Dunnottar Castle – Ink on a Watercolour Moleskine
Dunnottar Castle is a partially restored ruin lying south of Stonehaven on Scotland’s east coast.
It was the home of one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the Marischals, but was seized by the crown after the last Earl was convicted of treason after being involved in the 1715 Jacobite uprising lead by the “Old Pretender”. The castle’s history is fascinating and is worth reading about. My favourite tale, learned as a youngster in primary school, concerns the “Scottish Crown Jewels” or “The Scottish Honours” as they are properly known. These regalia were used to crown Scottish kings and queens. When Oliver Cromwell invaded Scotland, in 1650, he was determined to destroy the Honours which were a symbol of royalty. (He had already got rid of the English Crown Jewels). After Charles 2nd was crowned at Scone Palace, in 1651, the Honours were taken to Dunnottar. Cromwell’s army laid siege to the castle for eight months but couldn’t break into the stronghold. To remove the jewels to safety, they were lowered, in a basket, down the cliff where an old women wrapped them up in a blanket. They were then spirited away thus saving them for all time. Today they are on show in Edinburgh Castle.
Himmapaan 10:03 am on February 27, 2009 | #
Isn’t that a wonderful story? The very stuff of fairy tales…
Margie 10:34 am on February 27, 2009 | #
I want to be there! This is a wonderful painting, made all the more magical by the story. I like the small bit of foreground… that really makes the piece.
trebor61 11:03 am on February 27, 2009 | #
Himmapaan – The fairy tale gets better. After Scotland and England became a “united country” (I use this rem very loosely) in 1707, there was not much use for the Scottish Regalia as Parliament sat in London. The jewels were shoven into a chest and hidden away and, incredibly, forgotten about for over one hundred years. In 1818 a group of prominent citizens, including Sir Walter Scott, set out to try to find them. The chest was discovered behiind a bricked up wall and the hounours were put on permanent disply in a specially created “Crown Room”. They ahve been there ever since – except during WW2 when they were moved to safety.
Margie – Ive left the details of the small bit in the foreground out as it would have made my painting too complicated. This piece of land actually joins to the castle – a sort of narrow bridge which explains why the castle is so easily defended. If you follow this link you might be able to figure out what I’m raving on about.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stonehaven/dunnottarcastle/
PS If you want to “Be there” just pop over. The world is a lot smaller than we tend to admit. We could offer you some accommodation if you ever want to stay in this part of the country although there is a huge amount to see in other parts and you would be advised to take in as much as possible. bobmcdowall@hotmail.com
Himmapaan 11:17 am on February 27, 2009 | #
Fascinating. Thank you! And I quite neglected to comment about your painting, which is just beautiful, of course. But I’d assumed you knew how I admire your work anyway…
Another favourite. 
Rudat 12:56 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
Spectacular!
lucio armenio 1:02 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
I love the paintings and the stories! Thanks for sharing them!
Margie 1:13 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
Bob, I’ve been trying to think of how you might use the Inktense pencils… and it strikes me that the texture on the cliff sides of this piece would be a good place to use them (when drawing future texture on cliffs, or trees, or whatever needs liners kinds of texture).. you could draw the texture first with the Inktense, then wet areas in which you want the pigment to spread out.
Thank you for the invite. If I can get a teaching project in Scotland I will come visit you and Margaret. I am working on arranging one in Ireland in 2011, maybe.
Margie 1:30 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
I just visited the link you posted (above). Amazing! What a place, and so old! I can’t quite figure out if this is accessible by foot anymore?
trebor61 4:19 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
Thanks for the idea, Margie. I’ve just posted a quick drawing of a tidal estuary and tried your suggestion. I was working on this when you idea “came through” so I modified my drawing. I’ll try this on rocks soon – honest! I think my problem might be to keep the colours a bit more muted.
PS Yes, you can access the castle by foot – if you are brave enough.
trebor61 4:26 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
lucio armenio – Your are so welcome. Thanks for the comment
Susan – as usual, good of you to take the time to comment. The invitation, in my reply to Margie – above, applies to you as well. If you are ever over here, please look us up. I actually wrote to Leo, some time ago, to find a way to offer an open door to many of the folk who have been kind enough to express an interest in my stuff and my country. So far there has been no reply and I am beginning to think my email hasn’t reached him. I’ll drop other folk a line, like this, instead.
