Weather can change a painting’s mood significantly. Whether the skies are clear and blue or have puffy white clouds floating peacefully over a bright blue sky, or if the clouds have grey visible, indicating an incoming or outgoing storm, or full cloud coverage, all these aspects change the colors of the landscape that is being depicted, and naturally all convey a different mood for the entire painting.

Whether you’re in your home town (or city) or traveling to somewhere new or where you’ve been before and loved, a particular landscape can cause an emotional reaction to seeing it, and you may remember it forever. I think there are many reasons for this, linking back to memory and nostalgia for that particular time and place. I grew up in Vermont and have a lot of experience with exploring natural habitats, from forests, fields, ponds, lakes, mountains, hills, and etc. The places that were special to me in my childhood will always have a place in my heart, and I’ll remember them fondly forever because I accumulated many happy memories there.

In media, literature and art Scotland exudes a feeling of nostalgia, for times long past, wanderlust, the urge to travel and see all the sights for yourself, and solitude from the vast landscapes can give a sense that you’re just a small part in this world.

One part of a day trip we took through the Highlands near Inverness was a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train. About halfway through the trip we stopped at a station in Glenfinnan for a short break.

When I think of the day trips I made to the Isle of Sky to see the sights of the Scottish Highlands I think about classic British novels that spoke of the wonder of the moody highlands - the Heather lining the moors, the crashing waves in the cold Northern ocean, the towering cliffs look over vast land.

Towards the end of our 2nd day trip through the Highlands we stopped in a little town called Kyleakin Bay for a short break.

Growing up reading and watching novels and movies set in the UK I knew I would likely experience some overcast and moody days when I visited Scotland. I would say the weather during our trip was perfect. We got to see bright and sunny days as well as some cloudy days that accentuated the moodiness of the landscapes we saw.

The Highlands in Scotland were a breathtaking experience. Admittedly we only got to spend a couple days exploring, but what we did see was very memorable and inspiring. The roads wound through passes that were lined with mountains, valleys, lochs, and towns abundant with beautiful older houses that fit in with the surrounding landscape perfectly. We saw many different autumnal flowers and plants as well as farmland rich with sheep and Highland cows.

My latest completed series was inspired by a trip I took to Scotland and all of the breathtaking places I saw when I was there.