Updates from trebor61
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November 29, 2008 |
Scenes in Central Edinburgh - Ink/watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine
In a magnificent gesture of friendship the good folk of Hordaland, Norway, send a Christmas tree to the City of Edinburgh, every year, as way of thanks for Scottish support during the Second World War. The tree is positioned on the Mound (please see my posting on November 6th) and the lights are turned on towards the end of November, marking the start of the City’s “Winter Festival”. (This happened on Thursday 27th this year). I hope that this painting gives a rough idea of the scene.
Echoing the sentiments from Norway; albeit somewhat early, “A happy Christmas to all at “Moleskine” and a prosperous New Year, in 2009, as well”.9
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November 27, 2008 |
Ghost stories are traditionally told at this time of year in Scotland so I’ve attempted to paint what is reputedly the most haunted place in my country. In 1679 around 400 “Covenanters” were imprisoned here and endured many years of harsh imprisonment before being executed or transported. It is said that their ghosts still cry out for vengeance and there are many tales of folk, who are daft enough to go on one of the many “Haunted Tours of Edinburgh’s Old Town”, becoming paralysed with fear when they visit the far end of the graveyard where many of the prisoners are buried. On a lighter note the small Skye Terrier, known as “Greyfriars Bobby who faithfully watched over his master’s grave for 14 years, is also buried in these grounds. Special dispensation was granted, in 1872, to bury an animal in consecrated ground.
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November 25, 2008 |
Gathering Winter Fuel - Red squirrels in in the snow. Ink on a watercolour Moleskine.
Red squirrels are gradually being confined to small pockets of woodland in Scotland and the UK, the grey squirrel being blamed for their demise. Work is on-going to built sanctuaries for this beast and, hopefully, their numbers will increase in the future.
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November 23, 2008 |
The scene at the end of our street today. Reminds me of another poem
Winters came, the snow has fell
Wee Josie’s nosis froze as well.
We Josie’s frozen nosis skintit.
Winters diabolic, intit!Bud Neil
This was done with ink and watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine. The “border” was created by my attempts to hold the page flat with low tack, masking tape in an effort to stop the page cockling when wet. It seems to have worked but was a bit of a hassle. Does any one else have this problem?
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November 20, 2008 |
It’s steadily getting colder here in Scotland. As I sat on this bitterly cold day, eating my bowl of gruel, I reflected on the wonderful summer this year. It was, I remembered, on July 8th. On that distant, sunny day I photographed this butterfly on a Buddleia bush in the garden. I decided to paint a copy to remind me of heat and to warm me up. If there is anyone out there with spare fuel, warm clothes etc please make a drawing of them and post it on this site.
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November 18, 2008 |
John Knox’s House, High Street, Edinburgh. Ink on a watercolour Moleskine
It is debated whether John Knox, the great protestant reformer, actually lived in this building. Today, it is owned by the Church of Scotland and houses a museum. The original building dates back to the late 1400s.
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November 8, 2008 |
Calton Hill - Central Edinburgh. Ink/watercolour on a watercolour Moleskine.
This is the view of Calton Hill as seen from the North Bridge which passes over Waverley Station leading from the east end of Prince’s Street to the old town of Edinburgh. The obelisk at the left is the Martyrs Memorial which commemorates political martyrs transported to Australia in 1783. It is situated in the Old Calton Cemetery. Next to that is St Andrew’s House, a government building. To the right is the cylindrical “Governors House” formerly for Calton Jail which used to be situated along the extreme right of this scene but is long demolished. Calton Hill offers some of the best views of all parts of Edinburgh. On top of the hill there is a “Greek Styled” building which is based on the Acropolis. This was intended as a memorial to commemorate Nelson’s victory over the French in 1815 but, when funds ran out, was never finished. It has been known, ever since, as Edinburgh’s disgrace. The small tower, at the extreme left of this painting, however, is known as Nelson’s Tower and has been used, for many years, as a timekeeping device for ships in the Firth of Forth. A spherical ball is hoisted to the top of the tower’s mast and, at exactly one o’clock, in the afternoon, drops downwards to provide a visual signal. At the same time, a cannon is fired from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle to provide a backup, audio signal. This can be quite alarming – tourists be warned!
Edit by ’skine.art…
Found a panoramic photo from a slightly different vantage point, check it out:
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November 7, 2008 |
90 Years Later - Ink on a watercolour Moleskine
Did they beat the drum slowly, did the play the pipes lowly?
