Here at Slowdown Studio we love collaborating with emerging and established artists from across the globe. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Imogen Sinclair, the artist behind the new Mother Nature's Magic Art Print. Imogen is a Manchester-based artist who makes art to help her see the magic in things we treat as ordinary and remember how strange and beautiful it is to be here.
What inspired your artwork for this print?
This work was inspired by Mother Nature. I love exploring the magic that is Mother Nature through my art. So often we can sleep walk through life and I think I make this work to open my eyes and remind myself just how mind blowing this life really is. Flower’s spring out of the ground and I think that is just so insanely cool and something I want to celebrate.
This work was inspired by Mother Nature. I love exploring the magic that is Mother Nature through my art. So often we can sleep walk through life and I think I make this work to open my eyes and remind myself just how mind blowing this life really is. Flower’s spring out of the ground and I think that is just so insanely cool and something I want to celebrate.
How does living in your city/town influence your work? Is there anything about your city that has defined how or what you create?
Manchester is a beautiful city with such a strong sense of identity. There’s a realness to Manchester that I just love. The communities I have found here are always inspiring my work. There are people really committed to making the world a better place. The people, the places, the communities around me every day give me so much to smile about - naturally, that will always have a massive influence in how I make and what I make.
Manchester is a beautiful city with such a strong sense of identity. There’s a realness to Manchester that I just love. The communities I have found here are always inspiring my work. There are people really committed to making the world a better place. The people, the places, the communities around me every day give me so much to smile about - naturally, that will always have a massive influence in how I make and what I make.
What is your favorite way to slow down?
Taking off my shoes and touching some grass is the ultimate slow down for me. Going for a walk in the rain and just getting outside. I’m also a yoga teacher so you’ll usually find me slowing down by getting on my mat. And there’s so much more - listening to music and having a laugh, that slows me down and brings me back to myself always.
Taking off my shoes and touching some grass is the ultimate slow down for me. Going for a walk in the rain and just getting outside. I’m also a yoga teacher so you’ll usually find me slowing down by getting on my mat. And there’s so much more - listening to music and having a laugh, that slows me down and brings me back to myself always.
Who do you think is the most exciting emerging creative in your city?
I am really loving Manchester based artist Donnie O’Donnell. His work is popping up everywhere and he really has such a distinct style and expression.
I am really loving Manchester based artist Donnie O’Donnell. His work is popping up everywhere and he really has such a distinct style and expression.
Where are your favourite places to go in your city?
My favourite places to go in my city are my yoga studio, YogaSoul, and Plattfield Market Gardens. Both incredible communities bringing people together and doing amazing work.
My favourite places to go in my city are my yoga studio, YogaSoul, and Plattfield Market Gardens. Both incredible communities bringing people together and doing amazing work.
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself when you were starting out in art?
Let it be messy, let it be bad, let it take time. Allow the process to unfold as it unfolds, have some trust and some faith even when things are unknown, and keep moving forward.
Let it be messy, let it be bad, let it take time. Allow the process to unfold as it unfolds, have some trust and some faith even when things are unknown, and keep moving forward.
What are you listening to in your studio at the moment?
I listen to a lot of different stuff. It’s kind of all over the place. Think anything from Talking Heads to Nina Simone to Alice Coltrane to Fela Kuti to Kate Bush to the Sugababes, and everything in between. One of my greatest joys is music, it plays such a huge influence in my work and I always want to listen to as many different kinds of music as I possibly can. Give me the classics, give me the lesser known, give me the ambient give me the funk give me the dance music give me it all.
I listen to a lot of different stuff. It’s kind of all over the place. Think anything from Talking Heads to Nina Simone to Alice Coltrane to Fela Kuti to Kate Bush to the Sugababes, and everything in between. One of my greatest joys is music, it plays such a huge influence in my work and I always want to listen to as many different kinds of music as I possibly can. Give me the classics, give me the lesser known, give me the ambient give me the funk give me the dance music give me it all.
What's the most memorable book you've read in the last few years?
The most memorable book I’ve read in the last few years is The Tools by Phil Stutz. It is a book you can pick up and come back to again and again, it is a brilliant guide for life.
The most memorable book I’ve read in the last few years is The Tools by Phil Stutz. It is a book you can pick up and come back to again and again, it is a brilliant guide for life.
What has been the happiest/most rewarding moment of your art career?
I think the most rewarding part of my career for me isn’t a particular moment but more a general thing, which is watching the work change and evolve as I change and evolve as a human being. It’s the lessons you learn in creating and continuing to create even when you don’t really know where it’s going. I am really into the philosophy of making - the lessons you learn in making a mess and figuring it out and how that can be applied to all of life not just my creative practice.
I think the most rewarding part of my career for me isn’t a particular moment but more a general thing, which is watching the work change and evolve as I change and evolve as a human being. It’s the lessons you learn in creating and continuing to create even when you don’t really know where it’s going. I am really into the philosophy of making - the lessons you learn in making a mess and figuring it out and how that can be applied to all of life not just my creative practice.
What are you most excited/looking forward to this year?
This year I became a yoga teacher and I am most looking forward to figuring out how my yoga practice and my creative practice can collide and collaborate. Whether that’s workshops or expressing and exploring yoga philosophy through my work. I am really excited to investigate the intersection between these two things and see what comes out.
This year I became a yoga teacher and I am most looking forward to figuring out how my yoga practice and my creative practice can collide and collaborate. Whether that’s workshops or expressing and exploring yoga philosophy through my work. I am really excited to investigate the intersection between these two things and see what comes out.
