At the beginning of September I arrived in Stirling for a month. While my partner is doing a sabbatical at the university, I decided to treat my time here like an artist’s residency, and build up a body of work inspired by the area. Stirling is a beautiful small city, with large, gracious Victorian houses and a castle overlooking the town. It is in easy reach of both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and surrounded by lush green countryside. There is a deep sense of history, with the site of the Battle of Bannockburn when the Scots beat the English in 1314 close by and castles in easy reach in every direction, so plenty of enjoyable distractions to explore.
However, I am not interested in depicting landscape or architecture, my inspiration tends to come from the small details found in the environment, so I have been wandering around with my camera taking photos of unusual or interesting plants, leaves, berries etc that I find in people’s gardens or in the hedgerows.
When packing to come here, I deliberately limited my materials, partly because I didn’t want to be carrying a lot of extra stuff, and partly because I wanted to force myself to concentrate on just one or two mediums. So, I brought a number of different black ink pens, a selection of graphite pencils and my travelling watercolour set. I tore up a large sheet of drawing paper into 12 pieces each about 25 cm square, and that completed my kit, along with a small sketchbook to carry with me.
So, two weeks in I have completed 3 drawings, all using my Rotring EF Art Pen. It has a nice fine nib and is satisfying to hold. The three drawings are all based on plants, but all enlarged and exaggerated, no intention of botanical accuracy, there was more thought given to playing with form and texture, and building up shape with line.
anna warren portfolio 
The drawings all have the Anna Warren signature on them – especially the last one with its delicacy. Interesting to see the different (non-Australian) plants.
The cross hatching gives the drawings a feeling of fine etchings.
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It has been interesting to find plants that I can’t identify, although some (such as the rose hips) are memorable from my childhood. Using the line work has reminded me I enjoy etching – something I will be following up when I get home!
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Wonderful sensitive drawings. There is nothing like drawing from life and in the field. It’s not as comfortable as working in the studio, but your results are well worth the effort!
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Thank you! The plants weren’t entirely drawn on location, mostly just observed in their environment, then worked up back at my desk – the weather here isn’t generally conducive to working a lot out of doors. The photos I take tend to be a useful starting point, then the forms take over, and dictate how they turn out!
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Beautiful, delicately drawn creations!
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Thank you Sue, very kind!
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😀
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Very beautiful drawings. You have a really good talent for composition
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Thank you Mitza, that is a great compliment!
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Hi Anna! I haven’t seen any posts from you in a while. However, I haven’t been looking around WordPress as much as I used to either. Your drawings are always so detailed and delicate! I love your work. Wow, I can’t believe you are in Scotland! How exciting! Have fun! 🙂
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Hello Patsy! Good to hear from you – yes, I’m in Scotland, having a great time. Nice to have the opportunity for immersing myself in some drawing.
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Thanks. I was happy to see your post, too! That’s wonderful! Glad you’re having fun! I don’t imagine you go anywhere without drawing supplies, Anna! 😉
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You’re right there Patsy!
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🙂
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What a wonderful way to spend your time in Scotland. The drawings are so lovely, I have been enjoying them on your other social media, but I do enjoy catching up in the blog as I get the back story of what you are doing which always makes it so much more interesting. Karen
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Thanks Karen – I’m really enjoying working like this, limiting the media makes for a more consistent result and less to think about!
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Anna, I have been so excited to see your latest artwork, it feels so much part of your DNA – such wonderful details. In my mind its luscious and so very rich! Now the fact you are in Scotland also excites me and being so thoughtful about what you brought with you on this trip to create these beauties! Thank you for sharing, is it okay to say – please keep it coming! So very beautiful and inspirational.
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Cathe, I’m so glad you are enjoying these! I think you are right, working like this is in my DNA. Instinct takes over, even when I am not sure how the drawing will develop. I think I can safely say there will be more!
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These are wonderful…yes, I do like that etching look to them. Look forward to more.
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Thanks Janina – I am really enjoying doing these. Today I collected more ideas for new ones!
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Scotland, how wonderful. You’re having nice weather for your visit too. Such beautiful drawings
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The weather has been amazing – I brought mostly wintery clothes! But it has been wonderful for getting out and about, it’s beautiful up here.
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Lovely here in Wales as well. Autumn and Spring tend to be our best seasons
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I think they are my favourite seasons everywhere.
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How lovely Anna ! Are they crab apples … rosehips … Beautiful lines and as Julie has said the cross hatching – like etchings and show depth and form so well .Sounds like you ‘re enjoying your time very much x
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I AM enjoying my time Louise! It’s beautiful here. Yes, rose hips, but berries much enlarged rather than crab apples, but I have no idea what kind of berries, I found them spilling out of someone’s garden! xx
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These are so lovely! So much detail with a simple pen on paper. I’m looking forward to seeing the full collection once completed. Keep enjoying your days there!
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Thanks Gale – we have had several visitors come to stay with us, so not so much drawing over the last few days, but I will get back to it. I’m collecting reference photos every time I step outside!
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I love the following line in your post: “However, I am not interested in depicting landscape or architecture, my inspiration tends to come from the small details found in the environment,” And as always, I love the drawings you have shared with us. I see little people popping out of each drawing, which makes them all the more interesting for me..
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You are like me Nancy, you like the interior and detail views! I’m so pleased you can see little people – I’m working on a new drawing now and it feels too literal, so it will need a bit of a push in that direction!
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These are very beautiful
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Thank you – it had been a long time since I worked like this, and I really enjoyed it.
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Beautiful!
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Thank you!
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So many details ^_^
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Thank you!
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Full of character. The paper edges bring their own sense of realism, which adds. Really nice.
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Thank you! I enjoyed doing these drawings – looking back at them now reminds me to go back into pen and ink again.
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So beautiful and accurate. And the paper, too, delicate. Wish I had the patience more often. One truly has to be in a certain kind of mood to accomplish wonderful pieces like these. At least this applies for me… Thank you.
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I agree about being in the right mood. I do find working like this satisfying, but don’t do it so very often.
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