Hills of Attitude (not Altitude)


The title for this blog came from the hills and their 'slow flow', so it seems only fitting that I should honor those hills by attending to them more intimately, more considerately. The result is a set of sketches which I became involved in this summer (2015) [I have been sketching and painting them for the past 3 years but these ones this year seemed more alive]. 

It seemed every time I went into the hills I had to sketch them. It wasn't good enough me finding my own way into their bodies, physically, but metaphysically, I had to express that body. The first half of the day would be spent getting into (impressing myself into) the hill; the second half would be spent expressing it. In this way, there would always be an autobiographical element involved in the painting or drawing. The hill always contained part of my self for my having reached it (and considered 'it') under my own steam.

Initially called The 12 Apostles, I soon realized that 12 wasn't enough. So, instead I put an emblem book together and called it Hills of Attitude Not Altitude:

Here are just a few...





























The Whangie (Auchineden Hill)


 Dumgoyach, the bosky plug.



Turnave Hill





























The Doughnot



Tomtain 


 Neilston Pad





























Walls Hill 



Dunglass





























Peel Glen Hill