Moorland Road has some captivating buildings and if you look closely there are some wonderful details.
Further down from the Big House (see previous post) at no. 72, you can find this beauty – The Court House. The full title is a mouthful – Burslem’s Magistrate’s Office for the Stafforshire Potteries Stipendiary Commissioners (more on the history of what this means on The Potteries local history website here).
It quietly holds its own standing between the utilitarian electrical outlet to the right and Moorland Pottery factory shop to the left.
It is now known as The Court House and home to Turners Chartered Accountants.
This is another original drawing that’s been in hibernation in a drawer until this week. It’s now complete and available to buy from my Etsy shop. Artwork size is 22 x 27cm set in an antique white mount overall size 37 x 42cm.
I have an orange covered notebook that I began before we moved to Scotland – that’ll be six years ago this summer. I jot down some of those ideas that fly through my mind that I want to draw and I’ve noticed that most of them have been realised. Some were just plain daft but here’s one that has finally landed – the Big House in Burslem!
I made a promise to myself back in summer 2018 that I wanted to draw this and committed by sketching it out.
Since then, it’s been lying unfinished in a drawer along with others (more in future posts) until this week.
Over the past six months I’ve been preparing for and participating in a group exhibition (more about that here) which wrapped up last week. Rather than dive into new work, I feel compelled to complete all my work that is half or nearly done and have a great big clean up!
At the top of my completion list is the magnificent Big House, Burslem. It’s the earliest surviving example of a pottery manufacturer’s house, built circa 1751 for Thomas and John Wedgwood, sons of the great Josiah Wedgwood.
This has been a treat to revisit and complete and I’ve just listed the original artwork available to buy directly from my Etsy shop. It’s set in an anique white mount, overall size 30 x 40cm (12 x 16in) ready to fit a standard sized frame. The original artwork size is 19.5cm x30cm.
Look out for the next in line – another Burslem beauty!
Working back into a painting is a great way to learn about your process. Putting your work up on your wall and living with it for a while allows you to identify what you enjoy about it as well as what you think is missing. Sometimes it might be a few areas that are a bit flat and that need perking up. In this instance, I felt that my work still needed something – best summed up in that phrase ‘a bit of welly’.
Here are three of my Lanark drawings and one of New Lanark. The images below show their iterations from lockdown left to summer freedom on the right where the rainbow window posters have disappeared giving way to a townscape basking under bright summer skies.
Finials, Spires and Chimneys
These compositions began as line drawings and took on shape with colour and tone. I wrote about working into them on a previous post here, but it wasn’t long before I wanted to further strengthen the colours and bring in more of the summer skies.
Gurnin’ Dug, Castlegate– featured on the drawing ‘Provost’s Lamp’
In ‘Provosts Lamp’ below, there were a couple of little things I wanted to change. See if you can spot the differences…
Provost’s Lamp
The Provost’s Lamp is situated outside the Tolbooth Lanark where the Christmas pop-up shop is held. I’d like to pause here for a moment and remember one of the volunteers at the Tolbooth and founder member of ‘Lanark in Bloom’.
Ernest and Tom – ‘Gentlemen of the Tolbooth’
I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of Ernest Romer, seated above on the left, with his friend Tom. Here they both are in the Tolbooth, sketched on Friday 6th December 2019. He was a well-loved Lanark gentleman and my condolences to his family and friends.
Crowsteps and WeathervanesThe Wheel Turns – New Lanark
The Christmas pop-up shop opens Monday 13th December 2023 until 6th January 2024. If you are in the area, please call in and have a look around – it will be filled with handmade goodies from many local creators along with all of the paintings above.
Christmas shop from several years ago with work by Nikki Lambi and Stephanie Whatley of Biggar Glass
Juicy tangerine and tomato skies celebrate this Scottish town’s tenth Jam and Ham Festival. The ONESpace Community Hub is now filled with original arts and crafts and on display until Saturday 30th September.
So, here are the remaining four of my ten sketches of Carluke’s townscape.
Kona Coffee House CarlukeParish Council Chambers, CarlukeHugh Black and SonsPaper Box Carluke
As you can tell, I enjoy the roofscapes, gables, finials and turrets that make up the character of Scottish towns. One other thing that is particular to Carluke is that it is known as a ‘town called Courage’. It was the home town of three courageous service men who were awarded the Victoria Cross, a high proportion for a town of its size.
I will close with a few images of the framed originals, prints and cards which are now part of the sale of work at the OneSpace Community Hub.
