Tag Archives: poppy

For those gone too soon

Click to zoom in

Today is the 11th of the 11th, Remembrance Day and a time to reflect.

I am giving a thought to all those who have fallen in conflict, gone before their time fighting or standing up for their beliefs and their families.

Yesterday I painted this poppy, the symbol of both remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.

I spent most of the day on it, using watercolours only and leaving each layer to dry before coming back to it. This way of painting is the opposite of my usual speedy quick sketching but I love the depth it gives when you look close up.

I also had plenty of time to think about this time of year and how we mark the date. Personally I feel it’s important to look back, remembering and marking the past and working hard to make sure we learn from history to make the future a better place.

I will be selling this poppy painting HERE as a signed and mounted 15cm square giclee print for £25 (UK postage included) with £5 from each one sold going to PoppyScotland.

My previous 2018 poppy sketch is also available HERE and has now raised £210 for the Scottish charity which raises money for veterans and their families.

You can order a print of today’s sketch via my Etsy shop HERE.

Click below to see a video of me sketching the picture above.

Poppies on Princes Street

PoppiesPrincesStreetA Field of Remembrance has been created this week in Princes Street Gardens, next to the Scott Monument.

 

Thousands of small wooden crosses, each with a personal dedication and poppy, have been planted next to the Scott Monument.

 

The Field of Remembrance is open to the public for poppy week until Monday 11th November when there will be a service to remember the the millions killed, injured and effected by conflicts since Armistice Day, 1919.

 

Each year Poppyscotland helps thousands of ex-Servicemen and women, and their families, overcome physical, emotional and financial difficulties. Learn more at the link below.

 

Scottish Poppy Appeal

 

In an effort to raise a little money for PoppyScotland I will be producing 100 giclee prints of this image, signed, numbered and individually mounted.

Each will be £20 (including postage) and £10 from each one sold will go to PoppyScotland. If you are interested email me at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com or visit my Etsy shop HERE.

Lest we forget

RemembrancePoppyThis year over 40 million poppies will be sold in the UK, over 5 million of them in Scotland. This is mine, sketched yesterday in a cafe on the Royal Mile.

Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the end of World War One, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month services throughout the nation will pay respect to the millions killed, injured and effected in that conflict and those since Armistice Day, 1919.

A two minute silence will be held as people stop what they are doing for a moment and remember the sacrifices made. The Royal British Legion are custodians of the anniversary and for more information or to buy a poppy see the link below. You can also pick up a poppy in most shops, for a donation.

 

‘Not forgotten, and never will be.’

 

I wear my poppy as a token of respect, a sign that those lives lost are not forgotten, and never will be.

This poppy I have sketched is the Scottish version, slightly different to the rest of the UK. I sketched one of those last year. Today’s illustration is in black ink with a watercolour wash.

 

 

Below I have included a cropped version, which you can (right-click, ‘save as’) download and use as your personal icon on social media websites. Show your respect today.

RemembrancePoppyAvatar

 

Never forget

A week today at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month people will fall silent for two minutes to pay respect to the men and women who have paid the ultimate price fighting for our freedom.

The poppy is the symbol of remembrance and of the Poppy Appeal. Poppy Collectors appear in late October so everyone can make a donation and wear their poppy for remembrance.

The two minute silence at 11am is just one of many events taking place next Sunday to remember lives lost since the First World War. For more information about Remembrance Day and the other events taking place visit The Royal British Legion website HERE.