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Frosty Dog Walk.

Photography, , ,

The last few days have been even colder than previously. We’re at the same latitude as Fort McMurray in Alberta, Riga in Latvia, and Novgorod in Russia. But we have island benefits – which means permafrost is rare.

Grass covered in ice crystals on the dog walk.

Permafrost.

Permafrost does happen occasionally though. Years ago when I stayed in a remote cottage we went through a really hard spell of weather with four feet of snow. It stayed that way for a while. Our water supply was from a burn up the hill. The burn froze. Then it froze harder Continue reading Frosty Dog Walk. →

End of November Dog Walk.

Dog Walk., Drawing

You know it’s getting very cold when you begin to value having a doggy bag full of hot dog poo on you. Always pick up your dog’s poo.

Dog on the path in the woods.

Some cold autumn photographs from the place where I walk the dog. I’m lucky that all this is only a 15 minute walk from my house in the town. A lifesaver.

Walking the home made bike run.

On wet days I hike through the pine plantation where local kids build and maintain their mountain bike slalom. They’ve been doing that for generations Continue reading End of November Dog Walk. →

Woohoo – Inktober Completed.

Drawing, Inktober,

Inktober completed.

Woohoo Made it.

Woohoo. Made it. 31 #inktober inks and one yellow frog as a bonus in response to another twitterer (see previous post).

Juicy Lucy

Juicy Lucy the cat was quite forced. I’d just finished a Scottish Words illustration and it was getting near midnight and I was shattered. But I did it anyway with minutes to spare. The rule I’d made was that I would never be self judgemental and so I just had to get on with it – whether ended up good, poor or indifferent.

Cat about to be hit by multiple rotten tomatoes.
#inktober Juicy No. 23.

Continue reading Woohoo – Inktober Completed. →

Inktober – Half Way.

Drawing, Inktober

Inktober banner of dracula.

Fifteen days and fifteen ink drawings done. I’ve made it half way.

And sticking with the hand made ‘only slightly better than toilet paper’ paper has paid off. It has given me a real appreciation for the fine control that proper artist’s paper and board  give.

Because this hand made paper doesn’t give, it takes. It sucks the brush dry the minute it touches it. And after a while the page is a fragile sodden mess that needs careful drying over a hot lamp.

Nevertheless bashing out the drawings while not worrying  about the end result and enjoying the experience has been the way. Freedom.

There Was a Crooked Man.

“There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house. “

I used this illustration for one of my Scottish words because I discovered the rhyme had a Scottish connection. The Scottish word Sicker. 

Illustration of a crooked man, cat, style, mouse, mile and house.
Crooked #Inktober No. 08.

Continue reading Inktober – Half Way. →