Who else is trying to assist small companies and impartial retailers this Christmas season? Prime of my pointers for my shopper picks this Yuletide is supporting of us (considerably artists and creatives affected by the present pandemic) and naturally supporting wildlife and conservation charities.
I’m delighted to have found wildlife illustration model, Wild Traces, by zoologist Jen Parker; which manages to fulfill each of these necessities.
Jen’s fluctuate of illustrations incorporates collaborating in taking part in playing cards, calendars and present wrap; and comes with the promise of a minimal carbon footprint; with all packaging being recyclable, and the utilization of UK-based print companies that drive inexperienced values.
I used to be excited to talk with Jen to look out out extra about her enterprise, which began out on this hardest of years for mannequin new start-ups.
“I create characterful pen drawings of wildlife – usually endangered species – and share them alongside an optimistic story all through the featured species’ conservation journey,” she outlined. “This 12 months, I’ve began promoting my illustrations as prints and greetings collaborating in taking part in playing cards.”
Remaining 12 months, Jen ran an ‘Endangered Creation’ on social media, the place she posted a particular wildlife-themed design each day of introduction, and folk designs are actually accessible as collaborating in taking part in playing cards on her web site. “I’m planning on doing the same this 12 months, most certainly with a give consideration to British wildlife,” she tells me.
Jen has been sort sufficient to offer one fortunate reader of this weblog the prospect to win a set of six Christmas card designs price £15.00! Additional on that later, as we first ‘Meet the Maker’.
Meet the conservationist behind the enterprise
Theres a quote that appears to be doing the rounds on social media not too manner again; “Once you assist small enterprise, you’re supporting a dream” — efficiently, I needed to know extra about that dream…
Kate: Thanks for taking the day out of your busy schedule to talk to me, Jen. First factors first, the place and the best way by which did your ardour for wildlife start?
Jen: Rising up on the Isle of Wight, I’ve regularly been surrounded by nature. I beloved spending time exterior, nonetheless it wasn’t till I used to be about 17 that I turned obsessive about biology.
Skip forward just a few years and, having achieved a level in zoology and a masters in palaeoanthropology, I used to be packing my baggage for a six-month postgraduate diploma in endangered species restoration. The course, run by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Notion, was primarily based in Mauritius. I hoped that it would assist me to go looking out out whether or not or not or not I needed to be an area conservationist or begin a PhD. My time in Mauritius is the place my ardour for conservation really intensified.
After most certainly in all probability probably the most unbelievable experiences engaged on a various of world-renowned endangered species restoration initiatives, I made a decision that I didn’t must be an area conservationist. Nor did I’ve to do a PhD.
I used to be starting to really actually really feel as if there was a aspect of conservation that was generally neglected, and that probably I may assist with. Of us, and considerably human behaviour change, is integral to conservation success – and nonetheless hardly ever built-in deeply and considerably into conservation methods.
That was as quickly as I made up my thoughts that one of many easiest methods I may have essential have an effect on could be by communications.
That’s fascinating to take heed to, and one issue I completely relate to. So how did that evolve into you launching Wild Traces?
After I had exhausted my funds staying in Mauritius for so long as my checking account would enable, I travelled as soon as extra to the UK and took a job as editor of a veterinary journal.
It wasn’t conservation, nonetheless it was an enthralling place that taught me an infinite deal concerning the editorial world together with the implausible veterinary occupation.
It was furthermore in these first months as soon as extra contained in the UK that I felt impressed to select up an artwork work pen for the primary time. I continued to create pen drawings of wildlife in my spare time and, with the encouragement of family and buddies, held a stall at just a few Christmas markets close to my base in Oxfordshire.
In June 2019 I handed in my resignation and moved to Montserrat contained in the Caribbean, the place my companion was principal the Mountain Rooster Restoration Programme.
I spent just a few months working as a contract creator and editor earlier than focusing my time on drawing and establishing a promoting method for Wild Traces.
The thought to launch a conservation-focused illustration enterprise had been at the back of my concepts for a while, nonetheless I knew it would take some essential dedication to place into motion. Fortuitously, a swap to the Caribbean provided the suitable surroundings to get caught in.
That’s superior. What has been most certainly in all probability probably the most rewarding a part of launching Wild Traces as a enterprise?
