In Greenock

looks like eyes shut

Before the sculpture workshop started, I took to the streets and sunshine for a wee walk. Leaving on previous weeks my eye kept being attracted to a stretch of road where there had been many buildings that had housed industry, now with their windows and doors bricked up. A door but not a door.
Camera in hand, I fought with the glare of the sun to get some decent images.
Here are a few more.

love the yellow sign

big and small

red railing

skeleton factory

to be developed

near the railway

love this corner

coat hooks

There were a few more but these are the best. Difficult to take some of the shots as the best place to stand was in the middle of the road. The car drivers must have thought I was weird.

Week 7

This week I was so tired from the day before that I tried to keep things simple and not try to do too much. 3 Students today, Rhia wasn't feeling her best so had opted out of the carving, choosing to keep things going in the Art Flat.

I'd already been out that morning to move the heras fencing that someone keeps shifting. All good and then when we all went out - someone had bent the fence?!!!

They'd obviously been in, moved one of the benches and then got annoyed with the fence. Granted it was extremely windy but the wind did not do that.

To clarify, the other fence is the gate in and out of the underground garage, the door still opens past the width of the entrance and can be fixed open. Someone is apparently super annoyed but not enough that they could speak to us about it.... quite upsetting really.

slightly less bent

I moved the stone and hammered out the bend but still not right.

Apart from that, the class went well.

Alison's tree is looking tree-mendous...

and Mike began a new piece.

tree

new work

Unfortunately, the sandstone was extremely dense and hard to work so I got Mike to move on and start on another stone.

The wind made me unsettled and the unknown aggressor didn't help.

Really pleased with all the work.

Wee post-teaching adventure.

This evening after my stint at teaching stone carving to the lovely folks at Broomhill,  Greenock, I am off on a wee trip North but staying West.
Had a lovely journey up to Inbhir Aora (Inveraray) with a few stops along the way.

Loch Lomond

also Loch Lomond

again... Loch Lomond

Week 6 at Broomhill

We have a new student today!      Really pleased.

This week the stone splitting did happen, surprises all round as to the small tools that effect such a change in something usually thought of as solid and uneasily broken.

A quick drilling of 4 holes and then the feathers and wedge inserted. The length is just over 10cm and the rubber band just holds everything in place although other varieties don't have that.

Feathers and wedge

And introducing my new student, Sharon.

The ladies

Last week the guys were here and this week all ladies and no guys.
Alice's owl is now having a wee rest on the sandbags and the other side is coming into play. The red of the original paint from the flats is showing and she is keeping as much of that as possible. A tree is now being formed on this side.

Oak tree

Next week is building up to being a full house... bring it on!

Going Slow

The last few days have been a little stressful, not due to anything in particular,  but more because I've been feeling overwhelmed. The list of things needing doing has become more than a little long.

Until, I decided to cycle into town, pop into my favourite bar and hang out with some friends. It was certainly a great buzz on the way in. Passing under the Tay Road Bridge, the sun still out and the water doing it's glittery thing in the sunshine. Very lovely, even more so due to the changes along the river front as the V&A slowly grows up and out into the Tay.

Along past Slessor Gardens with a stop to stroll and view the exhibition of masks on show for Dundee Mental Health Awareness Week.

Check out some of the masks.

The way back though, inspired this post's title.

As I cycled home through the shadows and sunspots, past blossom that I had time to smell, over the rail tracks I spied this... looks old to me and probably part of railway dealings but I had never seen it before. Going slow allows a different perspective on the world and one I'm happy to have.

It's been a good day. 😀

5 Weeks in.

Today I was going to be splitting some stone to provide new pieces to work on, hoping for more students, but the weather decided against that idea - was just wet the whole time - and as there is no electric in the garage, it would have necessitated cables outside.. A definite no no.
So we just got on and chiselled away at that stone.

I'm really loving how all the sculptures are looking.
Today, no photos of the class, the room isn't changing, but plenty of the stone.

The boxer appearing

Eyes this week

Wave forming

Owl wing

More and more, I'm able to let the students just get on with their work and only a little instruction or suggestion here and there, proud of them all.

Owl

Boxer

Head

Wave

Knot

That's all for this week folks, looking forward to the next.

and week 4 has arrived

It was more of the same this week, everyone progressing really well. Fantastic to see how the sculptures are changing. So all I'm going to do is post some images.

concentrating

Jim working

Mike working

Rhia working

Angela working

knotwork

More next week.