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 #
Some close up shots from my new mural for Malones Edinburgh. They have launched their own brand of whiskey and it’s absolutely Delicious #artwork #projects #whiskey #malonesedinburgh #chrisrutterford
Details of some of the animals on the steps in RSPB loch Leven #animals #projects #artwork #chrisrutterford
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
Busy painting the stairs in the RSPB nature reserve over the next fortnight… it’s coming along well so far #rspb_love_nature #artwork #projects #grasslands
New embellishment scrolls on the sign at the start of the @colintonTunnel - couldn’t resist a photo when I was up there… I once caught a fish it was THIS big!! #chrisrutterford #robertlouisstevenson #fromarailwaycarriage #artwork #tunnel #projects
Lubi Lykan Couture & Embroidery and I hung the first of the #Reading Fc 150th anniversary murals yesterday, looking really spectacular. Can’t wait for the fans to see it! #readingfc #brianmcdermott #crowdmural #football #footballfans #crowdmurals #artwork #crowds #artwork #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
Latest updates from the Reading fc crowd mural - this section is getting close to complete ! #crowds #artwork #portraits #readingfc #projects #community
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
Merry Christmas !!
This little fairy is up a tree for the moment but will buzzing into the tunnel in January 2021 #tunnel #artwork #projects #christmas #fairy
A cute witch from the @colintontunnelmural -looks like she’s sliding down the smoke #witch @chris_rutterford # broomstick #flyingbroomstick #artwork #tunnel #projects #system3
@chris_rutterford just made a new Clydesdale and Highland cow for next to @purshone words in the @colintontunnelmural #highlandcow #cattle #clydesdales #clydesalehorse #plaitedmane #tunnel #animals #projects
A #troll in the coal wagon on the magical train in @colintontunnelmural painted by @chris_rutterford -a bit of a self portrait...he’s got #billygoatsgruff for company #projects #tunnel #animals
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
Fun new Aussie animals added on the @theozbar frontage #kangaroo #emu #hammerheadshark #aussiesofinstagram #edinburghstreetart #chrisrutterford #lubilykan #commercial #artwork #projects
The first thing you see in the way into the cafe - the rising sun on a bright new day (full of cake and coffee) @beetrootsauvage new mandala mural for their bAck wall #mandala #landscape #vegan #vegancakes #projects #artwork
Hard at work on the New tree of life mural - a collaboration with @lubilykan for the lobby of @thebankofdalkeith #adventures #projects
We hung the field of poppies in the #colintontunnel last week. This section features the cap badges of all the troops who have served in Colinton Barracks in its history. #poppyfields #tunnel #projects
Two days on site painting and we now have a floral arch in the tunnel - looks really pretty ! #flowers @chris_rutterford #chrisrutterford #scottishmurals #tunnel #projects #community
New mural feature in the @colintontunnelmural
Here is a boy who clambers and scrambles- all by himself and gathering brambles.
#scottishstreetart #chrisrutterford #tartan #robertlouisstevenson #scottishmurals #history #tunnel #projects
I think Rona is eyeing up those chickens @papa_westray @scottishstreetart @visitorkney @orkneyheritage #chickens @colintontunnelmural #rutterford #scottishart #dogsofinstagram #history #projects #landscapes
Papa Westray Heritage murals - made in residency over the festive period 2019-20 being hung on the island in April @papa_westray @visitorkney @lubilykan @orkneyheritage #scottishart #rutterfordart @scottishstreetart #history #artwork #projects #landscapes
“Here is a tramp who stands and gazes...” latest addition to the @colintontunnelmural #chrisrutterford #colinton #colintontunnel #dogsofinstagram #scottishart #streetart #colintontunnelmural #portraits #tunnel #projects #artwork
Lorraine makes her inevitable appearance in the colinton tunnel mural- this time she’s brought her dog Angus #lorrainekelly #lorrainekellysmith #chrisrutterford #colintonstation #colintontunnelmural #trainart #tunnel #projects #crowds
Oor Piper - special #oorwulliebuckettrail sculpture - commissioned for the Edinburgh auction ... he’s a wee stoater @lubilykan @oorwulliebuckettrail #chrisrutterford @chris_rutterford #scottishart #chrisrutterford #scottishpiper #bagpipes #oorwillie #highlandcow #projects #sculptures
Ian Rankin next to Sherlock Willie -he asked for it to feature in the trail and codesigned it #chrisrutterford #sherlockholmes #oorwulliebigbuckettrail #ianrankin #edinburgh #edinburghuniversity #projects #sculptures
This cute bulldog stopped for a photo op in front of the freshly hung Colinton Primary section of the #colintontunnel mural #chrisrutterford #bulldog #floralart #kidsmural #community #projects #tunnel