While his work seldom represents a specific locality, Robert Macmillan gathers his subject matter by walking from his home in Broughty Ferry, now often accompanied by his young family.
Robert Macmillan, 2020Brushes, rags, palette knives and sand paper are some of the tools I use to paint with. They all produce different effects to help me to creates lakes, reflections, clouds and mists and often done so in a very energetic expressive manner.
A little further afield he visits Lunan Bay, Tentsmuir Beach and West Sands near St Andrews, deeply familiar places where he allows himself to absorb the particular atmosphere derived from the ever-changing weather and seasons. As he walks he observes the changing light, the nuances of cloud, the effect of sun on water, mist lingering in the morning or a haar rolling in from the North Sea.
Robert Macmillan, 2020Lunan Bay was the initial inspiration for Lost in Wonder, with it's vast open beach, hidden coves, sand dunes and ever changing light. Over time, memories of the East Coast beaches work their way into the paintings that are part remembered, part an effort in search of something visually poetic.
Robert Macmillan, 2020My sketches are aids to inform and help resolve a painting. These quick notes help me to progress, but also with drawing being so immediate, it often gives relief from the more intensive worked paintings.
