It's Friday, I'm in love

Friday afternoon in the studio and it's hard to focus... A problem that Al and I seem to have on a regular basis. This used to be called an "orchid moment" but there is no orchid in the studio anymore. Instead we've got fish, Facebook and FreeAgent (our online book-keeping programme which we would recommend) to occupy us.

So what are we up to? Well, just made a draft film from clips we recorded with taxi drivers in Banchory. (Did any of you look at the video link throughout the Blog Title of last entry? Well worth doing if not - how many celebs can you spot?) Also working on 3D visualisations for our presentation to Banchory Town Improvement Group and tightening the whole proposal up.

Quoting for another really exciting project in Glasgow involving water-jet cutting a LOT of Cor-ten steel. At different stages at logos/branding solutions for - amongst others - a local rugby club, an egg farm, a mill, a smokehouse and a gallery. 

Still doesn't get away from the fact its Friday though...

I've taken a pic of my studio desk. Just because I can. Here it is... - FIN

BLOG TITLE

The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

Wish (1992)

Friday afternoon in the studio and it's hard to focus... A problem that Al and I seem to have on a regular basis. This used to be called an "orchid moment" but there is no orchid in the studio anymore. Instead we've got fish, Facebook and FreeAgent (our online book-keeping programme which we would recommend) to occupy us.

So what are we up to? Well, just made a draft film from clips we recorded with taxi drivers in Banchory. (Did any of you look at the video link throughout the Blog Title of last entry? Well worth doing if not - how many celebs can you spot?) Also working on 3D visualisations for our presentation to Banchory Town Improvement Group and tightening the whole proposal up.

Quoting for another really exciting project in Glasgow involving water-jet cutting a LOT of Cor-ten steel. At different stages at logos/branding solutions for - amongst others - a local rugby club, an egg farm, a mill, a smokehouse and a gallery. 

Still doesn't get away from the fact its Friday though...

I've taken a pic of my studio desk. Just because I can. Here it is... - FIN

BLOG TITLE

The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

Wish (1992)

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Yes, here we go again, give you more, nothing lesser

The best part of the last six weeks has been spent in the studio sifting through the mountain of material we gathered in the engagement period in Banchory. We have started our creative process with a focus on Scott Skinner Square as the centre point for Banchory. 

The concept behind our designs for the square are based on the work of Scot Skinner - a surprising and colourful character - certainly not lacking in self belief, adopting the pseudonym "King". He was great at self promotion (if he was around today he would have a better grip on Facebook and Twitter than I do!). He was a bit more rock n' roll than heel n' toe!

We have presented our ideas to the Council and are now gearing up for presenting to the Banchory Town Centre Group next week. We obviously don't want to give too much away at this point, but below are a few of our development sketches. 

Enjoy! - Al

P.S. Incidentally, I think the music video for our blog title this time around has the best line up to date.

BLOG TITLE
Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Make Some Noise (2011)

The best part of the last six weeks has been spent in the studio sifting through the mountain of material we gathered in the engagement period in Banchory. We have started our creative process with a focus on Scott Skinner Square as the centre point for Banchory. 

The concept behind our designs for the square are based on the work of Scot Skinner - a surprising and colourful character - certainly not lacking in self belief, adopting the pseudonym "King". He was great at self promotion (if he was around today he would have a better grip on Facebook and Twitter than I do!). He was a bit more rock n' roll than heel n' toe!

We have presented our ideas to the Council and are now gearing up for presenting to the Banchory Town Centre Group next week. We obviously don't want to give too much away at this point, but below are a few of our development sketches. 

Enjoy! - Al

P.S. Incidentally, I think the music video for our blog title this time around has the best line up to date.

BLOG TITLE
Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Make Some Noise (2011)

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Our bones forever in stone, Monuments of life

After all this great weather we have been having (mostly...) it has turned pretty grim here. Not stopped raining all day and really getting pretty cold. Even weather warnings of high winds. Back to normal then. Looks like Nicolette and the team picked exactly the right time to visit Scotland and do all the pre-production filming at Aldourie Castle last week!

Ourselves? We are thankfully indoors for a while but it's not quite so much fun costing jobs and putting those kind of details together. The good news is that we are doing it for our jobs in Banchory and in Derby which are taking shape nicely.

Derby is all ready to go - just a few small details to work on regarding risk-assessments and timescales but we are happy with the way its sitting now. We have also come up with names for the pieces which has taken a long time (maybe three years or so!). Will keep it quiet for now until the commissioner gives it the go-ahead.