There’s an annual festival held in the town across the river from here – the Carluke Jam and Ham Festival which celebrates Carluke’s history, musical traditions and food manufacturing within the town. This is its 10th year Anniversary and a great nudge for me to draw some of the townscape.
‘Corner View’ 12x12cm in 28 x 28cm frame
There will be an open art exhibition held in the ONESpace Community Hub at 76 High Street, Carluke from Friday 15th September to Sat 30th September 2023.
‘Occasions’ 12 x12cm in 28x28cm frame
I’ve drawn ten different views of the townscape, all small drawings on paper no more than 15x15cm. All ten original sketches will be framed and for sale although there is a limit to three which will go up in the exhibition.
‘Clarks the Baker’ 15 x 15 set in 32 x 32cm frame
These are the first six sketches; the rest will follow in the next post.
‘Roof Tops’ 15 x 15cm set in 32 x 32cm frame‘Wee Gap’ 10 x 14cm set in 23 x 28cm frame
Those walkers and map readers who might have stumbled onto this page may know about Major-General William Roy – and his masterpiece ‘Roy’s Map of Scotland’ – well he was born in Carluke, in 1726. It was thanks to his ground breaking work that we now have the Ordnance Survey maps today.
Roy probably used a quill for drawing his maps – metal dip pen nibs came into wider circulation in the 1820s. I still love using mapping pens for drawing!
‘Optical Express’ 10 x 14cm set in 23 x 28cm frame
Late last month (April 2023) I hopped on the bus to London.
Leaving Hamilton, just south of Glasgow early-ish on Sunday I was in Golders Green, North London by dusk. This is my second trip by National Express Coach (Avanti train service had engineering works and planned disruptions); this option worked for me.
I like the time spent on a road trip when someone else is driving. It gives me a chance to read, think, look out the window, sketch and sleep. It was also convenient being only a short drive at either end.
There are brief stops at various towns along the route – just enough time to make a quick sketch of what is in view and add some colour.
Stone remains of a castle at Penrith
It’s surprising what you can capture in a few minutes…
Blast of yellow daffs growing at Tebay ServicesCoach to London – rest break in Birmingham
So here’s the reason I’m in London – to look after this wee chappie!
The wee boy himself
Not to mention a great opportunity to see family and friends and just lose myself in London life.
Tiny sketches from the top of the 43 bus to Highbury and IslingtonFresh blossoms on a shrub outside St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Holloway Rd
Sketching my favourite time of day in London – when there’s a pause in the bustle, a glow in the sky and the crows settle down for the end of the day.
View of Windsor Road ‘The moment between the bustle of the day and the London Klaxon night‘On my way to see the exhibition at the Tate Modern – Hilma Af Klint and Piet Mondrian – fantastic! Back to the beginning…Golders Green and heading NorthBirmingham streetscape from the Upper Crust at the Coach Station
It was wonderful to have a week in London but I’m always happy to be home again.
Things have been quiet here on this blog so far this year as my attention has been on taking my artwork in a new direction…following the call of our orchard and a year of Professional Development at Paintbox School of Art. If you are on Instagram, you can see what I’m up to @ronniecruwysart …I’m nose down getting a body of work ready for a group exhibition at the Dovecot in Edinburgh
#Inktober is an Instagram challenge to draw daily in ink throughout the month of October. Last year, I took part and drew a series of some 25 vignettes focussed on Lanark. Some of these were framed and went off to be sold at the Tolbooth Christmas pop-up shop. Â Â I really enjoyed drawing these on watercolour paper prepared with a thin wash of warm yellow ochre.
From Castlegate towards Broomgate
With the recent cold weather/strikes etc, a lot of my plans for the busiest time of year have gone adrift so I’ve begun to sort through a pile of past work including these wee Inktober sketches of Lanark.
Part of Castlegate, Lanark
Not only have we just been through a sharp cold snap, but we’re in the darkest time of year here in the Northern Hemisphere. I was thinking how the recent fiery skies were such an uplifting shot of colour.
View towards Lanark from Hazelbank, late Autumn skies.
I decided to see how the Inktober sketches would look if I added the hottest cadmium red to the sky as a flat block of colour and then simply to respond with other colours working over the ink studies as underpaintings.
Here are the first of the results.
‘Smug Dug’ – formerly known as the Girnin Dug of Castlegate
More will follow as I play and experiment with these lovely gouache paints. It feels good to try something different.
Red Skies over Greyfriars Church, Lanark
Having embarked on a year of Professional Development with Paintbox School of Art, it’s becoming second nature to look at past work with fresh eyes, whether it was done a few weeks ago or a few years.
