Tuesday, 1 December 2009
WIP - The Struy
A work in progress for my lovely Father In Law. I was working on this whilst visiting him and ended the visit with a lot of work still to do and wet paint, so decided to leave it there and complete on the next visit... Lots to do, but the bare bones in place. Until next time...
(Acrylic and Neocolor II on canvas, from a photo taken a few years ago when father and son climbed The Struy, a hill near our home overlooking the Dornoch Firth)
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Long Time No Blog!
It's been a while hasn't it, dear diary? I thought it would make a very boring post to explain what I had been up to, so I doodled it ;-)
Look out for more posts soon! :-D
Friday, 30 October 2009
Macmillan and a Mountain
Some of you will know sadly my beloved Father-in-Laws currently undergoing a very long period of chemotherapy. He really is my number one hero, I often find myself complaining about a lack of sleep with kids waking me, or too much to do and just remind myself what he is going through so bravely (indeed has been for the last four months)!A couple of weeks ago, my husband Ian, and his good pal Jack decided to take part in the Relentless24 endurance mountain bike race in Fort William. They rode in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care, in support of all the good work they do for Dad and others. The race climbed up into the Ben Nevis Range of mountains, and took in part of the World Mountain Bike Championships course, taking turns to ride laps as a team of two, staying in the saddle for as much of the 24hrs as possible - midday Saturday to lunchtime Sunday. This was their first ever big race, and some challenge for weekend riders!
The race started well, a little cloudy but still dry. The lads had a bit of a shock that the lap lengths has been altered from the expected 7 1/2 miles, to 10 1/2 miles, taking in a section of quarry (apparently quite surreal riding between parked quarry machinery). Unfortunately Jack had a freak accident on his first lap, his chain snapped in a twisty single track section. It got tangled in the wheel and threw him over the handlebars, giving him a nasty cut on the chin which was bordering on needing stitches. After loosing a lot of time having to walk a couple of miles pushing the bike, another competitor, who was carrying tools, stopped to help him bodge a repair and get moving again.
All was well for a few laps more, but as they rode into the evening the conditions got progressively worse. The ground was getting really soft and churned due to heavy rainfall in previous days, and getting bogged down was sapping all the energy from their legs. Late at night Ian got stuck in thick mud an an uphill section and bruised his leg and knee badly on a rock (although I have to say he was rather more upset at scratching his new bike!). Both guys decided for safetys sake to take a few hours kip through the darkest part of the night, and obviously some 6th sense prevailed as the heavens opened and some full on rain soaked tents and riders alike for 3-4 hours. A few teams even left the event.
At first light Jack went out again, and the sleep had really done its work in refreshing the guys, they started producing their fastest laps of the race. Jack came in off his final lap just before 12 noon, sadly not leaving Ian enough time to get round his last lap.
All in all, even hampered by accidents and bad conditions, the guys managed around 100 miles in the race period, no mean feat! Sadly they came 4th from last in the pairs category, but they were mightly pleased not to come last considering the first class standard of entrants!
All in all they jointly raised £950 for Macmillan (plus gift aid supplement of over £100). So one huge big fat cheer for Ian and Jack for a HUGE achievement and a huge thank you to everyone who kindly sponsored them!
You can click here for a short video of the event (sadly the guys didn't get caught much on camera, but if you pause at 9:13 you'll see the a second or so of Ian outside the camper van).
I''l leave you with a a tiny selection of the hideously smelly and absolutely filthy box of washing I got to deal with when Ian got home!!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Always put your work away!
A reminder to me as to why I should always pack my work away at night - some catty additions to this work in progress!
I'm sure it will be fine. I'll have a go at it with a putty rubber later. I was just lucky I was at very early stages of building up the pastel in this area.
Lesson learned!
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Amy is Blooming!
Do you remember the beautiful brooch I was sent as a fabulous surprise gift a little while back? Well I finally got to do something as my own little surprise to send in return...
I spotted Amy's Facebook profile photo had changed and she was looking absolutely radiant and gorgeous, so used it to do a portrait for her. I thought it might be a nice keepsake to remember having that wonderful pregnant glow once her bubs was here, and in time to come.
It was quite tricky I'll have to admit, and I'm quite sure its not 100% accurate - I was working from a print out of the facebook photo, so it was a bit small and blurry and I did a lot of squinting!
I used a combination of Conte Carres, and a few Conte Pastel Pencils (which are new to me, I went to the art shop looking to stock up on a few Carres colours and came away with these also. I have a few Derwent pastel pencils, and these lay down colour so much easier and bolder - I think I'll be using them a lot!).
Thankfully Amy likes her gift, and doesn't think it was odd I was drawing secret pictures of her!
Friday, 23 October 2009
Whats Inspiring Me Today...
I was searching for Christmas goodies for the wee ones this , and remembered the SuSu Mama website, a wonderful world of bright and funky kids fairtrade goodies (and an invaluable source of adult festivalwear)! they have a whole selection of rainbow loveliness - a few of these gems will be finding their way into my kids stockings come the festive season.
This got me thinking about other rainbow gorgeousness I have been admiring lately...
I'm very much enamoured of this necklace, by Tess Blenkinsop (inspired by the work of Terry Frost, and available at the Tate Gallery shops). I'm hoping someone lovely might think of telling Santa about it ;-)
I know we've talked Ella Doran recently, but I couldn't resist including this rainbow plate. It's available from the Tate too, along with is wonderful rainbow word plate by Unity Peg. Oh and the 'Colours Book' (Ella Doran, Zoe Miller and David Goodman) is already earmarked for my four year old, I was enjoying a flick through at the Tate St Ives shop back in the summer. I think secretly I want it for me though!
Oh and you *must* check out the instructions for making Rainbow Cake on the omnomicon blog - even if you won't ever make one, its such a sumptuous visual treat!
Oh and who could forget that little rainbow of endless fun - the iconic packaging of Plasticine. Oh and Rainbow Drops, which I only recently discovered are still made! Both fondly remembered from my youth.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
A True Highland Wedding!
I was overjoyed to be asked to be the photographer on the day, so these are a few of my favourite photos from my first ever wedding shoot!
I was also honoured to be asked, by the grooms sister, my lovely friend Caroline, to paint the bridge at the spot where Gavin and Helen tied the knot as her wedding gift to the couple. I have to say this wasn't one of those paintings that flowed off the brush, however after a few false starts I finally managed to capture a little of the atmosphere and beauty of the place!
'Garve Bridge'Mixed media - acrylic and Neocolor II on canvas.
My thanks go to Gavin and Helen for allowing me to be a part of their wonderful and very moving day, also to Caroline and the lovely Mr & Mrs Hookway for looking after me on the day, and being so encouraging of my work!
