tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238120802012-01-27T23:39:13.373+01:00Balnacra Arts BlogThe Arts and crafts of Vicky Stonebridge.VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.comBlogger4301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-24639496295023756892012-01-27T23:39:00.001+01:002012-01-27T23:39:13.410+01:00Bayou Arcana
This is a book I am currently working on. This gorgeous cover is by the very talented Jennie Gyllblad.The book is now available for pre-order HERE
It has already caused a bit of a stir in the press and on the web, as it is a ground breaking anthology project, male writers and female artists. This won't seem so unusual unless you work in comics and can't have missed the massive debate VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-43598018013536609772012-01-26T23:23:00.000+01:002012-01-27T23:23:47.640+01:00'Riding the storm'
another finished little box canvas today. 12.5 x 18cm mixed media. 'Riding the storm', available £40
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-65201573364559997662012-01-25T21:23:00.000+01:002012-01-25T21:23:28.682+01:00What force or guile could not subdue
these are the latest finished pictures, wee totty box canvases 10 x 10cm. mixed media.( available £25 )
Not sure what they are called yet, its sort of on that dug in winter theme, waiting, biding time, being patient, withstanding storms kind of thing. Some bigger pieces on the go but way too much stress and other stuff to deal with just now. I'm also experimenting with different priming VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-50883148803804134132012-01-23T17:12:00.000+01:002012-01-26T17:13:09.232+01:00Chinese New year Banquet
I was very lucky and honoured to be invited along to the Chinese new years celebrations by Arts Play Highland. A brilliant Arts charity that i have done workshops with before and will be working with on an exiting project this year. Life has been pretty stressful of late, which seemed a great reason to make the 130 mile round trip to Inverness to inject a bit of colour & culture into my system.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-31642625971267556242012-01-20T21:22:00.001+01:002012-01-20T21:22:16.762+01:00Silenced
Following lots of feedback and a discussion about this mornings angry doodle, and a request from a friend to use it as a Tattoo, i've tidied it up and changed the overall shape to fit a back better. I think a tattoo artist will cry when they see this ! the great thing about spirals and squiggles however is that they can me moved to fit the body shape. I've always found tattoo designing VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-15069445798769702052012-01-20T10:03:00.000+01:002012-01-20T10:13:17.396+01:00speaking out.
I wear many hats, some overlap, many carry responsibilities. Being an artist is all about communication, being an activist is all about uncovering the truth and the greater good. Being censored is one of the worse things you can do to an artist. We know that people who speak out will get into trouble and get punished, We know that women who speak out in particular get silenced, bullied, VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-85737877173109270972012-01-19T17:08:00.000+01:002012-01-19T23:07:19.646+01:00public meeting about Bypass
Further to my last blog about the Blocked road bypass situation, Monday 16th January saw a public meeting in Lochcarron to discuss the matter.
There is traditionally a low turn out for events here over the last few years, theatre and concerts will only attract a handfull of people. Well this time there was standing room only, The council website says 250, i estimated 300+. I haven't seen VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-18515838111542164532012-01-15T20:53:00.000+01:002012-01-15T21:35:37.568+01:00Strome Ferry - No Ferry
Today was a clear day, so we went for a walk and to do some beachcombing. We found ourselves rummaging around one of the old Strome Ferries which was beached on the North of the Loch in 1970's. This is a wee bit of a co-oincidence when tomorrow the Strome Ferries will temporarily be starting up again.
The communities South and North of the Loch Carron are connected by the A890, a stretch ofVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-29377714196037626032012-01-08T10:08:00.001+01:002012-01-08T10:08:28.965+01:00'all just breaking like waves'
The last two and a half weeks of xmas and new year disruption feel like it has gone on forever, I'm desperate for the dawn to break, the fuzzy chaotic darkness and midwinter chaos cave dwelling to end, for a boost of energy, some space, to attack the lagging workload, pressing problems, clear the decks of holly ( or paperchains at least ), to grasp 2012 and make some changes. Typically the fatesVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-27507526226586588602012-01-06T20:38:00.000+01:002012-01-06T20:39:41.507+01:00G’ie Me a Spark o’ Nature’s Fire
Back in March 2010 this illustration was used by BBC online to illustrate a series of articles on renewable energy.
When i was invited to submit ideas for an Exhibition going to Brussels, one of the themes being environment / climate change, it seemed natural to take the story behind this image and develop it further. I produced artwork concept for a comic cover and a one page silent comicVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-15363501732195697552011-12-31T21:37:00.001+01:002011-12-31T21:59:49.560+01:00Hogmanay
How can i write an end of year review when there are 4 hours
left to go ? when my take on things is flailing about and flipping from one
moment to the next ?
Do you ever get up really early before the weather has woken up ? Here
surrounded by mountains and loch, with lots of wet and stormy weather this last
couple of months, the wind blows night and day...except for a brief moment
between the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-40844452078408459672011-12-27T17:20:00.000+01:002011-12-27T17:20:53.886+01:00a light in the darkness
So I hope you all had a good Yule? I hope those of you who find Yule/ christmas difficult got through it all okay. The light follows the darkness.
