The weather outside is decidedly frightful so this afternoon I have been keeping warm and cosy at my desk. I am surrounded with various tools of the trade to gt me working, and the motorbikes in my head are telling me a hundred and one fab ideas to get started on, but which one do I do first?!
All posts by Edinburgh Sketcher
Botanic blood boiler
Went to @TheBotanics on Saturday, one of my favourite places in Edinburgh.
However we were chased out of the Terrace Cafe by a stinking mop and bucket. Why must staff put chairs up and mop around tables before closing time? It leaves a bad taste – literally as I could only smell (and taste) dettle in the air. I was put off my coffee and cake (very important!) and the family next to us felt they had to rush their food after being assured they had time to eat before sitting down.
I know plenty of cafes and restaurants do this, but it winds me up, especially where food is being served. And it is unnecessary, if the staff want to get away early then they should adjust their closing times accordingly, and only start cleaning the restaurant after customers have left.
Rant over. The sketch is of Inverleith House, just next to the Terrace Cafe, go early 😉
Christmas card success!
Stage 4 on printing my own Christmas card, after being bitten by the screen printing bug at Edinburgh Printmakers.
And the acetate template worked a dream, after some tinkering with the thickness of the paint and trying a roller before making my own ‘squidgy’ out of a 15cm plastic ruler, I printed this Christmas card.
And then I tried a red one, a bit more festive but I like the Scottish blue also. I think it would look great in black too, I especially like the thickness of the paint and the slight imperfections in each one, making them all truly original. The scene is Edinburgh Castle from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
If you would like to order some get in touch here. The inside is left blank and the card is A6 size, printed on thick art card. All cards come complete with an envelope. Cards are priced at £2.50 each or 6 for £12 and come in red, blue or black, or a combination there of.
Here are links to the printing process in stages, I hoped you enjoyed watching my printing experiment, any questions please use the comment box below.
Quiz night…
I spent some time waiting today, waiting for the other half. Waiting patiently with the kiddies, who were being good , ie quiet!.
And so naturally I started sketching, but where am I – can you tell?
Answers in a comment box below please…
Mistakes to learn from
Oh dear, stage 3 of printing my own Christmas card didn’t go well. In hindsight perhaps cutting a stencil from card wasn’t a great plan. As the paint soaked into the card it fell apart.
Not put off though, and having sensibly scanned my stencil before destroying it I have just printed it out on acetate.
Now I just need to cut it out again.
Lunchtime at Hotel du Vin
Yesterday I dropped in at Hotel du Vin, just around the corner from the National Museum of Scotland. Through an archway lies the hotel courtyard and to the right the bistro, which is where I sketched this drawing from a balcony overlooking the roaring log fire below.
Pop along this Thursday 6-9pm for Hotel du Vins Christmas Market, when carols will be sung around a 12ft Christmas tree in the courtyard, and stalls will sell festive goodies perfect for last minute prezzie shopping. Mmm I can smell the mince pies already!
Stage 2
Last night I completed the next stage in printing my own Christmas card – cutting out the stencil with which to print from. After drawing the design I inked it in in black, making sure all the black bits were connected at least on one edge, so that the design stays whole, in one piece.
Next the exciting part, rolling on the paint!
See here for the pencil sketch
first signs
As the snow begins to fall in Granton here is another sign of the fast approaching festivities – my annual Christmas card. I hope to make a stencil and print them myself this year, after trying the process out at Edinburgh Printmakers I am hooked!
Click here to see that days effort.
Here is an early sketch to lay it out, come back soon to see the first print. Get your orders in now!!
Sketchy morning
The morning seemed to fly by today: Babies wake up. Babies having a cuddle on the mat with a few toys. Babies seem happy, time for a quick sketch. Babies hungry, into their high chairs. Babies and dad having some porridge. Mum takes over and dad’s off to work. Phew!
Down the barrel
…of one of Edinburgh Castles cannons. Today my wife and I took the twins for their first visit to a very windy Edinburgh Castle, taking advantage of the St Andrews Day free entrance offer.
The kids loved looking at the medals, swords and armour on display. But best of all must be the amazing views of Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside from the thick stone walls that once protected the castle from attackers.
Like this view towards Calton Hill and Nelson’s Tower. I have again added a little watercolour to give the sketch some life. What do you think?