Fantasy in Scotland, 12″ by 36″ Acrylic paining on deep canvas, $ 350

“Life is great if you don’t weaken,” says Ray. “Vacations are supposed to be invigorating and inspirational,” I respond. Fortunately and unfortunately our last few weeks were spent wandering the coastal cities of Great Britain where we were introduced to exciting sites, sounds and pubs before returning home bearing the gift of colds . . . we weakened.

During my travels I was on a mission, looking for nuances of architecture that defined each city’s unique characteristics. My goal was to acquire a portfolio of images to influence the myriad of paintings I plan to compose during winter hibernation. Some people keep journals while others like myself paint scenes that have been filtered through my brain with an infusion of colorful imaginary meant to record cultural and social highlights.

Most impressive was Rotterdam with its ultra-angular buildings that made me wonder how they stayed floating in the air. Since the port city had been war damaged, designers had a blank palate on which to create angular city-scapes.

The quiet pastoral lands of Ireland that overlooked the ocean’s breakers and high dramatic cliffs topped with fortressed castles also caught my imagination. I especially enjoyed seeing black sheep grazing on gentle rolling hillsides, causing me to continuously repeat in my mind the nursery rhyme, “Baa, Baa black sheep have you any wool.”

The old cities of Cobh, Ireland and Edinburgh in Scotland showed their warmth with multicolored stone buildings, cobbled streets and fireplace stacks ready for use during windy cold seasons. Pubs were filled with friendly voices mixed with fiddle and accordion players ready to draw patrons into an evening of relaxation.

Nature has a way of outperforming man and the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland was no exception. The World Heritage Site boasts geometric basalt columns formed from from ancient volcanoes that became eroded over time by rain and wind. For hours we climbed among these dramatic hexagonal stepping stones in order to view the way it affected the distant coast line.

I had a great time and hopefully you too will benefit by seeing  images in next year’s paintings.

Art work is always for sale and can be seen at eichingerfineart.com. For more information contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

I look forward to hearing about how vacations have inspired you throughout the year.