Misty Mornings
15 - 20 May: Third Microseason of Rikka (beginning of summer)
Hello! Thanks for reading my newsletter on art and the seasons. I’ve included the song above, which you might enjoy listening to while reading.
On the whole, we are still enjoying the pleasant May weather here in Edinburgh. Recently, we were debating with friends about the best month of the year - we agreed it was October, but May was a close second. What a beautiful time of year, where everything is alive and blooming - and such amenable weather to appreciate it in!
However, I find I often find the nice weather somewhat unexpected, as each morning seems to begin with a thick, coastal fog. Sometimes called the Haar in Scotland and the Fret below the border, these misty mornings are a common occurrence in spring and summer, as cold sea air blows onto a warmer climate over land.
This is one of my favourite sorts of weather - a short-lived, optimistic greyness. I like waiting a few hours into the morning, when the fog lifts and gives way to morning sun.
Sketchbook Notes: A simple morning sketch in a Pith Kabosu.
I first painted this outside on a misty, raining morning with a charcoal pencil and gouache (left). It was so wet, my palette filled up with rainwater!
I later added in a bit more detail with a Neocolour II. It was surreal doing this in the bright light of the afternoon - a completely different experience, though the same day!