My latest painting, Dawn at Wester Ross, is a special place in Scotland that seems to keep calling me, because last September I painted “The Passage” http://www.oilpastelsbymary.com/2013/09/23/the-passage-oil-pastel/, Wikipedia described “Bealach na Bà is a historic pass through the mountains of the Applecross peninsula, in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands—and the name of a famous twisting, single-track mountain road through the pass and mountains.” This time I painted mountains in the same region as the sun rose drenching the landscape with golden tones.
Dawn at Wester Ross is an oil pastel (11×14) painted on gesso prepared hardboard. I apply clear gesso for tooth – either with a brush for texture or a sponge roller for barely visible texture, but still providing good tooth. I wanted to texture the foreground grasses and create a hazy atmosphere for the back mountains, so applying clear gesso with the brush worked perfectly. The brands of oil pastels used were Holbeins, Mungyo-Gallery and Sennelier.
Wester Ross is a special place that continues to fascinate many who travel its pathways and beautiful landscape. Hope you enjoy a view of an early morning in Scotland, Dawn at Wester Ross.
Reference image used was taken by Paul Ackmaley a photographer with pmp.
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Your composition is always on point!…fantastic and very soothing to look at 🙂
Thank you Zara for your generous comments!
Lovely, Mary!
Hi Bette, thanks so much!
Absolute “eye candy”!
Thanks Leslie!
The haziness is quite appealing. So is the color harmony of the piece. A beautiful place.
Thank you Elena for your generous comments!
This is a landscape I never can get enough of. You do it justice – in glorious colours making the crisp air visible.
Thank you so much Ann-Christine for the compliment – you must know the area well. I love painting the hillsides of Scotland beautiful scenes and perfect elements for a painting.
Stunning. I love the red orange glow in the center. 🙂
Thank you so much Elizabeth – I really enjoyed working the sunrise colors for this scene.
I also agree with other comments – beautiful! 🙂
Thanks Jackie!
Absolutely beautiful, Mary! The colours of heather 🙂 Or do I mean heaven?
What a compliment Jo, thank you so much!
What a beautiful painting Mary. Some of my ancestors were from Scotland. Perhaps they to saw this same sight.
Thanks very much Tim – very cool, I’ll bet they wandered the area some!
🙂
Outstanding … love the transition of colors … and as one not ever been to Scotland, I knew it was mountainous, but not that much.
Thank you Frank. This area of Scotland is known for many for the mountainous region, incredible steep slope and amazing history – I love painting the area when I have an opportunity.
Your attraction to this place really comes through in your painting today. Did everything just flow for you when you were working on this? It would appear so.
Thank you so much Gallivanta for your lovely comment. It took a while to manage the overall glow with the oil pastels, but once I got the main colors down for the mountains, I worked the flow over several days – the OPs had to hard slightly each night to get additional layers. Thank you, I like your question.
And the best part is that you didn’t have to get up at dawn to capture the image. 🙂 You could just concentrate on the oil pastels.
Love it. My friends at pmp take me across the world, for free, showcasing images that for some of us we can only dream of.
Same for me; your art is probably the closest I will ever get to Ross.
Folds of soft woollen fabric layered across the landscape Mary !
A gorgeous morning on the mountains 🙂
Thank you so much Poppy – your words are like satin. Love to read your thoughts, thank you!
How gorgeous!
Thank you so much – glad you enjoyed the piece!
Beautiful work, Mary! This is the kind of scene I hope to stumble into someday. You have a real knack for capturing objects in the background and bringing out the magic of nature.
Thank you so much Millie for your generous comments. You nailed what attracts me to paint a scene – the background gives the focal point it’s life. Thanks again!
Oh Mary, this painting took my breath away. So gorgeous!
Thank you so much Emily for your wonderful comment! You would love this area in Scotland for the awesome views and history, it’s a real treat for photographers.
I agree with the other comments, it’s lovely! Soft and serene morning light.
Thanks Rhonda for your gracious comment!
Nice compostion and nice colours.
Thank you very much Bente for your wonderful comment!
I feel there’s something magical here..maybe because of the evocative colors, maybe the landscape itself…but if I were to wander into this painting I think I would see the fairies fleeing with the dawn, and my sudden, unwary discovery of their midsummer night’s festivities…..
Thank you so much Cynthia for your beautiful comment, it’s a real reward when one of my paintings takes you to a special spot. The morning glow really got my attention – thanks again!
The colours and the mood are exquisite, Mary. Lovely work.
Thank you Don for your generous comment, much appreciated!
It’s beautiful, Mary! I can see why it would inspire you with your artwork too.
Thank you Christy for your lovely comment – it is a beautiful area with a great history.