A Sunday in St. Abbs

I haven't had many opportunities to paint landscapes, but last month, my host mumsies invited me to turn one of their favourite photographs into a painting. What I learned from this experience is that I need to paint more landscapes because they can be very challenging.

My host mumsies were so generous to my Whitney Houston-loving-host brother and me. Here's a snapshot of Nat, Patty, and Michael!

They toted us all over the place and we had so many outings. Some of the remarkable places they took us to feel imaginary now. I was pinching myself the entire time we walked the winding way of St. Abbs in Berwickshire located on the south east coast of Scotland. You see, this was not an everyday occurrence in Scotland if you did not own a car. Patty and Nat had a car, so this scenic escapade became a reality for Michael and me.

This settles it, I seriously do not see enough sheep in the States. They are such characters.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I regret not having a picnic along these cliffs. Maybe if I get another opportunity to go overseas, I'll know how to seize the moment.

 I'm obsessed with the Prussian Blue of that North Sea! SO gorgeous!

This is no mere screen saver, folks! 

 I feel like I looked like Bilbo Baggins heading off on an adventure in this one. I was told by a bus driver that the yellow shrubs to my left are known as "Aya-Aya" bushes because when someone walks into them, you can hear them cry "AYE-A! AYE-A!!" due to the plentiful thorns. They were beautiful, but you couldn't pay me to run into them.
I am so thankful that I had such a loving host family during my studies abroad. What an amazing experience! If Patty and Nat ever read this, THANK YOU!!!!

Shady Shadshaderson

This pet portrait was commissioned by one of my "roomies" while I was in Scotland. We both missed our dogs terribly. How could you not miss this little guy? Just look at this face! He's so cute that I find it hard to believe that she didn't hop on a plane and fly home at just the thought of him! I was really excited that she asked me to paint Shady as a gift for her father.

I had such a blast!

"Just let the boy water your plants!"

And, here's the proud recipient holding my pint sized model!

Thanks for another great opportunity to paint, Sharon!

For more information on my Pet Portraits by LaPine Design click here.

More places...

Can you believe I keep on finding more of these! In a way these are a continuations of The Travelling Wilbury post because they were all taken when I was in the U.K. I'll do my best to label the locations. Here goes nothing!

Kensington Palace, London, England a.k.a. Will and Kate's.

 

This was at a group of standing stones in central Scotland.

Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland

The Highlands of Scotland, probably in the magical faerie glens.

Base on my shoe and tight combo, I'm going to guess this was at The British Museum in London

 

I think this was at the National Gallery in London, but I could be wrong.

Maybe the Lake District or St. Andrews. This could have also been at Stirling Castle or Linlithgow Palace 

Inveraray, Argyle, Scotland

St. Andrews, Scotland?

In the Quiraing Mountains, I believe...

This was taken from the tree house restaurant at Alnwick Castle.

And this was taken in the garden at the House for Art Lovers...or was it the Art House for Lovers? Either way, I was in Glasgow, Scotland when I took this one. Aren't those purples phenomenal?

 

I apologize for being so vague. My memory is already fleeing me.

 

For other posts like this you can check out On the Street Where You Live and Oh, the places I have been. This world is filled with so many interesting people in all these remarkable places, that I can't wait to see where my feet land next.

Artwork Inspired by the Palace of Dalkeith

 

I'm chomping at the bit because a few of my recent projects cannot be shared yet, so in the meantime, I'll continue to share my articulated book and other stories from Scotland with you.

 

There was a stoic painting of a gentleman and his dog along the staircase. I really liked the obese dog at the man's feet. I even wrote a poem about it.

"Between Two Floors" by Jana LaPine

If you’re looking to travel from the first floor to the ground

I suggest the Grand Staircase, for it’s the finest around

With tartan clad steps and four windows cloud high

‘Tis a sight to behold for all who pass by

But if you’re not careful you’re likely to pass

Through some ancient portal into centuries past

See that cracked, oil painting trapped in a gold frame
 
That features a gentleman of reputable fame

Well, there by his side sits his trustworthy Corgi

A pudgy wee pup that the townsfolk called Georgie 

I’ve heard it been said, if you stare for too long

At that droopy-eyed dog, you won’t know that you’ve gone

Then the music will swell, you’ll ask, “Did I hear that before?”

