Sunday’s Summary: News, Scotland, and Music

Roaming deer - Sutherland

Sunday’s summary includes highlights from this week, touching on my love of Scotland following some Facebook memories and a focus on a music album, all connected with a bit of a common thread.

Weekly Summary and News

Well, it’s not quite been a week since I launched the website. I have been busying away most evenings making sure that everything is working as it should be, which I can report it is, thanks to Squarespace, the website host, which I can definitely agree with others that it has been a very intuitive piece of software to use.

One of the benefits is seeing some of the analytical information that comes long with the software and it has been overwhelming to see where people are visiting the site from. While I expected some friends and family to be hitting the links here in the U.K. it is amazing to see that almost half of the website usage is global. As you can see from the image below, darker greys are indicating hits from a particular location. I want to thank everyone for their positive reception and encouragement over the last week. Your support means a lot and so glad you’re all engaging on this journey with me.

From France, Germany, Canada, China, and the USA, people are hitting the links which is very cool!

Creative Focus- Scotland

Unfortunately, over the last few weeks, I have been trying to recover from an infection that I get quite regularly which comes part and parcel with my disability. Although I am definitely on the mend, it can often be physically draining and as a consequence, the creative outputs can be affected.

Always trying to find a solution, one of the strategies I use to deploy when I felt physically run down was to escape north of the boarder to Scotland for a few days. I think the first time I ever went to Scotland I was around 7 years old when we visited Jedburgh while holidaying in Northumberland. I have been captivated by the country ever since, holidaying regularly, and living in many places on and off for eight years in my early adult life. The beauty, both in the scenery and the people that live there, meant overtime it has become a home from home, meeting many souls that have shaped my life, some have remained and others moving on.

Ben Loyal, Sutherland, Scotland

Each visit had a story, some of which I can’t share on here, but I know there will be some of you giggling reading that. However, each visit also recharged the soul. No matter what was going on life, trip aways grounded me, showing what was really important in life; to slow down, look after myself instead of prioritising others, and i’d always come back recharged. Although sadly I don’t get to visit as often I use to, I am fortunate that now, an afternoon with the bestie can create a similar feeling.

Often while I was away, having had the chance to take some time out, inspired by the scenery, I would get the paints out that I have brought from home and the creativity would start flowing again. Facebook has reminded me this weekend, that I clearly felt the need to visit every year during May, as there are lots of photos from that time. (not sure why) However, one significant piece that I did, back in 2017, was completed 8 years to the day of writing this.

This is a picture I painted of a mountain called Ben Hope. Using acrylics on paper, I tried to capture the windswept landscape, with the Ben Hope itself rising on the left, dominating everything around it. Always curious as to what it would be like to get closer to it, knowing that this wouldn't be possible, this mountain has inspired many creative outputs over the years as I attempt to conqueror it in other ways.

It has been a while since I have been able to go into the Highlands, and with all that has been going on in life recently, I am definitely craving the call up north. If I get the chance I am sure you will all see a flurry of photos, drawing and paintings as a consequence. who knows, you may even see some created anyway to sustain me until I manage to get there.

Kyle of Tongue with Ben Hope and Loyal in the background.

Music Focus of the Week

Each week I am going to focus on a particular piece of music or musician that has resonated over the course of the previous week. It is after all, not just an art site!

Sticking to theme, this artist resonated as it reminded my of a moment in time that has now passed. A time when I pained the previous picture of Ben Hope. A time that was one of those pivotal moments in life that helped define the path I now have gone onto travel.

In spring 2017, I was introduced to the work of the brilliant Jóhann Jóhannsson. A few months earlier, in the later part of 2016, Jóhannsson published his album Orphée. The title of the album is translated to Orpheus, from the Greek mythology, who travelled to the underworld to rescue his lover and famed for his ability to play the Lyre. There was definitely something in it all that resonated at the time, and although I look back at the time with fondness, I am also glad to be where I am now. I will occasionally play the album while I am painting as I think musically, it can’t not evoke an emotion within you as the strings almost become a musical metaphor for that emotional tension that life can sometimes bring.

the track I want to recommend, in particular, although I whole heartedly suggest you listen to the whole album, is called Flight from the City.

Maybe the theme is escape, escaping or escaped….I shall leave you decide.

that’s if for the week. I hope you enjoyed my first Sunday Summary. If you have don’t forget to subscribe!

See you Tuesday for the next blog..

David x