During the Christmas break everything stops, everything retreats back to the home, the family or the alienated solitude- No work, no comfort of routine, no bustle. For the lucky ones feasting, laughter and family fun. For others the sense of being VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-89299937791268651702011-12-23T20:53:00.000+01:002011-12-23T21:15:31.221+01:00t'was the week before christmas
So it's that silly time of year again. its been less white and snowy that the last couple of years which is a shame as i love the ice & snow colours, instead we have had a massive deluge of rain the last week which has bought down a rock face on the south side of the loch, this is a fairly regular occurance. enough rambling about the weather!
art and crafts ? I've been frantically making VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-63309118145568452072011-12-14T16:58:00.000+01:002011-12-14T16:58:37.562+01:00Costume Life drawing class
IT was a dark stormy night across the North. I'd spend the day in town, visiting family & attending a work meeting. dashing through the puddles to Dingwall's lovely warm and welcoming community shop, The Greenhouse. I didn't expect anyone to turn up for this experimental art session. But they did!First to model was gorgeous Laura, who'd bought a great bag of props and frocks.
these are just VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-56223824390482476252011-12-13T01:27:00.000+01:002011-12-15T02:19:32.096+01:00The Treehouse programme on TV
so after all the hype, meetings, marketing, workparties, blogging , tweeting, photographing, organising, discussing... it was finally time for the TV programme to be shown. Many of us don't have TV or Sky tv at least, plus we thought it would be nice to have a community get together to watch the programme, as building communities is what this is all about. So the Carron Restaurant kindly steppedVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-561536734635649562011-12-11T17:59:00.000+01:002011-12-14T18:01:01.743+01:003 night power cut.
Day 3 of the hurricane bawbag power cut.
Thursday the 8th a bad storm raged across Scotland, the north west didn’t suffer as much damage as other places but the storm reached hurricane levels in some parts with gusts of 165mph. The lights had flashed on and off so I made sure and backed up my computer work, cooked a big pan of risotto, gathered candles , lighter & torch, then sat back and VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-87954643652564359832011-12-04T13:58:00.001+01:002011-12-04T14:43:07.138+01:00Tea for Two ( and a few more )
We went to an art opening at 'The Schoolhouse Tearoom' Dornie last night. For those of you who don't know the local area, this is Dornie;
Being used to the low turnout at our local events we were rather astonished by the fact that at somepoints there wasn't event room to get more people in the door at this opening! Brilliant, a great change to catch up with lots of artists and interestingVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-19691563404697455302011-12-01T12:52:00.001+01:002011-12-01T13:55:26.380+01:00Soup and Solidarity.
The 30th November was a national Strike day for many of the UK's public sector unions. Workers who are the back bone of this country have been vilified by the press and government. Nurses, teachers, bin men, support workers, nursery workers, firefighters etc have already had a 2year pay freeze, George Osborne announced on the 29th that we would be facing another freeze then a 1% cap on pay VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-61054207537315282702011-11-29T20:01:00.001+01:002011-11-29T21:20:34.339+01:00Costume Life Drawing Class
Today I managed to put pencil to paper and do some sketches. From some photos.
this is a talented artist Ruth Brain, who has some fantastic frilly frilly dresses.
and this is Ossian MacUrchin, who regular blog followers may recognise from the Strome Castle Historical event photos I took.
Why was I sketching folks in great clothes? as a warm up for this:~
Which will be at The VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-88569356767777446422011-11-25T17:26:00.001+01:002011-11-25T17:50:12.151+01:00Christmas Fair at Kelso-Ceilidh Barn.
The 'South West Ross Arts & Eats' 2011 Christmas Fair is underway, its on until Monday afternoon and has a mass of delicious hot food and snacks, foodie gifts and art work. Last year it snowed for a few of the days we had it on, sure enough tgis morning the snow had crept down the mountains- you can just see it to the left of photo below the clouds. The building there the the New lodge, the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-42899302599892130002011-11-23T23:19:00.001+01:002011-11-23T23:28:31.806+01:00Tree house programme date announced
Ta da! the public's first official sighting of the Lochcarron Treehouse. ( Copyright (c) SKY1 2011 )
The programme will be aired at 8pm , Monday the 12th December.
It is hoped that we will get a venue so we can watch it together as a community- plus raise some more pennies to purchase the Kirkton woodlands as the next phase of this community project to build a sustainable community here.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-1887186310559394802011-11-23T13:11:00.001+01:002011-11-23T14:36:15.652+01:00Leeds Thought Bubble 2011
I feel my blogs are becoming just a blurr of blurry photos and inarticulate keyboard thumpings, i was here, i did stuff... never time to process one event before the next hits!Meanwhile, this weekend myself and Rich headed off to Leeds Thought Bubble sequential arts festival ( thats a grown up work for comics and cool stuff ). Two days travelling each way for us! urg! We had our own conventionVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-51654621150871723022011-11-23T12:43:00.001+01:002011-11-23T13:01:13.257+01:00Pepper spray meme
Following outrage of the Pepper spraying of UC Davis Students ( USA ) during an occupy movement sit in ( video here ). An internet meme has sprung up featuring the Lt Pike who casually walked down the line of students and sprayed them in the face. Of course its not funny, but ridicule has always been a great way to combat brutality and bullying. Here are my contributions.
what VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-71922646926515632312011-11-17T14:27:00.001+01:002011-11-18T17:53:35.300+01:00Womens STUC conference 2011
The Fire brigades Union Scottish women's committee delegation to the 84th Womens Scottish Trades Union Congress Conference. This was my second conference and was as ever an inspiring & stimulating event. It can be emotional, some of the issues being discussed and the stories we hear are distressing. the plight of families when a parent is in prison, the horrors of human trafficking and the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-40481590240835836302011-11-11T19:12:00.001+01:002011-11-11T19:18:21.188+01:00Christmas cards available
I also have these Highland-Russian Connections charity cards i designed for sale at £1 each.
