The Orkney Herring Industry

During the late 19th century the herring fishing industry on the Orkney Islands  became large-scale. During the six weeks of summer between 300 and 400 boats descended upon Stromness Harbour.The population would rise by 4-5000 people.

Women and girls who followed the herring shoals around the British coast worked at the many curing stations on the stone piers along the harbour.They gutted and packed the fish for export to Germany and Russia.It is said they could gut up to sixty herring per minute.

By 1908 as the herring shoals moved away,the industry declined.

 'The Yole Boats' 

20 x 60cm

mixed media on canvas

Back to blog….

One thought I had at the New Year was to get back to blogging…so at the end of February I have finally made it.It wasn't an easy start to 2015 with a number of rejections,some expected some unexpected and appalling health.Art took a backseat while just getting on with family life took priority as usual.While I wasn't physically working in the studio my subconscious continued to work  -with an ongoing project that is just in it's early stages.

The Orkney islands and our trip there last summer continue to inspire and with the ice, snow and coldness of the winter upon us I can feel the warmth of the breeze across the islands and  the smell of the sea….. 

The Ring of Brodgar built around 2600 BC is the third largest stone circle in Britain after Avebury and Stonehenge.Theories and speculations about why it was built are common.Perhaps it was an astronomical observatory or according to myth, a ring of dancing giants turned to stone in the glittering sunrise…..
A magical place.

Ring of Brodgar

The Ring

20 x 60 cm

mixed media on canvas

Post Spring Fling

Spring Fling Open Studios event took place across the Dumfries & Galloway region on the weekend of 25-27 May.95 artists and makers opened their doors to their galleries,workshops, studios and houses and welcomed visitors from all over the world .

Studio 66 on the Orange Route-ready for action…..

As this was my second year of participating, I was much more organised-working through  various lists and engaging the family in numerous jobs. As my studio is in my living room then it does take quite a while to clear out….working in mixed media requires a lot of 'stuff!'.

 A thoughtful and supportive friend had flowers delivered that complemented my new colour palette….

The hallway allowed for additional exhibition space….

 Work was exhibited according to use of media and framing….

Working corners of my studio caused a lot of interest and discussion…..

'Book of Yggdrasil' was greatly admired…..

I opened on the Friday evening for a preview evening and also did the late night openings on Saturday and Sunday. Over the weekend I had around 150 visitors-people travelled from far and wide. It was great to have return visitors and fantastic to see new faces.I met people who had found me through social media which was amazing!Feedback from visitors was overwhelming …as was the number of sales. I was so grateful that folk chose to visit me with the amount of studios open over the weekend.I was able to explain the techniques I employ in working in mixed media. My sketchbooks and journals caused a great deal of interest-and also showed the depth of research behind my work.   Bea's Bakery operated by my daughter was again a great success….she'd spent 7 hours baking on Friday so I was really pleased for her.

Spring Fling for me is a family affair-especially with it being in our home. My wonderful parents made a surprise visit from Yorkshire-a complete surprise as my Mum has been very ill. They turned up with  additional baking, a meal for us …and champagne!!! Though next time I think I need to eat something before I start drinking…

Cheers…and thank-you to all who made my Spring Fling such a successful weekend.    

Just juggling in general….

Well to say it's been a while is an understatement!In fact a Facebook Artist friend asked what gets in the way of your art which is easy to answer because as  a Mum then the list is endless…which isn't a problem,just more juggling involved and differing priorities. 

For the children one of the priorities is food with  home-cooked meals and baking generally available…but this was my daughter pointing out that there was no food left after I realised there were no eggs to finish the meatballs!Unfortunately as she is currently revising for Higher exams then her weekly baking sessions have also been temporarily been postponed.

Sadly we laid my mother-in-law to rest on Friday March 7th.It turned out to be a memorable  day as the service was beautiful and afterwards  catching up with family and friends who we don't see very often as we live so far away.In the meantime ,an old school friend was having a major operation to remove a brain tumour so it was quite a day.It was such a relief when her sister posted on Facebook that everything was ok…and 3 days later back home.So Fi,   wishing you a speedy recovery and continuing good health should you be reading this xx

There have been a number of  deadlines and exciting developments in my art life. I now ,along with my lists, have a colour-coded diary to ensure I don't miss handing -in  or picking- up dates or appointments which is a  bit sad  but works for me.  

This was the piece I handed in for Spring Fling Exhibition at Gracefield which opened on Friday night.  I'm really pleased with it…

This is it framed and photographed in the garden-well I needed natural light! What a difference a frame makes.Thank-you 'Phil's Frames' on Buccleugh St ,Dumfries.

