"The artist...is also a born adventurer. His explorations, unlike those of a tourist, are rewarded by the discovery of beauty spots unmentioned in the guide books, and with tireless curiosity and an exceptional proneness to wonderment, he will come upon objects of remarkable interest overlooked or even shunned by more disciplined observers."

Augustus John, R.A.




Thursday 2 September 2010

A Break in Dumfries and Galloway

Just got back from a short break visiting my brother in Scotland. Had five days of really good weather.

27th August.
The view across the rooftops towards Frenchlands Tower. Moffat, Annandale.


28th August. Another view across the Moffat rooftops, looking towards Hunterheck Hill.

....and below a real surprise.

An Otter hunting in the River Nith below the weir in central Dumfries. After walking round the town we were going back to the car and stopped beside the river to see if any Salmon were jumping. This otter appeared below the weir and gradually moved closer to us. As usual in such a situation- no camera, paper or pencils. We watched it for about ten minutes then I decided to go to the car for a sketchbook. It took me another ten minutes to get back to find it still there although it gradually made its way up the fish ladder and onto the weir before swimming upstream in the deeper water above the weir. These drawings were made on the spot, the watercolour was added later, more to 'fix' the drawing than anything else.









28th August.
Looking west across the Annan Valley from Moffat towards Queensbury.


29th August
The same hill from Roberts garden. 1900hrs.


31st Auugust
Jackdaws mutual preening.


30th August
St Marys Loch.

31st August
Loch of the Lowes








7 comments:

Keith Tilley said...

Nice sketches Stuart. The otter must have been amazing to see. I suppose it was looking for easy pickings on the weir.

Do you have any plans for Loch of The Lowes? I can see a nice linocut in that one.

Sherrie York said...

Lovely, lovely sketches, Stuart. I agree with Keith... I see a nice lino in Loch of the Lowes.

crafty creations said...

Stunning work as ever Stuart x Hilda

Stuart Brocklehurst said...

Hi Keith

The Otter was good, it is some years since I last saw one but this was easily the best and most prolonged view I have ever had. Much closer than ones I have seen previously, even better than ones seen at Leighton Moss.

Stuart Brocklehurst said...

Hi Sherrie

Glad you like the sketches. Both you and Keith have read my mind. The possibility of a print occurred to me whilst I was doing the sketch, which accounts for the rather flat treatment of the colouring. I have to get the present one out of the way first though.

Stuart Brocklehurst said...

Hi Hilda

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you like the work.

Jose A. Sencianes Ortega said...

Beautiful Scotland's sketches and paintings. I specially like the blue & black drawings.