If you are in Edinburgh this weekend there are two fantastic events happening showcasing some of the best creative talent the capital has to offer. 
 The first is The Market, Design and Makers Market organised by Little Red creator, Amelia Smith.  Amelia has brought together some amazing individuals to put on a truly unique Christmas Market specialising in high quality, orginal hand made pieces.  Including the beautiful jewellery pieces that she makes for her Business, Little Red,  there will also be works by talented Artists Kittie Jones and Rosie Walters and many more.  It's going to be a great event so please come along and spread the word!......

• • When

    Saturday
  • Time

    12:00 until 17:00

• Where

  The Hall, St Columbas-by-the-castle, Johnston Terrace, just off the Royal Mile & The Grassmarket, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Yesterday I visited the Open Studio of my friend, artist Hazel Vellacott.  A very inspiring day seeing her new work based on all things birdy, which was great as some of my current work also follows this theme.  As well as paintings, prints and mosaics, Hazel has create stunning little collaged wire birds.  Check out her website www.hazelvellacott.com

I have been working on a wall mural project at a central Edinburgh Nursery.  I work as the Art Specialist at the Nursery with the pre school children and part of my remit there is to introduce children to the Arts at an early age.  Working mainly with 4 and 5 year olds, over the last year the children have built up a recognition of 8 artists and facts about each.  When I was asked to create the wall mural, I consulted with the children and decided that images of some of the works they have been learning about would be the way to go, soooo here is the end result!  When I asked the children what they thought, one child said that they couldn't understand why Van Gogh was so sad when he painted beautiful flowers!  Out of the mouths of babes!

Some images from our exhibition this weekend.  A really fantastic buzz.  We are open today from 11am-5pm as well, so if you haven't been yet, please come along.  A great way to spend a Sunday!  We are in the former Hamilton House on Portobello Promenade, the house with the turret.  Do come and join us for what we hope to be another great day!  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Jemma-K-Derbyshire/150148365350

I went to Jupiter Artland at Bonnington House today-what an amazing place!  I closes over the winter, but open until mid September-a must visit! www.jupiterartland.org

Have a look at the incredible work by Jeweller and Silversmith, Amy C Mackay.
www.amycmackay.com, stunning organic work inspired by nature's structures with a particular interest in nests.  Amy lives and works in the Scottish Highlands and the raw beauty of such an environment feeds seamlessly into her work.  She creates both unique pieces of Jewellery and Vessels.  All her work is entirely
handmade by herself in her workshop. Take a look!
 

The intention had been to post some images from a days' drawing at the newly re-opened National Museum of Scotland, however the powers that be have halted image uploading for today in order to complete site changes. So, that being the case, I shall instead convey some thoughts in text.  Today was the first day of the new term of my Drawing and Painting class, and a successful start it was!  My focus today was drawing, with the emphasis on line and mark making.  I discussed the importance of understanding what you are looking at trying to embody what it would be like to be that object, in this case-a kilner jar.  A mad hat idea it may sound, but after embracing the idea of what it would feel like to be a jar, made of glass and how it would feel to navigate around your new "body", the drawings produced conveyed a remarkable sensitivty and sound feeling of "jarness".  This made me think of the work of one of my favourite artists, the late great Joan Eardley.  Has anyone ever conveyed such an all encompassing sense of seaness?  You feel the power of the waves, the bite of the salty air and the shiver down your spine.  This I feel is what makes a piece of Art. A painting that can stop you in your tracks and tap into some sort of memory space allowing total absorbtion to an almost tangible level. 

New work by the ever inspiring Hazel Vellacott.  www.hazelvellacott.com

A wee sneak preview to some of my new work..............birdies!