Banchory is also ticking along nicely. We had a meeting with Nicola from Woodend Barn this week to outline some of our initial ideas and she was happy with the direction we were taking. Lots more to do on the overall plan and concept but for the moment we are learning about new materials and techniques. Its like being back at Uni - with the exception of actually doing something.

Rather than finish on a note like that. Someone whose work displays techniques and skills that we would love to master was Michael Grab from Gravity Glue. He is due to be in the final movie as well and what he does by combining rocks with patience is incredible. Definitely worth looking at his website. - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Foo Fighters - Statues

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)

After all this great weather we have been having (mostly...) it has turned pretty grim here. Not stopped raining all day and really getting pretty cold. Even weather warnings of high winds. Back to normal then. Looks like Nicolette and the team picked exactly the right time to visit Scotland and do all the pre-production filming at Aldourie Castle last week!

Ourselves? We are thankfully indoors for a while but it's not quite so much fun costing jobs and putting those kind of details together. The good news is that we are doing it for our jobs in Banchory and in Derby which are taking shape nicely.

Derby is all ready to go - just a few small details to work on regarding risk-assessments and timescales but we are happy with the way its sitting now. We have also come up with names for the pieces which has taken a long time (maybe three years or so!). Will keep it quiet for now until the commissioner gives it the go-ahead.

Banchory is also ticking along nicely. We had a meeting with Nicola from Woodend Barn this week to outline some of our initial ideas and she was happy with the direction we were taking. Lots more to do on the overall plan and concept but for the moment we are learning about new materials and techniques. Its like being back at Uni - with the exception of actually doing something.

Rather than finish on a note like that. Someone whose work displays techniques and skills that we would love to master was Michael Grab from Gravity Glue. He is due to be in the final movie as well and what he does by combining rocks with patience is incredible. Definitely worth looking at his website. - FIN

BLOG TITLE

Foo Fighters - Statues

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)

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It's just a question of eliminating obstacles

We are back in the studio now for a few weeks while we put together our proposal for the artwork for Scott Skinner Square. This is a big piece of work and we have a lot of research to go through as part of this after the past three weeks spent in Banchory. Lots came out of the process that was very helpful and are delighted by the response we received from the people there.

The project itself has really dominated the last two months of our work and as we move into this next stage will really come into sharp focus - we should be going to planning in November. Obviously can't go into details yet but some of things we have looked at include James Scott Skinner himself, St. Ternan (the Saint associated with the town) and some of the other themes that always attract us - story and place.

A bit of background? Banchory is a town of over 7000 settled on the bank of the River Dee about 18 miles west of Aberdeen. The population has expanded rapidly in the past 10 years and new development continues to keep pace with this, particularly to the west of town, in an area called Hill of Banchory.

Its a friendly town with a reputation for a high standard of living and education (the local Academy boasts a very successful academic record). A large proportion of residents work in the oil industry in Westhill, Aberdeen and Dyce which with its high salaries has helped pushed house prices to be some of the highest in Scotland.

So a dynamic, growing, prosperous place but not without its problems and challenges.

We do like a challenge though... - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Sheryl Crow - No-one Said It would Be Easy
Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)

We are back in the studio now for a few weeks while we put together our proposal for the artwork for Scott Skinner Square. This is a big piece of work and we have a lot of research to go through as part of this after the past three weeks spent in Banchory. Lots came out of the process that was very helpful and are delighted by the response we received from the people there.

The project itself has really dominated the last two months of our work and as we move into this next stage will really come into sharp focus - we should be going to planning in November. Obviously can't go into details yet but some of things we have looked at include James Scott Skinner himself, St. Ternan (the Saint associated with the town) and some of the other themes that always attract us - story and place.

A bit of background? Banchory is a town of over 7000 settled on the bank of the River Dee about 18 miles west of Aberdeen. The population has expanded rapidly in the past 10 years and new development continues to keep pace with this, particularly to the west of town, in an area called Hill of Banchory.

Its a friendly town with a reputation for a high standard of living and education (the local Academy boasts a very successful academic record). A large proportion of residents work in the oil industry in Westhill, Aberdeen and Dyce which with its high salaries has helped pushed house prices to be some of the highest in Scotland.

So a dynamic, growing, prosperous place but not without its problems and challenges.

We do like a challenge though... - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Sheryl Crow - No-one Said It would Be Easy
Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)

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Any colour you like

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

Last week saw us complete our third visit to Banchory since the project started, and it is safe to say that the community engagement aspect is well under way.

On Thursday we opened our Drop In Studio, on the High Street. The idea being that folk can visit us to find out about the project and to share their ideas. It also gives us a great chance to meet the community.

