Girl with camera

My latest coloured pencil drawing

Walking in Glasgow

I spent the day in Glasgow yesterday. First I went to have a look at Martyr's School, which was one of the first buildings designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. I've passed by it in the bus often, but this was the first time that I'd seen the building close up. Although it's not as spectacular as his other buildings, there are some interesting details. I may make an appointment to see inside the building sometime in the future. I was surprised to find out that Charles Rennie Mackintosh had been born very close to the site of this building, and there is a plaque commemorating this.

I had a quick look at the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, which I'd visited before, on my way to the People's Palace and Winter Gardens. In front of the People's Palace is the Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world.

Near the People's Palace is the former Templeton's Carpet Factory, which is currently being converted for housing. It's a spectacular building with details in terracotta and blue mosaic tiles, and is based on the Doge's Palace in Venice.

Old art - Lochmaben

I'm tidying up my portfolio (which contains mostly art from the last few years) and decided to also tidy up my art folder, which is full of my older drawings and paintings. I came across more than ten pictures of the same place, Lochmaben, where we went on caravan holidays during my teenage years. I also have numerous sketchbook pages full of drawings of swans, coots, cormorants, and people in rowing boats, all drawn at Lochmaben.

Meeting up with Miki

One of my friends from last year's art college course, Miki from Kyoto, is taking some courses at ECA again this year, so we decided to meet up. We walked to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, where we had something to eat in the cafe, then we looked at the artworks upstairs. We walked around the "Landform" in the grounds and took photos there, then crossed the road to the Dean Gallery where we took photos of the sculptures outside including one made of mirrors.

Inside the Dean Gallery we had a look at the recreation of Eduardo Paulozzi's studio, which I always love to look at, and at an exhibition of artists' books by Joan Miro. Then we went upstairs to a photography exhibition entitled "Foto: Modernity in Central Europe 1918-1945". It was fun to look around the galleries with Miki as usually I go there by myself.

Afterwards we walked back to Princes Street and ate ice cream. I showed Miki inside Jenners department store as she had not been there before. We said goodbye at the bus station but we will see each other again before Miki goes back to Japan.

Thank you for a lovely day, Miki, and for the lovely presents from Japan!

Girl in orange - nearly finished

This is almost finished now - all I have to do are her hands. I'm not completely happy with it, but there are bits of it I like.

Oystercatcher chicks

Every year ostercatchers nest on the roof at work. This year there are two chicks which hatched last week. They are really seabirds but they nest here even though it is about six miles from the sea.

Girl in orange

My latest drawing in progress.

Cicada

This cute little pottery cicada was on a bag of Herbes de Provence.

Lavender bags

I was asked if I could make some lavender bags from some lavender brought back from France. Here's what I've made so far.

Presents from France

Thank you P and C for the lovely presents. I used some of the herbs in a prawn and butternut squash paella this evening and I look forward to using the perfumed wipes (especially the cherry blossom ones!).