Shetland Island residency - all at sea!

A boat trip around the island of Bressay and on the spectacular cliffs and gannet colonies on Noss was a treat we saved until this week.

Drawing on a boat brings its own challenges, the boat is never still...

even when moored inside a cave...

a view from inside the Orkneyman's cave to the open sea beyond

but the speed of drawing brings new life to sketches of dramatic rock structures.

The giants leg, Bressay

It was wonderful to get so close to the wildlife, the gannets and bonxies put on a good show and the seals (encouraged by some generous fishermen) were entertaining.

Charlie - the enormous fisherman's favourite

More sketches on the Shetland Islands sketchbook page...

Shetland Islands - acclimatising

The Shetland Islands are providing all weather conditions

Balmy, holiday beaches

sunny light effects

great drawing conditions

atmospheric sea mists

...and drawing in the rain

We love it all!

More sketches on the Shetland sketchbook page under the header at the top of this blog

Shetland residency - hitting the wall (in a good way!)

There's been some mixed weather, but the sketchbook is filling up, despite the Shetland Islands variable weather.

A sheltered spot on Meal beach, thank goodness for a flask of coffee

and artwork is hitting the studio wall,

This is early days, definitely 'work in progress' but good to be getting underway.
Looking forward to some more of this stunning scenery and better weather over the next few days, here's a few more of my husbands lovely photos to inspire you...

Between the weathers

In Shetland we're always 'between weathers', looking from one horizon to another lets you know what's coming. We've had some stormy stuff over the last few days

Voe of Sound, winds gusting to 55mph

So time to set up the studio

A murky view from one of the studio windows

A fed up studio dog who would rather be on the beaches!

Shetland - Testing the sketching

The scenery is very dramatic up here in the Shetland Islands, one minute gently undulating then suddenly dropping away in front of you. Its all been testing my sketching

and my vertigo

But I've found that if I concentrate on my drawing I'm not so aware of the height, as long as I don't look around too much!

The wonderful scenery deserves the extra effort, even when the weather isn't completely friendly.

See the sketches on the sketchbook page - tab on the blog heading.
Photos courtesy of my lovely husband.

A Shetland Summer Adventure

I've headed 60 degrees North for a Wasps Studios residency in Scalloway, Shetland Islands - so exciting, this has been 2 years in the planning!

The Booth overlooks Scalloway harbour

The Booth studio downstairs

Scalloway

View to Tronda from Port Arthur, Scalloway

A walk from Scalloway

Evening light - view from the Booth

A first drawing, on St Ninians Isle

There are more sketches on my Sketchbook page - The Shetland Islands 2016. Many more drawings to come!

A level talent impresses at GPC

My talented A level students from Katharine Lady Berkeley's School have been invited to show at the Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative studios in the Printmakers Gallery

The prints shown in this exhibition have been selected from students who are studying 

Fine Art, Graphic Communication or Photography at AS and A level. 

Print is introduced to the students as a creative and flexible tool 

allowing them to explore and develop imagery. 

 Printmakers of the future

up the steps to the Printmakers Gallery at Griffin Mill, Stroud

Cornish sketching days

I've posted my favourite sketches from this year's Cornish break on the 'Sketchbook - Coast' page.
I challenged myself to capture skies this year: the threatening skies at Polkerris provided ample inspiration.

There's always one which is drawn very quickly and which sums up the weather conditions or other prevailing conditions. This year's quick sketch was done at Watergate Bay in a high wind with the tide racing in!

I hope you enjoy this year's offerings.

Cornish sketching

Easter holidays always gives me some good sketching time on the coast

It looks like beautiful weather

the cold winds didn't bother the dog

and with hats, gloves and windproof jackets

quite a bit of drawing got done. Happy days.

Good Friday sketching

Good Friday was, as it turned out, extremely good this year. The sun and welcoming calmness of a still day made it feel like spring 'proper'.

Good to get out drawing again...

New views...

and promising landscapes, a bit of blue sky makes all the difference.