Tag Archives: Festival

Daily Sketch

Circus fun in the Meadows

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As the festival comes to a close for 2018 I remember a great day at the circus hub.

I was spent a day at the Circus Hub in the Meadows and saw some amazing acts this year. I would say the sketcher Twins (aged 7) favourite was Wolfgang, a clever slapstick acrobatic routine in which two performers amused by tumbling and climbing all over each other.

Although there was proper belly laughs from my two I was a little disappointed in the price difference of just £1 between an adult(£14) and child ticket (£13), especially as they ended up sitting on our knees.

I loved the flamethrowing antics of KittyBangBang, below and…

the spell binding Oliver Smith Wellnitz on the trapeze, below. I sketched quickly as the acts displayed the amazing talents and confidence. It is alway inspiring to see people so skilled and dedicated to their passion.

Unfortunately I didn’t get to see them both perform as part of the rated cabaret show ‘Little Death Club’. Lets hope they all come back next year!

Underbelly Circus Hub website

 

 

Daily Sketch

Festival fun in full swing

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The Mound just outside the National Galleries is packed with performers this August.

I love the colour and excitement of festival time in Edinburgh. The mix of people from all around the world both watching and performing in every available space around the city. It is such a happy and positive time.

There are many places to people watch and I love to find a quiet corner where I can find a wide vista of the performers and watchers all coming together. This particular place was just around the corner from the main entrance to the National Galleries at the foot of the Mound, just off Princes Street.

This is my first festival sketching with a moleskin sketchbook with its recognisably wide double page spread. It was perfect for capturing the crowds and buildings in which all seemed to be watching the acrobatic performer in the middle.

This drawing was made with a fadeproof fineliner, watercolour brush and moleskine sketchpad.

National Galleries Scotland website

Competition

WhereArtI 20th August 2018

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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 August is one of my new Edinburgh Castle Totes. Featuring one of my sketches in a circle design the 100% cotton bag is perfect for collecting all those festival flyers!

ES Castle bag 1

Leave your answer in the comment box below …

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 details in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next time!

Can’t wait?  Buy an ES tote right now online: Edinburgh Sketcher online store.

Daily Sketch

Edinburgh International Science Festival launched with an evening of messy fun

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ScienceFestival 2018 ERSurgery
Last night I sketched at the Edinburgh International Science Festival launch night at the City Art Centre in Market Street.

24 hours ago I was creating sparkly slime on the third floor of the City Art Centre. Protected with goggles and an apron I miced my sticky potion until once happy with the consistancy, I launched it at a huge target on the wall, creating a satisfactory splat.

ScienceFestival 2018 SplatTastic

Over five floors the City Art Centre has once again been transformed in to a laboratory of messy and fascinating experiments. I loved creating scabs by congealing a bloody mixture in the blood bar as well as drawing with mini robotic cubes.

ScienceFestival 2018 LegoHoops

There was also Lego building, hula hooping and having ago at 3D pain gin using a virtual Dalits headset. Great fun for all the adults there last night for the ‘Lates’ version of the popular Science Festival location. The City Art Centre is always popular with families as you can easily spend the whole day inside touring the many experiences, some of which can be booked in advance but also many are simply drop in so there is always something to see and do.

ScienceFestival 2018 Hyped

ScienceFestival 2018 VRealityVisitors book a day pass and then can explore as many of the experiences as they wish. Have a look through the many interactive activities via the link below. I am looking forward to returning soon as I only got around about half of what is on offer!

ScienceFestival 2018 BloodBar

Edinburgh International Science Festival at the City Art Centre.

My sketches we created on the night using an ink fineliner 0.5 and a water brush and small paint set. If you would like your event sketched then I offer half and full day packages. Email me HERE for more information.

ScienceFestival 2018 CityArtCentre 2

Daily Sketch

Festive family favourites being screened outdoors in the Cowgate

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Cowgate NYCThis Christmas catch a Christmas movie at the Cowgate NYC Film and Street Food Festival, in the Three Sisters courtyard.With a huge outdoor cinema screening festive favourites, together with mulled wine and American style street food this sounds like the perfect way to start your festive night out.

The screenings run from Sunday to Thursday each week until December 29th and each Sunday is a Family Friendly Screening.

Keep an eye on their facebook page (link below) to see when the movie listings are announced, I’ll be there for sure if Elf is on 🙂

Cowgate NYC: Xmas Film & Street Food Festival facebook page. 

Illustration drawn in black fine liner and watercolour wash.

Competition

WhereArtI : 13th November : Edinburgh

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ES WAI131117Can you tell me where in Edinburgh I have sketched?

If so click the link below to email me your answer. I will pick a random winner from all correct answers 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 this week is a pair of tickets to the Edinburgh Craft Beer Revolution Festival which runs over three days in November (23rd to 25th).

‘Edinburgh’s biggest and best celebration of craft beer returns for November 2017 with more brewers, more street food and, of course, more craft beer!”

