Shrine of the neighborhood.
latest updates: Inktense
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2009Jun 36
tags: foo dogs | ink | Inktense -
2009May 30
tags: flowers | Inktense
poppy.
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2009May 27
tags: cat | Inktense | pencil
My cat sleeps all day long.
I can pay attention to detail. -
2009Apr 3
tags: deer | Inktense | Scotland
Para Mhuire – una pintura de ciervos de Escocia – Inktense pencils on a Watercolour Moleskine
Mhuire mentioned, in my post of 2nd April, that she would like to see what our native deer looked like – so here goes.
Mhuire, this painting is compiled from two photographs. Both were taken on separate holidays some years ago. The two female deer (hinds), in the foreground were so tame they could almost be fed by hand but this is to be discouraged as they loose all fear of people and can become very vulnerable. The stag in the background was added to give the scene some extra sense. Stags, or males, are usually harder to see as they tend to be shy and will round up their herds of hinds and shepherd them quickly away as soon as danger approaches. These are “Red Deer” the most common of all Scottish types with about 300,000 in our country.
I must thank you for suggesting this as a painting as I came up with a new way to use my watercolour pencils – a way I had not considered before. I hope you like this and apologies for my poor use of Spanish.
Un cordial saludo – Bob -
2009Apr 1
tags: Botanic Gardens | edinburgh | Inktense
A Peaceful Haven – Inktense Pencils in a Watercolour Moleskine
Edinburgh resembles a huge building site, at the moment, as work stutters from one street to another, as preparation for the new tramway system continues. Far better to leave that behind and re-visit the Botanic Gardens where masses of spring bulbs carpet the areas under the trees. Its always been peaceful, here, in fact my mother used to seek sanctuary in the gardens when she was studying to be a nurse in the 1930′s. She would sit and read her medical notes without distraction. Thank God the quietness hasn’t changed! Our city boasts plenty of green spaces, like this, and soon folks will make use of every available space to sit and relax – assuming the rain stays away.
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2009Feb 27
tags: Inktense
Low tide near the Solway Firth – Inktense Pencils on a Watercolour Moleskine
This is a quick effort to try a idea by Margie. She suggested drawing “dry” with these pencils then wetting the area to “fix” the colour in an effort to create texture. This seems to have worked, Margie, to a certain extent but, boy are these colours BRIGHT.
The scene is from a photograph from some years ago – slightly modified. Its on this link.
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2009Jan 19
tags: Inktense | Tony Hart
Farewell Tony. Thanks for everything – Inktense Pencils on a small watercolour Moleskine
Lots of children, and former children will be saddened to hear of the death of Tony Hart, on January 18th at 83 years. He did so much to encourage an interest in art in all its different forms. He and his plasticine sidekick “Morph” graced our TV screens for many years. (I’m sorry if this is not a true likeness. Its the thought that counts).
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2009Jan 19
tags: Inktense | Ratho | Scotland
St. Mary’s Parish Church, Ratho – Ink/Watercolour Pencils on a watercolour Moleskine
We had some snow again today but, by the time I finished this wee picture, it had all vanished. St Mary’s is a very old church. There has been a place of worship, on this spot, for many hundreds of years and parts of the existing building are said to have been here since the reformation. The graveyard “boasts” an unusual gravestone which is in the shape of a coffin and is very heavy looking. This was probably made to stop body snatchers(also called resurrectionists) digging up the body to sell for medical research. In the late 18th century Scotland, and Edinburgh in particular, was at the forefront of medical science. To discover how human anatomy worked, physicians needed dead bodies. When the supply of the legally obtained, deceased dried up resurrectionists turned to other sources. (Read about the infamous case of Burke and Hare) http://www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/famous-scots/burke-and-hare.html These days it’s just the government that skins you.
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2009Jan 14
tags: edinburgh | ink | Inktense
Strong Shadows, late afternoon – Merchiston Place, Edinburgh. Ink/Inktense on a watercolour Moleskine.
After last night’s disturbed sleep we went for a spot of lunch in this, up market area of Edinburgh. This was mainly to revisit old haunts as I haven’t been here for some time but we felt the need to treat ourselves to some “Retail Therapy” as well. I remember this area quite well as I was a student here 40 years ago. Napier University is just around the corner – I was there all that time ago studying engineering. The houses are still very expensive, even more so than back then – this one would cost a million or so now. One thing hasn’t changed. The streets are lined with many magnificent trees which are a joy, especially in the warmer seasons. As we floated homewards, along the street, towards our parked car; full of lemonade and grilled salmon, I was very taken with the strong, black shadows cast by the setting sun and I’ve tried to capture this in the painting. Incidentally – the expensive-looking car in the foreground, is NOT ours.
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2009Jan 11
tags: Inktense | Poppy
Meconopsis betonicifolia or Himalayan Blue Poppy – Watercolour pencils on a watercolour Molskine
Before folk think I’m a horticultural expert, I’m just repeating the latin name from the packet of seeds. I tried to sow hundreds of these seeds last year. This drawing is from a photograph of the only survivor of the apallingly wet summer we had. It has to be better this year?
