The Way is Blocked.

The briefest of visits to the ritual circle at Selby would tell you all was not well. Notes and messages were pinned to walls to announce warnings of the fog, to request information on those missing from families or just to declare hopelessness & despair at the situation of the Harts Faction and the lands of Albion.

Within the wooden walls near the ritual circle was a gateway barred by wooden planks and chains. A hard hearted soul could easily take a note from the walls to proclaim a small part of the state of Selby. I decided to sketch the blocked gateway & to take only memories of the anguished words and leave them for others to come across and read in the hope of someone being found.

Statues by the Circle.

Amongst the droning noise of the wind, the shifting lights and the chaotic forms of the tentacles surrounding the ritual circle stood the serene forms of peaceful statues. Despite the sounds and sights of movement the statues seemed to hold a remarkable presence and I found it irresistible not to sketch one of them. 

The Bees Command Tent.

In the early afternoon I found myself sitting in the entrance to the Shian Tent looking out across a quiet Wolves Camp. The pack had decided to head of in search of lunch, but I decided to delay my meal while I sketched the Bees command tent. Normally the tent bustled with the group in their black and yellow battle colours, but this time only a solitary member sat within the shade and held a vigil on the camp. I had been meaning to sketch their tent for a while but had never seemed to find the time to do it, it would have been a shame to miss the opportunity of a quiet hour and not capture an image of their campaign home.

A Cart for the Order of Fenris.

I set out bright and early on the Sunday morning determined to sketch the new cart the Fenris Boys had made. Sure enough it stood proud outside their shrine with a backdrop of black tower shields to frame the view. I had hardly made a mark on the sketchbook when some of their order and an honoured guest of theirs from the Tarantula faction came over to chat. The cart was made by just one of their order and had been carefully designed to dismantle fold away when more room was needed. The Order are well known for their devotion, their willingness to fight and their enjoyment of a beer & song, perhaps they should also get recognition for their craftsmanship too.

The Ruins at Selby

I did not know if it was the passing of time or calamity to cause the ruins of Selby, the clock no longer told the current hour, only the moment where it ceased to tick.

I sat alone for a while as I sketched, finally a passer by came over and asked "are you Anders?". It turned out she was Lala the owner of Das Shoppe in the Vipers Camp and had wandered over to say she had seen and enjoyed the sketch I had done of her shop at the Spring Moot.

She now has a new marquee, I will look forward to calling in at the Vipers when I can to say hello and see if I can put aside some time to sketch her new shop.

Needles & Chisels

After breakfast on Sunday morning I decided to wander to the merchants tents in the open ground by the ruins at Selby. Temptation overcame me and I called in at Needles & Chisels to chat with the proprietors and treat myself to a Mead Cup skillfully turned from oak. We talked for a while and I enjoyed looking over the goods they had carefully crafted with their own hands and discussed issues of craftsmanship & the pleasures & details of creating something special from raw materials. We were soon joined by my pack sister Freydis from the Shian Wolves, her own expertise lay with the craft of needle and the loom, the conversation gained greater depth & flow as the four of us began to share both experience and appreciation for our own specialities.

To behold something of individuality created by a skilled hand brings much more to life than convenience, it brings a tale and spirit all of its own.

As our conversation drew to a close I settled myself outside beneath the shifting clouds and put pen to paper to capture the scene of the stall to bring to mind the memories in later times and share them with others who might call in to read these lines.

(Many thanks to Tony & Lesley)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlesAndChisels

Leaders & Masters of the Armourers Guild

From time to time I enjoy the challenge of sketching people as well as places. I was recently contacted my Master Havaar of the Armourers Guild, he was hoping to arrange for a sketch of those who work hard within his guild and have progressed well within the ranks. I was delighted to get such a request and here is the drawing I produced for them. I hope it was a pleasant surprise for them at their recent auction.