After a busy November, I'm finally able to turn back to Wales and that ancient mountain range, once as high as the Himalayas, that dominates my imagination.
Below is a wobbly handheld video of the 12' long drawing I made in a concertina sketchbook over a few days on Anglesey in October. This is the second of two such drawings, the other having been made in Pembrokeshire this past May. I am also reposting the earlier one, for comparison.
The outcrops on Whitesands Bay are a giant's cornucopia of thousands of rocks of all shapes and every orientation! That landscape is a feast for eyes such as mine.
Here is a still of the Anglesey rock deformations, which are calmer, more markedly horizontal, but still breathtaking to my eyes:
These drawings are made on site, frequently with strong winds whipping my hair across my eyes, my hands struggling to hold a very long, folded (and unfolding at the wrong moments) sketchbook, working fast while the conditions are right.
There weren't huge problems in Pembrokeshire, other than frequentish rain, because the beach was very deep and I didn't have to pay attention to tide times. But on Anglesey, it was quite a different story. Finding time when it wasn't raining AND when it was low tide was difficult.
I post this photo of myself having just THEN completed the drawing, in spite of the challenges of weather, tide, and limited time. My relief and happiness are evident! This was our very last day on Anglesey, thus my very last chance to finish the drawing. The weather had been forecast to be rainy, but, look, it was perfect!
Next stop on the Caledonian trail is northern Norway. Near Bodø is the dramatic outcrop pictured below, part of our mountain building event that spanned a couple of millions of years and great distances.
Big thanks to Battleboy on Flickr, who gave me permission to use his stunning photo, taken from a boat.
Brilliant Norwegian photographer Reidar Hernes lives in Bodø and is helping me research possibilities for me to be able to stand on land and draw these deformations. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
This time I will use a different drawing surface: still a concertina sketchbook, but one not as long and with bigger pages, I think.
I leave this post with two images of the two books: different, connected. We will see what awaits us in Norway.
Dear Robyn, I really appreciate your taking the time to look and relook! I look forward to seeing your own work continue to flourish and, I hope, to spending more time with you (and Karen) in the coming year!
Posted by: Laura | December 20, 2017 at 06:22 AM
Dear Laura--I had looked at this earlier but spent some time with it this morning--what a magnificent rendering of that incredible formation--and now onto your Norwegian challenge--wow, those waves of rock are simply amazing. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and experience in Norway--I really look forward to seeing your work and hearing all about it. Sending you love and art.
Posted by: Robyn Mixon | December 16, 2017 at 08:50 AM
Thank you so much, Frances! I have been inspired by your work so often. It's nice to think my work is inspiring to you in some way.
Posted by: Laura | December 07, 2017 at 08:24 AM
Inspiring!
Posted by: frances mayes | December 07, 2017 at 08:18 AM
Dear, dear Kate, you humble me. Thank you, longtime and dear and hugely talented friend.
Posted by: Laura | December 06, 2017 at 08:16 PM
Oh LORD those are gorgeous. Incredible geology...and your wonderful, bold, varied, energetic lines...
I ache to hold those sketchbooks in my hands and see the images again and again.
Posted by: Cathy Johnson (Kate) | December 06, 2017 at 07:33 PM