Laurence, taxidermist
Cleaning a hundred year old monkey (1887). He had a small tag on his arm that reminded me of Paddington Bear.
Archived entries for moleskine journal
Locomotive 3007
This enormous train was built in Glasgow and shipped off to South Africa. Its now back and is going to be part of the new exhibits for the new transport museum.
This thing is massive (197 tonnes) and its slowly getting renovated and cleaned which is a really noisy job.
Frozen Lake
I’ve still got a couple to finish, I feel my mind is still partly there with the snow, ice and clear air though its mostly all gone now.
A murder of…
crows or maybe an unkindness of ravens.
You know I’ve had a few images I want to draw that I look out for when I’m out and about. One of them is when there’s a storm and crows are flying about in the high winds. I get the feeling that they love flying about in bad weather messing about for kicks in gangs while more timid birds are sheltering waiting for it to pass.
Until then I’ll do with this bunch or murder sitting in the trees
Early 2010
(looking at a Bridget Riley at the Museum of Modern Art)
Since its early 2010 a few new year resolutions, though they’re not really resolutions more an approach or things I’d like to do.
1/ Develop some work from sketches
2/ Continue doing more varied work
3/ Try to balance freelance with getting out and doing things. I haven’t done as much travelling this year as I’ve always felt as if I’m mid project and can’t afford the time so I think I need to learn how.
4/ Learn how to sea kayak
5/ Learn how to write more. Once I’ve finished a drawing and upload it I sometimes don’t feel like spending time writing. I might try delaying uploading a day after to give me the time to include a narrative maybe.
6/ Meet more artists and online people, 2009 was the first time I’ve met online folk hope to continue this.
7/ Learn French with help by Michel Thomas
8/ Get a dog
a review of last year’s
1/ More drawing and painting, do more finished work – I think I learnt a lot more in 2009
2/ Use my site more – expanded site alot more
3/ Add a places or events to draw at - lots of events for 2009 like BBC SSO, Highland games, scooter rally.
4/ Will be driving soon, so more traveling this year – woot passed though I didn’t travel much
5/ Design wise not focus solely on function but add more imagination, fun, play and value - let it go – a lot more varied work including a few illustration pieces, web sites and even some touch screens
6/ Use more words than great – ha, maybe!
7/ Consider adding a shop – its happening although I need to work on it to get it right, may change from Etsy to Big Cartel.
8/ Make things - yes
9/ Rethink house boat dream? – maybe unrealistic, I like my home comforts like broadband, heating and space, planning to alter this to Kayaking or even sailing.
10/ Sort out my slight fear of heights – I’ve given up on climbing Munroes. I’m not sure how to face this, I’ve been to high places but always end up shaking and getting the fear.
Some unplanned ones included giving up caffeine (weirdly good) and enjoying cooking much more.
Gorse
From the coast with welcome splashes of colour.
I saw a programme on the box where some folk in the Highlands make wine from the flowers. It must be the most painful and awkward job in the world to pick.
Loony Dook 2010
I went to this year’s "Loony Dook" at Queensferry where brave souls jumped into the Firth of Forth to wash out the old and in with the new for New Year’s day. It was a great day for it with the east coast covered in snow and they say about 3,000 folk down to see it with 800 jumping into the water.
Last moleskine of 2009
I finished this book just in time for the new year. Here is a super large version if you like.
Rooftops
Some sketches I missed uploading from earlier this year. The designer shop Che Camille kindly let me up on their rooftop which has a great view over Buchanan Street and most of Glasgow.
Scottish money
These aren’t really to scale as the £100 is the biggest note in size and get smaller and smaller down to the £1.
The three main banks here print their own money
Glass…
Some small sea creatures delicately made from glass by Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka (late 19th century)
