More new year organising and tidying of the studio today, and finding forgotten sketches on scraps of paper in boxes….
Another wintry day in the capital and one best to spend in doors I think, so I’m going through a few boxes of sketch pads and scraps of paper with doodles and notes on. I found this pencil sketch of Princes Street during Christmas time.
I’m not sure when exactly I drew it but it must be at least two years ago as the Helter Skelter is in Princes Street Gardens and the big wheel is hanging out over Princes Street. For once there are no notes along side the drawing to date and give details, which itself is a sign that this isn’t a recent sketch. It is certainly pre trams though.
I thought you may like to take a look though, as we say goodbye to Edinburgh’s Christmas for another 11 months and look forward to the warm (fingers crossed) summer months ahead.
The weather outside may be frightful but there are beautiful glimpses of the capital at Christmas around every corner.
Yesterday was mixed weather wise to say the least. As I walked from west to south and then east before back to the west I was soaked, shone on and treated to some amazing dark skies with strong sun lit architecture making for stunning views of Edinburgh in the winter.
I kept stopping, unable to pass before I had either sketched, or snapped a wee photo to sketch from later. This view is from the bottom of the Mound looking across the square in front of the National Gallery towards Princes Street and the Scott Monument.
I’m a big fan of Edinburgh’s Christmas make over and love the views that combine those permanent city monuments and buildings with those features that are here for a just short period of time. Have a great weekend everyone and Merry Christmas.
At a meeting with the Mercure hotels on Princes Street this week I noticed just how close the hotel is to the Big Wheel.
I am currently in discussions with the Mercure Hotel in Princes Street about supplying my EdinburghSketcher cushions for their newly refurbished rooms, more of which I will tell you about soon. But while there I noticed what a great view they have of not only Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street but also the Christmas festival and the huge Big Wheel.
My sketch is from their dinning room where they take Christmas lunch and dinner bookings, I will definitely be back for a little people watching!! It’s a quick sketch in black ink with a rough watercolour wash.
All eyes were on Princes Street this week as the big wheel begins to take shape.
As Christmas arrives in Edinburgh the central wheel is up but has still to have the ‘pods’ fitted so people can ride on it. The lights of the wheel tell that the big day is coming, and I captured them before the rest of the Christmas lights are turned on next weekend.
The Festival Wheel is now up and spinning away, here is a sketch through the railings on Market Street.
I wasn’t a fan at first of the big wheel making a summertime appearance. Why make every season look the same? But I’m sure it’s nice to sit in the wee pods without being wrapped in several layers and watching your breath in front of your eyes.
Plus it was nice to sketch the wheel with the sun burning my back, rather than my fingers slowly going numb 🙂 I drew this from Market St just down from the Mound, which I guess will soon be turned into a summer fair?
Last week I published my first sketch video, this week the sketch and 150 limited prints are available to buy.
From the Barron Suite on The Scotsman Hotel’s seventh floor I had a superb view of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities on Princes Street, from the Big Wheel on the left to the new for 2013 Star Flyer on the right, and standing central the Scott Monument.
Shrieks of laughter and screams of joy could be heard floating over the Waverley Station, as darkness fell and the hundreds of lights from various rides and attractions shone bright.
The original ink sketch with watercolour wash measures 297x210mm, roughly 11x8inches and is for sale for £150. Prints will be limited to 150 high quality giclee prints on heavy fine art paper, and are £25 each. Click HERE to order or have a look through the Shop above.
A pen and watercolour sketch from Edinburgh Christmas’s Big Wheel in Princes Street Gardens.
I was back to sketching outdoors on my lunch break today, for the past few weeks I have been concentrating on commissions in the run up to Christmas and have let the spontaneous sketching slide.
It felt good to wander around Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets with my sketch book in hand. I wanted to capture one of the new ‘pods’ on this years Big Wheel, previously the seating on the ride has been open. I haven’t been up this year but I imagine you must feel quite protected in there. I know from previous years it can get quite chilly at the top.
The statue below the pods is a very unmoved Adam Black, an early nineteenth century Scottish publisher and politician.
A time-lapse video of myself sketching from The Scotsman Hotel on Edinburgh’s North Bridge over looking Princes Street and all the Christmas festivities.
My ink sketch with watercolour wash shows Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities well under way, from the big wheel on the left to the Star Flyer high above the shops on the right.
Thanks to The Scotsman Hotel for allowing access to the impressive Barron Suite on their seventh floor. From my amazing view point I could see right along Princes Street as the crisp winters day turned into night and the Christmas lights changed the scene entirely.
The accompanying song is by singer song writer, Stephanie Kirkham. Follow the link below to hear more of her beautiful melodies.
More new year organising and tidying of the studio today, and finding forgotten sketches on scraps of paper in boxes….
The weather outside may be frightful but there are beautiful glimpses of the capital at Christmas around every corner.
At a meeting with the Mercure hotels on Princes Street this week I noticed just how close the hotel is to the Big Wheel.
All eyes were on Princes Street this week as the big wheel begins to take shape.
The Festival Wheel is now up and spinning away, here is a sketch through the railings on Market Street.
Last week I published my first sketch video, this week the sketch and 150 limited prints are available to buy.
A pen and watercolour sketch from Edinburgh Christmas’s Big Wheel in Princes Street Gardens.