Last weekend I had managed to secure two tickets for the Spring Fling Rural Mural workshop .Ross and I donned old clothes and had a great time.Spray-painting was just awesome once we managed the can manipulation.These are the results…

Ross was doing a Banksy and refused to be photographed and as he thought my face mask was an improvement  I definitely won't be posting an action shot.

I'm just waiting confirmation of some really good news and an exciting opportunity .Now,I'm off to watch Ross play football…but luckily dinner is in the oven and the washing is already out…list completed  x

Vanaheim

Another busy week…but in a good way.I'm in the middle of a watercolour- based mixed media phase at the moment.The Winter Olympic Games from Sochi are quite a distraction but inspirational .Having a TV in my studio/dining room means I can follow the action in between adding layers…..  

I'm using Arches 300 gsm paper on which I'll do un underdrawing followed by light washes of watercolour paint.Gradually I add layers of watercolour then gouache and finally acrylic ink to achieve the depth to my work .
It can be a long process as I wait for layers to dry before starting again. It allows me to look at the work and work out was is required in the next application.
Finally I'll use pencil and fine pen to draw the tiny lines-this can also take hours but again,is quite therapeutic.To finish off I add tiny slivers of gold or silver leaf which adds a final highlight to the piece.

Working this way can be quite a challenge…sometimes I think I've lost it …only to leave it,come back to it and it works out well.It can be difficult to know when a piece is finished.I tend to stop quite early on before tentatively adding bits here and there.

I've also been experimenting with new colour palettes. It's easy to become stuck in a rut however experimenting with colours in sketchbooks avoids paper wastage….and keeping ideas in mind for the next piece.

This is 'Vanaheim',50 x 30 cm, watercolour mixed media…..photographed before the gold leaf was applied.New colour palette and new techniques which I'm quite excited about.

After discussions on Facebook with a fellow artist,I've decided my next challenge will be to go big.The lady in question thought my work was large from the images she could see so we'll just have to see what happens next…...

A Time to Keep…..

I had thought that I would have a relatively quiet start to the year.How wrong I was! My first solo exhibition opened at the Mustard Gallery in Langholm on 18 th January. I was hoping for positive feedback and was grateful for the opportunity of getting my work 'out there'.The opening Saturday saw two sales…..

'A Time to Keep'

'Threads'

'A Time to Keep' and 'Threads' have both found new homes.Quite overwhelming really….and the positive feedback about the exhibition has been rewarding. It makes it feel that all the work has been worthwhile.

In the meantime I've had a couple of deadlines to meet with regards to submitting images for marketing for the Biscuit Factory ( April10-May 18)and Spring Fling for the exhibition in Gracefield prior to the Spring Fling weekend.

I was also invited to join The Yellow Door- an artists collective which has so far had a couple of successful pop-up exhibitions in an old building brought back from dereliction by Luke Moloney…..really exciting prospects in store.

A phone call from a fellow artist has started something which I am really excited about -a collaborative project…but it's very early days and I'm keeping it under wraps until we have more specific plans in place.

Yesterday saw me taking some new box- works to the Mustard Gallery  at Langholm. I really enjoyed making the miniature book and am very pleased with the outcome...

'The Weave of Time' is set in a pine boxed frame and measures 15 x 15cm. The title is taken from work by George Mackay Brown,the celebrated Orkney author and poet…...

     

Yggdrasil

Tomorrow sees the opening of my first solo exhibition at the  Mustard Gallery,Langholm. Entitled 'Yggdrasil',the body of work is inspired by my trip to the Orkney Islands and Norse mythology.
The latest piece that I completed is called 'A Time to Keep'-named after a book by George Mackay Brown,the Islands best known author and poet.

This is a detail of the scrolls -using paper,mod-roc,thread,acrylic ink and paint on a background of mod-roc,hessian and handmade paper……

On the right-hand side is my artistic interpretation of a Norse calendar stick. It's based on a long brown stick spotted in Skaill House-adjacent to Skara Brae .It was carved with runes and symbols indicating the annual festivals.

The background is again mod-roc with fragments of burnt paper symbolic of the rise of Christianity and the demise of the old beliefs in the 11th century.

'A Time to Keep'

Boxwork

36 x 36cm

Mixed media

Tomorrow I'll be at the gallery from 10am to discuss and demonstrate my work-something I'm really looking forward to.

Righto,off to finish packing my bags…..

Cut the Mustard Gallery

52 High St

Langholm

DG13 0JH

mustardgallery@gmail.com

013873 81180