As we leave - more cove stone

 

During the week I worked on carving a wee conical depression into one of the incredibly hard stones from the local fishing cove. The stone sits alongside one that I carved on the previous trip - see the last photo in this blog post. Who knows - maybe the whitish stone might be carved next time to make up the trio.

A few process photos follow - the carving took 5-6 hours - the stone was incredibly hard.

A couple of the completed stone.

In my mind the depressions are a reflection of Pictish cup carvings found on Pictish stones. The stones of course reflect the ancient landscape; and of course the connection with the cove and fishing industry. Quite a fitting way to round off this visit to the cottage.

A couple of wee watercolours

 

I have completed a couple of postcard sized watercolours using Derwent graphite tint watercolour pencils.

The one above is of a stone cottage with a rusted corrugated iron roof and a small ruin beside it at Talmine Beach. The one below is of a stone ruin beside the road between Altnaharra and Hope in the Scottish highlands. The colours are a bit distorted by the interaction of the light in the cottage kitchen and the iPhone camera.

On this trip over to the cottage I have been  attempting to record a few memories in a different art form. I'm still learning   how the colours transform when the water is added to the pencil colours.

Morning light from the headland and other fragments

 

There will only be one or two more walks to the cove during this visit before we head south to catch our flight home; but each morning walk reveals its own beauty - including the light in the panorama above - Fiona in the foreground with fishing huts to the right.

Reflected sunrise.

Grey light and a very windy morning this morning.

Looking towards the Orkney islands from the Thurso supermarket carpark yesterday afternoon - clear day and sunshine!!! The Orkney mainland is 1.5 hours by ferry from Scrabster-Thurso.

It will be hard to say farewell to the Highland cottage; but then again we have the beauty that surrounds our Maleny cottage.

The beauty of stones

 

I have been fortunate to collect a few stones from the cove stone beach. I have added an additional dimension to them by grinding grooves as you can see from the photo above - the stones have been given a light oil to enhance the colours. The shininess will disappear as the oil is absorbed by the stones.

I started with a selection of stones that felt good in the hand and had a certain visual appeal; and then marked them up before grooving them with a diamond blade in my angle grinder. The work is guided by the marked up lines; but in the end the work is a bit freehand as I simply support the stones on a sand filled leather pad. 

Grooved stones done this visit. The grooves encircle the stones except for the simple crosses.

Some of these stones will make their way to Maleny - a strong memory of place in Scotland.

Update on Posts in Scotland

Between us Fiona and I have assembled-made 5 post assemblage-sculptures around the cottage and for friends in the Highlands. 

One post was made to replace an early post find (at the end of this blog) - which prompted me to share photos of all five posts starting with the Swordly Mill Post above and below - made during our March trip this year - nestling into the landscape.

Then there was Post 37 completed and installed recently.

The Cove Post, made entirely from bits from our local fishing cove, was made to reflect the fishing history of the village and the clearances.

Then there is Fiona's post that sits looking out from the lounge window.

And the post that was remade this week to replace a post we found amongst the rubbish when we took over ownership-care of the cottage.

I think Fiona has a couple of more assemblages in mind - but we will see.

Light, reflections and friendly locals

 

I love the way the light was breaking up as it shone through the gap in the top of the stile into a very old cemetery in Reay. Below is detail from an ancient Pictish slab in the cemetery.

Talking about light - the light was subdued this morning as we headed to the cove; but it was a highlighting a ship on the horizon, the edges of clouds and an aircraft skimming across the sky.

Many of the local animals are used to people - it is a joy to stop and chat to them and experience their inquisitive looks - or in the case of the ram a mild challenge.

I love the quite beauty of the village; and this historic bus stop that is now used by the sheep when they are allowed to wander the village.

A day of creating - silver jewellery

 

Yesterday Fiona and I spent the best part of a day in the studio of Lindsey Gallacher doing an introduction to silver jewellery making course.

What a relaxing and enjoyable day. There was only one other student so it was a very personal and attentive experience.

As you can see from the opening photo I decided to make myself a ring that reflected the view of the fence line out the cottage bedroom back window.

Some of the process photos follow. The image of the fence line was pressed into-onto the silver using a glossy hard card template and metal roller.

Fiona decided on making a pendant - and what a great outcome.

I had a bit of pressed metal left over so Fiona ands I decided to turn it into a pair of earrings - Lindsey attached the posts.

A gorgeous memory of our time here art the cottage. Photo of the ring on my finger below.