Sarah Clarkson
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sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sarah Clarkson
@sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
600 followers 280 following 200 posts
Art diary
Striving for sustainability
Based in Edinburgh
https://www.sarahclarksonart.com/
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sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Four sketchbooks and four seasons later, I have managed to complete a year of drawing and painting at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments.

Although I’ll be taking a break over December to January, I can’t wait to return next year for more horticultural adventures. 💚x
Subject - Lauriston Woods Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a pen drawing of a forest behind a masonry wall which in turn lies behind an overgrown field and a wire fence. Behind the sketchbook is the actual scene. Location - NW Edinburgh Surface - 200gsm Pith sketchbook Medium - 0.1mm and 0.7mm black fineliner pens
November 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching the last of the sunflowers at Lauriston Agroecology Farm this afternoon with a fineliner pen. Chilly but dry and sunny.
Subject - Sunflower Description - a mittened hand is holding a large sketchbook showing a black pen drawing of a faded, near petalless sunflower. In the background is the actual plant. Location - NW Edinburgh Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - Tom’s fineliner plastic-free pen
November 20, 2025 at 2:56 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Painted a “colander on a cooling rack” still life at College today. Used a pipette and ink; then a Brillo pad with ink and bleach.
Photo shows an ink drawing of a curved colander lying on its side on a cooling rack grid. Irregular marks have been made using a pipette. Photo shows an ink drawing of a curved colander lying on its side on a cooling rack grid. Irregular marks have been made using a Brillo pad then dispersed bleach.
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Forgot my paintbrushes so did a quick ballpoint pen sketch instead!
Subject - Firth of Forth Description - photo shows a hand holding a sketchbook which shows a pen sketch of the view north from Lauriston Agroecology Farm towards Fife across the Firth of Forth (the estuary of the River Forth). Location - northwest Edinburgh Surface - 200gsm Pith sketchbook Medium - ballpoint pen
October 30, 2025 at 3:28 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sylvia Plath was born on this day in 1932. I write or print this quote on the inside cover of all my sketchbooks. So I don’t forget.

#SylviaPlathDay
Photo shows a black & white monoprint of flowing waves with an oval white sticker. On the sticker are the words: “The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt” Sylvia Plath
October 27, 2025 at 1:01 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
A rather messy sunflower! Sketched using my own sulphur cosmos and elderberry inks with added oil pastels at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments.
Subject - Sunflower Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a picture of a single yellow/ purple sunflower with four leaves. In the background is the actual scene. Location - Northwest Edinburgh Surface - 200gsm Pith Sketchbook Medium - my own sulphur cosmos and elderberry inks plus oil pastels
October 23, 2025 at 3:36 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Quick ballpoint pen sketch of some fading sunflowers in the sunshine at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments this afternoon.
Subject - Fading Sunflowers Description - photo shows a sketchbook with a pen drawing of three sunflower heads and stems. In the background are the actual flowers. Location - Northwest Edinburgh Surface - 200gsm Pith sketchbook Medium - Lamy ballpoint pen
October 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Stitching waves onto one of my fav materials, tracing paper!
Photo shows a card of quotes about arts funding cuts, overlaid with a print of royal blue waves on tracing paper. This paper has been machine stitched onto the card in a wave pattern.
October 7, 2025 at 6:10 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Screening printing waves this morning.
Photo shows three screen prints of blue banded waves on a metal drying rack Photo shows a tub with three colours of paint: a dark blue; a turquoise blue; and a matching d green. Photo shows a card with the three previous paints and the resulting mixed paint. Photo shows a yellow screen with a taped wave stencil and a layer of blue paint.
October 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Experimenting with Natural Earth Paint’s Acryliks.
Photo shows an abstract painting of blue plants with long stems upon an irregular orange background on collaged sheet music paper.
September 24, 2025 at 4:56 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
A moment of meditative tranquillity this afternoon whilst I sketched the compost bins at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments with a ballpoint pen. Back to the crazy creativity of Edinburgh College tomorrow!
Subject - Compost Bins Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a ballpoint pen sketch of three wooden compost bins filled with vegetable matter. The bins made from pallets lie behind the sketchbook. A blue sunny sky lies overhead. Location - Northwest Edinburgh Surface - 200gsm Pith sketchbook Medium - Lamy ballpoint pen with B nib
September 11, 2025 at 6:25 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
First fortnight at Edinburgh College, studying full-time for their Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. Loving every second!
Drawing of an abandoned shopping trolley on Granton Beach Collage of the fall of the Berlin Wall on the theme, Borders. Screen print of my trolley photo with added text and collage, inspired by the American artist, Corita Kent. Drawings of my fabric purse.
September 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching shags, also known as green cormorants, and rocks at Cellardyke using a dip pen and my elder berry ink.
Subject - Coastline Description - photo shows a hand holding a sketchbook which has an ink drawing of the surrounding rocky foreshore and two sitting birds, one of which is holding out its wings to dry its feathers. Location - Cellardyke, Fife Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - elder berry ink
August 23, 2025 at 7:21 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Returned to Tide Line by Julie Brook yesterday for a second session.
Subject - Coastline Description - photo shows an open A3 sketchbook lying against lichen-dappled rocks. The sketchbook shows a picture looking south of the surrounding irregular rocky landscape, the Firth of Forth and the distant landscape of East Lothian. Location - North of Cellardyke, Fife Surface - W&N sketchbook Medium - ArtGraf pigment “Tailor Squares” and charcoal. Photo shows a notice at the edge of the beach. The notice describes Julie Brook’s Tide Line path which she built to inform people about the tidal energy of the sea.
August 22, 2025 at 6:30 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Four 5-minute sketches of Cramond Causeway from this morning, using 2B pencil (continuous line drawing & blind contour drawing), charcoal and elder berry ink.
Subject - Cramond Causeway at low tide Description - Photo shows a hand holding an open sketchbook. There are four sketches: a pencil continuous line drawing; a blind contour drawing; a charcoal drawing; and an elder berry ink drawing. All have been done in 5 minutes. They all show the same scene which lies beyond the sketchbook: an island in the distance connected to the beach foreshore by a concrete pillar causeway. Location - Northwest Edinburgh Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - 2B pencil, charcoal, elder berry ink
August 20, 2025 at 12:23 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Loved sketching Barns Ness lighthouse in East Lothian yesterday in the sunshine, and from behind a sheltered sun dune!
Subject - Barns Ness Lighthouse Description - photo shows a sketchbook of a sweeping bay with the sea to the left. At the top of the sketch is a lighthouse on a near the edge of the sea. On the right are grass fields and a series of telegraph poles. Behind the sketchbook is the actual scene. Location - Dunbar, East Lothian Surface - W&N mixed media A3 250gsm sketchbook Medium - ArtGraf pigment blocks and Lyra polycolor pencils Subject - Barns Ness Lighthouse Description - photo shows a sketchbook of a sweeping bay with the sea to the left. At the top of the sketch is a lighthouse on a near the edge of the sea. On the right are grass fields and a series of telegraph poles. Behind the sketchbook is the actual scene. Location - Dunbar, East Lothian Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - 2B pencil, 6B graphite crayon and willow charcoal
August 7, 2025 at 7:38 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sunny sketching out at White Sands beach with artist, @juliegalante.bsky.social this morning. Colleged surface with an old OS map of East Lothian coastline.
Subject - Limestone Rock Pools Description - a sketchbook shows a colour drawing of a coastal scene. In the foreground are oval shaped cream rock pools filled with blue-green seawater. In the middle is the brown seaweed covered rocks. And in the background is the sea. The sketch has been drawn on an old OS map. Location - White Sands, Dunbar Surface - 200gsm Pith sketchbook with collaged map Medium - watercolour paints, ArtGraf pigment blocks, oil pencil
August 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching with homemade willow charcoal at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments this afternoon.
Subject - Looking south Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a charcoal sketch of allium raised beds in the foreground, vegetable beds and rough ground in the middle, and a row of houses in the distance. The actual scene lies beyond the sketchbook. Location - NW Edinburgh Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - homemade willow charcoal. Willow sticks from a friend’s organic farm in East Lothian.
July 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching the new wormery at Lauriston Agroecology Farm allotments in preparation for poster number three!
Subject - The Wormery Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a watercolour sketch of a large raised grey rectangular open wooden box on four wooden legs in a grassy area. On the long and short sides of the box are children’s drawings of worms. Behind the sketchbook lies the actual scene. Location - NW Edinburgh Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - 2B pencil & watercolour paints
July 25, 2025 at 9:37 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who attended my sold-out talk this evening. I loved all your amazing questions!

