Happy but weary

 

Fiona and I held a salvaged silver-plate metal jewellery workshop today in Armadale Village Hall. It was limited to 8 people but we had 9 including a younger girl. The opening photo of me, by Fiona, shows me introducing the day, goals and an introduction to processes, designs and tools.

We set the hall up yesterday afternoon for a midmorning start today. Photos of the setup follow.

As you can see from the couple of photos following participants were very engaged and productive. All participant made 4 or more pieces.

It was a grand and successful day. I could not have done it without Fiona's assistance - she knows so much about the tools and processes - it meant we could give participant individual attention. As I said in the title were are very happy with the outcome but we are also weary - hence the brevity of this blog post.

New workspace in full swing

 

Yesterday I got to have a really good watercolour art time at my new wee work desk in the second bedroom of the cottage. As you can see from the opening photo I can be progressing and finishing several pieces of work.

Following are some progress photos of the two commissions I've have started.

Whilst the sky background and grass foreground washes of the watercolours were drying I went back into a few other watercolours I almost finished here last time - see below.

The stone cottage ruin is now all but complete - a bit of final pen work to do.

What I love of course is that I can leave all the work out and come back at a later time when I can grab a few moments. That is not likely to happen as today (Friday) I'm packing up the tools and doing the final planning for the jewellery workshop I (with Fiona's assistance) will be holding on Sunday.

Mainly about light moments and rainbows

 

On our morning and afternoon we have been experiencing quite a few darker, cloudy and rainy times. Still even such times can offer startling skies such as on one afternoon a few days ago - see above. Though cloudy there are moments when the sea lines are strong - below.

Following are images of various rainbow moments. I say moments because literally the light and the rainbows can last but 5 minutes.

One of the benefits of moments of light and rainbows is that they can invite you to lift your eyes and enjoy the broad sky canopy.

A start and a finish

 

As a result of the Pop Up Art Show I have a couple of watercolour commissions. I have made a small start on one piece that will become an 80th birthday gift. A wee white cottage with bits and pieces along the front wall. See photo above and below.

I have also completed the sixth wee comfort bird. It just looked gorgeous with the sun shining on it through the workshop window. See images below.

Now that thePop Up Art Show is complete I hope to make a good start on my pierced recycled silver jewellery.

Atmospheric evening and the week's bits

 

I continue to be fascinated by the changing scene out the top western window of the cottage. Not only do we get to see the montbrecias and sheep grazing on the croft above - see photos below; but also the changing light at dusk-twilight such as the very dark sky last night - see opening photos.

And sheep in the crofts this morning

I continue to play with settings on the iPhone to capture the essence of some blossoms - see below.

We are fortunate to be here in the heather season which at the moment improves daily.

Of course there are other fragments to delight one.

May fragments of beauty remind us of hope.

A successful couple of days

 

It is hard to believe that the two days of the Pop Up Art Show in the Armadale Village Hall on Saturday and Sunday have come and gone. The opening photo shows the village hall and one of our bright coloured signs - we had a couple more down on the main road as well.

We enjoyed having over 60 visitors - some older friends, some new acquaintances and some folks just passing by. Lots of yarns about Fiona's and my work were had; exchanges of ideas about art; and quite a lot of our work went to new homes.

Whilst we are visitors to the area it is grand that our art and ourselves are made to feel welcome.

Some random photos of the art show set up follow.

It is always a challenge to set up the work in the big hall space on flodup tables; but it does give folk the chance to walk around and not feel crowded.

Though the art show was only over two days a lot of time and effort went into making the work, promotion, set up and clean up. Still it is a grand feeling that Fiona and I are able to share our art with our highland community.