Or i have packs of 10 cards, 5 of each of the designs above. For £4.50. These have been produced by Asgard Crafts.
Mail me at pottery@balnacra.com if you want to order any of the above. Postage charged at cost.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-81514196665452721582011-11-09T19:24:00.001+01:002011-11-09T19:25:42.629+01:00clearout wordpress art sale tea-for-two wet varnish
My 'studio' is really just a spare room of the house with very little natural lighting. I haven't had time or energy to go in and clear it out since the mad massive amount of work I threw into the Vysotsky project in the summer. Most people have to juggle the work /life balance these days. My recent problem has been the voluntary community work verses art / paid / own work balance, 'life' is VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-32612168566523029642011-11-06T02:35:00.000+01:002011-11-06T02:40:26.069+01:00Remember, remember the 5th of November
Some of us in the local Fire brigade form the local Guy Fawkes Society & run the community Bonfire night and firework display every year. This year seemed to have a theme- with all the global protests and people adopting the V for vendetta masks as a symbol of resistance against oppressive governments.
If you havent already seen the film of the book here is a wee clip, it's brilliant;
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-57530777004927526232011-11-04T21:23:00.003+01:002011-11-04T21:24:24.234+01:00Treehouse workparty
Today I took a much needed break from the massive task list on the computer and went back to the Tree house to join in with the Voluntary workparty. The Lochcarron Treehouse now has its own facebook page and soon will have a website. I'm part of the marketing team so i'll direct sensible tree house tales to its own pages now! There is an album of photos up on the FB page now. There is still anVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-31540769416237433582011-11-04T09:02:00.000+01:002011-11-04T09:03:24.615+01:00Firefighting art pre-christmas sale
In 2009- 2010 I did a series of paintings from my work as a firefighter. I had exhibitions at Inchmore Gallery, Inverness airport, and Tore Gallery with these. The art works and others are all available from my website as reproduction prints at £20.
I'm also offering up some of the original artwork at sale prices- these make unusual retirement gifts or great Christmas presents for someone VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-42940250333200781562011-11-03T12:03:00.001+01:002011-11-03T12:43:25.987+01:00Dundee Comic day 2011
Dundee is a strange city to drive. The traffic system seemed determined to get rid of us, and once we eventually did find parking, the multi-story car park had no pedestrian exits- we escaped out of the traffic ramp in the end & found the Hoppo youth hostel which i thoroughly recommend, the private en suite room was as good as any hotel room, but half the price. We were early so popped into a VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-43950267939185873382011-11-01T13:33:00.000+01:002011-11-01T13:34:03.772+01:00Smithy development. Wossy & others
This is my artistic impression of what the proposed Smithy site development just outside of lochcarron could look like, this artwork was used for a recent funding proposal. There is a high demand for craft workshop/retail spaces, My old pottery studio space is being taken over by a local weaver who'll be selling tartan and tweed quality products, the interior is looking great, you'd never knowVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-80828155140918121392011-10-26T21:26:00.001+01:002011-10-26T21:26:17.933+01:00Victorian Kitsch
'The Happy Couple'. paint drying now. the second of the 'vintage' themed paintings. Here is a tidied up photo of the previous one. These are heading to The Beauly Gallery for their Christmas show.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-25592588052873401812011-10-26T10:46:00.002+01:002011-10-26T10:46:56.145+01:00Family portrait 1
I've been struggling to find much painting time, one job after another keeps piling on! one of the galleries Christmas shows theme is 'Vintage' so after watching tonnes of Sherlock Holmes ( the 1980's Jeremy Brett version ) & looking at loads of old photographs, this is the way I'm playing it. Does it work? is it kitsch enough ? lots of gold & copper & thick shiny varnish too. Another one in VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-67182995514317794542011-10-25T23:22:00.002+01:002011-10-25T23:22:38.112+01:00Christmas Fair poster
www.artsandeatstrail.comHeres a poster I've done for next months local Exhibition.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-71567108815661480572011-10-19T19:18:00.001+01:002011-10-19T19:18:12.503+01:00Octocon part 2
Octocon was 21 years old this year so there was balloons, sweets, cakes with candles, singing, speeches and all traditional birthday goodness. Above is this years Octocon committee chair and organising all-overseeing-person Gareth who kept things running slickly with his charming Octocon minions.
John Higgins, Sally Hurst & Leonia Carroll get creative on the party table.
Leonia & VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-75416237300741998862011-10-19T17:40:00.001+01:002011-10-19T19:21:26.856+01:00Octocon part 1.
