Alien Nation

Got the shock of my life when curiosity got the better of me. I borrowed a basic microscope from a friend as I wanted to see some plants and various other things up close and personal just to see what they were about, and I started with a small Creeping Thistle flower. When I focused in, I'm not afraid to admit, I jumped a mile out of my chair as this alien creature suddenly appeared in the viewfinder. It was all of 2mm big, not even quite 1/8th of an inch, so didn't notice it at all when I put it under the light, but in the viewfinder it was looked like a 10 foot alien creature with a definite human bloodsucking tendencies.

So this very small black blob, on closer inspection was an amazing insect with a really long proboscis type thing sucking the sap and two weird antennae type things on its rear end. Him (or her) and its friend were very obliging models and let me draw them, even in the full glare of the microscope light they didn't seem to mind having all their privacy taken away from them. I wonder if they saw a magnified eye looking down on them and were slightly freaked out themselves and were desperately sucking away at the sap trying to keep calm and hoping they hadn't been noticed. They were a beautiful deep rich purple with olive green legs and black knees. Though do insects have knees? The actual Creeping thistle was amazing too. I'll get round to painting it when I've got over my excitement of aliens.

I also looked at a fern with what to the naked eye looked like spores underneath, but on very close inspection it looked like a collection of worms under an umbrella. I know, totally technical terminology, but when they started flicking and moving I got freaked out and had to remove the fern. Maybe sometimes its not good looking too closely at things.

Who knew all this was right under our noses. I can see why the art director of Aliens apparently was inspired by creatures that appeared right here on earth. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Who needs aliens from outerspace, we've got our very own in our backyards. I think I'll have to do some research now in the anatomy of insects, as this has piqued my interest enough to seek out some more. Though, am slightly scared...

(ps ...oh, and those who are scientifically minded the magnification on the eyepiece said WF 10x/18 - whatever that means....)

Knotty Business

Just started a basic dingy sailing course, and part of the course is to learn your knots. So thought I'd try drawing them to see if it could help me remember them, along with the little description to help you do it. Like the 'make a head, strangle it, and poke it in the eye' knot. Otherwise known as the figure of eight...

Larry the Lamb

Thought I'd draw Larry the Lamb before he lost his scruffy coat. He's definitely not a pampered poodle, especially when he gets his 'teddy bear' cut. The big dogs don't recognise him when he gets back from his outing to the hairdresser. Hackles go up, bits get sniffed, and its only when he starts doing his usual rushing around and nipping dog heels that they realise who he is and the excitement is over and he's let back into the fold. Not that they have much choice. We all know who is really in charge....

Fishing phase

Going through my fishing phase at the moment, though good news is I managed to sell this little painting. Its now sailing off in the big blue yonder. Perhaps a few more phases like this is needed!

Chips and chappies

 So, saw this wee chappie whilst eating our fish and chips. We watched him as he watched us, him on the bonnet of the car, us inside it, taunting him. He looked very young and curious, beautiful back feathers, very bright and shiny not used or sullied yet. He had lovely white spots on his tail feathers when they were all folded up. Still don't know the difference in my gulls yet, but felt amenable to him and threw him a few chips at the end. I know, its just encouraging them, but they're having a hell of a winter as are we all.

Thought I'd try and capture the sunset as the light was fading in this wee harbour.  A bit of a scribble but it was such a peaceful scene couldn't resist sitting there capturing it.