Going back over the last few years, Dublin Sketchers have a connection with Inis Oírr, the smallest Aran Island in Galway Bay, and Féile na gCloch, the festival of stones. It brings together practitioners in stone walling, stone carving, letter carving and drawing from around the world to celebrate the heritage of the stones of the Aran Islands.
Féile na gCloch unfurls virtually this year, and we have been invited to join in. You can check out the event whenever suits you via the Galway Heritage website or on the Inisheer Zibaldone website. For an overview of the festival, you might like to watch this conversation with Pat McAfee.
So this Sunday, why not sketch something made of stone? This short Mark Making And Drawing video might give you some inspiration. Or you might prefer to build a miniature dry stone wall or even attempt a draw stone wall.
Dublin Castle has some interesting stone work - carved, coursed, layered, polished, honed or cobbled - so use images or google street view to get lost in the detail.
Here's Padraic Powell from Inis Oírr offering an inside looking out perspective on Féile na gCloch for some inspiration.
Because of government guidelines about gatherings, we've had to change the way that Dublin Sketchers meet.
- The devil is in the details - sketch something made from stone, maybe use Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library as inspiration.
- Stay local and sketch in your Dublin neighbourhood.
- If you would like your sketch to be added to the website, email it to dublinsketchers@gmail.com. Please edit your image so that it is low res and properly oriented for posting to the website.
- Use the hash tags #feilenagcloch #stonefestivals #drawstonewall if you are posting your sketch on social media.
- If you are a regular sketcher with us, but you're not on our WhatsApp group, contact us by email at dublinsketchers@gmail.com
If you have any questions, please email us at dublinsketchers@gmail.com
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c36c85-covid-19-coronavirus/
