June 6th, 2010 Doug
Recently, after much deliberating, I purchased a digital SLR camera. I’ve often used photographs as part of my collecting and researching, but until now have never taken it very serious, preferring to sketch instead.
As well as recording and collecting for my art work, I’ve found myself enjoying taking photographs of a variety of subjects, and I’ve been looking for a way to use them. I’ve always enjoyed photography (my original college training, what seems a very long time ago!) and often find myself seeing good photo opportunities.
After a recent discussion about the merits of a disciplined approach to taking pictures with artist and photographer Alastair Cook, I’ve set up an online journal with Blipfoto. The website allows you to upload one photograph per day which will, hopefully, encourage me to keep looking for interesting subjects to record.
Click on the photograph below to link to my Net Mender Studio Journal. I’ll be posting new images on a regular basis, and will use my Facebook and Twitter pages to promote them. Hope you enjoy the pictures!
By the way, for anyone who is interested, the camera is a Nikon D90.
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June 3rd, 2010 Doug
Back on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh again for day two of the Scottish Poetry Library residency. One of the great aspects of doing this has been the opportunity to meet and talk with artists, poets and musicians who’s work I admire.
Two of early visitors were photographer, filmmaker and architect Alastair Cook, and musician, photographer and creator of the award winning People and Songs of the Sea, Shona McMillan.
Alastair has recently been artist-in-residence at Timespan in Helmsdale, and has produced some stunning images of the north-east coastline. He has also been collaborating with Italian composer and cellist Luca Nasciuti on several films. Follow this link to view more of Alastair’s superb work on his website.
Every now and then you meet a real kindred spirit, and Shona McMillan fits that description. Her passion for all things concerning the coast and its fishing communities is infectious and refreshing. Her enthusiasm and dedication was rewarded recently with an award for her People and Songs of the Sea CD, which has also received much acclaim in America and Canada. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Shona on a future exhibition project concerning the fisher folk and coastal communities of Scotland, and the diaspora.
Other welcome visitors to the exhibition were Shetland poet Christine De Luca, and Edinburgh photographer Chris Scott. Christine has recently allowed me to use several of her new poems to create art works, and I hope to be showing the completed works in the next exhibition in September. Her poems have taken my work off into a different direction, focusing on the more abstract and musical aspects of linking art and poetry. It has been exciting and challenging working with her texts, and I hope the images do justice to the excellent poetry and sit well alongside them.
I’m now heading back to the studio to develop more collaborative works inspired by the writing of some of our finest poets. These pieces are probably the most challenging for me, as I feel privileged and honoured to be allowed to use these words to kindle new images and ideas. But, rather than being merely illustrations of the work, I strive to create works that will sit alongside the poems as new interpretations of the themes.
Over the next few months I will be in the company of many fine poems, and hopefully, will be producing work which will do justice to them. I’ll be posting images of these new work as they develop. I would like to send a warm thank you to everyone who took the time to visit the exhibition at the Scottish Poetry Library, and especially to Andrew Philip for his continuing support and friendship.
Many thanks also go to the staff of the SPL for their warm welcome and hospitality, with special thanks going to Julie Johnstone, Peggy Hughes and Robyn Marsack.
Twa Poets - Andrew Philip and Robert Fergusson, outside Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh.
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June 1st, 2010 Doug
Good first day of the residency at The Scottish Poetry Library, developing and drawing the ideas for the poems of Kenneth White.
The drawings, for texts including Brandan’s Last Voyage, Late August On The Coast, and Scotia Deserta, will be used to illustrate the next issue of Soylesi Uc Aylik Siir Dergisi, the Turkish edition of the Conversation International Poetry Project Journal, along with the photographs of Marie-Claude White.
Working up on the mezzanine floor surrounded by a wealth of poetry was very conducive to producing good sketches. The people of Edinburgh (and the wider community of Scotland) are very fortunate to have such an excellent resource on their doorstep. Combine that with the nearby and equally superb National Library of Scotland, and you have enough to keep any would-be bibliophile very happy!
The day was made all the more enjoyable by visits from sculptors Angela and Brunton Hunter, and poets Rob A. Mackenzie and Andrew Philip.
Looking forward to Day 2, and working on the finished drawings for Brandan’s Last Voyage and Low Tide at Landrellec.
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