joys of Winter for me is frosty fields and sheep gently grazing , their secrets held within.
Both sheep and man at one as food made ready for Winter from the fields they graze. The shepherd has stored and now feeds.

We too can walk in harmony with this pattern .
Dream your dreams, grow your desires . Make ready for new growth .
And be ready to open your storehouses.

With love ,
Gill 🤍

10/01/2025

Waiting to light all the candles when my special friend arrives for an afternoon of tea and cake, some champagne to sparkle like the frosty day outside.
An afternoon reading and reviewing my all too vast cookbook collection.
What fun we had !

Fire lit, piles of books, a pear and rosemary tart I made . Earl Grey tea for Steph .
Lots of chat and celebration of true friendship on the most wonderful of winter days when the light feels surreal.
A magic spell cast over this mystical land that we both call home.

09/01/2025

Simple beauty frozen….an opportunity to stand still and look at every crystalline petal . The fall of the leaves heading to death, so there may be life next year .

Take time, notice.
Know too a time of darkness in your life new life will spring.
Most assuredly 🤍🕊️

07/01/2025

Morning has broken to a light dusting of snow and magical winter light with the sky the colour of a pale watery moon.

Twelfth night…
There is something special about Twelfth night. Yesterday there was a deep frost , theatrical skies and mesmerising light.
I had a thought to plant some Tulips, so as Spring approached I would remember the bulbs were planted on Twelfth night night when all lay still with winter bright.

The ground was frozen solid. So I decided to place some bulbs in my huge whisky barrel and top up with soil.
So that’s what I did. Maybe a little shallow. I will add more soul as it settles.

You can see the barrel through the garden door . It always brings immense joy after a long Winter to see the dancing colours of Tulips
Last years Tulips were a soft muted palette. This year I am bringing on the clowns.
The carnival and circus Queen’s …
‘ Flaming Art’ seemed appropriate to order because I hope they may end up on a canvas or two .
‘ Carnival De Nice’ - ‘Carnaval De Rio’
And ‘Estella Rjnveld
All wear flamboyant gowns of red and white stripes and splashes in soft satin sheens.
I shall enjoy watching with anticipation for the green nibs appearing through the soil.

I will plant the rest when there is a thaw.
But from now on this shall be my Twelfth night barrel…

Keep cosy and safe in this snowy weather.
And look upon with the eyes of a child

Gill 🤍❄️🕊️

06/01/2025

Across the Moss - Moine Mhor which is an ancient peat bog, but has the look of the Savannah, particularly in golden light .
There are trees sprinkled here and there.
Each with a different character .
These little trees are some of my favourites.
They are not statuesque nor grand, but have their stories to tell.
They belie their strength, having a look of fragility. But the winds howl in from the West straight off the Atlantic tearing across the Moss with such ferocity at times.
But still the little trees stand …

Gill Stewart Art

09/02/2025

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