Jenny Hepburn

On the Wall

2012-02-14T13:05:00.001-08:00

Water, Water, Everywhere - my big canvas on the wall at the Cameo Cinema Bar in Edinburgh. The paintings look great in this lovely intimate space and the opening last week was a lot of fun.

Loads of family and friends came and big thanks are due to them all. The exhibition lasts for a month and then will move to home ground in the Highlands.

Meanwhile I am about to embark on a new theme, an exploration of parts of Assynt and in particular the beautiful island of Tanera Mor.

Art at the Cameo Cinema, February 2012

2012-02-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

Here are two more paintings from the Water's Edge exhibition.

"Wreck" began life in Cromarty where I chucked ash, sand and various other unidentifiable bits onto gesso on board. The image was developed with oils in the studio.

"Beach" is painted with oil on a small box frame and includes random bits of rusty and burnt stuff, and the odd sparkle. I like a bit of sparkle.

Water's Edge is on at the Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh from February 7th till March 5th 2012.

Water's Edge

2012-02-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

An exhibition of my paintings is about to open in Edinburgh. Exciting and scary! The opening is on Tuesday 7th February 2012 between 7 and 9 pm in the Cameo Cinema Bar near Tollcross.

The theme of the oil paintings is "Water's Edge" and is the culmination of several month's work. Inspired by time spent pottering along the shores of the North West Highlands and also Cromarty, the artworks explore the impact on the senses of sun, wind, waves and gusty showers.

As always, I like using texture and pattern. Many of the paintings incorporate bits and bobs from the beach, sand, ash, rusty metal, bits of feather.

Some of the images are recognisably landscapes, others not but they try to capture the feel and emotion of being next to the sea.

This piece, "Out of the Fire" developed from time spent scavenging in old fire pits on the beach. I loved the blackened sticks, the melted glass and plastic, and rusty bits of metal.

Blustery Day

2011-11-21T09:26:00.000-08:00

This year I have worked on a whole series of drawings and paintings based on a visit to Orkney.

The beach combing at Warebath Bay is fascinating. I just love the Orkney flagstones which form a pavement on parts of the beach.

This small oil painting, Blustery Day, is in the annual art fair at the Strathpeffer Pavilion. The preview is on Wednesday evening, 23rd November 2011, and the exhibition runs till Sunday, 27th.

Nodding off

2011-10-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

This image of a sleeping woman is inspired by Picasso and features on advertising material for an event in Edinburgh at the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival.

On Friday 21st October 2011, a conference, "Making a Difference" will explore memory, dreams and sleep through literature and film. If you are interested, check out the website, www.MHFESTIVAL.com

Out of the Fire

2011-09-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last month I spent a couple of days with some fellow artists in the lovely coastal settlement of Cromarty. We were on a landscape course, looking for inspiration and recording information.

This place is historic and pretty so what to choose, the sandstone buildings? the boats in the harbour? the Soutars and the sea?

Well, I did draw at the harbour and found the wonderful, decrepit Peedie Lass (pictured) but what attracted me most was the remains of a beach fire. In effect a rubbish tip, this was full of wee gems of melted glass and plastic, rusty bits and bobs and some old bedsprings.

Crouching on the sunny beach with the wind blasting, rain spitting and a sound track of crashing waves, I scratched away in my sketchbook with a burnt stick.

Back in the studio, I worked on various pieces including the monoprints and oil painting shown above. Amazing what comes out of the fire!

On the Surface

2011-09-13T01:29:00.000-07:00

In August I had lots of fun on Eleanor White's course, "On the Surface".

Eleanor runs art courses at Bridge House Art in Ullapool which is a lovely highland west coast village amidst stunning scenery.

The first couple of days were out of doors chasing the horizon. The coast in this area is littered with islands and the skies are big and constantly changing. We sketched from the high point at Rhue and were rewarded with a swim past of porpoises.

At Badentarbet near Achiltibuie, under a blazing sun (yes really) we painted images choosing from seascape, old decaying boats, rusty buoys or just simply the pebbles on the beach.

Eleanor encouraged us to clart on sand, ash from a fire pit, whatever to make an interesting textured surface. I picked some damaged bits of hardboard, stuck on some burnt plastic and bits of sea rope, added some sand and textured paste and painted the lot with acrylic. Amazing what one can do with rubbish!

