Brrrr is back – A winter victim – Watercolour
Time to attempt some snow and ice scenes. This is the view, at evening, looking towards Pumpherston, West Lothian
latest updates: West Lothian
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2012Nov 121
tags: Brrrr | West Lothian -
2012Sep 19
tags: Almondell Park | Beech | Scotland | West Lothian
Damaged Beech Tree – Study in Ink
Been in a bit of a rut recently so, when all else fails, go back to Almondell Park.
Workmen are still clearing up after last winter’s stormhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/sets/72157628731684947/
and it looks as if this old favourite will be next for the chop. The top 30% was torn away and its only now that the foresters can get near it as masses of debris had to be cleared first.
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2012Jan 15
tags: Brrrr | Tormain Woods | West Lothian
Winter Sunset – Watercolour
After our high winds and rain the weather has, predictably, reverted to calm and cold conditions. We either get keen frosts, which last for most of the day, or wet and windy stuff. This is the view looking from the high point of Tormain Woods towards the west. It is easy to imagine how the winds can surge across this land as they get funnelled through the Pentland Hills on the left (south) and the Ochil Hills (north) which lie just beyond the Forth Valley. Its these same natural barriers which normally give the Edinburgh area shelter – unless the winds come from the west, north west. These barriers are also responsible for the foggy weather which occurs when winds come from the east off the North Sea and that is when we usually get our coldest types. Watch this space!
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2011Sep 7
tags: Alamondell Park | Scotland | West Lothian
Down by the riverside – Watercolour
Inspired by a cycle run, the other day, through Almondell Park. I sat and sketched for a while, took plenty photos and also a couple of small videos. These links show the videos and, if you turn the sound up, you can hear the wonderful music from the River Almond which is eternally soothing.
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2011Sep 4
tags: Almondell Park | Scotland | waterbrush | West Lothian
Almondell Park – Watercolour with Waterbrushes
Practising with waterbrushes on location. This is very loose probably because I had just cycled 7 miles to get to this spot. The things we old guys do.
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2011Aug 7
tags: Almondell Park | Inktense Blocks | Scotland | West Lothian
Peaceful Places # 2 – Inktense and watercolour
This seat, or “bench” as they are are known here, allows a traveller to sit quietly next to the River Almond in Almondell Park. Its been a favourite spot of mine for many years. A long time ago, I was recovering from a lengthy illness and I used to come here and listen to the river meandering past while the sound of the many birds would echo in the trees. A magical place which is dear to me.
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2011Jul 13
tags: farm | Scotland | West Lothian
Coxydene Farm, West Lothian – Watercolour
A 15 minute “speed painting” to record a scene observed from yesterday’s bike trip. Its a bit faint but I haven’t got the scanner properly set up yet. Just wanted to see how fast I could record this
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2011Feb 3
tags: Almondell Park | Scotland | West Lothian
More winter damage – Watercolour
This is another view of the damaged tree I attempted to show in my recent post (Jan 31st). The tree, in that picture, is the one right in the centre of this effort and is the one with the tell-tale, horizontal branch – in this case heading towards the right. The conifer, which I talked about, is lying just beyond this tree and is half in and half out of the River Almond. It will have to be moved as it will trap floating debris as it sweeps down the river, causing even more damage. Its about 30feet tall so I’m glad I don’t have the job of clearing this up. A strange thing occurred as I painted this. I had great difficulty in depicting the fallen tree and had quite a few attempts and much lifting out of paint until I reached this stage. It was almost as if I was showing Almondell Park at, let’s say, “Not its best” and some forces were around to stop me doing this. Sounds daft but it was really weird. Hope I arrived at a happy compromise.
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2011Jan 31
tags: Almondell Park | Chestnut Tree | Scotland | West Lothian
Winter Damage – Watercolour
A walk in Almondell Park last week revealed how hard the winter storms have been. This huge chestnut tree has always been one of my landmarks and I was saddened to see a huge part of it missing. The foresters had already removed the thick branch and all that was left was a pile of sawdust and, of course, this huge wound – about 6 feet long in this painting. A clue, as to why it had been damaged, might be to examine the part near the top of the wound. Its a large hole which one’s arm can get lost in and looks as if it has been there for many years. Perhaps an owl of some squirrels called this space “home” The tree itself had always looked impregnable to high winds and heavy snow. It actually looks as if it has screwed itself into the ground but I fear it is now in danger as the remaining, large lower limb (to the left) is now “out of balance” having lost the counterweight of the missing one. I have included, here, a photo of this tree in happier times and a sketch I made about 9 years ago which might give some idea how the tree used to be. This is not the only tree to suffer winter damage. The large conifer, next to this chestnut, is uprooted and is lying into the River Almond while the whole wood echoes to the sound of chainsaws. A bit sad really but I suppose its natures way of thinning things.
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2010Mar 11
tags: Almondell Park | Beech trees | Scotland | West Lothian
Spring is close, Almondell Beechwood – Pencil and ink in a plain Moleskine Sketchbook
This scene will change very quickly in the coming weeks. At the moment these beech trees are just coming into bud. The canopy, above, therefore lets in plenty light and this part of Almondell Park feels wide open and exposed. Once the leaves open, however, it becomes quite dark along this pathway. This explains why little grows, on the floor of a beechwood except very hardy, small ferns or different types of fungi hell-bent on recycling any vegetable waste. It might get dark but I find this sort of place quite magical in Spring and Summertime. Its quiet and still and dry – even in wet weather. Because of the stillness birdsong echoes throughout the woods, the only other sounds being that of the River Almond as she navigates her way past the rocks and small waterfalls nearby. After this hard Winter this experience is something to look forward too. I haven’t forgotten it, just missed it.