It’s scary launching a mannequin new enterprise, considerably when your specific particular person work is the product. Nonetheless I’ve discovered it rewarding from the very starting.
It’s so pretty to take heed to that my paintings work brings individuals pleasure, or that anyone has learnt one issue new or modified only a bit behaviour due to they examine the story accompanying a bit.
I’m sharing my paintings work with a splendidly engaged viewers of folks that uncover themselves passionate concerning the pure world, and I couldn’t have requested for added in my first 12 months.
One significantly thrilling second this 12 months was when Jersey Zoo put of their first order for his or her retailer – after which one completely different one, due to individuals had been buying for my factors!
That was fairly a surreal feeling and I’m really attempting ahead to reaching extra prospects by rising my wholesale providing as rapidly as factors are only a bit nearer to ‘frequent’ contained in the retail world.
I’ve my fingers crossed for you. Which merchandise or designs have been hottest?
The Wild Traces 2021 calendar is proving extremely regarded at the moment. The wall calendar selections 12 of my endangered species drawings and 15% of earnings are donated to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Notion. Folks have tended to purchase it as a Christmas current; they’re really completely completely satisfied to assist a small enterprise together with a wildlife conservation charity whereas doing their Christmas procuring – considerably this 12 months!
My hottest print has been the Asian elephant (she’s my favorite, too!), adopted intently by the very candy juvenile Brazilian tapir. There’s not a standout winner referring to collaborating in taking part in playing cards – there’s one factor for everyone and plainly all of us has a particular favorite!
So, how do you go about selecting the animal species you employ for the designs?
Remaining 12 months, I centered on endangered animals and tried to cowl all varieties of species – from sea turtles to sloths. The arrival thought dawned on me on the finish of November and I requested my companion if he thought I may do one design each day of December up till Christmas.
I don’t know why I bothered asking, in precise reality he was going to say optimistic. So I publicly devoted and that was it! Each night I purchased proper right here up with a plan for the next day’s card design so, to be dependable, there wasn’t a wide range of a way to it!
This 12 months I’ve deliberate forward. I’m going to current consideration to the wildlife now we now have now correct proper right here on our doorsteps contained in the UK – from white-tailed eagles and natterjack toads to hedgehogs and hares.
I actually really feel it’s vital to attach with the wildlife now we now have now at dwelling; it’s straightforward to overlook what unbelievable biodiversity we’re going to uncover in Britain’s pure areas, and even in our gardens and parks.
Quite a few the species I’m that options this 12 months are the themes of conservation work. Others are doing efficiently, nonetheless merely couldn’t be missed; it wouldn’t be a British wildlife assortment with out a purple fox!
Now I’m excited for December to return once more spherical, merely to see your introduction assortment! In what methods do you hope your work will encourage others to attach with wildlife?
Every drawing brings the viewer only a bit bit nearer to nature and, I hope, will assist them to really actually really feel extra linked to the great world that we’re so fortunate to be part of.
My drawings are usually accompanied with a conservation story. The tales describe the exhausting work being undertaken by conservation organisations to guard the species and often incorporate some data on what we’re going to do to assist.
I actually really feel individuals in every single place on this planet have felt extra linked with the pure world this 12 months than ever earlier than, given the weird and troublesome circumstances the pandemic has launched with it. That was one completely different of my causes for specializing in British wildlife this 12 months.
Having spent slightly quite a bit time indoors, we turned more and more extra aware of the vital have an effect on the pure surroundings has on our well-being. We had been staring out of our residence dwelling home windows recognising birds and bugs that won’t have caught our consideration earlier than. And as quickly as we had been able to take a stroll contained in the woods, we relished the likelihood to reconnect with the pores and pores and skin world. I hope that my introduction assortment this 12 months will assist to nourish these emotions, and even possibly fast individuals to positioned on their boots and go for a acutely aware stroll amongst nature.
Now, you talked about that the Wild Traces 2020 introduction assortment would even be supporting wildlife conservation. Are you able to inform us extra?
Optimistic, for my 2020 introduction assortment, I’ve partnered with Folks’s Notion for Endangered Species – a implausible charity that raises each consciousness and funds for conservation initiatives contained in the UK and further afield.
I will seemingly be highlighting a few of their good initiatives contained in the UK and promoting the distinctive festive drawings and donating all earnings to PTES.
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