Work emerging

                                                               Culloden the Battlefield     detail of 72"x30" oil on canvas


I've been working on other themes besides oilrigs since my return from The Cromarty Firth. 

Not far from the city of Inverness is the Culloden battlefield site, now stewarded by the Scottish National Trust.

It has a wonderful visitors centre with a very graphic exhibition of the actual battle. However, I found the explanations and assimmilated sound effects all rather overwhelming and had to make a hasty retreat!  And then I found myself, outside walking through the battlefield itself. 

It was a very miserable, cold September day with low cloud and drizzle.  The expanse of land before me was desolate and uncompromising and there was a tangible 'atmosphere' that I found depressing....I thought then, that this must have been pretty much how it felt on the day of the battle, 16 April 1746. 

I was chilled by this experience and went off to seek a pleasant, warm hotel and some tasty food.

I was suprised therefore when on my return to the studio....that this powerful image of Culloden had followed me !  I quickly started this painting a few weeks ago...the image developed very quickly but as  the paint went on very thickly I am now waiting for it to dry before continuing with its next layer.

Drawing Again

                                                         Drawing of village of Cromarty and oilrig in Firth

At last some oilrig drawings emerging. 

I have spent some weeks now considering the photographs that I took in situ and at last I have made quite a few small drawings of different rigs in different settings.  Several of these drawing are making an impact and I will take them further.  This one in particular.  So I am enlarging this to do quite a sizeable drawing.

The size of these structures in comparison to the village houses is extraordinary and often not appreciated as the rigs are often only seen in a great expanse of sea!

I have thought it could be interesting, ultimately, to put the paintings on floating alluminium.  I have ordered some small alluminium frames to experiment with.    So watch this space!

October Trip to Scotland - Cromarty Firth

                                                                 Cromarty Firth oil rig


I have just purchased a new commercial van and so decided, on the spur of the moment, that I had to take a trip North. 

I wanted to see these oil rigs in situ.   Although the weather was not conducive to making big drawings I did take loads of photos and managed some small, rather technical drawings.  These drawings help me to understand the structure of the oil rig and their 'presence' in the landscape.

This small industrial landscape around the Cromarty Firth hold some of the most contemporary iconic images of Scotland today.  Its this that I am exploring in my work.

However, this landscape is also in the shadow of Culloden and its significance to the Scottish psyche is of paramount interest as I develop this Scottish work.

The new van was great and I had such easy access to all my equipment in the back.  Its well and truly run in now!

Wirksworth Festival Sept 2012

Stone Casket i

 

I have just made a small booklet of Wirksworth Caskets linked to quotes from the novel

 'Adam Bede' by George Eliot. 

 

It is also the Wirksworth Visual Art Festival this month.  Next weekend 8/9 September is the Art Trail. 

 It is a fantastic festival to find out more look on their website.  www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk

 

I am enjoying these images, their mysteriousness and 'presence'. 

 I am also exploring their potential of being translated into site-specific work.

 

More information about the booklet will soon be available on my website:

www.sheilaghjevons.co.uk

At last painting is on the way again!

                                                      Blood and the Land  oil on Canvas

This is a detail of the larger work which is 60insx30ins.  Working in the new studio is a wonder.  Seeing all the work in progress on the wall together is having a wonderful feeling of  of images and ideas flowing around and giving a real sense of where the work is going.

Also computer has been renewed. That has taken some weeks to fully get up and running again.

What a relief!

                                                                     
                                                                    The Arrow of Time

At last some new work on the way.  This large work 5ft x 4ft has been around for several years and now complete. 

This work is taking me down a path that is exploring the importance of the contribution of culture to our human experience.  

The Arrow of Time's images of stones represent the solid foundation of artistic achievement in the present and the past.  The simple image of The Museum has crept in as a reminder that the Museum holds our treasures, ideas and artefacts.   

New Studio

 Farm Studio

Just moved into a new studio.  A great space and more room to manouvre!  It looks pristine but no doubt will fill up with pictures and paints soon. 

Really pleased to have this challenge of a bigger space and the opportunity of making some large work again.

This development has taken up a lot of time and energy in the last few weeks so eager to get back to the creative work.

The two scottish paintings are ready to be completed. And more landscape images to be started.