Once a year, my oldest friends and I spend a long weekend together. This year we stayed in a beautiful house in Spean Bridge and explored the area. We’ve known each other since school – a few of us were at nursery together – and wherever we go, it feels like home.
We first decided to arrange these trips to celebrate our 30th birthdays. Some of us had married, had kids, moved away from Orkney. It felt important to make the time so that life didn’t slip away, so that time didn’t pass with no contact, so that we could support each other through times that were sometimes not so easy. It is our 45th birthdays this year and this trip was as fun as the first one we organised. I’d like to say we were ‘older and wiser’ but think that would be a white lie! Just as much laughter and being daft as we had as bairns.
Surrounded by Scotlands amazing landscape, with people that are just comfy and giving dedicated time for each other meant we all returned home a little lighter.
These trips are great for reflecting. Visiting Steall Falls reminded me of an Art College trip made in my late teens with Molly, another trip here while on honeymoon with Keith and then again with the kids when they were peedie. Each trip being amazed by the smoothly shaped boulders in the gorge, the view of the falls when the glen opens out and the excitement of crossing the wobbly wire-bridge. Standing next to the falls – which are the third highest in Scotland – is totally refreshing.
Time is something that I think about a lot, think most artists do? Time given to others, time passed. How long artwork takes to make, the thinking involved. How long paintings take to dry and deadlines that need to be met.
Since Teebro at The Scottish Gallery, time in the studio has been a little disjointed. Life is busy. After a trip to Rackwick in Hoy, I looked out some canvas boards (that had been stored for years) and began retracing steps with my paint brush. This is the start of a larger series that I will continue to work on over the coming months. The first paintings after creating a large collection can be difficult, somehow these just appeared, which has been really helpful. Opening up new ideas and continuing to develop thought processes. These are small scale. A comforting size, reminding me of the comfort, quiet and solitude of being in Rackwick walking through the brown heathery valley and hills.
Soulisquoy Printmakers has also been keeping me busy – creatively and in a Governance capacity. We are currently coming to the end of our two year Creative Scotland funded project ‘Thinking Ahead’. What an amazing two years it has been. Increased participation, brilliant projects delivered and a full programme offering printmaking to a wide range of people in our community. Our annual summer exhibition is just around the corner. This year, it will be held at The Pier Arts Centre. I am currently waiting for my small edition of five to dry, contemplating if it needs another layer or if it should be just as it is – simple with a focus on colour and mark making, light and movement. I will decide tomorrow when in Stromness.
Yesterday orders for new materials were placed – new brushes, paints and surfaces to work on. Living in Orkney, availability to art supplies can be limited and time is required to find what is needed online. Delivery has to be considered – time wise and cost. I have been putting off placing an order, timing it to save on delivery charges by making sure enough is ordered to last a good while. I came up against a bit of a hurdle when realising my usual suppliers stopped supplying large scale canvases (due to astronomical delivery charges), luckily a plea on Socials resulted in a new supplier being recommended. Keeping everything crossed the large canvases arrive safely, are high quality and will be just the thing.
One last thing. Keith often says “the days are long but the years are short”. Sometimes saying like this can feel a bit stupid but this one, I quite like. This photo of the kids taken in the hills was from over 10 years ago and it feels like a blink.
Time, it’s a funny old thing.
Laura Drever 