Here's my top 5 for sending  me into creative cyclone mode - or at least dragging me out of the depths of whatever mood I'm in to put paint to canvas. 

Works every time.
​Something about listening to Andy J talk abut creative stuff is super motivating.
The episodes are a great length for that initial push of two Pomodoro's.
I think I have Pavlolv's dog-effected myself with the intro because I will be picking up a brush when I hear it.
Anyway.
Cheers Andy - you da man,

This man posts the most unhinged stuff and I love it.
The inner-child goes - YES I CAN CREATE!
I think he might be my most liked on Instagram - to be honest the alogorithmn feeds me like a hungry gremlin.
Also it's worth saying our styles are nothing alike but I love the humour and absurditiy.
Takes me out of Perfectionism Brain into Creative Brain.
Thank you David for being so weird.
His page link,

Do you want to listen to a cool Australian artist talk about all sorts of arty stuff and struggles?
I do.
He's very cool.
​Yes, I am very aware at this point I enjoy other creators with rampant adhd, thank you.
He comes up with the best systems for help and manages to inspire at the same time,
Thanks Campbell - keep on keepin' on.

Do you want to watch a hobbit make things.
Yes?
I do also.
​It makes me want to make things.
It is very cosy and hilarious in equal chunks.
I enjoy watching Gremlin Mode as a reminder that things are not perfect.
Thank you for your content and living in a place I aspire towards.
Bonus points for any pet content.
Thank you Rachel - may you find the perfect trinket.

She posts when she wants to - she livin' on her own agenda, and I respect that.
It feels like Christmas to receive a video but they are always great.
​I truly award her chaos Queen for whatever is going on there.
Micarah I never knew I needed to watch a woman carry a bird places and make unhinged fashion until I found your channel.
Honestly my favourite reminder that I have for free will.
Stay cool.
​

I have many honourable mentions - but I will keep it to 5 - maybe I'll make another one as I collect more.
In general - fast, chaotic, authentic and aesthetically delicious content is good for my brain.
It makes me want to go MAKE.
So - if you read this and you even wanted any recommendations - here is 5.
Happy making, happy painting, happy creating, happy existing.

Hannah.
Back in 2023 I attended one of the most magical evenings with my friend Sophie.
I had no idea what to expect - simply that we were going to this temple out in Earl's Barton for a magical evening with some strangers hosted by Hannah. 
I had never really heard of a drum circle before - but honestly, I'm up for most stuff!

I cooked some food from a Hello Fresh recipe and headed off with some Tupperware, a notebook and some gemstones rattling around in my bag.

With a warm inviting tone Hannah welcomed us to the space.
An immediate embrace offered like an old friend.
A breath-taking, carved wooden temple that peaked at a circular window above.
Incense burning floating on the breeze.
Altar set.
Like stepping into a new world.

It might sound cheesy but there was something truly divine about that space.

Nestled into the grounds of a vineyard we met and found space in the circle.
We were to be making flower crowns, drumming together and sharing words and food.

Shoes off, toes in the grass like a child (much encouraged!).
Grounding.
The sun setting over the scene of women collecting flowers and branches for crowns.
A giddy excitement peeling into laughter at times.

Back to the temple newly crowned.
As Hannah called in the elements, I kid you not, there was thunder.
Goosebumps.
Alive.

Establishing a warm, supportive, transformative space is no easy ask.
Hannah speaks beautifully and softly and you land in the room.
Feeling both seen and respected.
Everyone brought something in with them emotionally and physically and there was room for it all.

The drumming was a journey.
Feeling safe enough to sit with whatever came up.
Hannah's song drifting in and out the rhythms,

I kept my crown a full year hung over my mirror.
When it came time to return I left it as my offering and thanks.

I came home buzzing with energy and a sense of new beginnings.
That evening I took one photo of my face - face paint melted and all.
I wanted to capture it.
No idea in that moment it would become the reference for my first portrait.

So I shared this when I saw that Hannah was making her dreams come true -
letting her know that space played a big part in re-establishing my relationship with art as expression.

We returned once more almost a year later to a painting workshop in that same magical space.
Seeing how much had changed for us both in that time... well, 3 by that point ;)
Always with pure gratitude for special people like Hannah who can facilitate these spaces for women to reconnect with themselves, with each other and with whatever is calling them.
Thank you for what you do!
Keep doing it.

I did it!
I finally made another YouTube video.
I just wanted to capture the day a bit more and thought people might be interested in the process a bit more.
So here's some mind ramblings in video form of how I build concept into shoot.

They will be performing at May Hall (Trent College) Long Eaton from the 8th - 12th April.

​Tickets here:

When I ran a survey a while back I was really interested in the mental blocks and confusions that stop people from purchasing or commissioning art. Finding the root of cause of things always fascinated me when I was coaching. I was taught that a situation keeps on happening until we address why it's there in the first place. So I wanted to see if there was something I could do from my part as said Artiste to help customers and yet-to-be-customers make the leap from 'couldn't' to 'maybe' to 'hell yeah!'. Those being in relation to whether they thought they could buy a commission piece of art. So I present the ABC's:

Have a peruse of the above if you like - I sure did.
In a nutshell:
art makes us feel.
art has always been the voice of the voiceless.
sometimes it makes you rich owning it.

