St. Andrew's Day 2021

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Glasgow, Scotland-based guest artist Fran Caballero, celebrates St. Andrew’s Day, the official national day of Scotland. The artwork pays homage to this annual holiday with symbols that illustrate key aspects of Scottish culture and heritage. 

Although the existence of a brontosaurus-esque monster in its waters is the stuff of fantasy and folklore, the Loch (Gaelic for “lake”) Ness in the Scottish Highlands is very real. The upper left of the Doodle artwork reflects these dramatic depths and the ancient legend surrounding them. Reaching over 800 feet in some spots, Loch Ness is among the deepest bodies of water in the United Kingdom! 

The lower left depicts a red squirrel, part of Scotland’s most beloved wildlife. The national flower of Scotland for over 500 years, the thistle, is illustrated in the artwork’s center as an enduring symbol of St. Andrew and Scottish pride. A medieval castle is depicted on the far right panel, showcasing definitive architecture from Celtic history.

Happy St. Andrew’s Day!

Searching for the mystery monster? Head to Maps to explore by dropping Nessie in the Loch to take a closer look! 

Guest Artist Q&A with Fran Caballero

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Glasgow, Scotland-based guest artist Fran Caballero. Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q. What was your creative process for this Doodle artwork? 

A. Initial pencil sketches and then redrawn and coloured digitally. 

Q. Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?  Are there specific elements of the artwork that have symbolic meaning?

A. I wanted my Doodle to embody the feeling of living in Scotland, of the stark beauty with elements that primarily focus on landscape. I hoped to avoid a lot of the tour shop representations of Scotland that exist, and channel more of my experience of living there.

Early drafts of the Doodle