Sophie Brown 8:00 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
Sometimes I don’t know quite what to do with you. I love all of your stories, then suddenly I realized you’re pretty witty and I’m not sure if you’re pulling my leg! Of course the “crown jewels” could be exactly that but of course that’s not how you usually think of them, and then I was laughing and I don’t even know if it’s supposed to be funny!
roseindigo 9:48 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
This is a very dramatic composition, and as usual, done very well too. I actually think you are getting good enough to have your own little exhibit of your part of Scotland. People would LOVE these!
One of the duties of an artist, I believe, is to make people actually “see” those things that they take for granted and therefore often don’t even look at anymore. Your paintings are the perfect example of calling attention to how beautiful your corner of the world is.
roseindigo 9:49 pm on February 27, 2009 | #
I agree with Sophie. Had a giggle about the “crown jewels” even if it wasn’t meant that way.
Sophie Brown 12:34 am on February 28, 2009 | #
It might be wordplay, that might be what’s funny. If I can gather anything at all about British people it’s that there’s this kind of quirky flair for the under-statement, then he’s just building up the story like any storyteller does. SOME Scottish slang seems MADE for telling funny stories.
trebor61 3:05 am on February 28, 2009 | #
Oh Dear Sophie and Roseindigo! Fancy you thinking I would “pull your leg”. Would I really do that? (He! He!). For the record – The Scottish Crown Jewels, Scottish Regalia, Scottish Honours – you choose which ever term you wish to use,- DO exist. Just follow this link and, if you REALLY want a funny tale you will see that the Stone of Destiny is also displayed in Edinburgh Castle’s Crown Room.
http://www.rampantscotland.com/edinburgh/bledin_crown.htm
This “Coronation Stone” was pinched by the English in 1296 and taken to Westminster Abbey in London where it remained until we “stole it back” in 1950. There was a “national” outcry and the stone was eventually recovered and put back in the abbey. However, many believe that some enterprising Scot made replicas and that the original stone remained in Scotland. A “Stone” was eventually returned to Scotland following the devolved government of recent times but “Is it the real stone?” This link is a song written to describe the event:
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/song-midis/Wee_Magic_Stane.htm
Fancy you thinking I’m pretty witty, Sophie. Its just that we Scots have a dour reputation and it’s not true. Maybe we go out of our way to overcorrect that image by actively being outgoing. After all – “The world is your lobster” as they say in some parts.
trebor61 3:21 am on February 28, 2009 | #
Roseindigo – I am grateful for these generous words. The thought, however, of some sort of exhibition frightens me to death. I have exibited paintings, along with others in the past, but only had to come up with one or two canvases at the time. I have an artist friend, who makes his living in the south of France, by organising painting holidays. Twice a year he exibits and says that this is the most stressful part of his life, trying to get enough stuff for the big day. I would agree with that, having had, in the past, “commissions” from folk – you are suddenly under the hammer to get things correct and on time. I just don’t know how all folk, such as Susan, do this for a living. On the other hand, your comment about the artists’ duties is interesting, if somewhat impractical for an novice like me. Since I started painting in earnest, I have found that I really have learned to observe things more intimately and now see more than I ever did. You might even say that I may have wasted many years by being lazy about what I observe. This is why I think it is important that people who say they cannot draw, paint whatever, should keep trying. Even if they do not reach the levels of the extremely talented artist they will surely benefit from being able to see the world more clearly and, hopefully, care for our environment. Oh dear! – Bob is in philosophical mode again.
Leo 8:43 am on February 28, 2009 | #
Bob, enjoying this! The painting, the story, the conversation. Shaking your proverbial hand once again.
roseindigo 11:11 am on February 28, 2009 | #
Well Bob, it is a lot of work to get ready for an exhibit, and it’s expensive to mat and frame things, but it can be done, especially if it’s something you can do yourself. I think it wouldn’t be too terribly frightening if you stayed local in a small gallery, or even in a church or community hall somewhere just to get your feet wet. You would be surprised at how many people will envy you for your talent because they don’t see the beauty until you point it out to them, and most of them think they also can’t draw and paint.
