Picture of the Month for October 2025 is Calm Evening from Rum Towards Skye by Philip Alexander. It was chosen from the Members Gallery by Jane Eustace.

I have chosen this painting because of the way that I felt upon first seeing it. It delivers a tranquil quality which is beguiling. There is a sense of serenity in the harmonious colours chosen to depict the scene. The eye is led into the distant hills giving great depth which compliments the width of the image providing an immersive experience.

I liked the way that the artist has used the sharp reflections of the masts to pierce the horizontal softness of the glassy, glowing water beneath.

As evening falls my mind wonders to thoughts of the proceeding day, as the warner tones hint at something contrastingly warmer in temperature at an earlier time.

The cheeky seal popping his head above the surface is amusing and allows us to feel the scene from his perspective and imagine what else might be hidden in the depths of the water. 

Jane Eustace