Here is the result, yet to be titled.

I can thoroughly recommend Eleanor's courses, see attached link.

Surf's Up

2011-08-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is one of those paintings which took a long time to reach it's final form. The surface is very textured which all adds to the general excitement of a stormy sea.
I am fascinated by gannets with their powerful high speed diving. Their presence adds a focus to the painting which is currently in Leakey's Bookshop in Inverness.

Squall Imminent

2011-07-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Typical Highland weather, sun one minute, showers the next and sometimes both and much more fun to paint than a clear blue sky.

"Squall Imminent" began with dribbly PVA and a scattering of good west coast sand followed by some finger painted gesso and topped off with acrylic.

The result will be in the Art Society exhibition which runs for 2 weeks from next Monday, 25th July in Eastgate Centre, Inverness.

New Work at Beauly Gallery

2011-07-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

This blog has been dormant for quite some time, unlike myself. Life has been exceedingly hectic this year mostly in a good way with major family events. Now the dust is settling and I am getting back to my beloved studio.

Over the last few months I have been exploring different media and techniques to create images of the Orkney landscape and seascape.

Warebeth Bay, just west of Stromness, has wonderful warm, textured flagstones and the beachcombing is fascinating. There are rusty old bits of wrecks and the usual flotsam and jetsam to be found. Weather is constantly changing bringing varied light and colour to the sea and coast.

Working in acrylic or oil, I have tried to convey an atmospheric sense of place in a number of paintings. These are being exibited in Beauly Gallery in the Highlands for the next few weeks.

The title of this piece is "Stormy Skies".

In the Studio

2011-02-22T05:50:00.000-08:00

Just had a fantastic if exhausting weekend at a workshop in Edinburgh College of Art. The theme was painting and colour.

Our excellent tutor, Robbie Bushe introduced a variety of methods of painting with acrylic and then we were let loose in the studio.

Colourful buckets and fabrics, the odd skeleton and some other bits and bobs formed a backdrop for our model. Here he is, just exiting my little painting. This was done on a black (payne's grey actually) background.

Other techniques included starting with a tonal monochrome underpainting, that I liked, and a Seurat style approach at which I failed miserably.

Watch this space for an example of my narrative work!

Curly Wurly and Seaside Rock

2011-02-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

These little sweetie abstracts are on the wall in Leakey's Bookshop and Cafe in Inverness.

I love doing the whole texture thing and playing around with colour and pattern. One never knows quite what will appear. Such fun.

There are other Art Society of Inverness artists on the wall (not literally though that could make a fine surreal exhibition) and some interesting work from a group based outside Inverness.

Have a coffee and check it out!

Follow the Path

2011-02-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

Where did the last six weeks go? Festivities, family and flu! Now the bulbs are pushing through and the days here in the far North are getting longer. Hurray!

Some of the local galleries close the early part of the year. Beauly Gallery opens again this week, (8th Feb.) spruced up and with lots of new work.

"Follow the Path" is one of my wintry paintings. The stark trees, an icy path but the warmth of spring promised in the sky. Can you find the wee bit of map?

Snow Falling ThroughTrees

2010-12-19T06:47:00.000-08:00

What a busy time of year this is! Does much painting get done I wonder?

I had the best intentions to make some hand painted Christmas cards but it didn't quite happen. However, inspired by the snow laden trees and Ingeborg Smith's lovely quirky paintings, I produced several little works like this one above.

This wintry weather can cause total chaos but the landscape can be starkly beautiful, especially in our low northern light. I haven't quite managed to make the most of it by painting outside. Memory and imagination in a warmish studio do me just fine.

A couple more days till the winter solstice, then roll on more hours of daylight.

Sometimes I think I am blethering into the ether , but if anyone is out there, have a good mid-winter and all the best for 2011.

Strathpeffer Art Fair

2010-11-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in art and live in the Highlands, then get along to the Strathpeffer Art Fair.

Hundreds of artworks, large and small are exhibited in the Strathpeffer Pavilion from Thursday till Sunday, not forgetting the convivial preview held tomorrow night (Wed 17th) 7 tll 9pm.

This mixed media painting takes a low flying bird's eye view of an Orkney sea shore. Now there's another place I'd highly recommend. Perfect for blowing away the cobwebs.

