Teenagers Sometimes I teach. I don't talk about that much on here but I do. Young people, old people, sometimes about the technical aspects of art, sometimes about creativity and finding your voice, sometimes about dreams. This weekend I joined a bunch of friends from @streamscreativehouse who were teaching a room of 100ish teens about creativity and how we all have it - be it through football or baking or business or the arts. As part of that they broke out to rooms to dig deeper, using their imaginations to create stuff. One of the rooms was the visual arts where I was there to lead and guide. I thought we might get 10 or so kids interested in drawing or painting... Nope.... 35... 35 highly motivated, passionate teenagers... Some had never held a brush or pencil, others had been hiding it away for years - ALL were amazing. They asked deep and meaningful questions, genuinely keen to grow and stretch, they were loud and messy and quiet and contemplative all at once. Some of the skill took my breath away. They created for themselves and then they created to give away to random people on the streets something that might bless them on a cold sunny Saturday afternoon. Their generosity, care and compassion was infectious and I'm so grateful to have had the honour to spend time with them on a small part of their journey to be who they'll become. I mean I think it took the whole 4 hour journey home to stop my ears ringing but gosh my heart was (and is) full. When so much crazy is in the world it was humbling to see the next generation cracking on regardless and being the beautiful human beings they are.

"My Girl" 8x10" Oil on board An alla prima (in one sitting, wet on wet) painting on the wee easel today I've a bunch of big projects this year in the books but wanted to stretch some muscles before diving in One shot, no messing about, completion not perfection. Sometimes that's more important And yes I can see the bits that could be tweaked but they're not moving... That's not the point... Not today anyway. This wee warrior had a birthday recently and I generally do a portrait of her every year so thought the timing was fitting. If I need a warm up to get back into proper studio mode then what better than spending time with my favourite face! Singing and praying over her, wondering at who the amazing person she is and is growing into. I never fail to feel privileged that she's ours, that we get to facilitate her becoming the person she'll become. Parenting is wild folks. It's messy and confusing at times but worth it.. kinda like this painting 😂 . . . . . . . . #portrait #oilpainting #allaprima #daughters #redheads

Winter! (Acrylic on canvas, 20x16") We've been having some weather this week... Shops are low on supplies, schools are shut, it's tricky to get outside BUT we're healthy, fed and together. It's been a tricky week with juggling of jobs and activities and creative food choices but in some ways it's been a lovely way to start the year! We've had to slow down... Everything is on hold or cancelled so the bubble of family time over the holidays extended. This is a painting I did during the festive break and today I was looking at it and realised it feels like this season. It was a pre-sunset I spent time in and captured before the snow came. When I see one I want to paint I stop. I spend time watching it, taking notes, feeling the mood change as the colours shift and flow with every passing second. This one was like a slow moving stream, it took its time before bursting open. That's what this weather feels like to me. The bit before things burst into life again, everything slowing down but never stopping, prepping for the next big colourful bit. Anyways I hope you're doing ok wherever you are and finding peace in this season whatever that means for you. Happy Friday folks! . . . . . . . . . . #winter #musing #scottishartist #scottishsunset #sunset

Christmas at Rebecca Carr Well that was a fun day! I don't do many fayres any more and I've never done an outdoor one but that was fun. There were loads of folk (not least cos of the crazy black pudding laced stovies) and a real buzz about the place. Did I lose the feeling in my toes even though I was in uber-snow boots..? Yes. Did I get to chat to some budding young artists I'd never have otherwise...? Yes! I made some sales too BUT perhaps the most interesting part of today is the amount of four legged footfall there was! For those who are interested here's the final list: Show cocker Black lab Daschund Golden lab Sprocker Bernese Mountain dog (or something similar) Springer Scruffy cute wee dug of unknown origin Cockapoo Trio of Basset hounds Miniature King Charles Another cockapoo Another black lab Pointer (or something similar) I mean I enjoyed the humans too but the volume and variety of dugs was impressive! Rebecca and Aaron you did a fab job pulling all this together and should be so proud, you've done yourselves and your businesses proud and hopefully raised a chunk of change for @thearchiefoundation Merry Christmas (season) folks! . . . . . . . . . . @rebeccacarrhairsalon @hummingbirdcafekintore #scottishartist #shoplocal #scottishart #aberdeenshireart #fineartprints #christmas

Christmas at Rebecca Carr! Outside @hummingbirdcafekintore Soo looking forward to be part of this tomorrow! I'll have ready to frame fine art prints, cards and a couple of originals available. Come along for Aberdeenshire landscapes and prints from live art events never before available in the UK! Grab some hot drinks, yummy food and check out some cool local businesses Card payments and PayPal will be available See you there! @rebeccacarrhairsalon @thearchiefoundation . . . . . . . . . . #scottishart #christmas #charity #aberdeenshireart #landscapes #archivalart #artthatlasts