Crail Harbour – Ink in a Moleskine Sketchbook
I visited this small fishing village last Saturday during a trip to St Andrews. Crail is situated in the “East Neuk” or “East Corner” of Fife on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. I had intended to do a proper watercolour showing the iconic view but, so far, have failed after three attempts. Must try again. My only reason for this sketch was to get some details of the buildings around the harbour. Not all was lost as it was a great day out which ended along the coast, in Anstruther, where one of the best fish and chip shops in the UK is.
roseindigo 11:00 am on July 15, 2009 | #
I’ve seen photos of this little village and always thought it was sooooooo picturesque. Hope that you do a successful watercolor and show us that too. And I love the idea of fish and chips. When I lived in Canada that was one of our once-a-week meals, with some malt vinegar. In those days they wrapped it in several layers of newspaper to keep it hot until you got home, and we had a feast. YUM!
trebor61 12:04 pm on July 15, 2009 | #
Hi Rose. I posted a more colourful “sketch” earlier before I read your reply to this. I hope it resembles your memories although It is only another rough draft. I’ve been asked to do a full-sized painting in exchange for real money and am finding this quite hard as it has suddenly tested any resemblance of skill I might have had. I have until the middle of August to complete this. I’ll send in a link to this REAL one when/if I finish it.
The Anstruther Fish Bar/Restuarant has won the title of best in the UK a number of times. I think it was only 2nd last year. It is VERY popular – we had to queue for half an hour – but it was worth it. Might you! Anything from Fife has to be good. (I’m a Kirkcaldy man). There is a saying that there are only two types of folk in this world. Fifers – and those who would like to be.
roseindigo 1:39 pm on July 15, 2009 | #
Painting for money on a commission basis is something I have found very difficult—not because of lack of skill, but I tend to have difficulty with any subject I’m not in the mood for at the moment, and then it turns into labor instead of fun. So some of my commissions have lain there for over a year and may lie there even longer before the mood strikes me again. I always warn people that is just the way I work, and if they are willing to wait, then I’ll do it—but they may have to wait several years. I guess I’m just not disciplined enough and am sort of self-indulgent when it comes to my painting hobby. I only like to paint the subjects I’m excited about at the moment. I still work part-time at a high-stress type of job, and I prefer to keep my painting time for relaxation—just as I think you do.
But good luck with the painting. It’s a lovely little village and I’m sure you’ll do a fabulous job of it.