I made it to elgol

So nice to get back here to sketch. I am now on the isle of skye

Crazy girl holding a wee bear

I think it is time to start developing self cam with my iPhone. Quite
hard to hold it securely and take a photo.
At eilean donan castle on the way to Skye and squinting because of
SUN!!!! actually although it has been cold I have had really good
weather during my stay in Scotland.

The bear and the famous castle

On the way to Skye

Culloden moor

Eza and I had a wonderful morning at the culloden battlefield and
visitor centre looking at lots of stuff and really getting a good
picture of this big event in Scottish history. They had done an
amazing job of making an empty field a great place to visit.

Borromini in the heather

At culloden battlefield

Urqihart castle on loch ness

We ran out of time this arvo so we only had 20 mins to sketch. I did
this in 19!!! Too rushed but still fun

Sketching at culloden moor

Great day with eza who came up to Inverness for a wee visit.

Dinner at river cafe

Yet another food sketch when I having a quiet day. Lovely restaurant
and waitress who I got to write in my book

Room with a castle view

How special is that.

This was my first sketch today at 530pm!!! See ... Sometimes I do some
pure socializing!!!

Palette update

5 weeks in to my 11 week holiday.

I am already well into my SECOND French ultramarine ( 2nd column two
down) and burnt sienna( 3rd coulm 3 down) and just put in a new raw
sienna. The only colour that I have concerns about is the Daniel smith
serpentine green- don't think that I will find something on the way.
Btw I am finding the consistency of the w&n pan quite different in
Scotland. Maybe the constant use and the humidity in the air is maybe
them lovely and gooey!!!!

Btw I am now on my longest holiday ever. Still cruising along! Doesn't
seem like 5 weeks yet my wonderful time in the states seems like a
different trip.

A quiet day in Inverness

Spent a few hours walking this morning - along ness islands and up to
top of cemetery - some good exercise which I needed. I then sat down
for a late morning tea. The sum on my back was so good I stayed for
lunch.

Glorious day!! Reminds me of a warm winters day in sydney ( I know
this is thier summer) still using Australian colours to paint Scottish
light ... Haven't got it right yet!

A few days of socializing so might be quiet for next few days.

Another dunrobin sketch

Wanted to add a few notes on this one

Inverness riverside churches

A 10 min sketch of two of the churches on the river. In a rush since I
was going to a prayer meeting in a church loch-side. Yes, by the
shores of loch ness.

Inverness castle

I know it is not a real castle but looked worthy to sketch tha
afternoon. Of course the sun was out when I started and disppeared
when I started painting. I did this standing on a bridge with a very
open balstrade and lots of Europeans looking over my shoulder and
obviously talking about me - post symposium I know turn around and say
a friendly hi (when I could be bothered.) - really uncomfortable with
these conditions.

Dunrobin castle 02

Sketch of the old courtyard and 13th century keep
Main staircase on right

Dunrobin castle 01

Lovely day today

A worried bear

BB hopes that the dukes of Sutherland only hunt stag and not bears.

BB at Dunrobin castle

BB at Foyers falls

Didn't do a sketch here (what!!! I hear you say) as didn't want to keep my friend and her wee boy waiting.

First Inverness breakfast

Paint is still wet so I will post will waiting for it to dry.
Yes that is more black pudding!!! This time from the other stornoway
Macleod butcher - Charles Macleod.
Don't worry I won't have this every morning and didn't eat it all this
morning.
Sorry about all the blank blog posts - I thought I found a quick way
to post.

Btw this is my relaxation week.....

Fwd: Dun carolway sketches

Did this one work? What other posts didn't work? Seems to be ok on my flickr

Took me a few days to finish this spread by add the plan and section. 

The top sketch I painted on location - it was somewhat crazy as it was so windy that twice the wind blew water from my wee container onto the page. But I am determined to paint in all conditions (time is the only restraint that sometimes prevents me) and not to use waterbrushes unless it is an absolute necessity as they wash the watercolor out too much.

One of the small comments of this trip that has made a big impact was mistress of longears saying that Kate Johnson uses "juicy" mixes. I have that word in my head everytime I paint and find it hard to achieve the same with a waterbrush. 

Edited with Photogene

Dun carolway with image this time

Sketching coincidence

This is a page from last Monday when I flew from Edinburgh to Stornoway. See the man in the Harris tweed jacket on the right. Well today on the ferry from stornoway to ullapool I sketched the same jacket in the seat infront!!

The couple looked a little bit familiar but when I sketched the jacket for the second time I knew!! So of course I spoke to them and it was the same man!!! And of course I also told him i sketched his jacket twice and showdown it to him!!!! How is that for a coincidence. I am sure that I would not have noticed if I hadn't sketched!!!

Edited with Photogene

Dun carolway sketches

Took me a few days to finish this spread by add the plan and section. 

The top sketch I painted on location - it was somewhat crazy as it was so windy that twice the wind blew water from my wee container onto the page. But I am determined to paint in all conditions (time is the only restraint that sometimes prevents me) and not to use waterbrushes unless it is an absolute necessity as they wash the watercolor out too much.

One of the small comments of this trip that has made a big impact was mistress of longears saying that Kate Johnson uses "juicy" mixes. I have that word in my head everytime I paint and find it hard to achieve the same with a waterbrush. 

Edited with Photogene

Last Lewis sketch

Nice view hey? About to head to the mainland - just got to survive crossing the Minch!!!!!

Edited with Photogene

BB and Black pudding

I bought some Macleod and Macleod original stornoway black pudding for
us. We had some for breakfast this morning and it was sensational!!!
Of course I was training for this by having cooked breakfast every
morning in Edinburgh and having porridge here all week. There will be
some serious diet when I get home but I believe in enjoying yourself
on holiday - I do NOT Agree with gluttony but a treat Now and then
- pity the now and then are happening too close together for me at the
moment.