I have a pair of tickets for the Friday 24th afternoon session (Noon – 4.30pm) which I will give to a randomly picked correct answer on Tuesday afternoon. Best of luck!

Click HERE to enter your answer

Usually the answer will be within the Edinburgh boundaries, but on the first Monday of the month the competition is Scotland wide. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed.

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 13th November 2017’.

Edinburgh Craft Beer Revolution Festival website.

Daily Sketch

The day Cirque Éloize came to the Mound

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Cirque Eloize atMoundEarlier this month I witnessed the incredible Cirque Éloize performing a few routines at the Mound in Edinburgh.

I passed by with the Sketcher twins (aged 6) and they were in amazed as the dancers shimmied their way up the Scottish National Gallery pillars, hung horizontal from street lamps and juggled each other in front of Edinburgh’s stunning skyline.

In Cirkopolis (at Pleasance at the EICC) Quebec’s Cirque Éloize transform the classic film Metropolis into a virtuosic spectacle for the whole family. As artists rebel, their grey cityscape is replaced by absurd humour, beautiful poetry and bursts of brilliant colour, in a world where fantasy defies reality.

What results is said to be a staggering blend of circus, theatre and dance, and if what the group produced at the Mound is anything to go by, I imagine the show to be  a jaw dropping spectacle for all the family.

Cirkopolis runs until 28th August (not Wednesdays) at Pleasance at the EICC (Venue 150).

See a quick 30 second clip of the award winning show HERE.

EdFringe website

This sketch was created with a fineliner pen and watercolours

Daily Sketch

Foodies Festival descends on Inverleith Park once again

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foodies2017
The tents are beginning to be erected ahead of this weekends food festival in Edinburgh’s Inverleith Park.

I cycled through the park on Tuesday and noticed preparations had begun to transform the park which lies just over the road from the Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh. I stopped to draw this sketch of the busy workers and the city, and Arthurs Seat in the distance.

Its a great location for the festival and an nice walk from Edinburgh centre through Stockbridge so be sure to head down the hill this weekend to see (and sample!!) the many food and drink stalls showing their wares.

The festival runs on Friday 4th (11am-7pm), Saturday 5th (10am-8pm) and Sunday 6th August (10am-7pm).

There are cookery classes for young and old and appearances from celebrity chefs as well as local food and drink suppliers showing their produce. Its a great place to try something new and often meet the growers themselves.

For more information visit the Foodies Festival website below.

Thanks to the generous organisers I have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for the festival, simply leave your name as a comment below to go into the grand draw I am running on social media.

I will pick 5 random winners on Thursday morning and each will receive a pair of tickets. Due to lack of time the winners names will be put on the guest list to gain entrance so no physical tickets will the sent out.

This sketch was drawn on location in pen and watercolour. 

Foodies Festival website

Daily Sketch

The Borders Book Festival is launched from the top of The Glasshouse

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BoordersBookFestival LaunchEarlier this week the Borders Book Festival was officially launched overlooked by Calton Hill in the stunning roof top venue of The Glasshouse Hotel on Greenside Lane, Edinburgh.

I hope to be involved this year sketching from the four day festival which takes place each year within the walled gardens of Harmony House in the centre of Melrose.

The beautiful town of Melrose, just 35 miles from Edinburgh can now be reached via the Borders Railway, which reopened less than two years ago and rolls through some beautiful scenery. HERE is my sketch blog from the opening journey in 2015, I am looking forward to returning to the train for the trip to the festival, which runs from the 15th to 18th June.

BordersRailway_TrainTweedbank

With over 100 events at this years Borders Book Festival there is something for everyone, including a number of big name celebrities (John Cleese, Judy Murray and Steve Backshall to name just three) and an extensive Family Book Festival which I will be taking the Sketcher Twins to. I like the fact all there is no entry charge for adults accompanying children to Family Book Festival events.

So have a look at the full programme using the link below and book yourself a few events, and be sure to take the train for a lovely relaxing way to arrive.

Borders Book Festival website

The Glasshouse Hotel website

Borders Railway website

Competition

WhereArtI : 10th October 2016 : Edinburgh

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es_wai101016Can you tell me where in Edinburgh I have sketched today?

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

The prize for October is a pair of tickets to the Edinburgh Craft Beer Revolution Festival which runs at the Assembly Roxy in Edinburgh from 24th to 26th November.

The winner will receive two tickets including entry to the festival for one session, festival branded glasses to keep, programmes and entry to masterclasses. Must be 18+ to enter and win.

Click HERE to enter your answer

Usually the answer will be within the Edinburgh boundaries, but on the first Monday of the month the competition is Scotland wide. Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feed throughout the day for clues if they are needed.

I hope you join us to play along and keep looking up and noticing the details of Edinburgh, 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 10th October 2016’.

Craft Beer Revolution website