Octocon is the Irish National Sci-Fi convention. Myself & Rich were honoured to be invited back this year as guests. The convention is brilliantly organised, friendly and a whole load of fun. Guest of Honour this year was John B Higgins ( Watchmen, Dredd, Razorjack etc ). As ever the weekend was a whirlwind of talks, meeting new people, catching up with friends, meals and laughter. I'd love toVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-1476623074594063992011-10-13T23:34:00.004+01:002011-10-13T23:35:00.544+01:00CD art 5 & 6
artwork 5 and 6 for Inchmore Gallery's Christmas CD art show. 12 x 12cm. mixed media on watercolour paper. Price will be £30 each. commissions for Christmas considered to suit various budgets, a range of original artwork is also available directly from the artist, payable in installments if required. mail me for details.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-83483540783852900702011-10-13T12:18:00.003+01:002011-10-13T12:18:45.099+01:00NTS strome castle event
NTS ( National Trust for Scotland ) organised an event for The Highland Region Archaeology fortnight at our local Strome Castle, Wednesday 12th October. I was called in at the last minute at do some Pictish Facepainting. I don't have any pictures of the resultant little Picts, as of course thrusting camera's in children's faces is a little rude. Strome Castle isn't a Pictish site, but we VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-21733367182699906112011-10-12T21:30:00.000+01:002011-10-12T21:30:10.645+01:00community art group
Tuesdays in lochcarron we have a community art group. It used to be an art class which i taught through the councils community education budget, but that budget like so many others disappeared. So the previous students now meet up every week and encourage each other along.
It is 10.30 to 12.30 every tuesday in lochcarron church hall, £3 each to pay for the hall hire. Folks sometimes bring VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-21177818335175089382011-10-10T12:41:00.001+01:002011-10-10T12:41:15.349+01:00CD sized art #2
the next 3 CD case sized pieces of art for Inchmore Gallery Christmas exhibition. 12 x 12cm mixed media. these will be selling at £30 each.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-44002020458201752042011-10-07T16:07:00.001+01:002011-10-07T16:07:22.718+01:00CD case sized artwork
Here is a 12cm x 12cm piece of artwork for Inchmore Gallery's Christmas show
19th November 2011 - 8th January 2012 - WINTER EXHIBITION and "CD Collection".
N"
I have 5 more pictures on the go. more details of the exhibition to follow.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-84375011009320601482011-10-05T14:04:00.002+01:002011-10-05T14:04:45.175+01:00more animal art.
I've managed to do another couple of small animal pictures in between other jobs, These sell out faster than i can produce them so message me if you want to buy it or to commission one.
A Wolf. 17cm x 11cm mixed media on thick card. he is a bit bigger so I'm looking for £17 P&P included.
a Hare. Mixed media on thick card, 15.5cm x 9cm . The other wee wolves are all sold, who wants thisVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-33483591870621170272011-10-02T17:34:00.002+01:002011-10-02T17:58:47.879+01:00Glasgow march against cuts 1st Oct
I do try to keep this blog for Art mostly, and save the politics and opinions for facebook and so forth, However, the problem with this is Art is all about reflection what is within and without. The artist is a social commentator, communicator. My art comes from me, the whole me, what i see, hear, think, feel. Whether the art work is a painting of something which I have seen ( almost VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-44091683064907205352011-09-30T18:22:00.002+01:002011-09-30T18:22:54.482+01:00wee wolf number 3
heres is another wee wolf, 12cm x 12.5cm, thick card, mixed media. £15 to first person who wants it. See also the two I put up yesterday!
some more in the pipeline. Its good to have little things like this on the go that i can work at places like the village hall producers days where i was today.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-61847378663186539952011-09-29T15:28:00.001+01:002011-09-29T15:28:26.372+01:00little wolves
two small wolves on thick card. 9 x 13cm and 9 x15cm . One may be sold already, the other one ( whichever that will be ) will be available for £15. message me pottery@balnacra.com if interested! more in the pipeline. x
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-8479038402265031192011-09-26T15:14:00.000+01:002011-09-26T15:52:48.875+01:00Colouring 'Band of Butchers'
I'm currently working my way through the last pages of digital colouring for 'Band of Butchers' a story which will be part of an anthology 'Tales of the Fallen' a graphic Novel spin off from Barry Nugents 'Fallen Heroes' Novel and rapidly expanding 'Unseen Shadows' universe.
Behold the gorgeous cover by Rob Carey;
Oo look there is my name there ( I love that ! )
I can't show you whatVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-74324895805121518912011-09-26T14:41:00.002+01:002011-09-26T14:41:21.240+01:00community art group LochcarronVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-73830166171095045572011-09-17T20:54:00.001+01:002011-09-17T20:54:16.811+01:00recycling frames
When my pottery didn't sell after a few years on display i could at least take it home & use it around the house. I suppose I've been selling paintings now instead of pottery in the Northern galleries around 3 or 4 years now, and its got to that point that I have works sitting around in lovely frames> usually its just a matter of waiting as there is a buyer out there for each piece. But needs VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-85537749460541238442011-09-17T10:28:00.001+01:002011-09-17T10:28:08.666+01:00TreeHouse snagging
Friday 16th Sept a workparty got together to do some finishing work on our community treehouse. Remember that film about the armish community and that whole barn building thing ? it feels like we have and are doing this, everyone is just getting stuck in without all the usual inhibiting rubbish that gets in the way like committees, planning, regulations. There is a local builder on site VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-84584401643616164492011-09-15T17:34:00.000+01:002011-09-15T17:34:10.758+01:00renewables comic strip
a while ago i did this piece of artwork for a BBC online article about renewables. When asked recently to develop a comic strip idea about renewable energy it seemed natural to pick up and develop the story in this picture. I'll only give a wee taster just now, until it's all confirmed, okayed and got the go ahead.
