Travel Back : Navini Island : Fiji

Starting to plan for Australia again and came across some disposable underwater camera pics we took while we were on the island of Navini.  The colours were stunning and so were the wee sharks that used to come near to the beach - argh!  So strange taking pics underwater as the waves flow and ebb and the fish wouldn't stay still.   Can you believe it! hehe  The island is so small I can't get it on the location map on blogger, but what a once in a lifetime trip.  I wonder how many other people come across photographs they took that they have forgotten about.  There's something to be said about getting them printed.

WINTER WORN STONE

Winter walk in the rain but finding lovely texture and pattern forming in nature.

Day 1 : 'Bones of the Land' Workshop

Part of the first day was taking a train ride to Perth with the intention of creating a small blind acetate sketch and speed sketching with a larger piece of acetate & black permanent pen capturing lines and textures, details.  A wee stop off at Perth station and was delighted to see a wonderful sky roof that emulated the rhythm of the workshop.

Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Sometimes just passing a building you see on a regular basis just catches your eye and with a gorgeous sky backdrop, that's what happened on my way to the High Street.  So Scottish in all its architectural details.

Inspiration Shell Hunting

Our collection of the smallest shells we can find when we go beach hunting and the winner gets to buy the coffee afterwards.  Such texture and detail - I really must work on some ideas using our found shells as inspiration.  I'm tempted to go really large or huge with them.  Nature is so amazing.

Inspiration & Instagram

Colour Nature Texture Inspiration Instagram

I've not been on Instagram too long but what a great way of quickly capturing elements and visual references that could be used to create work or just inspire you.  Still getting used to my new camera my daughters and partner treated me to.  Just found out you can do a screenshot which I will probably forget how I did it as quickly as I found out. Sigh.  More Instagram inspiration to follow ....

Go Feed The Ducks!

Beveridge Boating Pond

Winter Tree As The Sun Gets Higher 

A Confident Duck!

Time to refresh and what a better way to start a new project than a walk in the local park with some stale bread. Pesky seagulls took most of it and have you ever tried to take photographs and feed the birds at the same time! Now ready for my new work!

Colour For November

Some bolts of summer colour's needed for a dark November evening!  Inspiration from nature!  From Cork and Kirkcaldy for these lovely ladies.

Autumn Apples in Fife

Orchard Apples

Autumn Apples

Pillars of Hercules

Took Ian up to Pillars to show him the lovely apple orchard but alas, every single one had been picked so my only solace was a lovely treat at the cafe and I had taken some pics when I was up with my daughter.  Love the extended outdoor part - it just keeps going from strength to strength.

Inspiration Trip : Contrasts of Aberdour

Beach find - Silver Sands

Secret location Aberdour funghi

Autumn trees surrounding the beach

Aberdour Beach

Had a few days around Scotland to refresh and revive.  We've been so lucky with the weather - these were taken last week before we went to Inverness.  Aberdour has such a contrast of features - the beach, the park, the harbour and the wee village - autumn just seems to add to it.  Feeling all excited about my new commission!

The Kelpies

The Kelpies

A great day - I love scale, pattern and structure.  The Kelpies by Andy Scott in Falkirk - the largest equine sculptures in the world and here's Andy's story -  " The title and theme of The Kelpies as mystical water-borne equine creatures was inherited at the outset of the project, almost eight years ago.  Since then it has evolved dramatically and in the process the ethos and function has shifted from the original concept.   Falkirk was my father’s home town and that inherited link to the town has been one of my driving inspirations.  A sense of deep personal legacy has informed my thinking from the outset, with old family connections anchoring me to the project.   As an artist I frequently tackle the theme of equine sculpture in my practice.  My horse based works are always rooted in a socio-historical relevance or respond to a brief from the client.  In almost every project they are related to the site, the audience, history or a combination of themes."

iPhone & Instagram

The wee hoose at Pillars

Pillars of Hercules Garden

A Red Road from my friend Liz!!!

Pretty Falkland Shop

Inspiration

My lovely family got me a new phone for my birthday so I've been trying to get to grips with it and Instagram (as everyone thought it would be great for me). Love them both!!!  Let me know if you're on Instagram!  These are just some of my newbie pics!

Pear Tree in Belfast

I noticed a pear tree in Ian's neighbour's garden full of pears almost ready to pick but I found out the neighbours don't pick them!  Might have to go and knock on their door.

Belfast Local

Belfast's Cutter's Wharf

Only a 5 minute walk (if that) from Ian's place - our local, especially on a lovely day.  See you soon!

Last Few Days Of Belfast

Just about to load the car to come back to Scotland and saw these babies outside Ian's place.  Huge!!! Just thought I'd check them out on the web before I rustled up a champignons sauvage with a leeetle garlic and butter. I was literally up the stairs checking and the bloody council cut the grass.

Nature in Belfast

Just at the water's edge across from The Lyric Theatre, Belfast, we came across this stretch of meadow flowers at the river's edge.  The River Lagan hasn't been seen like this in years!

Carousel Horses At The Links Market

Crystal

Chloe

Elsie

Coral

The Links Market is reputedly the longest street fair in Europe, running almost one mile in length along the Esplanade, Kirkcaldy, Fife and records go as far back as the 14th century.

830 Signs

830Signs

Love this photo and composition and the dress.

Achnasheen Weekend

Our wee restaurant at Ledgowan Lodge

It's still possible to be the only one on the road!

View from the bottom of the lodge

Heading to Inverness - taken just outside Achnasheen - Loch Luichart perhaps?

A wonderful Valentine surprise weekend!  Thank you my lovely - it was such a chill out time and the weather was perfect for February!

Glasgow Decoupage

A wee trip to Glasgow and I found an example of decoupage for my students new project! Great!