Printing Again

After a bit of a hiatus and being very busy, I now have a bot more time and mental energy for art again. This print came out more sinister than expected, but is a piece of victorian glass design featuring a weird dolphin, that I saw at the Crieff Hydro. Kind of fits into the creatures and symbols theme I am working on though!

Balcony Birds

Another work in those self fill squeezy water pens, love them. This is on some amazing handmade Indian paper I bought in the art shop L Cornellison in London. Our ‘balcony’ (decorative wood rail) has been regularly visited by a pair of doves over the last week, they are beautiful.

Also Anglo Saxon

As well as Pictish art, also very into Anglo Saxon art after visting the amazing exhibition at the British Library. A lot of art from this period seems to have similar patterns of scrolling monsters and intricate knots and patterns. Here, a sword hilt from Shetland with knotted beasts.

Holiday Recommends

We just got back from a few days in Crieff. If you are ever in this area here are some recommendations:

We like to stay at the Crieff Hydro. Don’t miss the Victorian Spa and the delicious afternoon tea.

Yann’s in Crieff is an excellent but relaxed French restaurant in a lovely old Victorian house.

Cafe Rhubarb in Crieff is a delightful cafe with pretty windowboxes.

In Dunkeld, don’t miss the stunning decor shop Jeffreys Interiors, in an old church.

Dunkeld Cathedral by the river is a lovely spot.

The river walk with the historic Birnam Oak and Sycamore in Birnam is beautiful.

Also in Birnam, the Arts Centre has a lovely cafe, Beatrix Potter exhibition and shop and a small gallery space, showing ceramics when we were there.

And enjoy a spectacular drive between Crieff and Dunkeld past the amazing Glen Quaich.

Morgan Gothic

Driving through Dundee, you are directed through a maze of Victorian streets up and over a steep hill, surmounting which is this amazing building. Colossal, Gothic, pure St Trinians this is Morgan Academy, built in the 1860s as a hospital and now a school.
Tried out my self fill pens for this, you can fill with water or an ink and water mix. This was applied over a line drawing in thin permanent marker, not water soluble.
I seem to be getting into mono architecture again, in a slightly gothic vein.

Seasonal Perfume

The sun is finally out again, I have turned down the heating a bit and feel Spring may be approaching once more. Thus have done the biannual perfume switch over.

I used up my Samsara which is a lovely soft, oriental perfume for winter
And my Youth Dew has gone into the toiletry box for storage.

Got out Diorissimo: a light floral
And Jolie Madame a sadly discontinued violet scent.

Makeup, ageing and terrible photos.

I need a new passport. So I had to get a new passport photo. Which is the worst photo anyone has ever taken of me because: I had to take my glasses off, it was under striplights in a supermarket, it was against a grey background.
I looked so rough I actually made the effort to wear some makeup for meetings today so I felt I looked better.
Ageing and makeup is tricky. Wearing glasses so you can’t see properly to put eye makeup on when they are off. White hairs in your eyebrows. Pallid skin and undereye shadows. Crepiness and darkness on lids. Facial hair issues.

So my essentials change over time. I don’t wear much makeup but what I do do is:
Lots of blusher
Concealer under eyes
Pale shadow on eyelid and soft brown in crease
Colour in brows with brown pencil or shadow
Natural to dark lipstick

Things I avoid like the plague:
Pastel or bright eyeshadow, especially frosted
Pale lipstick
Glitter
Fiddly eye applications you can’t see
Mascara that sticks to glasses

Things I’m trying
90s style natural colours inspired by Scully in the X Files
Anything inspired by Dita von Teese’s beauty book
Tinted moisturiser
Eccentric nail polish such as aqua.

Do you have any current makeup inspirations/tips?

Inspiring Places!

Behind my work is a walled garden. It is only partly maintained but it is a magical and peaceful place. I like to walk there at lunchtime. I did a drawing of a bricked up and overgrown door there and this got me thinking about inspiring places for art and places you go to feel better. I also really enjoyed drawing all the bricks!

My inspiring places:

Duthie Park Winter Gardens

Johnston Gardens

Blairs Museum and Walled Garden

Bridge of Dee

Stonehaven Harbour

Places I go to feel better:

Any garden

Favourite shops such as Boots or John Lewis

Second hand Bookshops

The old railway walk near my house

Does anyone else have favourite inspiring/soothing places?

More Spring Flowers

After the winter I can never have enough of painting spring flowers. Tulips in a vase from my living room. Reasonably successful painting of glass, which is tricky. In ink and biro.