Almost A Childhood Memory
This
was my first view from across an open field. We had just passed through a gate
at the edge of a path taken through a dense forest. And there was a view, this
view, created so many times as a child, fabricated through imagination from
rock formations in long ago adventures within more familiar woods, along more
familiar shores. I wished my younger brother, the one I shared these adventures
with was with me to see what we so often invented in our adventures, so long
ago.
This
is Kilchurn Castle on the northeastern shore of Loch Awe in the Scottish
Highlands. The Loch is beyond. The field here we crossed to explore the ruins
was under water back before the castle was deserted and became such wonderful
ruins. The water level of the Loch has dropped over so many years. I was seeing
us within, on an island of course, defending ourselves from the rest of the
world, for the short time I was there.
This
is the same castle mentioned in a previous post titled “Abandoned Opening”.
12”x 9” ink and watercolor
Abandoned Opening: http://tonyducesart.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/abandoned-opening.html
That sounds like a wonderful adventure, one you would never forget, and have brought to life here. I loved the Scottish Highlands. So many old castles, so many lochs, so much rushing, falling water, and open land and I couldn't get over the lack of development. If that was here, thousands of tatty, tasteless housing tracts would be springing up to block the view, as along our own beautiful lake shores.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I love the way the loch’s have been left for the most part public and free of development, a so much more civilized way to treat what should be for all. The views almost everywhere here in Scotland take me to wonderful places real and imagined. We have so much space in our country, yet work so hard, it seems to take it away from even how we would want it to be viewed by ourselves…
DeleteOh Anthony, this is beautiful !!! oh why can't we re-cycle the beauty of of the old, instead of developing the new basic badly constructed housing...everywhere... hopefully Scotland knows that they have way too much to lose, this is truly spectacular!!!! I love this interpretation of your childhood's imagination...
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeletePart of the beauty here is in maintaining the ruins with out commercializing them, without charging a fee for the opportunity to explore and dream.
Nice memory...the more left unfinished...the more we can fantasize...~ magical
ReplyDeleteLess usually leaves more space for so much more☺
DeleteI think it is so cool that what you imagined as children actually found a physical manifestation in adulthood. I wish you brother could have seen it also. You have captured it beautifully!
ReplyDeleteIt was an instant memory of moments from childhood shared..
DeleteThank you
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful painting from your childhood memories !!!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice summer day Anthony !!!
Thank you
DeleteHave a good day too.
Very dramatic - both the painting and the text. Really great work!
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteI have never been here, but it looks absolutely enchanting.
ReplyDeleteYes, I too can imagine living here...safe from the rest of the World...in utter peace...
Oh how I would love to camp out here! :)
Enchanting is a great way to express how it felt coming upon these ruins.
DeleteI think you could camp out here. We were told camping in the highlands in most areas is free..