Autumn Exhibitions

2010-10-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

I'm gradually getting back into some serious painting, not that serious, it's still fun, especially this painting which has gone through many incarnations. The Autumn/Christmas exhibitions are looming so my little attic studio will be well used this month. My head is buzzing with ideas. It's just a matter of translating that into some good artwork. Not always easy.
So, come November, there will be new exhibitions in Beauly Gallery, Tore Gallery and Inchmore (under new ownership)and the splendid Strathpeffer Art Fair runs from 17th to 21st November.

Guess where I've been!

2010-09-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

Just back from Canada where I travelled from Calgary to Vancouver and Victoria.
The journey from Canmore to Jasper lives up to it's reputation as one of the best drives in the world. The views were absolutely astonishing, scenery on an epic scale. The landscape wasn't the only eye opener. There is a rich and vibrant history of Canadian First Nation art. This is the Thunderbird House Post, a replica by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Charlie James erected in Stanley Park, Vancouver. I didn't visit the museum with the original house post but I can thoroughly recommend the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria for it's First Nation collection.
First Nation art seems to be alive and kicking with lots of galleries and shops dedicated to selling good quality work.

Art at Beauly

2010-07-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Today I spent another day as artist in residence, along with Eileen Addly, at Beauly Gallery. The gallery is part of an Art around the Firth trail for Highland Open studios week. Lots of fellow artists, friends and holidaymakerscame to see the exhibition so there was plenty chat over lunches and coffees. I was billed as a mixed media artist so I had my table littered with papers, scraps and work at different stages. The "Mountain with Linen" featuring the defunct teatowel was of much interest! All in all, a convivial couple of days. The exhibition runs till the end of the month.

Wrecked

2010-07-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Came back last week from a wee holiday on Tanera Mor in the beautiful Summer Islands. The idea was to paint but walking and relaxing were also high on the agenda. This is a stunning location with views across to the iconic Coigach hills and south across a scatter of islands to more epic mountain ranges. There's lots to paint here, sea, sky, mountains, piers, boats and a cracking wreck which is submerged daily. Painting outside is a challenge, the eye does funny things with distance, scale and perspective. Stac Pollaidh was tantalising, appearing and disappearing but always spectacular, except of course when the mist came down. Now I'm home I hope to weave my sketches and images into some new paintings.
Meanwhile, I'm at Beauly Gallery for a couple of days as artist in residence. More later....

Mountain with Linen

2010-07-06T01:20:00.000-07:00

I had a favourite old linen tea towel which faded and began to fall apart. So I ripped it into pieces and stuck the largest chunk onto paper to form a textured base for a painting. It was fun to paint on and Mountain with Linen is the result. This artwork is one of a number in the exhibition at Beauly Gallery. The Gallery is one of a number of locations taking part in Highland Open Studios week, from 24th till 31st July, with "Art around the Firth"

Strike a Pose

2010-06-23T04:16:00.000-07:00

I like using old found materials, giving them a new lease of life. My father was a photographer in the pre-digital age and I used some of his discarded stuff to create mixed media pieces. Old photos tell a story regardless of whether one knows the people in the pictures.The women posing here remind us of times past. "Strike a Pose" is on display along with "Happy Days" at Iolaire Photo:Graphics in Nairn.

4 Square at Nairn

2010-05-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Nairn Book and Arts Festival opens next weekend, Saturday 5th June. Apart from all the booky events, there are a number of art exhibitions. The main one is the Nairn Open and sadly I wasn't selected this year. However I have 2 paintings including this one, entitled Meandering Landscape, at the 4 Square exhibition, and 3 at The Baker's Dozen exhibition.

West Coast Magic

2010-05-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

At the end of June last year I spent a wonderfully sunny week in the far North of Scotland. One morning at Oldshoremore, the sea was the most amazing green and the cliffs warm in the early sun. Just magic. This acrylic painting of the scene is in the new exhibition at Leakey's in Inverness. Runs till August.

Mud Painting

2010-05-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

And then there was the mud painting.... I just love rock! it's textures and patterns and colours. So I spent a bit of time grinding down weathered rock in various earthy colours, mixing it with water and PVA, and then painting with the goo. Some ready pulverised rock was collecting on a river bank so I used some to make this piece. All very satisfying till I found some tiny wee wormy creatures in it, so I let the rest away. The things I do for my art! (Buyers note, I don't sell work with wee wormy bits in)

olive groves in Spain

2010-05-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

Just had a week painting in Spain with some fellow artists. The landscape was beautifully green with running water and wild flowers. The area around Fuente del Conde where we stayed was covered in olive groves and I did this piece in oil pastels.

a fabulous day until.....

