0
CLANSMAN rolling round to the linkspan
Uploaded by
Donald E. Meek
, May 05 2010 10:30 AM
- Owner: Donald E. Meek (View all images and albums)
- Uploaded: May 05 2010 10:30 AM
- Views: 1,084
- Category: Donald E. Meek's Gallery
This sketch (HB pencil with wet forefinger, and much rubbing!) was produced in 2005. I tried to capture the point at which the 'Clansman' and similar car-ferries begin to turn to the linkspan. The 'fins' have been retracted and the ship begins to roll. The bow-thrusters are doing their utmost to swing the bow. A message from the bridge crackles over the tannoy: 'Passengers are advised to remain in their seats while the vessel undertakes this manoeuvre.' The sketch was done largely free-hand, with some photographic assistance for detail. The location could be anywhere in the Hebrides. I have watched the 'Clansman' many times turning at Tiree...but I wasn't trying to make this a Tiree scene. I was more concerned to catch the 'moment' when passengers feel butterflies in their stomachs!
How long do these take you Donald 
A lot of detail...great sea...think it's brilliant...well done on this big beauty !!!
A lot of detail...great sea...think it's brilliant...well done on this big beauty !!! Thanks so much, Debra. Well....how long? A good question. I did the basic work on a Saturday morning, as I remember well, but after lunch I started again....to see if I could correct the errors, especially in perspective. I had two difficulties. (1) The first was with the location and shape of the funnel, as the ship was turning, and the funnel is so 'odd' compared with the traditional round funnel. The 'fin' sticking out aft is a real pest. The whole thing was out of kilter first time round - very badly out - and I almost rubbed a hole in the paper trying to sort it. 
(2) The second difficulty was with the amount of ship visible in such a context, particularly aft of the funnel....so that was the next bit of rubbing. My eye told me that I had made a mess of it. 
The last problem - the real 'grrrrr' bit - was with 'Caledonian MacBrayne' as logo. I had no white pencil or equivalent, and, once again, I was rubbing out and rubbing in....until my finger turned black, and the mat appeared through the paper. In the end I scanned the original effort, which had become rather 'holey' (!), and lengthened the hull by extending along the horizontal bar. Then I went back with the pencil once more, and tackled deficiencies in light and shade, especially in the sea. This was the first time I had made a serious attempt to draw a modern car-ferry - I decided I had to learn, whatever it took. I had no photograph of the 'Clansman' turning at Tiree at this stage - just a view printed in my memory, and a photograph of her taken on the port beam, and I had to adjust the perspective as I went along. I now have a photograph which is, in some ways, close to this sketch, and you can compare the two. I'll put it up. In the end, this pic turned out OK, and an architectural friend of mine complimented me on the perspective! Did he but know the truth!!!! So there was nothing magical about this one....without the scanner it would have been a goner. Donald PS Hope this encourages other folk! :whistle:
(2) The second difficulty was with the amount of ship visible in such a context, particularly aft of the funnel....so that was the next bit of rubbing. My eye told me that I had made a mess of it. The last problem - the real 'grrrrr' bit - was with 'Caledonian MacBrayne' as logo. I had no white pencil or equivalent, and, once again, I was rubbing out and rubbing in....until my finger turned black, and the mat appeared through the paper. In the end I scanned the original effort, which had become rather 'holey' (!), and lengthened the hull by extending along the horizontal bar. Then I went back with the pencil once more, and tackled deficiencies in light and shade, especially in the sea. This was the first time I had made a serious attempt to draw a modern car-ferry - I decided I had to learn, whatever it took. I had no photograph of the 'Clansman' turning at Tiree at this stage - just a view printed in my memory, and a photograph of her taken on the port beam, and I had to adjust the perspective as I went along. I now have a photograph which is, in some ways, close to this sketch, and you can compare the two. I'll put it up. In the end, this pic turned out OK, and an architectural friend of mine complimented me on the perspective! Did he but know the truth!!!! So there was nothing magical about this one....without the scanner it would have been a goner. Donald PS Hope this encourages other folk! :whistle:
It's a funny thing, but sometimes, a bit of 'random distress' (usually something spilled) or things just not going to plan makes for a better picture.
Clansman, is she the one laid up with engine problems?
Clansman, is she the one laid up with engine problems?
is that what yon bob ross fellow used ti call a happy accident rob 
Aye, you're right, Rob - on both counts, too! The effort of correcting something can sometimes (not always!) help the overall effect. Yes, this is the very ship. She had an 'unhappy accident' with one of her engines - counter-weight came off the crankshaft, and caused considerable damage, I'm told. Was rumoured to be scheduled for resumption of service on the 23rd, but this has now been delayed - without any indication of how much longer she'll be under repair. Some say two weeks more. 
We'll just have to wait and see! A very serious problem, a broken crankshaft, because of all the mess it can do internally. Haven't been painting anything recently - working on model boats for the summer! Donald.
Yes, this is the very ship. She had an 'unhappy accident' with one of her engines - counter-weight came off the crankshaft, and caused considerable damage, I'm told. Was rumoured to be scheduled for resumption of service on the 23rd, but this has now been delayed - without any indication of how much longer she'll be under repair. Some say two weeks more. We'll just have to wait and see! A very serious problem, a broken crankshaft, because of all the mess it can do internally. Haven't been painting anything recently - working on model boats for the summer! Donald.
