Just finished a week on the big drawings. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah that’s better, to have finished the animation and to have got back into my comfort zone. There is something about charcoal – the most primitive and the most sensitive of materials. I also found out from a science programme on the radio that carbon was one of the first materials to appear after the Big Bang. We are made from soot and silicon. Perfect.
Now I can start on the box installations. Despite the wobbly moments I love this job.
Doug, you are a master of charcoal. I recently came across a quick sketch you’d made and thought as much. Can’t wait to see Such Stuff!
Hi Doug
I just made some willow charcoal using green willow twigs stripped of bark and trimmed to length. I put them into a dog food can and cooked them along with a chicken at 500ยบ F for about one hour. They turned out quite useful for drawing.
love your drawings!
Dear Bill – thanks for the encouragement about the drawings. Yet again you prove yourself as my companion of choice for any properly committed art trek. I love it that you not only knew how to sort out this windswept, cold, damp city boy in Quiraing when we worked in Skye you also know how to make charcoal out of a dog food tin and some sticks. Once things settle down (do they ever ?) lets talk about another trip. This project has been something of a white knuckle ride for me, as the animated film was very ambitious given my levels of skill and experience. But charcoal .. I love charcoal and it seems to quite like me as well.
Hi Doug (and Bill if you are reading this!)
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Great to hear your news. Your charcoal work is impressive! I am currently taking a breather from teaching and am concentrating on my work as Artist in Residence at Room 13 Torrin. (go to http://www.room13scotland.com and search the network for our little studio) Anyway, if ever you guys are planning a return trip to Skye we’d love for you to come and see us again! Maybe you could do a quick charcoal workshop in exchange for using the studio space……??
You know where we are……..
The horizons Doug and I shared on Skye were amazing; beautiful and important. I would love to return to Skye. The chance to do some teaching in return for some studio space is very tempting.
I second that – but this time I’ll buy a warmer sleeping bag and waterproof boots
Are there any printmaking facilities we could use on Skye ? Also lets look at making connections with existing groups, would be lovely to leave behind a suite of prints for the school. Anybody in Torrin know anybody in Edinburgh printmakers ? They always have REALLY classy shows, as well as access to fab facilities.