This is one part of one panel for the strip, I've drawn sketchy outlines VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-51269158869668489782011-09-10T12:43:00.001+01:002011-09-10T12:43:28.456+01:00A news round up
The treehouse-
a builder will be finishing off bits and bobs this week, then there will be a work party next Saturday 17th to finish the cladding, seal doors and windows etc. I had a lovely e-mail off the architect about how much he enjoyed the welcome the crew received from the community and how the building simply would not have got as far as it did without the massive effort from local VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-74927638274664112212011-09-07T15:05:00.001+01:002011-09-07T15:05:31.081+01:00Ceangal. Installing Art at Beinn Eighe
Wednesday morning, pouring rain. off to Kinlochewe, Beinn Eighe nature reserve to meet the some of the other artists involved with Ceangal, Somu, Lynn, Pat, Ingela, Tanu, The primary and secondary school pupils and teachers. Installed the silver foiled natural objects in the landscape around the nature trail. Children enthusiastically engaged with the idea running about looking for good placesVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-11267526746655773692011-09-06T01:05:00.000+01:002011-09-06T01:05:28.951+01:00Ceangal-Connections, day 1
My artist friend Lynn Bennett-MacKenzie who travelled to Russia with me last year, has been busy working on an international artists residencies project called Ceangal - which is Gaelic for Connections. She is working in collaboration with artist Somu Desai.
As a precursor to the main residential programme which will take place in 2012, Somu is currently visiting from India, these two will beVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-57395124339945881162011-09-03T15:15:00.001+01:002011-09-03T15:18:10.998+01:00The Great Treehouse Challenge end of buildAs previously blogged, SKY1 has a TV series in the autumn coming out, 3 programmes called the great Treehouse challenge. 1 programme is about the treehouse here that our community asked for & I did the 1st initial designs for. The project has been managed by a local community group and charity ' The Kirkton woodland and Heritage Group' who are now running the Smithy Heritage Centre site ( where VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-59647061775919539442011-08-31T10:58:00.000+01:002011-08-31T10:58:03.429+01:00TV treehouse build week.The Great Treehouse Challenge for SKY1 is well underway. previous a blog here.
So I'd penciled in the week to get stuck in & help unload lorry's, lugging the building sections, digging & hammering etc. I was looking forward to observing and participating in the whole process. I was looking forward to some physical graft, which is always good for body & soul. A message had come looking for VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-22422916792212440332011-08-31T10:11:00.000+01:002011-08-31T10:11:57.309+01:00Liminal periodDictionaries are good. I tend to sit with google translate and a dictionary open on the computer desktop. Learning things is cool. one of this weeks new words is Liminality . Which accurately describes the state of between big creative projects. Life seems to lurch unstably between projects, months of intense work at the expense of everything else- for what? a two day event, a week long festival,VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-7430052972516435502011-08-25T15:44:00.000+01:002011-08-25T15:44:04.705+01:00call for TV programme helpersVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-30555715731355909752011-08-23T17:45:00.000+01:002011-08-23T17:45:55.683+01:00Smithy mosaic's in place.
Here are the mosaic's i did last year for the Smithy. now mounted on the walls.
Filming starts next week for SKY1's 'Great Treehouse Challenge' this is the site again, but bracken etc cleared. watch this space!
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-6247019861387276622011-08-22T12:05:00.000+01:002011-08-22T12:05:30.873+01:00Inchmore 'Reactions to Vysotsky' Opening night
Thursday lunch time. left for Edinburgh, visited friends on route, finding sanctuary from exhausted burn out in a colourful artists studio. 10.30pm took a wrong route into Edinburgh again & hit the football crowds and princes street. 9.30 am rush up crowded streets to Scotland-Russia Forum, pack up exhibition. get taxi for boxes and artwork back to where car was parked. 11.30 leave Edinburgh VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-54855713515895444032011-08-17T15:59:00.001+01:002011-08-17T16:04:30.397+01:00artwork from the yelabuga symposium
This time last year myself and Lynn Bennett-MacKenzie were in Tatarstan Russia on our life changing adventure. I never really got decent photos of the artwork I did, but Photographer Aktas Hamadeev kindly sent me recently some that he's taken for the book that is being put together about the 'Breath of the Epos' symposium.Aktas plays us a tune while we waited to photograph the sunrise.
Its VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-6152626675416080222011-08-16T21:51:00.000+01:002011-08-16T21:51:27.923+01:00Reactions To Vysotsky- Edinburgh OpeningFriday 12th August was the first opening and recital of our Group show ' Reactions to Vysotsky' . This event was at the Scottish-Russian institute in Edinburgh. We were really lucky to get a space in the city during festival time at such short notice. Jenny from the Scottish-Russian Forum was a brilliant help!
It was a major challenge of producing a body of work in such a short time, my VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-4601786341881679472011-08-11T00:14:00.002+01:002011-08-11T00:14:38.625+01:00Riots in the highlands( apologies for the hastiest cartoon ever! ) VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-65467289283077265712011-08-10T20:57:00.000+01:002011-08-10T20:57:33.549+01:00kitsch this tartan lovers
and after weeks of intense painting madness, lovely to do some other 'making' for some R&R, here is a little bag I made myself today to go with my frock for the exhibition opening on Friday. That's the first time I've had a chance to use the new sewing machine I got for Christmas! so if the painting thing doesn't work out? who wants some tartan accessories?
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-84934468376445643802011-08-10T18:14:00.000+01:002011-08-10T18:14:41.361+01:00The TV treehouse challenge- design revealRemember back HERE I blogged about the visit from the SKY! TV production company. They are working with the community to make a tree house for a community venue. On the 6th August when I was away running workshops at Belladrum festival, a party of local volunteers were busy clearing the site and access to the river bank where the tree house will be built.
