Tag Archives: winter

The heater is on

As October kicks in the temperatures are falling in Edinburgh

It is freezing today in the studio and this wee heater is working overtime keeping my fingers nimble enough to draw. October has started with wind and rain and a proper chill in the air. Time to layer up 🙂

Plus have a big job to finish so I am sketching anything in sight rather than get the job done. Not good enough, I will get back to it now I promise!!

Flying boats

How I want to be back here today, where the sail boats seemed to float through the clouds.

This sketch from a few months ago is Lake Windermere and a quick trip to see friends. We were skimming stones and following the ducks along the shore, letting time drift while we let our breakfast settle and the nearby aquarium get ready to open.

I stood at the end of one of the jetty’s and sketched the view, the mirror surface of the water made the lake look like an extension of the clouds above. It was mesmerising and I am so glad I made this quick painting, looking at it it takes me right back there now.

We stayed at the Lakeside Hotel and Spa, and I would go back in a heart beat 🙂

Victoria Park Pals

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A frosty morning today as day started at Victoria Park, Edinburgh.

I love the colours in the sky just now, the fading, merging hues as the pinks and blues blend with yellows and reddy browns.

It was a frosty cold morning when I looked across the park and noticed these three friends making their way to school. A dog walker throws a ball for his pal and cyclists whiz by.

A busy morning full of familiar sounds and sights. Welcoming, unthreatening and wonderful.

Abbey Strand gardens

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I was inspired by the calm and relaxing gardens on a wintry afternoon.

Last week I ran a couple of workshops within the Palace of Holyroodhouse and I was so inspired by the light in the gardens that I made this sketch.

I hadn’t been in the gardens since they were reopened along with the Abbey Strand Buildings, which now are home to the Learning Centre, providing spaces for school groups, families and adults to learn about and engage with the Palace and the Royal Collection.

The sun was just hitting the tops of the buildings as I stood in the gardens painting, I think it was the highest the sun rose that day.

My drawing was created in ink and watercolour, below you can see a photo from the gardens.

Find out more about the Abbey Strand buildings on the Royal Collection Trust website HERE

Winters Sun over Arthurs Seat

Sun over Arthurs Seat from Newhaven Road, Edinburgh

I do love the low lying sun at this time of year, for the shiny sandstone and the long shadows, and also the silhouetted buildings which I spotted on my morning drive this week.

This view is looking across Ferry Road from Newhaven Road. Looking towards the city and Holyrood Park in the distance. I had to pull over and sketch from my warm car.

The dark buildings and trees at first merge into one but then the more you look you see the different levels into the distance. The notes of a bus stop and some car lights become visible and hopefully I have captured that feeling of hidden in plain sight.

Drawn in with an ink fine liner and then a little watercolour wash over the top.

First frost on the Harbour

This morning I saw and sketched as the ice melted away in Granton Harbour

On the school run the kids and I noticed how the masts of the boats were all at wonky angles and the water was frozen over.

The sun was strong and although it was bitterly cold I headed out onto the Granton breakwater, a small stone wall in the sea that protects the boats from the strong waves from the east.

Inside the harbour there was a thin layer of frozen water and all the boats and buoys were sitting on top, as if placed there by a giant.

I sat and sketched for about 20 minutes until the water had thawed and my fingers had frozen!

Snow fall in Edinburgh

On the second of January I woke early to find a new snow fall had dusted Edinburgh with a coating of what looked like icing sugar on a Victorian film set.

I dressed quickly and headed into town, eager to see the city centre streets before too many footprints and tyre tracks had muddied the white stuff. I walked up through Stockbridge taking photographs at every corner. So many views that look so different, fresh and clean with snow on the floor.

As I passed through the New Town I had to stop and make a quick drawing, I sat on a Georgian step and looked across Forres Street around the corner of Moray Place Gardens. Such a perfect scene with the stunning architecture, railings and lamps rising out of the snow!

After finishing my piece I walked up onto Princes Street taking more photos to work from, and trying to get the blood back into my fingers!

Enjoy the winter snow fall everyone 🙂

I later added a sledger being pulled across the road as an idea for a Christmas card for next year:

Snow is falling… in Granton

SnowInGrantonI’m a little late to the office today as I just had to sketch the snow falling in Granton this morning.

Huge flakes and lots of them fell as the Sketcher family tucked into their breakfast. The toddler twins were amazed, excited and then a little disappointed as it is was all melting away!

 

Not to worry I said, I’m sure there is plenty more on it’s way.

 

TIP: The trick to sketching snow in pen (without pencil first) is to draw the snow before anything else, add all the snow flakes and then build the picture behind.

 

Have a good day across the capital everyone wrap up warm and take care on the roads 🙂 See the link below for the latest weather in Edinburgh.

 

STV Weather in Edinburgh