Tag Archives: ink

Competition

WhereArtI this week Edinburgh?

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Can you tell me where I have sketched?

Can you tell me what street I am standing on looking into the city centre.

Leave your answer in the comment box below. Your comment will not show up until I reveal the answer tomorrow.

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 December is one of my screen printed tote bags featuring a sketch of Edinburgh Castle.

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 a set of my foiled Edinburgh Christmas cards you can find them in my Etsy shop.



Daily Sketch

A familiar view in ink and water

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Today I sketched with a fountain pen and a water brush, but wonder if I went a little too far.

‪This is the view from Bruntsfield Place, looking towards the King’s Theatre and Edinburgh Castle. I was inspired by a Ronald Searle book a client gave me which featured the artists street drawings from Paris.

They looked to be drawn with a fountain pen or ink and a brush so I thought I would give it a go.

Not sure if I like it better without the water, but enjoyed the process of mixing on the paper. I think I just need to stop a wee bit earlier next time. ‬

Daily Sketch

Calton Hill views over the city

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On Wednesday I was out sketching in the warm spring air, capturing the Edinburgh skyline for an upcoming feature with Edinburgh Evening News.

The morning was overcast but as I started drawing in black ink the sun started to shine across the Dugald Stewart Monument with the Balmoral clock on one side and Edinburgh castle on the other.

I love the view from Calton Hill, the bustling Princes Street below looks so distant but is just minutes walk away, and the numerous spires and domes that dot the skyline remind me of places visited and others waiting to be explored.

I recommend the short climb if visiting Edinburgh even just for the day – the view captures the whole city.

The EEN had a go cam hooked up to film the sketch being created so once the feature is live I will let you know.

Daily Sketch

Sketching within the Palace of Holyroodhouse

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On Tuesday I was lucky enough to run some sketching workshops within the state rooms for those visiting the palace.

I was asked by the Royal Collection Trust to run a day of small workshops within the state rooms of the palace, to help visitors focus in on the details of the furnishings and decorations within these spendid rooms. Like the Privy Chamber, created for Charles II in the late 1600s, is used by The Queen for private audiences with the First Minister of Scotland and visiting dignitaries.

As I walked with visitors through the grand rooms we worked on perspective and detail pieces, before arriving at the Grand Gallery, which shows portraits of both real and legendary kings of Scotland.

The Royal Collection Trust look after the Royal Collection, one of the most important art collections in the world, and manages the public opening of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen. 

You can see where I will be next by keeping an eye on my Sketching Workshops page.

The Queen’s Gallery currently has an exhibition showcasing the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and Charles II use of art to glorify the monarchy and reinforce his position as the rightful king.

The Charles II : Art & Power exhibition runs until June 2nd 2019. See more information at the Royal Collection Trust website.

Daily Sketch

A cloudy view to Broughton St Marys Parish Church

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There is beauty evening the dull cloudy days here in Edinburgh.

I have been practicing my clouds recently, and this dull morning last week was perfect for combining some grey clouds with a little perspective sketching, plus a lovely church in the centre.

As often happens I was driving along the road when I spotted the stunning composition of tis view and had to pull over and sketch.

I then spent the next five minutes finding the place to park the car, to get the best angle to paint from – as it was baltic outside!!

This sketch was drawn with a 0.3 fineliner and then a watercolour wash over the top. This sketch is available (from £18) as a print on my Etsy shop HERE.

Competition

WhereArtI 26th November 2018

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Can you name this week’s Edinburgh sketched location?

If you know leave you 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 those on the wall will be entered into a draw to receive a prize.

The prize for November is a set of my brand new coasters. These are the first coasters I have had made, printed right here in Scotland. Each one is a premium glossy 9cm x 9cm hardboard coaster, the colours really pop and they are great quality. 

Leave your answer in the comment box below …

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

 

Daily Sketch

Autumn colours, as best as I could capture them

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The beauty of Edinburgh’s green spaces are currently transforming into a wonderful colour show to rival anything our festivals can offer.

Today I enjoyed a peaceful walk along the cycle paths of North Edinburgh, the old railway lines run beneath the roads of the city providing a traffic free and nature filled way to get from A to B.

This mornings walk was full of colour and as I kicked my way though piles of fallen leaves every now and then I stopped to pick up a particular pretty leaf. I like to sketch the leaves this way each year, taking time to appreciate just how wonderful mother nature is.

Once home I arranged the leaves and created this colourful sketch and although capturing the autumn colours will remain my holy grail of watercolours, I am pleased with this years sketch 😉

This sketch was created in the warmth of my studio, with a Uni Pn 0.3 and watercolour brush/pallet. 

Daily Sketch

Dundas Street shops are full of colour

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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.

Daily Sketch

Drawing inspiration from the George Street Assembly Rooms interiors

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AssemblyRooms BallroomWindowJoin me for a sketching workshop inside the iconic Edinburgh venue in it’s 230th year with this one day only experience.

Explore the timeless elegance and beauty, the enormous crystal chandeliers, gleaming gold leaf and giant gilt mirrors with a sketch book in hand, using ink and watercolour to bring your visit to life.

With helpful instruction from myself, you will quickly pick up sketching skills while increasing confidence in your own artistic ability as you tour the various rooms of this Georgian venue.

Once we have filled your pages with beautiful ink drawings, we’ll end our tour with tea or coffee and time to add watercolour to our sketches and compare our doodles around a table in this relaxed and friendly workshop.

No previous experience is required for this relaxed and informal drawing tour and all materials are provided.

Click here to book your place on this limited event.

 

Daily Sketch

The Dazzle Ship in Leith, Edinburgh

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DazzleShip

Stunning reflections of the mesmerising Dazzle Ship by Ciara Phillips, in Leith as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2016.

The contemporary coloured Dazzle Ship docked in Leith (near Ocean Terminal) was designed by the Turner Prize-nominated artist Ciara Phillips and will be available to see until August 28th.

Ciara Phillips’ Every Woman was co-commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and is actually the fourth Dazzle Shipto be commissioned after similar works in London and Liverpool which collectively commemorate the period from 2014 to 2018.

It wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece.

These unmissable floating artworks provide a visual connection to the hundreds of Dazzle Ships that crossed the seas during the First World War.

I had passed the ship by car and seen it from a distance but it wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece. Go and see it on the Prince of Wales Dock where there is also information panels telling the story of this artwork and more about the history of Dazzle Ships.

You can also get involved by creating your own ‘dazzle’ design on the Dazzle It App, follow the 14-18 Now link below to find out more.

Ciara Phillips

Edinburgh Art Festival website

14-18-Now website

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