Btw thank you all so VERY VERY MUCH for all your comments they mean a
lot to me. Sorry I can't comment on them as I am surviving on using my
old iPhone and this week visits to cages with free wifi - but if you
do want a response please send me a Flickr mail or email me via the
email button on my profile on my blog - and I will try to respond.
(Andrea L - hope you can find this as I would love to hear from you!)

Sunbaking and sketching

Guess who did what

A walk along the beach

At north tolsta

At a broch dun carloway

where has yhat wee bear gone?
The broch was amazing!! Yes it has been windy even inside a broch -
last night 75 miles per hour I beleve

Catching up

I still have pages to complete .... Here is one from one first day in
stornoway. I am really enjoying adding maps to pages - the original
sketch might not be great but adding a map often makes the spread work.

A quiet day

Hot off the press - paint has just dried. Having a quiet day which
involves roaming around town and visiting cages - alas no tearoom that
I have discovered
Time to continue on.... Feel more tired today not doing anyway.

BB and a Lewis chessman

Friday Lewis castle in the rain

You will be all pleased to know that I am having a quiet day today.
However hasn't stopped me doing my first sketch in the rain. Managed
to prop my umbrella up and sketch standing up - not my most precise
linework tho as a result!

Breakie and hand made toys

A really rushed breakfast sketch on the right - remember I am a leftie
so sometimes work a spread right to left.

Later this afternoon I had a lovely relaxing time sitting in my
sisters lounge with sun of my back (BEAUTIFUL sunny day today!!) and
slowly sketched these two toys

Monkey cat is a knitted creation of my sister.
Scalpay bear(my name) is a Harris tweed Teddy made by the lady at the
b&b last night.

Still have text to add (pen is hiding some)

Stornoway cuppa and building

I find it hard to do a slow sketch when i stop at a lookout when I am
having a driving day. Somehow the pressure to get back on the road
rushes me. You can see that in the previous sketches This is
something I want to change. Obviously midges is something I can't do
anything about.

This afternoon I got back to stornoway at 2.30 so went to cafe to use
free wifi. I still felt a bit rushed and made a mess of that cuppa
sketch so I went out and sat on a wall and did a nice calming
architectural sketch.

North Harris hills

I love the Scottish landscape in any weather but have been very
blessed to have two stunning days

Quick sketch just where I got petrol this morning.

Scalpay

Had a wonderful evening on scalpay with special Christians both at a
prayer meeting and in my b&b - small isle off the isle of Harris.
Amazing town - scattered houses on very hilly topography and lots of
bays. I was a bit too annoyed by midges to do this properly but i had
to post this!

Liz Steel

--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--:--

Sent from my iphone

Leverburgh fish and chips

Lovely lunch with view to north Uist.

On isle of Harris

Sun and dark clouds and beautiful beaches. Pretty special!!!

Scottish landscapes

Not sure how to make an interesting landscape when light is so flat.
Any tips appreciated.
Btw Robyn - haven't seen any birds to sketch yets!!!

About to head down to Harris. Just completed my half hour in town in
cafe with free wifi.

Callanish stones on lewis

My quick sketch of some of the stones. Sitting on the ground (rather
boggy) on a brochure but I could feel a wet patch developing. Times
like this I wish I had had enough room for my sketching stool.

So my supposed to be quiet day - only 5 sketches
-My porridge and kitchen view
-A boat in stornoway harbour
-Church in town center
-This sketch
-View from the visitor centre while having a cuppa

I still have maps to add to these pages. Getting a bit behind - still
to do sone edin maps!!! I know I have to slow down!!!!

Callanish standing stones

I picked up a car and first place I went was the famous standing
stones. More impressive than I expected. Borromini was impressed too.

An evening walk

We finished our 'quiet' day with a stroll with my sis to the nearby
bay. Lovely calm cool evening - pity about the midges

Final final Edinburgh sketches

As I was right next to the taxi rank I kept drawing and drawing.

Btw not sure what that blue patch is in the photo. Sorry don't have
time to fix it. Need to go and pick up some stornoway black
pudding!!!!!!

Final Edinburgh sketch

After leaving stu I had 40 minutes for sketching before I had to leave
for the airport. So sat on q bench at the end of princes st and drew
this classic view.

Felt like drawing the building in front of me so didn't add colour at
the time. Added it on the plane during a bumpy patch - amazingly no
major disasters with the brush.

On the isle of lewis

Some of you will be pleasd to know that I have had an easy morning...
Well for me. Walked into town from my sisters home and couldn't resist
taking this photo. I have found a cafe with free wifi so I am
connected now!!

Just got to organise a car and I will be on the move again.

Thanks again for all the mesages and visits! Hi to all my non-blogging
- Flickr friends that are following me. It is really special to know
that everyone is coming along with me.

Great morning sketching with stu

Was great to catch up again and sketch a non tourist view of
Edinburgh. Look out for stupot's post of his sketch

Being sketched by stuart kerr

Having fun catching up with another urban sketcher

Edinburgh Friday lunch

Another one of my sketches from Friday.

Yesterday, being Sunday was my day of rest from sketching. Had a
really wonderful day with friends - new and old - at church. As much
as I love sketching which celebrates the trivia of here and now - I
love far more being able to worship the Lord Jesus Christ with others
and look forward to eternity- celebrating big issues of lufe and
death- what He has done for me in the past, in the present and what He
will do in the future.

Won't have regular wifi for the next week as heading for the outer
Hebrides.

Aberdour castle 4

While sketching

Aberdour castle 3

Final sketch - refer to photo for what happened while we were
sketching. The piper was asked to pipe right next to us - the bride
and groom were nearby posing for photos.