HOOK, LINE & SINKER... (My new poem inspired by Louise McIntosh's painting...)

 Hook, Line & Sinker…

(Inspired by Louise McIntosh’s stunning painting of Oban…)

A tail fin flips on white from the luxurious blue of the firth, a narrow inlet

Of the sea, watched by a teased and inquisitive cat, loitering upon the quay.

Drag marks from kayaks direct the gaze to jolly premises along the harbour wall

Having scoured the rich amber sand upon the otherwise vacant beach.

A myriad of luxurious colours accentuate every detail of the town, each set

Cluster of buildings luring, securing one’s attention in a spree

Of luminescence. The purple tree-line is injected by stabs of vivid green, below a squall 

Of red sky, topped by a lilac McCaig’s Tower, unfinished and impishly beyond reach…

A snug cottage watches from the woods, an unlikely sentinel to vet

The glitz below, peering towards the distillery and a pink industrial chimney.

Rainbow-like roads, their inclines like snakes disappear, yet enthral

And the total blast of colour wrenches the attention to the quiet haven, a rewarding niche…   

Pete Ray…

1st March 2026…  

The startling hues grabbed my attention and the humour in the painting was palpable…

Love it…

The thoughts of The Sand Martin...

‘What a spectacular view of Oban this painting presents! 

There could hardly be more of a contrast with what the eye sees in real life and what this painting presents in terms of colour and style.

The buildings and features are sharp and clear, and the range of colours enables one to more clearly discern each feature and building than would necessarily be the case by simply looking at the view. 

In that case some time would be necessary to pick out features. In this stunning picture each of them shouts out loud and clear, so that for example although the shops may be similar, they are most certainly separate from all the others and very different.

My initial thought was that the vivid saturated colour was too much but upon looking more carefully I see that in fact it clarifies the view in a more accessible way. 

For many and particularly the visually impaired this is a fantastic way to bring the world alive. The distinction between beach and sea is wonderful with the opposing colours delighting the eye and always a winning combination. 

The grey tones used behind the seafront and higher up the hill whilst keeping the focus on the seafront show, as does the perspective, that the town spreads upwards. 

The grim spilling of blood in the original Roman Colosseum is perhaps referenced by the bright red painted sky around the enormous colosseum-like structure at the top of the hill.

Originally startled by this painting I find that it is altogether an uplifting and enlightening work of art, giving a wonderfully fresh view of this well known scene.’