Castlegate, Lanark
Sometimes, I’m still happy with the work and sometimes I think ‘What if I changed one thing?’ Or, ‘This all seems a bit flat, how can I perk it up?’
Old St Kentigern’s Lanark under Indigo Skies
These drawings were all made on thick, 300gsm Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper and the ink lines are waterproof. If I don’t like the results, this paper will stand up to a tap washing the gouache off. I can press the drawings flat and work over them again. Or use them for studies for paintings. Or cut them up for collage. It really frees me up to experiment and discover new ways of working.
Most of these are now framed and available to buy from the Tolbooth Lanark; (Castlegate will be framed and at the Tolbooth next week). The rest will be available to buy from my Etsy shop as fresh stock for the New Year or if you see something you like, just get in touch – they are all originals and priced between £60-£95.
Thank you all for spending the time with me over here and I wish you and yours a happy, peaceful and loving Christmas/Season of Light and all the very best for a creative and fulfilling New Year.
Flask on board the 8.01 Carluke to Glasgow Central train
I like to think that I always have time for a brew – a tea, coffee, whatever’s going. Either taking some time for a chat with a friend, family, stranger or just chatting to myself.
I made a few sketches whilst on a recent field trip to the Burrell Collection, in Glasgow (part of my Professional Development year with Paintbox School of Art) and smiled when I reflected on some of the subjects that had caught my eye, especially since the building is a work of art and there are hundreds of outstanding artifacts.
Kyathos cup c530-510BC – Burrell Collection
This hand-sized Kyathos cup with its elongated handle reaches back 2,500 years. I love the imagery of the winged horse and the all-seeing eye that decorate the outside. This beautiful, useful object has survived millenia to connect me with someone in ancient Greece who also enjoyed a beverage.
What caught my sketching eye next was this soft leather gauntlet, showing the creases and folds of the hand that once worked with falcons.
The upper part of the glove was meticulously hand-embroidered with brambles and mistletoe – symbolising healing and life.
Here we are back on the beverage theme again and this Worcester porcelain teapot, tea bowl and saucer from c1750-8.
A well-placed bench helped me to decide on my next subject. Numerous historic architectural features are built into the fabric of the gallery walls or placed as part of the overall display. This limestone French window built between 1440-1550 is one of a pair facing opposite each other.
I’m going to have to return to the Burrell as this contains a feast of art that should be savoured.
I paused for a moment in front of this one….
Edmond Duranty, deep in thought, painted by Edgar Degas – you can see the painting here. A brief extract from this link descibes:
August is the month when I like to complete unfinished work or perk up drawings or paintings that I think are just missing something.
I’ve had four framed drawings of Lanark townscape packed away but during a recent sort I brought them back into my studio.
‘The Wheel Turns’ – New Lanark
I really enjoyed putting these compositions together. I had only planned on doing the one at first, but there are so many interesting details in Lanark’s townscape that I ended up with four different layouts including New Lanark.
The thing that bothered me about these drawings was that they were locked into lockdown time when windows were decorated with rainbows in support of key workers. The images captured an expression of hope at that time but right now I want to look forwards.
All four images have been scanned at a high resolution and I have these on the record so I decided to take the paintings out of their own lockdown. I removed them from their frames and decided to free the rainbow colours from the windows and move the colour elsewhere on the drawings.
Inking up to pull out the forms
I’ve been looking at ways to take my street drawings in a new direction and I’ve really enjoyed searching out architectural elements and details and forming these compositions.
Skyscape over Lanark
I wrote a post about this change in work here when I responded to the call for entries to enter a local art competition here in Lanark.
Drawing removed from the frame ready to start work
Back to the task in hand. Having taken the artwork out of the frames I began by lifting off the rainbows (gouache paint so water soluble) and reinstate the dark blue and build up contrasts.
Finials, Spires and Chimneys
Looking at each painting in turn, I gradually introduced a range of blues. The colour pops of reds, oranges and yellows brought the warm spectrum colours out into the streetscape.
Revitalised drawings together before being reframed
I worked on these during our recent hot spell so I went for that sun-drenched, blue-skies and flaming chimneys look!
Here they are, back in their frames, refreshed and revitalised!
‘The Wheel Turns’ New Lanark
Crowsteps and Weathervanes
Finials, Spires and Chimneys
Provost’s Lamp
Set of four signed cards, 5x7inches.
The artwork and cards are all available to buy and shown together here on my main website.
Drawing the Street 