If you couldn’t attend, Ginger Twist Studio in Edinburgh is now selling my botanical dyes workbook.
Photo shows three different plant dyes being made with the words “botanical dyes and pigments” superimposed.
July 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
You have only moments before you must flee your home, and can only fill one plastic bag wirh belongings. What do you take? What do you leave?

Visited the V&A Dundee Thread Memory exhibition of Palestinian embroidery, Tatreez.
Photo shows a group of plastic bags hanging from the ceiling by gossamer filament. Photo shows a plastic bag with embroidered teddy bear, four coloured threads and a reusable period pad Photo shows a plastic bag with embroidered croissants, needles and thread, and teabags
July 23, 2025 at 9:15 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching in the rain at Lauriston Agroecology Farm this afternoon.
Subject - Outdoor Arena Description - photo shows a sketch of a wooden pallet covered seating area surrounded by overgrown grasses and docks. Behind the seating are a line of trees. Behind the sketchbook is the actual scene. Location - NW Edinburgh Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - HB pencil and Polycolor pencils
July 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
My third sketch from my trip to London and my personal fav, a collaboration with my great niece at breakfast yesterday.
Subject - Cat Description - a hand holds a sketchbook with a lifelike pencil sketch of a cat with generous mark making additions by my 1-year old great niece. Location - London Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - graphite pencil
July 13, 2025 at 7:15 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching in London.
Subject - Queen Victoria Memorial Description - a hand holds a sketchbook showing a pencil sketch of an ornate, sculptured memorial consisting of a seated Queen Vic and a number of angels. In the background is a tall office block being refurbished. Behind the sketchbook is the actual scene. It is very hot especially compared to Edinburgh! Location - Green Park, London Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - HB pencil and graphite pencil.
July 12, 2025 at 6:33 AM
sarahclarksonart.bsky.social
Sketching from the train
Subject - View from the Train Description - a hand is holding a sketchbook showing a train window looking out at the countryside of rolling wooded hills and fields. Behind the sketchbook is the actual view. Location - Northumberland Surface - Pith 200gsm sketchbook Medium - graphite and HB pencils
July 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM