My Orkney Islands inspired pen drawings… what inspired them? Well, the islands themselves, of course!
Orkney and all the surrounding islands are one of my most artistically inspiring places I have come to visit to date. Ancient, mysterious, and aloof, I was fascinated.
With my time in Orkney, I experimented with my fine-liner pens to capture parts of this beautifully bleak and windswept landscape.
“You never learn something new unless you try something new.”
Orkney Islands Inspired Pen Drawings – an imagined crofter’s hut drawn pen
From the Island of Sanday to the mainland, the environment is unique in itself. Largely devoid of trees or woodland, the stunning coastal cliffs and rugged headlands are peppered with scrubby wind-swept trees and ‘moorlandesque’ foliage.
Newer structures such as farm dwellings and crofters’ huts appear abandoned across the islands. Many of these former dwellings appear to have sat empty for decades, and now echo the lives and purposes they served before. The original owners have long left the toils and troubles of the land and sea and sought pastures new.
These awe-inspiring, dilapidated and characterful dwellings have now become home to wildlife and birds. Nature reclaiming what impression humanity had made.
Great stone circles still stand erect throughout the ancient islands. Defying both time and the elements.
Here are my Orkney Island-inspired pen drawings for you to gaze upon at your leisure.
Orkney Island inspired pen drawings – The Shepherd Huts
Houses or huts, I’m not sure what would be the best description for these dwellings. Either way, with my fine-liner pen, I tried to capture some of the essence of these derelict buildings.
What were their stories? Where did the owners go?
These dwellings had so much story to tell, I felt compelled to capture them in essence on paper.
I would gladly go back and draw these again. I would also be curious to use my graphic pencils to capture the tone of these buildings.
Pen drawing of the Orkney standing stones
There are many, many standing stones in Orkney. That would be a given for those who know the area.
When we undertook a tour, I was also filled with awe and wonder at what took place at these circles. Rituals, meetings, markets, weddings, and social events. Quite possibly all that is mentioned. My imagination ran away!
Orkney Island inspired pen drawings – Would I go back?
Yes, I would go back to Orkney, with my art stuff at the ready!
I have more imagery in the bank, but for now, I want to save this for another time. Based on how this trip set my imagination racing, I would gladly go back again.
I’d better remember to bring my pens and pad again.
Environments are not always my go-to for drawing, and neither is using pens. You never learn something new unless you try something new.
Other artworks – sketches
Thank you for taking the time to read my blathering blog post peppered with feverish drawings from my Orkney trip. If you found this post interesting, do feel free to share.
A piece of artwork was sold on license based on this mini-series of pen drawings. If you know of any authors or writers, feel free to point them this way.
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