Tag Archives: Scottish

A red, red rose

click to zoom in

Burns Night tonight and to celebrate the Baird’s birthday I have sketched one of his poems.

‘My love is like a red red rose, that’s newly sprung in June’ starts this well known song and poem by Robert Burns, a poet who certainly wrote from his heart and today would of been his 264th, I think, birthday.

Celebrations will take place around the world tonight as haggis, neeps and tatties will be enjoyed and a few drams of whisky drank to honour the great Scottish poet.

This sketch will join my ‘To A Mouse’ sketch made a few years ago, in my Etsy shop available as a mounted and signed print for just £22. The original is currently available for £120 , just email me at contact@edinbrughsketcher.com for that one. And enjoy your burns night celebrations. Mark

My Red Red Rose print

My To A Mouse print

Robert Burns sketch print

Scottish Artists Celebrated

Today a new exhibition opens at the City Art Centre featuring work by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists amongst many others.

‘National Treasure: The Scottish Modern Arts Association’ reveals the story of this a unique collection, and the artists represented in it.

Founded in Edinburgh in 1907, the association was established by artists and their supporters, and aimed to secure a collection of modern Scottish art.

I loved how diverse the mediums and subjects are, from the stunning details in Ernest Lumsden’s etchings to the loose pastel sketches from Julia Beatrice How. There are small delicate pieces and large scale bright and colourful murals. I also loved how I knew some of the scenes and subjects from around Scotland.

Exhibitions like this of multiple artists using a wide range of mediums and styles are so inspiring. Everyone should see this (it would be a great school visit) as you can see that art can come in all styles, sizes and some you will like and some you will not. To me they show that there is not a right and wrong, and everyone can create their art.

Well done City Art Centre, I will be back to take it all in again. Go see it, before mid October.

City Art Centre website.

Opera for your tiny tots

I love the range of sights and sounds available in Edinburgh during the Fringe, one minute you are watching a dinosaur walking around Bristo Square and the next listening to opera for babies at Edinburgh Academy.

Fox-Tot! is a new production from Scottish Opera directed primarily at 12 to 24 month olds but I loved it too!

There is lots of interactivity for the babies and toddlers, who are encouraged to come on to the stage/floor to engage with the singers and puppets, to touch and feel all the wonderful textures whilst listening to the story sung to them.

The children there were in awe, of the puppets, the entertaining actors bringing the set to life with movement and song, and also to the musicians; a cellist and a percussionist had babies staring at them in wonder!

The full sketch, click to see larger.

The show runs for around 45 minutes and there is time for the audience to mingle on the set and get photos of their children with the puppets and cast.

I thought it was a lovely relaxed show, friendly gentle and interactive, a real sensory experience for little ones and their parents, and the perfect way to introduce opera to tiny ears.

Fox- Tot! runs until Aug 16th (not Mondays) at 10am and 11.30am within the Magnusson Theatre at Edinburgh Academy near Stockbridge. Plus there is onsite parking fro those with tickets.

For more information and to book a ticket see the Scottish Opera website below. And let me know what you think of it below too.

Fox-Tot! at Scottish Opera

A night at the opera, for father and daughter

On Thursday I took my 8 year old daughter Zoe to the Festival Theatre, to see Scottish Opera’s The Magic Flute.

I received an invite from Scottish Opera to capture the show with my sketches and thought my keen ballet and theatre fan Zoe would love to come too.

It was our first time to the Opera, as I said to the friendly couple behind us when we took our seats which overlooked the orchestra who were busy getting ready.

The couple told this was a good one to start with as it was in English so easier to follow. The buzz of excitement was all around us and as the lights dimmed the audience hushed.

I knew Zoe had been to the theatre before, to see the Nutcracker by the Scottish Ballet but I also knew it was the dance she was interested in. I was a little unsure about the length of the opera, being around 3 hours in total including a 20 minute interval break.

I needn’t of worried though, from the moment the very funny Papageno (played by Richard Burkhard) appeared on stage with a burst of flames and wearing a colourful outfit Zoe was mesmerised.

Set in a spectacular world inspired by the Victorian futurism of HG Wells and Jules Verne, this production includes plenty of comedy, dialogue and story so that those new to opera can not only follow along but really enjoy the spectacle.

Julia Sitkovetsky, (sketched above) playing the Queen of the Night sang beautifully and had the theatre spellbound during her time on stage. Zoe and I have been (very badly in my case) trying to copy the famous tune. You can see a clip of the show via the Scottish Opera website link below.

