The Inspiration behind the Wild Swimmers Collection
Read More about Karin Borland's Wild Swimmer Series
The inspiration for this collection came quite by accident. During an autumn walk, I stumbled upon a group of wild swimmers getting ready for their swim. Their colourful floats and caps stood out vividly against the backdrop of an amazing oak tree. The combination of the yellow leaves of the oak and the bright neon colours of their bags and floats against the dark waters of the loch was really exciting. I asked if I could take their photo, I was struck by the contrast and beauty of the scene, and I knew I had to bring it to life on canvas.
Dive into the Paintings
The Wild Swimmers
That photo was so striking and for months I kept looking at it daunted by the figures. I paint landscapes all the time but I didn’t have much experience of including figures at that time. I was particularly concerned that I couldn’t see their feet! I was worried that when I painted it, it would look like I’d chopped their legs off! In the end a big canvas called out to me and once I began the painting it came together really easily. It was almost like a photographic negative appearing in front of my eyes. Or even as if someone else was painting it! It was an odd experience! The figures weren’t added in at the end, they evolved within the painting and I was so pleased when they just ‘worked’ and I discovered that I could paint figures!
The Green Loch
The Green Loch or An Lochan Uaine, to give it its Gaelic name sits deep within the Glenmore Forest in the Cairngorms National Park. There is no convincing explanation as to why the loch is this arresting turquoise colour. Some say it is algae, others say it is the reflection of the trees and legend has it that the colour is because pixies washed their clothes in the water. I rather like the pixie explanation but it doesn’t matter. It is stunning.
However, you have to be an ‘even braver than usual’ wild swimmer as there are reputed to be leeches in this water!
Wild Swimmers: Dry Robes
These wild swimmers in their dry robes just appeared on my board! Honestly, this happens sometimes, it’s a bit like seeing faces in clouds - some random shapes suggested their true nature and it only took a few additional brush marks to make them into these dry robed figures waiting at the loch-side.
Wild Swimmer: Autumn
A wild swimmer wades in to the loch for an autumnal dip. Inspired by the bold swimmers in Loch Faskally.
Emerald Diver
Sun light from above illuminates this wild swimmer as she swims back to the surface in a green turquoise sea. Or perhaps she is diving in ‘The Green Loch’! There are two versions of this image.
Swimming at Feshie Bridge
This is a popular spot for wild swimming in the Cairngorms. I love that, at first, it looks like an empty landscape and then you notice one swimmer and then the other. This feels appropriate as wild swimming is such a low impact activity.
The Joy of Wild Swimming
The Wild Swimmers collection is a celebration of the freedom of open water swimming. It is my aim that each of these painting be infused with the tranquility, excitement, and vibrant energy of wild swimming - the cool, silky feel of the water, the sounds of nature all around. I hope that these artworks reflect your experience of wild swimming.
I am in awe of wild swimmers. I am guessing you are perhaps a wild swimmer yourself and I hope you enjoy exploring this collection as much as I enjoyed creating it. Each piece is a testament to the awe-inspiring experience of wild swimming and the stunning natural landscapes that inspire us.
Thank you for visiting my website and considering adding a piece from the Wild Swimmers collection to your art collection. Please note that most of these original paintings are also available as prints in a range sizes and formats.
Do you have your own wild swimming photos that you would like to have turned into a painting? I would love to help! Please contact me and we can discuss your ideas.