Did the rifles fire o’er you as they lowered you down?
Did the bugles sound The Last Post in chorus?
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?Eric Bogle - “The Green Fields of France”
(Images after a photo in the IWM London)
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November 6, 2008 |
East Prince’s Street Gardens. Watercolour with some ink highlights on a watercolour Moleskine.
Prince’s Street Gardens is divided into two sections by a steep hill, known as the “Mound” which allows access up to the Royal Mile from Prince’s Street. This, East section, is the smaller of the two and stops opposite Waverley Station. The Scott Monument stands in this part. The West Gardens lie below Edinburgh Castle and cover an old “loch” (the Nor’ Loch) which used to guard the foot of the castle a few hundred years ago.
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November 4, 2008 |
Parisian Skyline - Dusk. Black Indian Ink on top of lighter, coloured ink washes on a watercolour Moleskine
This is from a photo I took a couple of years ago while on holiday in France. I thought I would try something similar to my last entry. Hope it worked.
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November 3, 2008 |
Inverleith Park at dusk on a winter’s evening. Quick drawing, in a watercolour Moleskine, with ink and watercolour washes.
The pond, in the foreground, is normally used for sailing model boats but, at this time of year, can freeze over.
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November 1, 2008 |
Naysmith Bridge, Evening. Almondell Park, West Lothian
Ink washes on a watercolour Moleskine.
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October 30, 2008 |
Fishing boats, Southend Pier, Gigha.
Watercolour/ink on a watercolour Moleskine.Gigha (pronounced “Gee-ah”) is sometimes known as “God’s Island. It lies off the west coast of Scotland’s Kintyre peninsula and is only about 4 miles long. This drawing is from a photograph I took when staying on the island in 2003, a year after the local community managed to buy the island to safeguard its future. I remember the visit coincided with incredibly hot, record breaking temperatures and I spent three days, painting next to a small beach with a wet towel around my neck. Happy days!
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October 29, 2008 |
North Face of Ben Nevis - The highest mountain in the British Isles (4406 ft). Acrylic paint and ink on a watercolour Moleskine.
Ben Nevis, part of the Grampian Mountain Range, is situated near Fort William in the Lochaber area of Scotland. Although it is possible to “walk” to the summit (carefully) the North face is for steely nerved, experienced climbers only.
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October 27, 2008 |
DEFINING MOMENTS IN HISTORY - THE END OF CLASSICAL GREEK ARCHITECTURE.
Pen with pencil shading on a Moleskine watercolour book
Do any other “Moleskinners” know of any pivital historical moments?3 Loading ...
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October 26, 2008 |
Birnam Bridge over the River Tay. Watercolour and Ink on a watercolour Moleskine. This stone bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1809. It links the villages of Dunkeld and Birnam. Birnam was made famous by Shakespeare - Macbeth, witches et all.
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October 26, 2008 |
Stirling University - Where children go to bankrupt their parents. Ink and watercolour wash on a watercolour Moleskine.
This is one on the “newer universities” in Scotland. It was established in 1967 and offers a huge range of subjects but is probably best known for its contribution to health and sports education.6 Loading ...
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October 25, 2008 |
Pilgrims about to enter paradise at journey’s end - Watercolour wash and ink on a watercolour Moleskine.
This was inspired both by the scene at the end of Walt Disney’s “Fantasia”, which I watched recently, and by a poem by Addison which was based on the 23rd psalm
The Lord My Pasture Shall Prepare
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Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds, I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.Joseph Addison (1672 -1719)
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October 25, 2008 |
Giant Redwood Trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) - Ink on a Watercolour Moleskine.
I’ve always been fascinated by this type of tree but never have managed to see them in their native country, so this effort, which is copied from a photo my son Andrew took, will have to do. We do have redwood specimens in Scotland, the following link shows the ones at The Younger Botanical Gardens, Benmore by Cowall, Argyll & Bute. These trees are much smaller than the ones on the west coast of North America.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/2795005795/in/set-72157606937427672/6 Loading ...
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October 23, 2008 |
The Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork, Ireland
Ink on a watercolour MoleskineIt was in these waters that the liner, RMS Lusitania, was torpedoed and sunk in 1915. There was great loss of life and much controversy raged about whether the ship was carrying munitions or not. There is a striking memorial to the dead in the town of Cobh (formely Queenstown) just along the coast, where many of the victims were taken and buiried.
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