After the congestion of the celidh scene in Mackays, I felt the mural really needed a clean central figure. I wanted the bar to feel like it pulsed to the beat, and I love to paint music into a mural, it adds to the energy and makes it wriggle with life.
The bodhran player here is modelled by George Rendall, a cousin of mine and lead singer of the fabulous scottish bluegrass band the ‘Turkey Smokers’, delighted to make them a fixture on the royal mile.
They are at the top of the celidh, setting the tone.
The first time we collaborated was when I painted Tam O Shanter a decade ago. They recorded a musical version and George posed as Tam for the mural.
I love that this has come full circle a decade later.
The Turkey smokers do a fabulous set at the Ensign Ewart at the top of the Royal Mile every Thursday eve. Book a table for a great night
@#bodhran #scottishmusic #commercial #scottish #projects
The heart of my celidh scene is an Orcadian strip the willow. I think the best dance - and the right shape to help bring a little order to the chaos.
The mural is tall and thin, perfect for a row of lads, a row of lassies and whirling melee inbetween!
#celidh #celidhdancing
#Tartan
#projects #orcadianstripthewillow #scottishparty
It’s been fun while it lasted - but the big Unicorn galloping over North Bridge I painted in collaboration with @purshone and @lubilykan will be coming Down in the next few days.
The renovations on the bridge are progressing and the hoarding is shrinking.
Thought I’d post a few last photos to salute the big guy before he gallops off into storage.
The Hogmannay crowd and the Blessing of Unicorns round the corner on the Arcade esplanade will stay for a while to try and spread the joy. #animals #unicorn #scotland #projects
Detail shots from the Ogilvie School Campus lobby mural.
The real challenge for me in this project was to forge an image that was coherent and legible and of corse make sure the kids had fun. I had over a 100 children of various painting abilities, all painting frenetically for two days.
In my experience one class, or even one child, with a big brush can easily obliterate a drawn image in no time at all.
My solution was to cut a clean layered jigsaw of the mural at the start. That meant that the kids joyful expression of paint enhanced the mural, and didn’t swamp the image.
I think the result is a really nuanced mural with huge layers of depth.
The perfect frame for all the energy and enthusiasm of the children.
Success was predestined from the start and they 100% own this space, there is nothing artificial about it.
And for me that’s the main thing 😊 #projects #community #treeoflife #schoolmuralproject
Really excited to be working with @Ogilvie school campus special school over the next few days, producing a mural for their reception lobby.
The challenge for me on this one will be that the mural is quite modest, only 2.8m x 2m, and I’ll be working with around 100 children of all ages over the two days onsite.
My solution was to spend some time on this mural cutting a really layered jigsaw with lots of fun detail to paint.
I think it’s going to end up being a really nuanced painting with loads of depth.
I actually really like the way this canvas looks before it’s painted. Like it’s made of lace.
Can’t wait to see what we come up with during the residency! #community #tree #collage #projects
Back in the Braidburn park today.
Funny story-
Not long after launch last weekend a local youth intervened and added a face on the sun at the back of the shed. No other damage - I wouldn’t usually comment but this was clearly the work of an art critic, not a vandal.
Tbh I had to agree… the right thing in the right place.
So this week in the studio I’ve made a permanent face for the sun.
It adds a focal point at the back and increases the joy, plus a natural balance for the feature owl on the front.
Happy days!!
🌞🌞🌞#projects #community#sun #sunset
This time last week…
My artists did a tremendous job of establishing the world on day one…. Now it was time to start populating it.
Overnight I produced a large scale heron, a brace of foxes, some otters, a rabbit, and a squirrel as well as a host for the birds, frogs and beasties for my artists to paint between them. Realistically my Artist license for using my power tools in my back garden runs out a little after 930, my long suffering neighbours may have a sense of humour failure after that.
That meant an early start to jigsaw the last of the creatures at the school before the kids arrived.
The team had very much been focused on collective output on Day one and building up a head of speed. What a massive treat for me to see their creatures springing to life. Some beautiful work produced, the heron and foxes arrived in the blink of an eye and I could see the otters were going to be fabulous.
It is tiring painting for a full day and keeping communicating, so easy to start pushing paint about aimlessly.They did an amazing job
When the pupils left at the end of the day (and there was less bodies in the way) I assembled all four sections of the mural for the first time.
Delighted with the way it was going, all four flanks of the building will be a huge asset to the park and, when hung, the building is going to become an instant landmark and focal point for visitors.
Our feature owl In particular has a beautiful vibe.
The stillness and focus in the head painted by Maya framed by the more impressionist wings and background painted by the rest of team gives it a beautiful feel.
One of the great joys for me in these projects is That I know roughly how it will look, but the reality of the end product always surprises.
I’m make space for my artists to perform, throw down the gauntlet with a challenging task and get their heads in the right space.
My experience is that that they always rise to the challenge.
With so much focused talent in the room this project was a particular joy.
Roll on day three! #community #projects #wildlife #chrisrutterford
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!
https://robertburnschessset.com
Working with the creators of a luxury Rabbie Burns Chess set at the moment - they’re using some paintings from my archive but also some new work
Including this Address to the Haggis illustration.
This chaps is obviously from the Ronald Macdonald school of oration!
#robertburns #haggis #taeahaggis #scotland #burnssupper #commercial #artwork #projects #
This mural is pretty much complete now - I think my favourite bit is the otter French kissing a trout in the wetland section.
It’s been really magical being on site at RSPB Loch Leven as thousands of pink footed geese arrived. Coincidentally at the exact same time as I painted the goose in my mural- he acted as a herald ! #artwork #commercial #projects
A big day for us yesterday - @lubilykan and I handed in our completed hare.
We’ve been simmering it gently for the last few weeks but it escalated predictably into a feverish frenzy of bunny boiling as the deadline weekend arrived.
We can’t wait to show the world what we have made when they launch the trail officially in a few weeks ! @sculptures #sculptures #artwork #projects @pikebambridge @thebigharetrail @lanabambridge
So, apparently I made the #list of #edinburgh ’s Hot 30 for 2020. Basically the hottest people in the capital.
I’m pictured here with the #dream #team of @lubilykan and Heather Ferguson. It has been confirmed. We are To Edinburgh what Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista were in the 80s.... THAT HOT!!
Lubi is my #partner in #life and is a crucial #force in all my #projects these days, I couldn’t have coped these last few years without #her . She has been a pivotal force in the background throughout the two years it took to deliver this #baby , #helping guarantee the #success of the whole #tunnel project.
She was also hands on during all the four #school residencies we undertook, gently whipping the kids into shape. We are pictured here on the bramble bush at Bonaly Primary.
Heather helped out as #workexperience for that week from Newbattle High school and was a fantastically mature and enthusiastic member of the team. And forced us to mosh on the way to school daily’s liven up the team
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/edinburgh-hot-30-people-who-have-had-greatest-impact-2020-3076055?page=4
Brand new mural arrived in @colintontunnelmural yesterday -the magical train...powered by #dragonfire racing #witches and #fairies a really fun new threshold for the mural @chris_rutterford has been locked away for over a month painting this.. thanks to @lubilykan for adding more fun on the train #tunnel #projects