Yesterday the film crew spent the day VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-15400915938893000252011-08-07T21:27:00.000+01:002011-08-07T21:27:18.065+01:00Belladrum FestivalWe are just back from Belladrum festival where i delivered a couple of comic strip workshops. I'm far too sleep deprived to write much so here are some photos instead. IT was great fun, I loved it!
Getting ready for my Comic strip drawing workshop- On the left Cosmonauts Elena and Anna from The Highland- Russia Connections charity.
Day One of the Comic drawing workshops
Getting from A to B VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-76438801968271058072011-08-03T16:49:00.000+01:002011-08-03T16:49:35.030+01:00a hectic summerUnfortunately the ability to write blogs is inversely linked with the amount of stuff happening to write about. I believe it is summer, I seem to have spent three months chained to the easel; not earning, not interacting, promoting or organising. I squinted out of the window a couple of times & noticed that the grass was seven feet high, it was raining, it was sunny, the tide went in, the tide VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-67363911927316039382011-07-31T21:52:00.000+01:002011-07-31T21:52:48.906+01:00Scottish Artists celebrate Russia’s modern Bard
Scottish Artists celebrate Russia’s modern BardAn exhibition of paintings by Vicky Stonebridge and John Mikietyn, and a ceramic sculpture by Allison Weightman, will open at the Scotland Russia Forum’s Edinburgh premises at 6pm on 12th August, attended by Sergei Krutikov, the Russian Consul General. The weeklong exhibition accompanies music by Scottish singer, songwriter and translator, Tommy VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-51401778756705980502011-07-20T16:08:00.002+01:002011-07-20T16:18:33.255+01:00The Great Treehouse Challenge for TVI blogged back on the 11th July about our community pitching for a TV programme to build a dream tree house, and that i'd drawn up the initial design sketches. Well we got it and 3 days later the TV film crew are here starting work on the programme.
It will be called The great Tree house challenge. It will be aired in November on Sky 1. There will be three projects, one in England, one in Wales VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-60314624134925498602011-07-17T00:05:00.000+01:002011-07-17T00:05:39.111+01:00Lochcarron Games 2011
(Richmond manning the Balnacra Arts stand )
( a few spaces after a long day's selling )
( Bruno keeps his eye on the extra stock for us )
( some unusual competitors in this years hill race )
Lochcarron Highland Games was cancelled last year due to the heavy rain and waterlogged pitch. This is Lochcarron, in the summer we expect rain & midges, however today's games passed without too much of VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-49499104142512808812011-07-11T12:23:00.001+01:002011-07-11T12:33:19.209+01:00Tree houseOur local development officer was contacted about a pitching for a TV programme. Build your community dream Tree house type idea. She had 3 days to get a proposal into the production company, explaining why our community needs a project to work together with members of the community to build a tree house. I was asked to do some design sketches, now having lived in wooden huts before & built VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-85072000669802641472011-07-07T12:22:00.000+01:002011-07-07T12:22:46.592+01:00'Reactions to Vysotsky. Scottish Artists Respond to the Russian Bard'.Work is progressing with the 'Reactions to Vysotsky. Scottish Artists Respond to the Russian Bard' project.
"An exhibition of paintings by Vicky Stonebridge and John Mikietyn, and a ceramic sculpture by Allison Weightman, will open at the Scotland Russia Forum’s Edinburgh premises on 12th August. The week long exhibition accompanies music by Scottish singer and translator, Tommy Beavitt, whoseVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-65412223662818136072011-07-05T21:55:00.000+01:002011-07-05T21:55:48.127+01:00public sector cuts?Here is a bit of art work I've done this week for some of my colleagues are who's area Fire brigade have basically run out of money. Its just not funny. After the public sector strike last week about pensions I've heard a lot of complaining that the public sector being unrealistic and 'throwing toys out the pram' about the cut backs. This is simply not the case, The argument that the free market VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-47416014532153118142011-06-18T12:11:00.000+01:002011-06-18T12:11:27.293+01:00AT EASE !I've been away on Fire training Course for a week, piloting some back to basics refreshment alongside some new recruits. These courses are very intense, both physically ( and mentally ) demanding but also you become rather institutionalised and so immersed with your peers/ team/ crew. The rest of the world drops away a little. Probably a good anti-dote for me when I can get so intensely immersedVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-53758065034301326352011-06-11T12:38:00.000+01:002011-06-11T12:38:42.984+01:00Robin Hood painting progress
Working on the next Vysotsky song, translated by Tommy Beavitt. some details ( unfinished above ). 'Robin Hood' . Imagine the freedom of living in the woods. Imagine leaving all the rules, class, confines, conventions and labour slavery behind. Imagine a band of brothers ( and sisters? ) serf to no lord or master, living in harmony in the Forest. Imagine having to leave society, hiding, VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-72052282050590545812011-06-11T12:13:00.001+01:002011-06-11T12:19:36.469+01:00The value of ART Sometimes something has got to give. I create a lot more than I can sell. years I drag boxes of art and craft items around shops, galleries, craft fairs, producers day, sales. Up & down the steps, in and out of a succession of cars and vans, the crafts boxes remain, eternally cluttering up my life.
