Carlton Moore Park I

I have been exploring the illustrations in the newly digitized children's books in the Baldwin Library of History seeing what treasures there are and exploring the evolution of children's literature.

An Alphabet of Animals written and illustrated by Carlton Moore Park published in 1899.
Carlton Moore Park (1877-1956) was a Sottish painter, illustrator, and teacher who studied at the Glasgow School of Art between 1893 and 1897 under Francis Newbery. He emigrated to America in 1910 and was renowned for his animal studies and here are some from this particular book., stunning etchings with aquatint.

Lil Neilson

On Monday I took time out to visit a Eduardo Alessandro Studios in Broughty Ferry on the advice of a good friend, to see an exhibition by Lil Neilson.

Lil Neilson (1938-1998) was born in Kirkcaldy and raised in Kinross. She attended Duncan of Jordanstone Art College in Dundee. after graduating she was awarded a residency at Hospitalfield where she met and became friends with Joan Eardley (a visiting tutor) who introduced her to the coastal town of Catterline, which became one of her favourite places to paint

Tom Wilson II

Tom Wilson's work is documentation and meticulous observation from nature and from gathered natural findings. His house holds the makings of a fantastic museum of bird pellets, hides, bones, skulls, nests and other untold and unspeakable treasures, that hopefully will one day be available to everyone through a museum or series of books.

Cupping Circles

A tiny adventure made magical by catching up with a good friend and the gift of his wisdom and knowledge. Above: are some images from a sand stone cliff in Ayr of Cupping circles, prehistoric marks on the rock, Below: some beautiful lichen. 

Tom Wilson is incredibly knowledgeable about everything but especially natural history and geology so it is fantastic to spend time with this wonderful man and get a glimpse of his world. 

Kyle Noble

Kyle Nobel has been working with our students on the Young Curators Project for two years now. Kyle is enthusiastic and fun and they love the adventures that he takes them on.
 Last week he took a small group to visit is studio in Edinburgh where he showed them the 'bare bones' of what it is like to be an artist. These are his works on various skulls which form part of his Meikian Project,  'relics' from his fictional prehistory. They reminded me of the book 'The Last Giants' by Francois Place.

Barbara Rae II

Today I am sharing a Painting and Monotype by Barbara  Rae. Barbara Rae has work included in this years VAS exhibition (not pictured) it is glorious to see works by Barbara in the flesh as the colours are so vibrant and iridescent plus the scale and quality of the painting is awe inspiring. Do try to either see Barbara Rae's work at VAS, The Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh before the exhibition closes at the end of February.

Kelly-Anne Cairns

Kelly-Anne Cairns is a figurative artist from Lancaster, who graduated from Gray's Art College Aberdeen in 1999. 
 "I manipulate the figure and its surroundings by exploring the contrasts between the angular shapes surrounding the figure and the soft contours of the body." Kelly-Anne Cairns