Tag Archives: drawing

Views across to Fife

A favourite place for a summers evening walk, The Old Chain Pier has great views across the Forth.

I live just along a bit from here and its a nice half hour wander with a pint at the end, and those views are amazing. Seals are often seen from the window seats and they also have outdoor seating overlooking the bay between Granton and Newhaven.

The Old Chain Pier website.

WhereArtI Edinburgh?

Can you tell me where in Edinburgh this figure looks down from?

If you know leave your answer in the comment box below. I will pick a random winner from all correct entries on Tuesday morning, and they will go on to the ‘Winners wall’ for the month. At the end of the month one of those on the wall will be picked to receive a prize.

The prize for April is one of my Shore tea towels, which features my ink sketch of the shore in Leith.

Printed right here in Scotland. Each one is a machine washable, 100% cotton and screen printed with one of my sketches.

Your comment will not show up until the winner is announced. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed later today, and I will pick a winner for the Winners Wall tomorrow afternoon.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the beauty in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next!

If you would like to buy one of my four available tea towels (now all £9.95 plus postage) then you can order one here from my Etsy shop.




Dundas Street shops are full of colour

I have been meaning to sketch these three shops on Dundas Street for ages, I love the mixture of colours, railings and Georgian architecture.

I must pass by this trio of New Town stores most days, usually whizzing by on the bike or car but this week I passed with time to spare so pulled up to create my sketch.

I thought it would make a great WhereArtI competition sketch, so used that without the shop names HERE.

The lose and random lines of the railings make this sketch for me, they are obviously all not in the correct place but I love the haphazard way I have drawn it. I hope you like it too, actually if you would like a print just leave me a comment. I usually print in two sizes 150x100mm for £24 and 297x210mm for £38. Both of these sizes come with mounts, but if you would like a bespoke size just let me know and I will quote you a price.

You can order prints with free UK delivery HERE through my Etsy shop.

The three shops are:
James Scott Antiques, Colours Gallery, and Archipelago Bakery.

WhereArtI 9th July 2018

 

Can you name this Edinburgh location?

If you know click the link below to enter your answer. I will pick a random winner from all correct entries on Tuesday morning, and they will go on to the ‘Winners wall’ for the month. At the end of the month those on the wall will be entered into a draw to receive a prize.

The prize for July is one of my new Edinburgh Castle Totes. Featuring one of my sketches in a circle design the 100% cotton bag is perfect for rolling up and having when you need it.

ES Castle bag 1

Click HERE to enter your answer

Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed later today.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the details in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next time!

Enter via the link above or email contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com with the subject line ‘WhereArtI 9th July 2018‘.

Edinburgh Sketcher online store.

Never a wasted journey in Leith, Edinburgh

leith-theatre-and-registrar-officeWhen recently at Leith Regestry Office without an appointment I had time to spare, and time to sketch.

Behind the beautiful building which houses Leith Library and Registry Office is the Leith Theatre, which is also home to the Thomas Morton Hall.

The theatre was a gift from the people of Edinburgh to the people of Leith following the decision on 10th October 1920 to incorporate the Burgh of Leith into Edinburgh.

The theatre has been closed since 1988 but the Leith Theatre Trust was established in 2004 as a community trust with an aim to return the building to a use which will add value to the Leith Community and generate business in the area. Find out more about the building at the link below.

I had to return to the registry office the next day, so if wanting a copy of your birth certificate remember to call ahead and make an appointment!

Sketch drawn on location with ink, watercolour and a ‘water brush’.

Leith Theatre website

Under the bridges on the Firth of Forth with Inner Forth Landscape Initiative

IFLI_BlacknessCastleLast week I ran a painting and sketching activity on a boat trip along the Firth of Forth with the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative.

The IFLI is a Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership Scheme which focuses on the upper Firth of Forth area. A beautiful and often overlooked part of the country home to a wide range of wildlife and plant life.