The boxes weigh me down and get in the way, a house with every room full of boxes, craft items, VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-44225748129058767112011-06-08T23:53:00.002+01:002011-06-09T00:07:16.945+01:002D comic festival Derry
This weekend was 2D- Northern Irelands Comic festival. We had heard great reports from comic creators about what a wonderful friendly event it is, so I was very happy to be asked to attend and run a Comics workshop at it.
2D is held at Londonderry / Derry in a beautiful part of Northern Ireland. Due to family and work constraints I could only attend the Saturday of the event which runs from VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-76107233143038564472011-06-08T21:10:00.000+01:002011-06-08T21:10:58.923+01:00an ART carThere has been a couple of issues with my new lovely fast & swish stopgap car;
1) MPG
2)being a saloon I can't fit big canvases in.
Anyway due to the complexities of a two car household with lots of work miles, no public transport and dodgy olde bangers, the shiny stopgap car needed to be passed on and so I went hunting another one. The route happened to take in three of the galleries which VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-5632791283426032632011-06-02T17:27:00.001+01:002011-06-02T17:28:10.887+01:002D, fiasco, trees for life & zombiesI've finally finished the comic strip 'Naki's' I've been working on, its written by Matthew McLaughin and will be published in one of the FutureQuake Publications.
Meanwhile I will be running a workshop in 'Drawing a One Page Comic Strip' at 10.30am Saturday at the 2D Northern Ireland Comic Festival . I'm looking forward to having a catch up with lots of brilliant comic creators over there, the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-3373173275938778502011-05-31T11:05:00.000+01:002011-05-31T11:05:39.309+01:00Kawaii !Juggling zombies, cowboys, organising things and doing traditional gallery art is usually achievable, they need different bits of my brain so I comparmentalise & flit from one to the other. To take the being 'spread too thin' metaphor a bit further, there is a level of superficiality, not enough meat on the bones ( or sandwich in the spread analogy, except a veggie meat substitute, in fact theresVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-91915889925090084762011-05-29T17:39:00.000+01:002011-05-29T17:39:54.306+01:00Trees for Life 2011This is a wee 9 x 6 " painting for the Trees for life charity art exhibition. Who can resist trees, they are so cuddly & unconditional, I've only ever met a couple of grumpy ones, most are just lovely. I think I'll call this 'To be Loved'. I wish it would stop raining I need to go out & play in the enchanted forests.
The Trees for life blog is showcasing artworks,
and any artists wanting to take VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-62170133428013057272011-05-26T23:55:00.001+01:002011-05-26T23:56:09.316+01:00Lyricale- Лирическая
'Lyricale' the next painting in collaboration with Tommy Beavitt and his translation of Vysotsky's song Lyricale - Лирическая.
I am used to working in collaboration on comic books and graphic novels where a team with distinct tasks will work together to bring a story to life. I am also used to how artists will influence each other when working in proximity. In contemporary Art so much VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-22868756924713217132011-05-26T11:24:00.000+01:002011-05-26T11:24:48.256+01:00Slaughtmans Creed interview & recording Here is an interview with me on Comic Bits Online, questions posed by Nic Wilkinson about my colouring work in Slaughtermans Creed.
Also up online is a pod cast by another CBO, this is Comic Book Outsiders. Scott Grandison chaired our panel discussion at Bristol Expo on the creation of Slaughtemans Creed. the recording is here. Ah the awfulness of hearing ones own voice!
Also some video clipsVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-756786121034747002011-05-24T18:18:00.000+01:002011-05-24T18:18:23.010+01:00Who'll come a hunting the wolf?This painting is the first in a collaboration project between myself and Singer songwriter Tommy Beavitt. As well as his own songs, Tommy translates international songs and poems and performs them in a variety of languages including Scots and Russian. Recently performing the songs of Robert Burns in Russia. He has been working on translating works by Russian Poet Vysotsky , one being Охота на VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-35436593912980897522011-05-18T21:18:00.000+01:002011-05-18T21:18:53.988+01:00Ken Clark
A quick sketch of Ken Clark in todays news.
VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-81947226667334961852011-05-17T19:51:00.001+01:002011-05-17T19:55:28.283+01:00Bristol Comic ExpoI'd sorted out my twitpic account juggled my phone e-mail settings, loaded my netbook with the info I needed, checked flight modes, yes, this time at Bristol Comic Expo I would be all singing all dancing photo uploading tweeting social media interactive life as it happens reporting.. and then we arrived at the hotel/venue.
It was just all too good, too busy, too frantic plus it occurred to me VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-5183001509022788572011-05-09T16:53:00.002+01:002011-05-09T16:53:34.541+01:00art students exhibition AuchtertyreVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-63082253320216151652011-05-09T16:28:00.001+01:002011-05-09T16:29:14.459+01:00Aberdeen Art Adventure
I had a couple of days away last week to hang an exhibition in Aberdeen. I can back so regenerated and inspired, ready to write mighty blogs of art waffle, but there is literally never any time to keep up with things at the moment, despite staying up until 3am etc. However I shall briefly attempt to back track.
