Hello all, just to let you know I have been very busy working under my own name of Jenny McLaren- and because working under two names is getting a bit complicated, I will shortly be phasing Imogen's work over to Jenny full time ( including my etsy shop), this means I will be closing this blog soon; so If you would like to continue following me (I hope you do!) you can follow my other blog by clicking on this this link. Thanks for your support, I really appreciate it!

http://jennymclarenart.blogspot.co.uk/

Wild Britain Exhibition

I packaged and posted 5 pieces for the Wild Britain exhibition at the Jam Factory, Oxford today. It has been organised by Clare Eguchi from the Tube Gallery. Clare found me through my etsy shop and I'm delighted to be showing my work next to such a varied and accomplished collection of artists, all inspired by wildlife. Please follow the links to for more info. I had been planning on driving down to deliver the work and attend the opening but unfortunately I have too much work to catch up on. On to the next deadline.....

Butterfly gem paintings

I'm really enjoying making these little butterfly paintings but I'm going to be working on some feather ones tomorrow. I hope to have some to add to my etsy shop soon, once all my other work is completed...I've been busy with commissions and working for exhibitions, it's good to be busy!

Aquamarine Blues

I spent today in the studio working on these little butterfly jewels.

 The red kite is an experimental piece from a couple of days ago.

 The butterflies are destined for this exhibition at the Jam Factory in Oxford in August. I'll be taking a road trip to deliver the work and I'm looking forward to spending a couple of days exploring Oxford.

Time for painting

I'm happy to be painting again, it's been a long time.......
It's been a busy few months, a new job to settle into, working on various commissions and not much time for anything else. A delivery of new art materials has galvanised me into action. I have a range of watercolour papers to try out, nice big thick sheets with deckled edges, mmmmmmm.....

Newly arrived ospreys.

I have recently started a new job hence the lack of posts. Tonight I stopped on the way home to check on an osprey nest, and was treated to a wonderful view of  a pair who are in residence. It was a good way to relax after a long and busy day. I have a few days off coming up and will be getting back to some painting then. I hope to have some new watercolours to show you by the end of the week.

Studio peek

I spent a while tidying my studio today and rearranged some of my collections, each piece is found by me or gifted by the people who know about my penchant for bones and feathers. I have some generous friends.

 I'm about to start a new part time job next week, more about that soon. I think it will be providing lots of inspiration for future artwork.... 

Mountain day

I had a day in the mountains last week, wore my crampons for the first time this year....

I saw a flock of snow buntings,mountain hare and ptarmigan. There was no wind  and no clouds in the sky, a very rare occurrence so I took it easy and savoured the silence and the sun and the snow.

Spot the ptarmigan

Hare as Herald for Spring

Time in the studio has been passing by quickly, a bit like the start of this year which seems to have disappeared. The top brown hare is my Herald of Spring,  and below is the Blue Hare of Winter beating a hasty retreat....I suspect we will have a few more days of snow before winter is over though! Last Saturday was spent in the mountains at Lochnagar. It was a beautiful day matched by the wild life we saw-  woodpecker, red grouse, black cock, buzzard, short eared owl, hen harrier and two golden eagles plus both red and roe deer.  Fabulous!

Foxy

It's been snowing on and off all day. I put the heater on and holed up in the studio this afternoon and managed to finish a fox that has been waiting patiently in my sketchbook since before Christmas. I did a larger than usual mountain hare too, sometimes you get in the flow and next thing I know it's dark.........

In the studio today...

New things are starting to happen in the studio, this badger will be going into my etsy shop soon and the insect collection box below is in development..... The exciting news is that I have been asked to take part in not one, but TWO exhibitions! One opens in April and the other in June. Yah!  

Better get back to work then.......

A little review.....

The whole country has battened down the hatches with all this snow, but it is soooo beautiful and we have had some memorable wildlife encounters over the last few weeks including, red deer, roe deer, sparrowhawk, redpoll, goldfinch, mountain hare, an unfortunately dead pine marten on the road and a flock of 15 waxwings. I'm pretty sure all of them will be appearing in my sketchpad pretty soon.
I seem to have gotten off to a slow start this January, but I have managed to get my tax return done at least which can only be a good thing! I was busy with craft fairs in December and although I didn't do particularly well at them , I didn't do terribly badly either; plus I met some friendly people and have had repeat business through my etsy shop from one of my new customers.
 I have to admit that this last year has been very hard work, but I have learned such a lot and I have confidence things will get better.......I have had some good news today that I will share in my next post!

