Jim's travels

Kilt Walk Over

Apr 28, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Glasgow, Street Art

Well, the Jim Jimmies have done it, we’ve finished our kilt walk and managed to raise a tidy sum for Cancer Research UK into the bargain. It was a great day, loads of fun with the rest of the walkers in nice weather, (it didn’t rain on us!). We really got a sense of achievement when we crossed the finish line.

As usual, when I’m out walking, I come across street art and today was no exception. There was a nice mural on the walkway alongside the river Leven and a nice big mural by Bobby the Cat on Bombay Jock’s restaurant in Balloch.

Aberdeen final

Apr 27, 2019Apr 27, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Aberdeen, Street Art

Following my recent post on my trip to Nuart, I have now put together a page with some of the urban art I found while out and about, this should bring to a close my section on Aberdeen. The page can be accessed here.

However, I did take quite a lot of photographs of the ceramic and glass work done by Carrie Reichardt and Shelagh Swanson, so watch this space as I may add a page covering their work soon.

Painted Doors

Apr 26, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Aberdeen, Street Art

When I said I was going to Aberdeen, I was told to look out for the Doors, I thought they were talking about a Jim Morrison tribute band until I got there and seen the Doors for myself. Have a look at my Doors page to see what it’s all about.

More Aberdeen

Apr 24, 2019Apr 24, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Aberdeen, Street Art

I spent a wee bit of time this afternoon, going through my photographs from Aberdeen and I have now posted ones from Nuart 2017 & Nuart 2018, they can be seen by clicking on the links below. I will post photographs of the Painted Doors and from the local scene soon

Nuart 2017 – Nuart 2018

Aberdeen

Apr 23, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Aberdeen, Street Art

I returned from Aberdeen yesterday where I had a fabulous weekend at Nuart 2019, I met some great people and saw some wonderful art. I have now added a new section to the site to cover what is happening in the city, so far I have only added content for Nuart 2019, the other areas will be added later.

Wednesday Wander

Apr 17, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Glasgow, Street Art

As I am still in training for the Kilt Walk on the 28th, I decided to do a bit of walking today. I started off in Commerce Street for a Physio Appointment then headed off to the Old Toll Bar at Paisley Road West, I managed to meet up with Rogue-One and we had a rare old blether, and I got a sneak preview of his current work in the downstairs function room, so far he has finished James McAvoy, Mark McManus and Gerry Rafferty and he was putting the finishing touches to Billy Connolly while I was there. They all look fabulous, with tremendous attention to detail, and I was told that there are more to come on the other walls in the room, I can’t wait to see the room finished.

While there I was impressed by the friendly staff and the range of good beers on tap, I had a great pint of stout to send me on my way.

Leaving the bar, I continued walking along Paisley Road finishing off in Govan hoping to take the ferry to the Riverside Museum but it wasn’t running so I had to walk back to the Science Centre and crossed the river there. Lunch in SWG3 then back into town before a pint in the Raven before home. 16k was my final tally so I think I should be OK for the Kilt Walk.

Dumbarton Rocks

Apr 13, 2019Apr 13, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Uncategorized

I have recently acquired a new zoom lens for my Olympus camera (second hand), and I wanted to try it out so as it was a sunny day, I decided to head down to the coast, namely Helensburgh. The lens performed wonderfully and it looks like I will enjoy using it on my travels.

Tamron 14-150mm @14mm f7

Tamron 14-150mm @95mm f7

Tamron 14-150mm @14mm f6.3

Tamron 14-150mm @113mm f5.8

Helensburgh Street Art

John Logie Baird, a son of the town 14mm f3.5

Tamron 14-150mm @150mm f6.3

Tamron 14-150mm @23mm f6.3

On my way to Helensburgh, I had to pass through Dumbarton, I was keeping my eyes peeled looking for where we’re starting our Kilt Walk on 28th April, I never found the park, but I did come across some good quality street art by a local lad, going under the handle of ‘Barry the Cat’. I first spotted it on the wall of the Vault 94 Atomic Diner at the corner of Glasgow Road and Victoria Street, there is even more on display inside. The diner staff told me all about Barry and where to find some more of his work. There is also another on the wall of the laundrette on the opposite corner. I have since discovered that Barry painted the little mural in Battlefield that I pass regularly and I have seen some of his work in SWG3.

The Vault 94 Atomic Diner looks like a great place to visit, good looking food and very friendly and helpful staff.

Glasgow North

Apr 11, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Glasgow

I had to go over to the north of the city for a physio appointment the other day and while in the area I thought I would visit one of my favourite Rogue-One murals, the Cowlairs Incline, on Endrick Street, just off Keppochhill Road. That led me on to the corner of Hawthorn Street and Balmore road to photograph another of his pieces I have intended photographing for a while, his depiction of a speedway rider advertising the local team, The Glasgow Tigers. As it was a nice sunny day, I then took a stroll along the banks of the Forth & Clyde canal where I spotted a nice wee naive mural in a wall near the Ruchill church, I couldn’t find out anything about who painted it and why.

Cowlairs Incline

Glasgow Tigers

Canal Bank

You never know what you will find when out wandering, while at the canal bank, I met 2 young guys who were ‘magnetic fishing’! Instead of a hook on the end of their lines they had strong magnets, their catch so far that day was a bicycle, a couple of scooters, several bunches of keys and a knuckle duster. For some reason or other, they didn’t want their photograph taken.

SWG3 Today

Apr 6, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Glasgow, Street Art

I had to visit the homebrew shop in Whiteinch for supplies, so I nipped into SWG3 while I was in the area, the place was busy with loads of metalheads there for the Lords of the Land festival, lots of long hair, leather and torn jeans, and bands I have never heard of, from what I could hear, it was pretty loud music!

It was good to see some new artwork in the yard, I was pleased to see that Mark Worst has finished the portrait I spotted him starting in January, noticed that Scent is developing his skills and a lot of good work by EJEK with AERS, SMUG amongst others. It looks like they are gearing up for this year’s Yardworks in May.

Mark Worst

Smug

Scent

EJEK

Deeply Dippy

Mar 28, 2019 by theholmesteader, posted in Glasgow, Street Art

I had a busy day yesterday, I originally headed into town to take a dip into volunteering at the International Swimming Centre at Tollcross, my shift was cancelled so I returned to the city centre, where I had a chance meeting with Smug, who was doing a commission piece in Millar Street. I’m really looking forward to seeing him again at Nuart in Aberdeen in April.

After visiting the Dippy on Tour exhibition in Kelvingrove (well worth a visit), I dropped in on SWG3 before heading back into town for a pre-arranged tour of the Trades House in Glassford Street, this is a very interesting place with loads of the history of Glasgow. I was there with a group of friends who were receiving an award from The Commonweal Fund.

Dippy on Tour

PPPF Group at Trades House

During my day out I found some new street art, one by a guy called Plague Fisher (aka Craig Fisher) called Glasgow Kiss, which is just a pair of love dolphins, on the side of the BrewDog pub opposite Kelvingrove.