cliffs – Rosie McClelland Art

Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal August 2015

September 15, 2015December 28, 2015 Rosie McClelland Art

The summer already seems like a lifetime ago but before the Autumn draws in completely here is a little reminder of the August sketching holiday in Donegal.

I don’t think I could get away with saying the weather was brilliant (the photos of raincoats and warm jackets are a testament to that) but we certainly weren’t washed out and Donegal is beautiful and inspirational no matter what.

Our locations this year were Killybegs Harbour, Fintra Beach, Port, Muckross and an “invigorating” sea outing with Sliabh Liag Boat Trips.

Donegal Sketching Holidays 2015

January 29, 2015December 28, 2015 Rosie McClelland Art

It might be snowing outside but it’s time to think about summer sketching in beautiful Donegal

Location: Largy in SW Donegal lying between Ireland’s largest fishing town of Killybegs and the beautiful village of Kilcar in the heart of Donegal’s Gaeltacht
Dates: Sunday July 5 – Wednesday July 8
Sunday August 9 – Wednesday August 12
Tuition Fee: £195 (£50 deposit with booking-form and balance to be paid 4 weeks before beginning (Euros 260, deposit Euro 80)

The weekend starts with light refreshments on the Sunday evening, continuing with painting on location on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am – 5pm with a break for lunch from 1–2pm (sandwich lunch included in price)
The course is suitable for all levels

There is excellent accommodation in the area at reasonable prices
Contact me for further info and a booking-form

Donegal

Silver Strand

November 9, 2014 Rosie McClelland Art

On the south west corner of Donegal lies a cove with pink sand and humbug rocks.

Yes I know, the name suggests silver sand but the day I went it was definitely pink!

On sunny, summer days tourists, hikers and locals climb down the steep steps to sunbathe and swim in the clear water. But even on a dull day, if your ageing knees will allow it, it’s well worth the effort to descend those steps and walk along the strand surrounded by a somewhat claustrophobic, horseshoe of majestic cliffs.

What fascinates me down here are the unusual humbug-like metamorphic rock formations. Last winter, with the storms and tidal surges, earth from the cliffs was washed away to reveal evidence of a 7000 yr old petrified forest. I was positively beside myself to find this! I just hope the good people of Donegal find some way of protecting this – the temptation to take a sample home is so great I practically had to tie my hands behind my back!

silver strand muckross 218

Donegal, Holiday, On Location, Workshops

Sketching in Donegal in the sun

July 13, 2013December 28, 2015 Rosie McClelland Art

Dolphins leaping, long, white sands, rusty rivers, waterfalls, salmon, guiness, sunbathers – hang on a minute – SUNBATHERS! Yes, that’s right, Donegal was hotter than the Costas last week and 10 times more beautiful! It isn’t often that I don’t have to pray, cross fingers and toes and do a fair amount of cosmic ordering for good weather on my Donegal sketching breaks but this time it was a piece of cake.

Seven painters (and one spouse) met up at my place on Sunday evening for three days of sketching on location. I like to choose some of my favourite spots where there is plenty of subject matter to suit all tastes.

Below are a few images from our day at the Glen river

Before they started I asked them to do some quick line drawings showing the flow and direction of the water’s movement and to be aware of how dark the river and river bank actually is despite the bright sunshine.