Years turning.....

Christmas Day 2012

New Years Day 2013

Happy New Year! 

For the coming year I have made no resolutions or plans that are set in stone.

 It will be a good year.

That is all. 

Portobello Makers Market on 15th December

I'm going to my last makers market of 2012 on Saturday, I was lucky enough to get one of the last remaining spaces! Portobello Makers Market is held in the Town Hall, Portobello High Street, Edinburgh on Saturday 15th, 11am to 4pm. This stag will be one of the new illustrations for sale. I'm hoping that the weather has improved by then and the snow has stopped falling as it's an early start and a longish drive. It will be interesting to compare my local craft markets with one in the" big city". I'll share my findings with you in my next post. At this time of year I spend some time taking stock, remembering what I've achieved (or not!) and thinking about goals for next year, so more of that soon too.  

Afternoon walks

This was taken around two hours ago 3.30 pm - yes the sun does go down that early here in the north! It's been cold, a bit of snow in the morning, but sometimes that crisp wintery feeling is good. We found a tree full of siskins, busy little birds, and a gnawed salmon on the river bank. I think the otter had been having a feast.
 I've had a productive day adding more work to imogensattic, some jewellery pieces will be added tomorrow and I'm waiting to hear if I've gotten a last minute place at another art and craft fair, this time in Portobello, Edinburgh, so fingers crossed.

Craft fair goodies.....

SOLD

I'm ready for the Christmas craft fair tomorrow, everything is packed and ready to go; and it's not even 10 o'clock! Usually I'd still be running around at midnight....... The horse pictured above is around the same scale as the photo,about two inches long. I like the subtle changes in the original glaze of the pottery that follow the contours of the horse's body.

 The fair is over three days so it's going to be a busy weekend. You can find out more about it here. Hope you have a good weekend too!

SOLD

Exclusively Highlands Christmas Fair



painted sea pottery goodies from Imogen Greene 



I'm taking part in Exclusively Highlands Christmas Fair, it's my biggest art and craft fair yet and I'm pretty excited about it! Over 90 artisans ( that includes me!) will be at

Eden Court Theatre in Inverness

on Fri 30th November 1pm to 8pm,

Sat 1st  and Sun 2nd December 10am till 5pm.

 Makers from all over the Highlands will be selling their arts,crafts and yummy food. There will be a vast array of goods to choose from so if you want to give a unique, locally produced gift this Christmas , or just want to treat yourself, this is the place to come.

I've still got a little time to make some more new things, more necklaces are in the pipeline and new illustrations too. I will be closing my etsy shop over the time of the Fair, so if you have had your eye on something there may be a chance it won't be available after midday on the 29th.........but I will be updating the shop around the 6th of December so there will be some new work available in imogensattic before Christmas.

Hare Again

SOLD

I am painting hares again. This is the first one for a while, he looks kind of laid back and solid, which I like. This painting went well but the next one was a disaster, sometimes things just don't turn out the way you would like. I'll try again tomorrow. I might put the hare in my etsy shop or I might save him for the next makers fair in two weeks time..... I'm going to be flat out making more paintings for the next little while anyway so I will try to post more images as I go. I  need to practice taking photos with my new lights, these images were taken with no natural light at all, which my camera has never coped with before, so my little £10 spotlights from ikea have been a good investment and should make life easier in these dark winter days. I'm looking forward to a busy weekend visiting family, checking out a craft fair on Sunday and painting inbetween times. It's easier and better to be busy than bored!  

P.S. this is my 100th post! Thanks for keeping up with my rather erratic ramblings !!

Wintry walk

This was taken yesterday high up in the Cairngorms, there is a big cloud of snow coming in on the left, the change in the light as it moved across the mountains was amazing, it was so dark in places and so many different shades of blue. It made me want to start painting lanscapes again. We heard ptarmigan on the coll and there were groups of red deer stags on the valley floor. A raven came and checked us out , just gliding by with a beady eye on us. First proper winter walk of this year and it was a beauty.

Some of my sea pottery brooches ready for tomorrow, the bird one is around an inch across. These pottery shards were all picked by me from a Scottish beach . The feather and bird ones show the original patterns of the pottery, I wonder how old they are?