I’m a firm believer that everyone can do it. It’s just a matter of forcing that logical critical part of your brain keep quiet while you let the creative part reign free. In our “logical” world that is difficult to do, even for experienced artists. Obviously you have found a way to do it.
I’ve been enjoying your work and your stories and I personally do feel you have a good body of work to show. Therein lies one of the secrets—-you have to have a BODY OF WORK with a style that’s all your own and instantly recognizable, and you have that.
So I hope at some time you will forge ahead and see what happens.
Sophie Brown 6:48 pm on February 28, 2009 | #
They have a coffee shop on City Island and let artists hang things in there. So I think there’s room to be creative about using space. If I had a restaurant or a coffee shop I’d let artists hang things. I don’t know why nobody does that more often. We have a neighborhood restaurant near my friends house and he has a tradition of schoolchilren giving him drawings. It’s really kind of neat and fun–just thinking out loud.
Sophie Brown 6:56 pm on February 28, 2009 | #
Plus Bob is a little like a “People’s Painter”. Like more regular guys could appreciate it, not like abstract expressionism which I suppose is a more specialized taste. Some guy in a bar would like Bob’s work. Sometimes you see people scratching their heads and saying, “I know I should like this…” That would never happen here because nobody would be “wondering what it is”. Plus it’s very region-specific, so even local libraries or some sort of historical preservation type thing might be happy to display his work as well. I really have no idea, these are just loose thoughts.
trebor61 5:14 am on March 1, 2009 | #
roseindigo – encouraging comments but I’m still glad that this is just a hobby for me. I do, however, encourage others to give painting a go and have helped, I hope, a few friends by getting them started. As to exibiting, on a large scale, I’ll get round to it one day when golf, DIY, guitar playing, gardening etc allows. I’ll let you know when I’m famous (He! He!).
Sophie – again supportive dialogue. I understand what you mean by using local outlets. I did, some time ago, arrange for some of my stuff to be displayed in the local pub – then they closed the pub down. I hope I was not repsonsible. I also belonged to an local Art club but that too, closed. That was my main outlet for selling my stuff. Its quite hard to get into some of the Edinburgh Clubs as their numbers seem quite restricted and most have waiting lists. Maybe one day!
Leo – How about this then? If all of these kind folk keep getting in touch with me the site’s memory will soon be used up. Thanks for the feedback, though.
Regards everyone – Bob
roseindigo 2:40 pm on March 1, 2009 | #
Well Bob, just keep plugging away at it because you do such a wonderful job, and we will applaud you all along the way right here. I know a “hobby” is different than when you have the pressures of “showing”. I got into the “showing” part about seven years ago and sometimes I wonder why I did it. Luckily I have a gallery that doesn’t push me and I just bring something to them when I have it, so there’s no pressure.
I would think you’ve probably inspired many others to take up a pencil or paintbrush, and that’s good, because with a pencil or paintbrush in hand one really does see the world through different eyes, and it all becomes interesting. Last year I went into teaching workshops, and it’s been very rewarding, especially the one called “Nature Journaling” which I teach at one of the state parks on a voluntary basis. People who love nature seem to love participating in those, and we get all ages involved. Many have told me that the more they have become aware of your surroundings by drawing what they see, the closer they feel to it all and the more protective they tend to become of it—-and our planet needs all the protection it can get.
Sophie Brown 9:50 pm on March 1, 2009 | #
Here, here.
trebor61 1:54 am on March 2, 2009 | #
Thanks again, Roseindigo for this and your comment in my other post. Good and continued wishes with the voluntary work. Like Sophie, above, I agree that we all need to do our bit to help our planet and you, through your art, are doing just that. After all – we don’t inherit the earth, we just borrow it from our children.
trebor61 10:00 am on March 2, 2009 | #
PS Sophie/Roseindigo – I showed this mammoth set of comments to my son and said that is was great that folk correspond in this way but couldn’t understand the hilarity the term, “Crown Jewels”. He gently explained to me that sometimes phrases in the USA have different meanings from ours. Good grief!!! You lot are awful! He! He! Just to set things straight I visited the castle today and took this photo of the entrance to the crown room. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos inside the building for security reasons.
trebor61 10:00 am on March 2, 2009 | #
Sorry forgot to add the link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/3323052180/