I went with Lynn Bennett-MacKenzie to hang an exhibition of both our work in the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-72879228274584240772011-05-05T16:27:00.000+01:002011-05-05T16:27:38.734+01:00Wildfires
This is an ART blog, but my art doesn't pay, so how do I pay the bills? Firefighting ( which in the retained service only pays 10% a normal salary ), this is my bread & rather sooty butter. Most artists been something to supplement the income. Ideally Art and 'Bread & Butter' would be distinct & seperate, but I find mine all collides in a mix of multi coloured hats. The last two months thatVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-18514316641433066702011-04-23T12:20:00.000+01:002011-04-23T12:20:43.834+01:00white trees & copper creatures
Here are a recent batch of pcitures, the scans don't show the shiny gold and copper...quite small, paper & card, mixed media no bigger than A4VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-21465088027806180052011-04-13T22:48:00.001+01:002011-04-13T22:49:48.166+01:00Yuri's nightAs a youngster I was a sci-fi nerd before I could really read properly. The fantasy genre didn't really kick in until later on, apart from lord of the rings & the hobbit of course, but my that time I had a strong grounding in Issac Asimov, HG Wells, Philip K Dick, Paul Anderson, those 1950's & 60's 'hard' sci-fi writers. I couldn't tell you much about those writers now this was long before I hit VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-59497222010226021522011-04-11T21:19:00.000+01:002011-04-11T21:19:16.321+01:00Tree paint sketches
Here are a couple of A3 painted sketches of trees I did as demonstration quickies at Art Class today. We're on Acrylic module looking at impressionist style. I think I'll work into these a bit with mixed media if I ever get a minute.
Haven't done any of my 'own' art for what feels like ages. Also not enough time to blog up all the adventures. Hopefully will catch up a little this week VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-1353822133665033722011-04-07T14:07:00.000+01:002011-04-07T14:07:22.125+01:00Yuri's night stand-inNext Tuesday is the 50th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's history first flight into space. There will be events across the world to celebrate this, more details on the Yuri's night website. Here in the highlands we are celebrating in Nairn, with the Highland-Russian connections charity hosting an event, starting at 12noon to let off some special rockets and in the evening having a talk & film... VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-64656896343836294842011-04-02T16:53:00.000+01:002011-04-02T16:53:09.234+01:00Japan FundraiserWork loads have recently reached critical mass, amid everything else I've been doing two comic strips for a Japan disaster relief fundraising comic thats being put together by the wonderful folks at The Comic Book Alliance.
One strip has been written by Martin Conaghan, Its a collage/ photo montage style strip, and above is a panel for a three page folk story script written by Jaspre Bark. I VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-5896867210070585342011-03-22T19:37:00.000+01:002011-03-22T19:37:07.957+01:00'Mothering'This painting is around A3, mixed media on paper. I called it 'Mothering'
Its a mixture of a dream, a story, a whole lot of memories and feelings. There were many decades where i didn't carry a camera or phone, how the world has changed. I saw some crazy amazing sights, many of them with my posse of children in tow. One Glastonbury festival i was working at we got caught in a bottleneck surging VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-40295971711439762422011-03-22T19:01:00.000+01:002011-03-22T19:01:17.072+01:00The Rock Trust fundraiser'The Rock Trust is a charity that works in Edinburgh and West Lothian with homeless and socially excluded young people between the ages of 16 and 25 years.'
every couple of years they run a charity fundraising Art postcard auction. The exhibition opens next week and features work from all sorts of big names, including the wonderful comic artist from 2000AD and Elephant man- Boo Cook. Previous VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-49706149197812489842011-03-16T21:25:00.000+01:002011-03-16T21:25:30.370+01:00'Joyful company'This is a wee watercolour I've been working on during some quiet moments of art classes when the students are wrapped up in their own work and don't need me poking over their shoulder. Watercolour is not my preferred medium as I get richer colours from a combination of inks and other paints, but its always good to keep ones hand in.
I haven't drawn the wee girl in a while as its the more grown VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-90566689767100641352011-03-15T15:47:00.000+01:002011-03-15T15:47:55.564+01:00chapter break and re-bootI'm inclined to start every blog post with an apology as to why I haven't done more art, Art is a harsh driver! I have been slogging away on the BP portrait the last couple of weeks and also teaching with the West Highland College 3 days a week. I had to step in rapidly to replace another tutor, so it has all been a bit frantic. However I love teaching, it makes me question my own assumptions VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-30570548194555317512011-03-10T18:49:00.000+01:002011-03-10T18:49:49.583+01:00'Fire Fighter'This painting is 80cm x 120 cm , acrylic on canvas.
Its why I haven't got any other artwork done, why I haven't slept much, eaten a decent meal, tidied the house, blogged or sat down in the last two weeks.
Its for the BP National portrait award. from the outset I figured I was punching way above my weight entering this, i deliberately announced and told everyone I was entering it, so there was noVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-44505566743613676592011-03-03T16:36:00.000+01:002011-03-03T16:36:51.816+01:00'Don't look Down'Not many art blogs at the moment. I'm a little snowed under with teaching, support work, comic strips and the big portrait project. All the time my own art itches away below the surface, that characters carry on adventuring where I draw them or not. Last week a whole pack of wolves were nipping at the heels of the lady, she didn't seem to mind as she was distracted, was it the ship in the VickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23812080.post-21804017895185894152011-02-25T15:06:00.003+01:002011-02-25T15:09:09.355+01:00New TattooI have a new Tattoo. It was a fairly spontaneous thing, as I was going to the tattooist anyway with my daughter for her First one. But it wasn't really spontaneous as I'd had this design in mind for a few years to fill one of the spaces between my other beasties.
( day 1- still messy, a week on- flaky but healing )
Its from a Celtic sword hilt. I love my tatts. I sometimes joke that I get themVickyShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08090665657596038574noreply@blogger.com0