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John Gerrie Artwork
May 2026 Newsletter
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Spring Arrives in Scotland
Spring seems to have arrived at last. Here in our corner of Scotland, there is finally a visible movement in the garden after the long winter months. The rhododendrons are showing their brilliant colour, and the flower beds have been brightened by snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells. These small signs of spring always bring a welcome sense of hope and renewal.
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Moving Away from Winter Subjects
Perhaps because of that change in the weather and the mood of the season, I felt it was time to move away from winter subjects. I have painted a winter scene recently, but by now most of us are ready to look ahead to warmer days, brighter colour and the possibility of summer holidays.
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Suggestions for Future Paintings
I am also interested to hear what subjects people would like to see me paint next. If there is a particular scene, place or theme you would like to recommend, please respond through the website. I will do my best to consider your suggestions, while continuing to paint a wide range of subjects for the website.
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The Freedom of Watercolour
More Than a Photograph
One of the great pleasures of watercolour is that it does not need to copy a photograph exactly. A photograph records a scene, but a painting can shift the colours, soften some areas and draw attention to others.
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A Personal Response to Place
That freedom allows the subject to become something more personal and expressive. Colour, light and composition can all be adjusted to bring out the feeling of a place, rather than simply recording what was there.
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A Holiday Remembered
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This month’s three watercolours come from photographs taken during a holiday my wife and I had some years ago with a friend from primary school and his wife. We stayed at a cottage in Kippford, beside the Solway Firth, and spent our time exploring a part of Scotland that was less familiar to us.
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The journey took us along the coast and as far as Ardrossan, looking towards Arran, making it a memorable holiday and a rich source of painting ideas.
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Closing Thoughts
I hope these three new watercolours bring a little brightness and a sense of summer to you. Please keep watching, reading and sharing your suggestions for future paintings.
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Thank you again for your support.
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Website Links
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Marischal College, Aberdeen
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A detailed pen, ink and watercolour painting of the main entrance to Marischal College, Aberdeen, focusing on the granite façade, soaring towers, entrance arch, carved stonework and line of coloured shields.
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Painted from a low, upward viewpoint, this artwork captures the scale, craftsmanship and cool elegance of one of the Granite City’s most recognisable architectural landmarks.
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Crathes Castle Watercolour
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A frontal watercolour painting of Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire, showing the pale tower, domestic wing, red ivy, green lawn and soft purple-blue sky.
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This calm architectural study captures the castle from a direct viewpoint, highlighting its structure, symmetry and distinctive Scottish character.
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Ancient Caledonian Forest
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This original watercolour captures a peaceful hillside scene with scattered pine trees, weathered rocks and layers of green countryside rising towards a distant hill. The painting has a fresh, natural feel, with soft washes in the sky and stronger greens across the land giving a sense of depth and open space. Rocky foreground details and windswept trees add character, making this a calm and appealing landscape for anyone drawn to Scottish woodland and Highland scenery.
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Crathes Castle in Watercolour
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Two Paintings, Two Different Views Crathes Castle is a subject I have returned to twice, and looking at the two paintings side by side shows just how differently the same place can be interpreted in watercolour. Both paintings feature the familiar tower house and the adjoining building, but the viewpoint, colour, atmosphere and composition are quite different. One is more …
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Discounted Original Paintings
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See all discounted originals HERE.
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