To help kick things off with a sugar rush we ordered cakes from the cracking Birdhouse Cafe and then rented an urn so that we could chuck a little caffeine into the mix!

On the first day we had somewhere around 60-70 visitors, very much due to Vhairi Walker who basically grabbed people off the street! Things went so well we opened the shop again on Friday afternoon and had at least another 50 visitors.

We started working on a series of short interviews with the team at Cordiners Sawmills. As well as meeting some lovely folk at the West Church Friday coffee morning.

We are looking forward to coming back down next week! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like
The Dark Side of The Moon (1973)

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In this line of work, it never hurts to plan

In the last seven weeks, we have been tearing around the country like sales reps on double time.

Between: Fin running workshops in Dunoon; an exhibition install in Helmsdale; holidays in Mull (Fin wanted to see Balamory); holidays in Lake District (Al needed mint cake);  painting a mural in Leith with the Blameless crew; the start of our project in Banchory; and tremors of things in Derby; we have found ourselves on the road a lot.

Far too much for one blog so what we are planning is to do some posts over the next few days.

In the meantime here is a picture of a hedgehog. - AL

BLOG
Jeremy Messersmith - Deathbed Salesman
The Reluctant Graveyard (2010)

In the last seven weeks, we have been tearing around the country like sales reps on double time.

Between: Fin running workshops in Dunoon; an exhibition install in Helmsdale; holidays in Mull (Fin wanted to see Balamory); holidays in Lake District (Al needed mint cake);  painting a mural in Leith with the Blameless crew; the start of our project in Banchory; and tremors of things in Derby; we have found ourselves on the road a lot.

Far too much for one blog so what we are planning is to do some posts over the next few days.

In the meantime here is a picture of a hedgehog. - AL

BLOG
Jeremy Messersmith - Deathbed Salesman
The Reluctant Graveyard (2010)

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But if you're worried about the weather, then you picked the wrong place to stay

This weekend was the summer solstice, and we spent it ducking out of the rain and relishing patches of sun at the Solas Festival in Perthshire. Like the cliche goes the forecast for the festival weekend was cloud and rain.

Blameless (that being the proper noun for all us usual suspects that meet up to collectively clart something in paint!) were asked to do a large graffiti piece at the festival. 

We were told we would be painting onto "canvases stretched through the trees." A prospect that had us a little worried, with visions of bedsheets mud splattered and flapping in the wind! But to our delight, when we arrived we found the canvases right in the middle of the festival ground - stretched trampoline-tight, impeccably primed and with a cracking view of the stage (Thanks to George and his team)! 

Heard some great music including a bouncing gig from We Were Promised Jetpacks. There was also plenty of other great bursts of creativity with a buzzing performance from poet Harry Baker being one of the highlights.

We used the opportunity to experiment with some ideas and techniques that were sparked off at Freedom Versions V1 and have been brewing away every since. We hope you like what you see! - AL

BLOG TITLE
LCD Sound System - All My Friends
Sound of Silver (2007)

This weekend was the summer solstice, and we spent it ducking out of the rain and relishing patches of sun at the Solas Festival in Perthshire. Like the cliche goes the forecast for the festival weekend was cloud and rain.

Blameless (that being the proper noun for all us usual suspects that meet up to collectively clart something in paint!) were asked to do a large graffiti piece at the festival. 

We were told we would be painting onto "canvases stretched through the trees." A prospect that had us a little worried, with visions of bedsheets mud splattered and flapping in the wind! But to our delight, when we arrived we found the canvases right in the middle of the festival ground - stretched trampoline-tight, impeccably primed and with a cracking view of the stage (Thanks to George and his team)! 

Heard some great music including a bouncing gig from We Were Promised Jetpacks. There was also plenty of other great bursts of creativity with a buzzing performance from poet Harry Baker being one of the highlights.

We used the opportunity to experiment with some ideas and techniques that were sparked off at Freedom Versions V1 and have been brewing away every since. We hope you like what you see! - AL

BLOG TITLE
LCD Sound System - All My Friends
Sound of Silver (2007)

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So move your feet to the summer song

Summer is well and truly here - although may in fact be already over if the weather forecast is right... but we're looking forward to all the exciting projects we have ahead of us. These include a couple of really cool paint jobs with our mates from Blameless (website coming soon) in Perthshire and Leith, workshops in Dunoon and a new Start/Finish line in John O'Groats. It's all good.

However, the job we are really excited about is in Banchory. Back at the beginning of May we replied to a call for artists to create a brand idea and implementation plan for Banchory town together with public realm works focussing on Scott Skinner Square. We were shortlisted and to our delight were selected as artists to do this! This is a BIG job with plenty of challenges but also with plenty of opportunities.

