Spring Forward!

Don't forget to put your clocks forward tonight as we 'spring forward' to lighter evenings and the promise of warmer days to come. 

On a day of rain and wind we thought it might be good to share the reassuring opening stanza of George Mackay Brown's poem for Robert Rendall, Chorus: ' Soon Spring Will Come': 

Soon Spring will come, and then the thrifty crofter Must yoke an ox, and drive his eager plough Through the wet mould. the sower will follow after,  And cast the good seed, rhythmical and slow, Along the furrows fringed with April snow. 

After a generally rather mild winter, will April be the month that brings us snow?

Painting Challenge

If you're wondering what to do on a miserable Saturday afternoon why not pop in to the library for a bit of inspiration?

Stromness is of course a community full of creativity, and as regular readers will know there are often exhibitions of the many talented artists in the town.

But for those of us for whom a paintbrush is more of a DIY tool than a means of self expression, the recent BBC television series The Big Painting Challenge may have sparked an interest in exploring our own inner artist. 

If you're looking for a bit of guidance then we can help, we may not be able to offer artistic advice but we can certainly find you a book that can. With titles from 'Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Oil Painting' to 'Reader's Digest Guide to Drawing and Painting' there should be something to help you choose the right materials and tackle your first masterpiece. 

While you're in the library you can also pick up an entry form for The Little Painting Challenge. Create a drawing or painting on the blank side of the postcard and then send in your entry for the chance to win a prize and perhaps even see your work exhibited in the newly refurbished Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester from the 4th of May 2015. 

Entries close on April 2nd so you still have plenty of time to find your muse and get creating.