Simon's Blog

I have just watched the programme on Scottish portrait painters presented by Peter Capaldi and it sent me back to my day in Edinburgh just two weeks ago. I had hoped to go and see the Scottish Portrait Gallery whilst we were there but unfortunately it was closed for refurbishment and this some what clouded my visit. In truth it really spoiled the day as the same exhibition that was included in the Scottish National Gallery did’t really make up for this.

So since I have been back I have been busying myself with my historical research and the truth is I can very easily get totally engrossed with history and I think that has what has happened over the past week. Hours can fly by looking at old maps and trying to work out what went where when. So I have decided to try and rain back on this and get back to making some drawings. Whilst I was away I realised that the only type of drawing that I really enjoy making is portraiture, there really is something fascinating about the human face. I suspect that this might also have something to do with my photographic career as a result of which I am able to create interesting landscape photographs. But there is something about the drawn or painted face that is something special, it may well be the interaction of two people, the craft in making the object I really don’t know. This is not to say that photographic portraits aren’t fascinating it is just that they don’t have the same resonance that a drawing or painting has.

So back to grind of working on the technique and craft of drawing – this is something I enjoy and hate at the same time. Like other crafts the more you do it the easier it gets and the easier it gets the harder it seems as you try and improve.

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