WINKLES

In July of 2003, I visited Scotland with my mother, sisters and a family friend. Our first destination was the small island of Iona, off of the west coast of Scotland. To get there, we took a train from Glasgow to the small coastal town of Oban and travelled by ferry to the larger island of Mull. We had to cross Mull by way of a long and winding one-lane road. Our transport was a slightly battered Land Rover. The 6 of us squeezed into the Rover, with two perched on top of the luggage in the back!

After a bone-rattling, hour long trip across Mull, we took a smaller ferry to Iona. Iona is a small island, approximately 3 miles in diameter. The monk Columba of Ireland built an abbey on the island in the mid sixth century. There are earlier graves thought to be Scottish kings. Currently inhabited by a small community of craftsmen, crofters and shepherds with a small but healthy tourism industry.

We spent three days on Iona, and during a morning walk on the beach, I noticed the millions of tiny shells covering the rocks and beach. On closer inspection, I noticed the vibrant variety of the shells' colors. I began organizing the shells by color and pattern and took pictures of them against the rocks where they were found. I had no special plans for the photos at that time.

After I returned home, the spiral shapes of the shells and the Celtic context in which they were found inspired me to create drawings on the photos. The original photos of the shells were taken with a film camera, an old Nikon FE2 with a very nice macro lens. I scanned the photos into my computer and “played” with them in Photoshop. Some of the photos I left exactly as they were, others I enhanced the vibrancy of the colors and the contrast. I then printed the photos onto nice drawing paper and drew designs over them. I then scanned the drawings back into the computer and manipulated them more, then printed and drew, and so forth. In this way, I made several print/drawings that have been sold.

	Descending Angel 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Nine Cross 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Nine Shells 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Shell Drawing 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Two Angels 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Wave Shells 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View Winkle Gold 7” x 7” printed digital photograph, colored pencil, and ink View