I made a visit there with Margo and the wee one to the River Festival on Friday and Saturday and it was good fun. Lots to do for kids (a beastie hunt in Burnett Park was a winner). Stalls, choirs, musicians, pipe bands - all very well organised. The ceilidh on Friday wasn't bad either with The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh Band doing their thing. Great to see the guys again and they had everyone moving to some great music...

All in all a great weekend. The big surprise was walking in to the local Tesco and spotting ourselves on the front page of the local paper!  - FIN

BLOG TITLE
YACHT - Summer Song
See Mystery Lights (2009)

Summer is well and truly here - although may in fact be already over if the weather forecast is right... but we're looking forward to all the exciting projects we have ahead of us. These include a couple of really cool paint jobs with our mates from Blameless (website coming soon) in Perthshire and Leith, workshops in Dunoon and a new Start/Finish line in John O'Groats. It's all good.

However, the job we are really excited about is in Banchory. Back at the beginning of May we replied to a call for artists to create a brand idea and implementation plan for Banchory town together with public realm works focussing on Scott Skinner Square. We were shortlisted and to our delight were selected as artists to do this! This is a BIG job with plenty of challenges but also with plenty of opportunities.

I made a visit there with Margo and the wee one to the River Festival on Friday and Saturday and it was good fun. Lots to do for kids (a beastie hunt in Burnett Park was a winner). Stalls, choirs, musicians, pipe bands - all very well organised. The ceilidh on Friday wasn't bad either with The Big Fat Electric Ceilidh Band doing their thing. Great to see the guys again and they had everyone moving to some great music...

All in all a great weekend. The big surprise was walking in to the local Tesco and spotting ourselves on the front page of the local paper!  - FIN

BLOG TITLE
YACHT - Summer Song
See Mystery Lights (2009)

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A place that's built on noise and needs

Yesterday Fin and I had a great road trip over the Lecht to Banchory. Cracking weather to be driving through the hills! We were in Banchory for an interview for a potential new project ... hopefully we can share more about that later!

We visited the Woodend Barn, a great venue that has an amazing amount of buzz about it. Their current installation in the gallery is the impressive Unravel, an interactive sound installation by FOUND & Aidan Moffat. It is a poetic and musical invention - think William Heath Robinson jamming away but with more polish and finesse.

On the way out of Woodend Barn I picked up a free copy of Art Mag, and as I was leafing through it stumbled across one of our screen prints which we did not know was featured! Lovely to have our work in print, and honoured to have it included in an article extolling the virtues and merits of print.

So all in all a great day, here's to more like it! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Friendly Fires - Blue Cassette (Tiga Remix)

Pala (2011)

Yesterday Fin and I had a great road trip over the Lecht to Banchory. Cracking weather to be driving through the hills! We were in Banchory for an interview for a potential new project ... hopefully we can share more about that later!

We visited the Woodend Barn, a great venue that has an amazing amount of buzz about it. Their current installation in the gallery is the impressive Unravel, an interactive sound installation by FOUND & Aidan Moffat. It is a poetic and musical invention - think William Heath Robinson jamming away but with more polish and finesse.

On the way out of Woodend Barn I picked up a free copy of Art Mag, and as I was leafing through it stumbled across one of our screen prints which we did not know was featured! Lovely to have our work in print, and honoured to have it included in an article extolling the virtues and merits of print.

So all in all a great day, here's to more like it! - AL

BLOG TITLE

Friendly Fires - Blue Cassette (Tiga Remix)

Pala (2011)

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I had watched you taking in the spring

We decided to make a trip to Invergordon to see how our public art piece Foundations was holding up after a wet winter. Both of us were delighted to see the new growth in both the tree and the surrounding daffodils. It couldn't have been a better day for taking photographs and it really is the first time Al and I have seen it with some life around it (installing in November kind of limits that!)

The artwork wasn't designed to sit right in the middle of these blooming flowers but its a happy coincidence - adds to our intention to create an organic work that will interact and change with the seasons.

The Gaelic word Sàmhach you can see on one of the stone seats means peaceful. It certainly felt like it that day. - FIN

 

BLOG TITLE
Two Door Cinema Club - Spring
Beacon (2012)

We decided to make a trip to Invergordon to see how our public art piece Foundations was holding up after a wet winter. Both of us were delighted to see the new growth in both the tree and the surrounding daffodils. It couldn't have been a better day for taking photographs and it really is the first time Al and I have seen it with some life around it (installing in November kind of limits that!)

The artwork wasn't designed to sit right in the middle of these blooming flowers but its a happy coincidence - adds to our intention to create an organic work that will interact and change with the seasons.

