Allan MacDonald | seven new paintings: Lick of Light and other paintings

There is something in Allan MacDonald’s paintings greater than even the hills, trees and light which he draws inspiration from. This latent power, and his energetic use of oils, makes MacDonald amongst the most powerful landscape painters around.

Geographically, these seven paintings continue MacDonald’s exploration of the northwest: Cul Mor, Toridon, Aligin and a snowy Glen Cannich. They also continue his experimentation with what oil paint can achieve. In ‘last light embers,’ marks of green, blue, yellow and orange tango in the evening glow. There is a similar cosmic dance in ‘lick of light.’ Nature, with its birch trees, loch and light, are in an ecstatic movement. In the background, through the trees, is Toridon itself - still and ancient, a play of shadow and light. Yesterday, someone asked me how Allan MacDonald achieves this. The answer is many years of painting and a lot of devotion.