Still here, bartering away..

Hi, I'm still here. Just been busy with life and all that is involved with it. Still drawing, but where on earth has the time gone to this year? There seems to be no time to scan drawings, write emails, phone friends, go for long walks, paint pictures, enjoy sunsets. But ask me what I've been doing with my life and I haven't the faintest idea of what to say that takes up the time. Been trying to earn some cash, got about 4 jobs, but realised I need to stop and take a breath every now and then. 

I have been seeing a guy who's been clicking my back into place and doing acupuncture down the spine, but as I've not been able to afford the fees, he very kindly accepted a picture in payment for three treatments - hence this picture above, bad photo as scanner not available at the time. But what a star he is, looked through my sketchbook, picked a style he liked, and asked for something similar of a Scottish scene. If only you could pay all your bills in pictures. Council tax, electricity, phone bill, food... What a much nicer place the world would be in if all the world was covered in art of all shapes and sizes. Bartering is the way to go in the world I think. Find something that each of you think is of value, and swap. Some vegetables for a bit of work in the garden. Or some volunteering with old folks or in a hospital instead of tax bills. 

Better get my head out of cloud cuckoo land....

Seals

We had a big colony of seals living just off where we were staying. The first night we didn't have a clue what that eerie sound was, all sorts of howls and squeals, so it wasn't till morning that we saw about 40 seals, all sizes and colours balancing on the rocks in the harbour, soaking up the sun. You can definitely see why the ancient mariners believed in mermaids and weird sea creatures and harpies with the sounds that came out of these beautiful creatures, especially when it was all foggy and incredibly spooky.
All blissfully happy basking, until the tide started rising again and the groans and grunts and cries of disgust and shock when the cold water started to lap at their sides and cover their flippers hanging off the sides. It was generally the big daddy of them all that lasted right till the end as he had the largest and highest rock, and he wouldn't let anyone else dare try to get on with him, even going as far as pushing a few off just to make sure they all knew who was in charge.

Highlands and Islands

Finally gotten around to posting again. Been here, there and everywhere, both physically and mentally as past few months been an upheaval in all senses of the word. In between all this, managed a trip to Islay and the Outer Hebrides, and the far north of Scotland, so over the next wee while I'll be trying to post a few drawings from the very inspirational trip.

All fired up with lots of painting ideas and designs, but in the meantime here is my first drawing of one of the 8 whisky distilleries on the island. Experimenting with my ink again, after a breezy lunch in the sun by the harbour, and while everyone else went off shopping I thought I'd spend the time catching the rays and a view or two. Though no drams were had in the making of this....