The Gaelic word Sàmhach you can see on one of the stone seats means peaceful. It certainly felt like it that day. - FIN

 

BLOG TITLE
Two Door Cinema Club - Spring
Beacon (2012)

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I have built a treehouse

All done!

Just got to get a few bits and pieces together - final budget, maintenance schedule and report - and then Foundations for Invergordon Off The Wall is completed!

It has been a long journey of about 18 months but we are really pleased with the results and so is the client so everyone happy. Along the way there have been some hurdles, challenges, tests and trials but with the help of the board and in particular Alan White (the Project Manager) they were all dealt with.

The launch went really well and despite there being a little rain and it being pretty cold we had a good turnout. Special thanks as well to Naomi Shoba from Eden Court CREATIVE and her team of performers from Invergordon Youth Theatre.

I have attached a few pics of mine together with a couple by Tim Winterburn. Have to admit to some Photoshop work on some of my shots - trying to imagine what it will be like next year when the grass has all grown in!

One other thing. Don't know how many of you click the link to the band (see BLOG TITLE at the bottom of this entry to see the connection to the name of each blog entry) but this is a pretty upbeat song from an upbeat band and a pretty neat stop-frame animation done by a a student.

Enjoy the pics... heres to new work. - FIN

photo Tim Winterburn/HIE

photo Tim Winterburn/HIE

BLOG TITLE

I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse

Let Me Introduce My Friends (2006)

All done!

Just got to get a few bits and pieces together - final budget, maintenance schedule and report - and then Foundations for Invergordon Off The Wall is completed!

It has been a long journey of about 18 months but we are really pleased with the results and so is the client so everyone happy. Along the way there have been some hurdles, challenges, tests and trials but with the help of the board and in particular Alan White (the Project Manager) they were all dealt with.

The launch went really well and despite there being a little rain and it being pretty cold we had a good turnout. Special thanks as well to Naomi Shoba from Eden Court CREATIVE and her team of performers from Invergordon Youth Theatre.

I have attached a few pics of mine together with a couple by Tim Winterburn. Have to admit to some Photoshop work on some of my shots - trying to imagine what it will be like next year when the grass has all grown in!

One other thing. Don't know how many of you click the link to the band (see BLOG TITLE at the bottom of this entry to see the connection to the name of each blog entry) but this is a pretty upbeat song from an upbeat band and a pretty neat stop-frame animation done by a a student.

Enjoy the pics... heres to new work. - FIN

photo Tim Winterburn/HIE

photo Tim Winterburn/HIE

BLOG TITLE

I'm From Barcelona - Treehouse

Let Me Introduce My Friends (2006)

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...like the kids in art school said they would

A very short entry... Our sculptural installation Foundations has been finished and will be officially launched tomorrow afternoon together with the two other artworks that have made up the Evolution project by Invergordon off the Wall.

Have attached a copy of the invite below in case you have been missed out (in which case apologies!!) and we would be delighted to see you there. - FIN
 

BLOG TITLE

Arcade Fire - Ready To Start

The Suburbs (2010)

A very short entry... Our sculptural installation Foundations has been finished and will be officially launched tomorrow afternoon together with the two other artworks that have made up the Evolution project by Invergordon off the Wall.

Have attached a copy of the invite below in case you have been missed out (in which case apologies!!) and we would be delighted to see you there. - FIN
 

BLOG TITLE

Arcade Fire - Ready To Start

The Suburbs (2010)

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All art has been contemporary...

Work on Foundations continues and last week was one of those week's where everything seems to have gone to plan. We are ahead of schedule by a few days and all the heavy work is done now. Just need this weather to continue for next week and we are all done!

The contractors have been professional and efficient and doing a great job - steel looks good, tree looks good, paving looks good, benches look good...just hope the client and people of Invergordon will feel the same.

Not wanting to give too much away just now until it is finished so have attached some images just showing some details. Maybe another blog later this week. - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Peter Bjorn and John - Dig A Little Deeper
Gimme Some (2011)

Work on Foundations continues and last week was one of those week's where everything seems to have gone to plan. We are ahead of schedule by a few days and all the heavy work is done now. Just need this weather to continue for next week and we are all done!

The contractors have been professional and efficient and doing a great job - steel looks good, tree looks good, paving looks good, benches look good...just hope the client and people of Invergordon will feel the same.

Not wanting to give too much away just now until it is finished so have attached some images just showing some details. Maybe another blog later this week. - FIN

BLOG TITLE
Peter Bjorn and John - Dig A Little Deeper
Gimme Some (2011)

reade more... Résuméabuiyad