While you stand there perplexed, guests will pour through the door 

All dressed in the latest fashions from Paris

Tuxedos with tails and gowns that drape at the knee        

You’ll quickly decide to hide within a dark spot on the wall

As couples ascend the wide stairs at the end of the hall

It would seem that some lavish event’s taking place

As bodies flock to the ballroom as if it’s a race 

Yet, this bodes well for you in some ways, I’ll admit.

For as the Marble Hall empties, you’ll be able to sit

As you sit and observe, you’ll find the Duke is still there

As marble as ever, with his vacant, blank stare

And, the gold chandelier, still incandescent and bright

Glows as if it was made to shine just for this night

 But ever so quickly the light flickers out

And you’ve suddenly returned to your decade, no doubt.

For the music has stopped and a chill fills your spine

Then you see that your classmates have fallen into a line

Outside of the servery, dinner’s moments away

And you’re faced with the question, “So, how was your day?”

 You begin tell them of your journey, but opt to decline

Instead, your secret stays safe with Georgie, the canine.

 

Here is the original painting if you are curious:

Here is the detail of a frame I thought I'd sketch. It's annoying to observe how little I actually sketched. Once the essay assignments started rolling in, my sketching significantly decreased. If my memory serves me right, these were all sketched within my first 2 weeks of living in Scotland.

This is a sketch of a room that was a lot more grand in person. It could have been used as a model room for the animated version of "Beauty and the Beast."

This is a 3 part collage. It includes a light from the grand staircase and the fat Corgi that I am so fond of. Also, the background is the marble cape worn by the Duke of Wellington who guards the servery 24/7.

A similar chandelier hangs in the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

 One of many fireplaces in the Palace.

Here's the Duke again. He was more handsome in person.

I guess I've been reminiscing about Scotland all day today. It's tough to think that I can't just teleport there to relive the experience.

The United Kingdom Experience

You should know, I am so overwhelmed by all the photographs I took overseas. I know I've said that before. I have so many story to tell, but there are just too many pictures. I'm talking at least 10,000. How is that even possible. I have about 1,000 in each folder...and there are easily over 10 folders.

It's just a lot to sort out.

Anyways, I thought I'd just switch things up a bit and start sharing my first hand experience as it was occurring. In other words, I'll share my not-so-personal diary for those who are interested. (And naturally, I'll be commentating in parenthesis because I won't be able to resist the opportunity to make fun of myself.)

"January 12th, 2013

It's strange to think that this upcoming trip has the potential to strip me from my identity as an anglophile. It could be ruinous.  I must embrace the possibility that England will sorely let me down thus concluding that Las Vegas is really the most illustrious place on Earth.

I could come back and have an affinity for casino culture and an obsessive penchant for playing powerball.  Forget about books and literary locales.  Who needs books when there are magic tricks to learn.

January 30th, 2013

The day has arrived.  I must endure my dreaded fear of travelling via plane with the reward of dwelling (haha) in Great Britain for a nice chunk of time.

Yet...we're not off to a good start when there is a winter storm between me and the UK. And, you know it's a bad sign when they attach a moniker to the severe weather. This one happens to be called Magnus. What a brute.

It's windy here in Duluth, MN...and I feel quite frazzled.  I'd like to spritz my hair right about now. It's amazing what a crutch it has become. (haha-I had to pack my cherished hair spray supply for fear that they would throw it out at the security check point. Believe it or not, this stressed me out like you wouldn't believe. I even tried to calculate how many bottles I would need while I was over there.Okay, so 18 spritzes a day x 97 days...)

My agenda for the plane ride

-read Patty's directions again
-go through Great Britain Tour Book with highlighter
-consider what to draw, the purpose behind my subject matter.
-read a lot.

