Bun Hanzo and friends

This one isn't Bun herself; she is still under construction but made her first appearance in my sketch book this afternoon. Spent the day painting at the gallery; ladies in kimonos with wayward hair and wings, which somehow managed to end up looking more Braveheart than Zatoichi. This is not a bad thing as I have actually spent many long hours wondering how I can incorporate some Scottishness into paintings for the purely cynical reason that people seem to like reminding where they live when buying pictures. Or less contentiously, they like familiar subject matter. It's something that I struggle with and envy Ritchie's landscapes and buildings of a local nature; however, not going to get in a tizzy about it as I have long discovered that my subject matter is just something that arrives and takes residence in my brain. Hence, Bun Hanzo.
She is the logical progression of leaf headed women, kimono wearing and multiple patterns, and to stay with a theme, she also has wings; kind of a patchwork Charlie and Lola Scottish-Japanese superhero. Tarantino eat yer heart out. The first drawing of her in my sketch book also contains possibly the best pair of shoes ever; big fat flowery platforms which are so far only depicted in biro and white but will I imagine be a cool shade of raspberry ripple or turquoise. Ice cream colours are something of a speciality of mine; if it can have an ice cream name, its good by me. Italy was fantastic for the ice cream colours, as was Spain a few years ago, and, funnily enough, Vietnam. All of them had great ice creameries with the best colours of product; pistachio, nougat, caramelly (salted in Hanoi - the best ever), raspberry and some amazing unknown blues. And yes, I do rather like an ice cream.
Great doing a full day in the gallery today as I didn't feel the need to spend the whole time nose to canvas, which led to some good sketching, browsing art and interiors magazines and thinking of things. Drinking tea and thinking of things, sketchbook in hand; does it get any better? Obviously the view can differ and improve, but basically that is the best time for me. Also found a good phrase I had forgotten which nails Stu's frame effects - shabby chic - beloved of aforementioned interiors magagzines and very descriptive of the 'found in attic, repainted and loved over generations' look that we are going for. He's now mucking about with some samples, a knife and some lino carving tools; who knows where that one is going.
Great full moon over the Shore as I left Leith tonight but I declined to take a picture as my full moon shots always look the same; dull landscape with large white spot, usually blurred. Beautiful image though. Back to the gallery tomorrow so more of 'the ladies'; I am dying to start one on board as well but that will have to wait. I want to 'add more elements' as I wrote in my book today; more patterns, things, composition elements, but with more colour control than I was showing earlier in the year when more elements meant more mishmash and ended up looking like a bad patchwork. Saw a great painting by Morag Muir in an art mag. too; must look her up.