IFLI_ForthRailBridgeIFLI_BoatBusy

 

I had visited the area with IFLI  on land for a sktch trip to the stunning hidden world of Kennetpans Distillery, but that as I said was on land over the Forth Bridge and along the A985 to the Kincardine Bridge.

This time we were to travel under the Kincardine Bridge on the Maid of the Forth passenger boat, which regularly ferrys people over to the island of Inchcolm.

Around ninety people boarded at South Queensferry and we headed west under the road bridge and almost finished (the multiple sections of road are almost touching) South Queensferry Crossing. It was amazing to see these huge structures from a new angle, the stormy reddening sky behind made the view unforgettable.

We passed by various interesting sites like Rosyth Dockyard with its tenant aircraft carriers, the smoke and flame bellowing from Grangemouth contrasted well with the ghostly, now unused Longannet Power Station. As we passed by each experts took turns on the microphone to tell us about each location.

I had given out pen and paper for passengers to try and capture the sites as we floated by, and below are some of the great sketches people created.

ES_colouring2

On the lower deck I set up a watercolouring table where paint could be added to sketches drawn or visitors had the option of colouring some pre drawn line drawings. Below is a selection of those created.

ES_colouring

There was a great atmosphere on board and I thank all those who took part and got into the sketching spirit. It was facinating to see an area I thought I knew from a completely new perspective so thank you to IFLI for providing such a trip. Have a look at the links below for similar events in the future, and remember to take your sketchbook!

Below are a few more of my sketches from the trip, click on each to see a larger version.

IFLI_BoatFlag IFLI_Grangemouth IFLI_LonganantPowerStation IFLI_Watching IFLI_KincardineBridge IFLI_Limekilns

Inner Forth Landscape Initiative website

Maid of the Forth website

Digital Sketcher

tabletsketch2Yesterday I had a go at sketching on my digital tablet.

It was fun and I think it could be a useful string to the bow, but nothing I’ve tried so far comes close to the colours and creativity I find with real watercolour paint.

I’ve only scratched the surface really, my tablet is a basic model and I was using an app called Artflow on android. Having looked around online I can see there are many apps to try, and some great sounding brushes for applications such as Photoshop which would add more realism.

Juggling my water and various brushes can be perilous

I thought I’d have a look at digital sketching as I am doing more and more sketching at live events such as weddings, conferences and exhibitions. Although watercolour and ink are my preferred mediums switching between the two whilst standing in a confined space can be a little tricky. Juggling my water and various brushes can be perilous in a stately home or grand cathedral!

tabletsketch1

So I can see the appeal of one piece solution, but as I said earlier so far I haven’t seen anything that can give the feel and originality of watercolours. It’s something I could enjoy spend a lot of time, and money on in the future though, I’ll let you know how I get on.

 

Both sketches were made on an Alcatel One Touch Pixi 7in tablet, using ArtFlow app on android. 

Beautiful blossom hangs from the branches throughout Edinburgh

TrinityBlossom_houseThe glorious sunshine in Edinburgh is highlighting the range of colours in the city’s trees. Especially appealing against the bright sandstone architecture.

Yesterday I took a walk through Trinity in the North of Edinburgh and marvelled at the heavy laden branches, stunning pinks, creams and deep reds.

It’s hard to do justice to such colours and this is one thing I am always looking to perfect, capturing the rich and bright petals.

TrinityBlossom_flower

My sketches are drawn in black fineliner 0.5 with a watercolour wash. 

WhereArtI : 29th February 2016

ES_WAI290216Edinburgh dwellers, can you tell me where I am doodling this week?

The WhereArtI competition goes live every Monday morning at 8am, I sketch a location in Edinburgh, you tell me where I am. On the first Monday of each month however, the sketch could be anywhere in Scotland.

There are points on offer for the first three correct answers, with a prize to who tops the leader board at the end of the year. Good luck every one! Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before Tuesday morning.   If you would like to sponsor the quiz or feature in the quiz, then get in touch at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com