(I accomplished NONE of these on the plane. Instead I watched Hotel Transylvania twice and counted down the mileage the rest of the way.)

I already feel nauseous and I haven't even boarded.

January 31st, 2013

Our plane is hovering above England as I write.  Just a tad south of Liverpool.  It hasn't sunk in yet.  It feels like it is just a map.  I am anxious to get to the train.  I have a horrid feeling the ride on the Tube is going to be an utter nightmare.  I struggled to get one bag up a flight of stairs--I can imagine what a dreadful sight it will be for onlookers.  It's still so dark. I was hoping to see England in the light of day. But beyond my window, it is sheer darkness! --TURBULENCE--UGH

First impressions in this strange unfamiliar land.  Our plane flew into London while it was still night--I liked that my first introduction to the city was in the manner of Mary Poppins or Peter Pan.  There were even dark cotton ball clouds that you could just picture M. P. sitting atop.
People are really quiet.  I feel like a bull in a china shop with my two ginourmous suitcases. So bogged down by them and my sinfully heavy backpack. There are posters all around and styles that are inspiring me already. The tube was longer than I thought and I was shocked by the absence of conversation.

I LOVE everyone's accents. I don't even want to talk & just find one person to tell me their life story and then translate everything I say to make it sound elegant (That doesn't make ANY sense!)

I feel so greasy--my hair is all sweaty. I was just drenched while I went through customs. (Maybe because I was wearing a huge sweater!) I keep on trying to spy people I would know, no one has talked to me for awhile--The light is starting to come out. Such high style here--Reminds me of Nashville in that way (hahahah okay?) I feel like a bag lady. Just disgusting.

I NEED to see Macbeth if McAvoy is in it.  HOLY CRAP! THAT'S HAPPENING!"

(Of course, I'll write more about my trip soon)

"Hollowed Out"

"...inside: waterproof matches, iodine tablets, beet seeds, protein bars, NASA blanket, and, in case I get bored, Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone. No, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Question: did my shoes come off in the plane crash? "-- Dwight K. Schrute

This is a page from my articulated book which I will be showing you more of, I assure you. I even included a fishing lure from a fly fishing outting. Can you believe that!? I actually went fly fishing in Scotland. Of course, I was a natural at catching anything other than fish. I spent the entire time trying to untangle my line from the bushes behind me and almost snagged a duck. Still, I liked how the lure looked with the rest of the page so I used it.

 This man is named Henry.  He's got one of those thick Scottish accents that I would struggle to understand (think Grounds-Keeper Willie) especially if it was before 9AM when I would occasionaly have kitchen duty. I'm inept as it is in the kitchen, so throwing a Scottish accent in the mix only made matters worse. If you were in Henry's company for more than 5 minutes, there were pretty good odds that he'd share an off coloured joke with you. Not only did he make delicious food like (Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with Stags Breath Whisky Sauce...mmmm), he created the most ornate garnishes (like swans out of lemons and palm trees out of carrots). They were stunning and I would constantly kick myself for not bringing my camera to dinner more often.

To our surprise, Henry is not only skilled in the culinary arts, but he was a champion fisherman once upon a time. I asked him if he's ever seen the movie, "A River Runs Through It." And he said, "Aye, and it's better than sex."  The day we all went fishing, Henry spent most of his time trying to help the Americans to catch one fish. And do you think we could do it?!?! NOPE! We just caught branches and gave up. "American girls."

I drew a picture of him because it was one of our art assignments and he joked that he was going to hang it over his fireplace. Hahaha. That would be hilarious especially when he's wearing a hairnet in the portrait. Nevertheless, I'm glad he even wanted it. Here's our wall of Henrys on display for our in house art exhibit.

 

And here's a shot of me in action trying to follow Henry's instructions. I thought I'd include it because it looks legit, but you know what would be really legit...IF I ACTUALLY CAUGHT A FISH!

In the end, my only souvenier was the chartreuse feathery fly that Henry let me cut from my line.