2010-04-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is the fabulous snowy view of Baosbhein and the Torridon mountains on Easter Sunday. Fabulous until I flipped backwards on the squelchy grass and broke my arm. The good news is that it's the left one and I paint with the right. Could be challenging opening the tubes of paint and I might have to resort to pastels etc. Scunnered.

Abstracts at Inchmore

2010-03-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

Today I also delivered some wee abstracts to Inchmore Gallery just outside Inverness. With a bit of luck some of these will be exhibited as from this weekend. This abstract is called Eroding Landscapes

Wee Red Box

2010-03-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

So, I experimented with adding colour to the monoprints. The trick was to find a medium that didn't dissolve the ink on the prints, not easy! Some coloured inks created glowing hues and I used cut outs of these to add interest to some of the monoprints. There are ten of these artworks in various sizes in the Beauly Gallery as from Easter weekend.

Monoprints at Beauly

2010-03-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

I am busy framing a series of monoprints for the new exhibition at Beauly Gallery. The series of black and white abstract prints are the result of an exploration of patterns and shapes inspired by landscape and maps. Taking colour out of the equation was an interesting exercise in composition and tonal value. However I am continuing to play with the "rejects" intoducing small areas of colour. I have about four days to resolve this and complete the collection for delivery to Beauly.

Colour Study

2010-03-11T01:02:00.000-08:00

I like the idea of blasts of colour on a monochrome image. Here I have taken a reject monoprint and am experimenting with adding colour in the form of scraps of cellophane.

Abstract Landscapes

2010-03-02T04:13:00.000-08:00

I recently attended a course, called Abstract and Colour, at Edinburgh College of Art. These courses are always stimulating, challenging, frustrating and rewarding in equal measure but every piece of work is part of the learning process.
My abstracts usually have an underlying theme and feel of physical landscape but it's almost impossible to say what makes for a successful abstract painting. So much is down to individual perception.
This wee abstract, as yet untitled, is an example of the kind of work I am presently producing.
Is it an abstract or a landscape? Are they mutually exclusive? Does it matter in the slightest?

Through the Trees

2010-02-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

This painting lay unfinished till this week. A layer of sand created a lovely textural quality and I was very happy with the final piece. An artist friend liked it too and snapped it up unmounted. Result!
Must try a bigger version.

Hidden Landscapes

2010-02-16T05:43:00.000-08:00

I started this box canvas as an abstract, working in acrylic on a base of texture created with bits of map, gesso and PVA. Like many of my paintings, the piece went through several stages but gradually morphed into a landscape of sorts. In fact the viewer can interpret the painting from a variety of perspectives.

The painting will be in Leakey's Bookshop and Gallery as from Monday 22nd February 2010. Leakey's is a quirky and atmospheric second hand bookstore in Inverness. Inhabiting an old church, Leakey's has a huge woodburning stove downstairs and a cafe and gallery upstairs where members of the Art Society of Inverness exhibit and sell their work.

Entering the Black Box

2010-02-10T01:01:00.000-08:00

"How It Is" by Miroslaw Balka in the old turbine hall at Tate Modern is hugely impressive. I was lucky enough to arrive before anyone else and experience it alone. Walking along dwarfed by the massive metal container there is a sense of foreboding. It has the feel of a giant cattle truck.
At the far end, one walks up the ramp and enters the structure into a space of total darkness. It's weird to walk forward, eyes wide open but no spatial dimensions visible. Heart rate goes up. Eventually and unexpectedly my foot hit the back wall.
Later I revisited and this time it was a different experience with ghostly figures in the dark interior and the black silhouettes of small children entering. Spooky.

Abstracts at Beauly Gallery

2010-02-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

The title of this mixed media painting is Rock Solid. It's one of 4 small abstracts in the current exhibition at Beauly Gallery near Inverness in the Highlands.

2010-02-05T10:14:00.000-08:00

2010-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

First blog

2010-02-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

So I finally created a blog....what now? A big step for a technologically illiterate artist, so you have to bear with me.