Head in the clouds

... or rather hillslopes in clouds.

Lessenings 10_2 (Past Arrochar),
Graphite and pencil in Moleskine, 21x13cm

The image doesn't quite fit, though, but you've certainly noticed that I'm barely here, there or elsewhere. Once the exhibition was running, work bit back with a vengeance and I've been running around trying to finish things up before the magical Friday 11 July when I will be away from Glasgow for a good number of weeks. Holidays and work away from the office are terribly good things to look forward to, but more importantly to have them actually happening.

In the meantime, I have been doing some more sketching while travelling. There is something extraordinarily soothing about it: the necessity to simplify - by virtue of movement - to just a couple of lines and marks. It's about marks and composition, like these two done last weekend on the coach from Glasgow to Inveraray for a Saturday outing with fish and chips at the harbour, a bit of walking through wet summer meadows amongst sheep and cows, a bit of boatwatching and a bit of pub grub and cider in the afternoon.

So, while I've got my head in the clouds or elsewhere, please bear with me. If not here, then elsewhere.

Lessenings 10_1 (Across Loch Long),
Graphite and pencil in Moleskine, 21x13cm

Sketchbook (re)formatting

Graphite in Moleskine, 13x11cm

Our Moleskine exchange is firmly on its way, and I'm looking forward to getting the first one sent from David (David: have you started yet??). The sketchbooks we're all working in is the small pocket size Concertina one: it folds out to a glorious, continuous 2.70m (if my maths up to speed). That's far longer than any of my Found Paper Books, which just come up to 45cm; but there is something wonderful about a format that is so much wider than higher. It just doesn't seem to end. And with its folds, the next (or indeed previous) pages can be hidden, as if they didn't exist. Oh, so much fun on empty pages.

I had bought a small pocket size plain Moley in my attempt to sketch anywhere. So, I've been carrying it round with me and do indeed use it once in a while. But, it's awfy small, really. It's a one person per page kind of scenario. And while it lends itself well to some minimalist lines, it is just tiny.

Graphite in Moleskine, 13x18cm

So: Plan B is already in Amazon's basket: a couple more Moley concertina books, same external dimensions, they will soon be like the Tardis: so much bigger inside than anyone would guess by looking at the inconspicous exterior.

Retrofitting

... my sparse graphite in Moleskine sketches (and assorted others) to a new life as Flickr set and group identity.

Somewhere near Stranraer, Lessenings 7_5,
Graphite in Moleskine, 21x14cm

It was yellow Steph whose comment on one of my graphite redux got me thinking. So, I hunted in my various (not very well organised) online folders for various sketches - mostly landscapes, virtually all graphite or pencil, though I included a few watercolours, ink and neopastels. I called them lessenings - as lesser and lessons.... very clever, huh?! And here's a wee taster.

In fact, yesterday was warm and sunny and I went to the park with my sketchbook. I kind of figured it would be one of the last opportunities to sketch some bare trees before the leaves get going properly. So, while I did the below (amongst worse others), I realised that my summer park sketching would be: PEOPLE. They were everywhere, doing all sorts of things - and, better than at airports, they were chilled, relaxed and happy - makes an easier subject; which is all the better seeing that I'm not good at this. But I do have a while to work myself up for that task - and keep looking at other people's people sketches - such as Lindsay's or Mithi's. Or maybe that will just keep me from doing some of my own??

Victoria Park, Just - aka Lessenings 9_1
Graphite in Moleskine, 21x14cm

Locational confusions

... mean that I am away again. Five hours earlier than usual, it's been an early morning session in a hotel lobby in Boston.

Until there's more sketches and photos, this one will have to do.

Windswept Scottish hilltops with just the barest bit of tree line, done a few weeks ago along the Ayrshire coast.

Hilltop. Graphite and rain in Moleskine, 21x12cm

Going travelling ... again

Trees in mist from train 1,
Graphite in Moleskine - small :)

I'll be away for a while: to Germany again for work and some train journeys. I'll be back end of next week, and leave you with one of my minimalist sketches from December's train journeys.

Catch you soon and bye for now...

Sketches in movement

Glasgow - Birmingham, 14:02, 9 November 2007
Graphite in Moleskine, 24x21cm

On the train, wizzing through the Scottish Lowlands... Pine trees on hill tops, below a brooding sky. A few larches here and there introduce some yellows.

A bit further south, it is hedges against the sky. Spindly and barren, they structure the fields, set apart and link together, guiding the eye up to the horizon line and into the clouds.

Glasgow - Birmingham, 14:02, 9 November 2007

Graphite in Moleskine, 24x21cm

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