Monday sunrise in Stromness

Obsession with creel stones

For several years I was obsessed with drawing these abandond creel stones.   They were stacked behind a derelict house just a stone's throw from the sea in Stomness, in Orkney - I drew them, once in the rain with soluble graphite, loving the blurred and shadowy marks.   Another giant piece measured about seven feet square - cominng across it much-folded and dusty a couple of months ago, in an impatient mood, I threw it away.   A drypoint etching failed to capture the essence of them, but evetually I produced a collagraph which was inked several times, in several colours and proved to be the most successful work done from them.
I think it was the hand-made, bespoke quality, wooden frame to fit found rock, and the enclosing nature which was the source of their appeal.   This photograph shows them  the dry - they were richer when wet.
Three years after finding them, they disappeared.

from Saturday

Although it might be getting dark by the time we arrive on Saturday (and 'severe gales' are forecast for the weekend) this is where we'll be next week - the red-jumpered person on the pier is my husband (photo taken in 2005.)

It will be low key - walking through the flagstone town of Stromness, Pier Arts Centre, Tam's bookshop, Waterfront Gallery, and further afield, including, this trip, to Isbister - the Tomb of the Eagles - to see if they'd like to buy my book, 'Edge' which is inspired by there.

No posts while I am there but I hope to gather more material (more! - I've been gathering memories since 1981) at least for Language>Place> Carnival #10 - 'The Heart and Soul of the Cultural Landscape'

Once upon a time

For several years I carried a 5" square chunky sketchbook with me whenever we travelled, along with a small box of water colours, a couple of pencils a drawing pen and a pencil sharpener.   In Orkney I also learnt the joys of soluble graphite pencils - the only thing that will draw on wet paper and giving some wonderful effects.

This was painted on the private pier of a cottage at South End in Stromness, from where you have a grandstand view of the fishing boats coming in and out and the North Link ferry  'Hamnavoe' - the old Norse name for Stromness.

In the centre is a creel stone - a suitably sized and shaped rock within a bespoke wooden frame, once used to anchor the creels.   When I discovered these - 2001 - there seemed something basic but important in the shape of these and I continued to draw them for several years thereafter.
Some of Paul Feiler's Cornish paintings of the early 1960s have similar qualities

Inspiration; imagination

This photo, one of several taken in Stromness as source material for an exhibition I was working towards, was recently used as the Saturday 'Canvas' prompt in Thinking Ten - and it was fascinating to see the various pieces therefrom - and has now been used by my daughter as one of her 100days pieces:
 
http://jkdaviespractice100days2011.blogspot.com/2011/06/12-calendar.html

I just wish I'd painted it to start with!

Gallery visit

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness in Orkney has recently been extended and modernised in a truly exciting fashion. Before this took place the upstairs galleries were reached by a central staircase which had half a flight one way, then turned round on itself and continued with another half flight to the creaking, sloping floor-boarded landing. From this landing, to right and left were small galleries, each with a window at the back, overlooking the harbour, the right hand one also with a window overlooking the narrow slabbed street, across which was a flower shop owned by a Czech called Borek. As well as selling flowers he tuned pianos and sang in the choir ...he was also hugely attractive in a rugged, dark haired, beautiful voiced sort of way.

I was alone in the gallery one afternoon, leisurely enjoying the latest exhibition of sensuous and sensitive small paintings and plaster pieces by Will MacLean, based on writings, maps and sea journeys and very suited to this sea girt and beautiful room. Up the stairs came two smartly dressed women who strode resolutely into the room and, completely ignoring the paintings, went to the window overlooking the street “Ohhh” moaned one, quietly, “no Borek ...” and they stood silently contemplating the shop where he was not for several minutes, before leaving as quickly as they had come.