The day after Zoe and I drew these sketches from the night, it was a great way to talk about the evening and remember certain highlights. I liked the way The Three Boys floated down to guide the way when needed and Zoe laughed about The Three Ladies that wanted to eat the handsome prince!!

Prices start at £20 per ticket but at the moment if you are under 26 years of age you can get tickets for the opera for just £10 via the Scottish Opera website HERE.

Scottish Opera website

A very wet day in the capital, perfect weather for a new umbrella

ScottMonument BrollyThe rain hasn’t stopped pouring down today in Edinburgh, and thoughts go to a Scottish must have: The brolly.

Together with wallpaper and lampshades I have always thought my black line art work would look great on an umbrella, especially with the artwork showing through to the inside, and what better a shape to fit on each panel but the Scott Monument on Princes Street.

What do you think, should I go into production?

Puffin Colourin’

PuffinColouring_photoThis year to kick off Puffin Festival 2016 the Scottish Seabird Centre is running a Schools Colouring Competition.

The Scottish Seabird Centre asked me to create a puffin illustration to be coloured in, which you can see above. I will also be judging the competition which has an amazing prize for the winning pupil. He/She will officially open Puffin Fest on Friday 20 May at 13:30. The winner will also receive free tickets for Puffin Fest and a trip on board the Puffin Express.

 

I’m looking forward to attending the 10 day festival in North Berwick which runs from 20th to 30th May, and running two sketching workshops in which you can learn some speed sketching skills in the beautiful harbour town. Book your ticket HERE. See the full programme of puffin-tastic events on during the ten days HERE.

 

So mention the competition to your school, and get colouring in – you can download the drawing and find out more details about the Scottish Seabird Centre’s Puffin Fest colouring competition HERE.

 

 

The Scottish Seabird Centre website

 

WhereArtI : 7th March 2016

ES_WAI070316This is your Scotland WhereArtI for March. Can you name the location I’ve sketched?

 

If you can you could win an Edinburgh Sketcher tea towel. I will pick a random winner this time tomorrow from the the correct answers.

 

TeaTowel_EdinburghCastle

 

 

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, and this week the leader board has been wiped clean. 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 the end of the day.

 

If you would like to sponsor the quiz or feature in the quiz, then get in touch at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com

WhereArtI : 1st February 2016

ES_WAI010216Welcome to a brand new Scotland WhereArtI for February. Can you name the location I’ve sketched below?

 

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, and this week the leader board has been wiped clean. 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 the end of the day.

 

If you would like to sponsor the quiz or feature in the quiz, then get in touch at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com

Head to Ocean Terminal for beautiful original artwork at the Scottish Design Exchange

SDEdisplay_280116Yesterday I was restocking at the Scottish Design Exchange in Leith’s Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

After a busy Christmas for the relatively new art gallery and all round creative hub that is SDE is was good to take a step back and freshen up the shelves, adding a few new lines, such as this puffin illustration available as an A4 mounted print for £28.

ES_PuffinsOnCliff

 

The not for profit shop concept, by founder Linzy Leroy is to bring artists and designers together to share a retail space that benefits the community. Proving a great success, and still in its first year, the super location in Ocean Terminal provides a retail outlet for many independent designers and makers that wouldn’t usually have access to sell on the high street.

 

I love the idea and the community of creatives that is being built there. Get along yourself and have a look around, there is some truly original pieces to see, perfect for a bespoke gift, for a friend or yourself!

 

Ocean Terminal has plenty of free parking and is on the bus route for numbers 11, 22, 34, 35.

 

 

The Scottish Design Exchange website

 

The Scotland WhereArtI Quiz, 4th May

ES_WAI040515Welcome to the monthly Scotland WhereArtI, can you locate this week’s drawing from somewhere in this beautiful country?

 

I am drawing somewhere in Scotland, all you have to do is tell me where. There are points on offer for the first three correct answers and bragging rights for a week 🙂 Keep an eye on the facebook and twitter throughout the day for clues if they are needed. Answer to come before the end of the day.

 

If you would like to donate a prize for the quiz or indeed feature in the quiz, then get in touch HERE.

 

Remember the Edinburgh version of WhereArtI runs every Monday in the Edinburgh Evening News with a fantastic prize each week. You could win a bottle of Edinburgh Gin and a tour of the Edinburgh Gin distillery in Edinburgh city centre.