It's nice to have in your home - it gives you a great talking point.
​And what a nicer way to say to a loved one or to yourself,
"​Here is the most unique gift ever because I love you so much."

Budget.
Ah, the old money conversation. That old chestnut.
I've tried to be pretty open as possible on my order page
that I charge £25 an hour - it's about what a handyman or a yoga teacher or a music teacher might charge for some more context.
It's a price I hope reflects that I've had a lot of practice in this field and I'm offering those services to you dear reader.

Because I'm not sure what you want to order yet - that's all!
It's kind of like asking a plumber for an estimate or guessing your supermarket shop before the list.
​
By filling in an order form it's like starting a conversation.
​
"Hi I'm Art Buyer Dude
I do have a budget or money isn't an object!
I'd like to buy some art in this style to give to my cat for her birthday.
It's a portrait of her - can you do it?"

Simple as that.

I can estimate from the size how much it might cost in general judging from my previous work.

Creativity.
If you do not identify as a creative person - that shouldn't stop you from liking art!
There is truly an artist out there making art in a style for everyone.
​I have worked with people comissioning pieces that have started as:
​

​I'm fine being the ideas woman - it's why I do this!

In conclusion, I now feel like I'm doing my GCSE English writing in conclusion.
In conclusion, commissioning art ain't as scary as it seems - and I hope to break some of those barriers by being honest.
Art might not be a necessity but it is something that brightens the day of the person it's for and the artist who gets to make it. If you can buy something off the specials menu - you can buy a special piece of art. My god, that was corny. I mean as in - you have the skills to commission some art. We can work with budget and we can work with not much in the way of an idea. 
I hope this gave you some food for thought.
And though I can't stop you eating my art if you buy it.
At least film it.

I've done a few free courses in my life - believe me, I used to work in a school.
But let me just say I've not been on one this good in a long time.

Our host was Paula M for two weeks and she was a fountain of business knowledge.
2 weeks! Pretty much non-stop information and support.
And it was government funded!

Every course is what you make of it of course - the workbook, chat and 1-1 advice opportunity made this one very memorable indeed.

For a creative person who has previously tried to avoid anything too left-brain in terms of business planning and money management I was face to face with it by day 1. So I stuck in and worked through it. The light at the end of the tunnel came along after day 2 and things started to click.
Trying to find where to go next when you're self employed is an absolute minefield.
This course helped to break it down and gave space for the information to digest.

I built a business plan, marketing plan, understood some fancy business acronyms, started reaching out to find collaborations and received personalised feedback and help.
I got some invaluable advice that made me rethink my who marketing strategy and where I want to go with all of this. It was a lot take in and I'm sure I'll be processing things for a while to come.

So I'm just leaving this here as a thank you to Paula and to Dawn for recommending this to me.
Thanks Ladies.
Wishing you all the best in the future should our paths cross.​

- Got my painting up in The Berliner
- Attended a job interview
- Answered "I'm an artist" when someone asked what I do 
- Started on my collection piece
- Felt more confident in talking things business!

...watch this space

The wonderful humans at The Berliner in Beeston are looking after The Wheel of Fortune.
She's on holiday there for a while because - well, art deserves to get seen.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Curtis and Katie for their support - top notch humans.
Reaching out when you're self employed is Big Girl Pants™ energy so thanks for saying yes!
This came off the back of the course I was on saying - you need to get it out there.
It's all good making this art and hoping to sell again one day.
But you gotta get it out there!

The Berliner is the best. I dream of their berlin-style potatoes and my mouth waters.
I'm so happy to have a piece of ZDAAP there for now.
Let me know if you spot her!

If you got some art and you know some people - ask them if they'd put it up for you in their business- people like to see art made by people - it's interesting.
Also I made a lil QR code for underneath that goes to my LinkTree - which is nice, then people can decide where they want to visit after scanning.

I also did feel a bit like Dexter walking around with a hammer wrapped up in my bag all day.
You gotta do what you gotta do.​

This months goal is to expand my mailing list.
Why?
Social Media is super overwhelming at times.
Some mailing lists of people I subscribe to are other creatives, studios that run classes and honestly my favourite YouTube Yoga creator ever - 10 stars if you guessed Adriene with FWFG.

I like a mailing list because it feels like a moment of calm.
It reminds me these things I am invested in exist and I often taken a minute or two to read what they're up to.

It's kind of like a - hey, I care what you got to say so - here - pop me an email.

So I thought I'd deliver an incentive and give away a piece of my art to one of my first subscribers.
I put the gentle push out and woke up the next day.
Pootled onto my mail service and genuinely teared up to see people's names on there.

So if you're here - hello!

My aims for my mailing list are
- to send out an end of month round up
- to let people know if I've got a special offer on
- to hopefully send out a sprig of inspiration

Pretty much an opportunity to pop in, say hello and express gratitude for coming along.
See you there.

It's free - dip out whenever.
Just make sure to check your spam at first.

I love a big shoot day!
Very happy to have been asked to shoot the promos for LEOS Made in Dagenham.
They will be performing at May Hall (Trent College) Long Eaton from the 8th - 12th April.

​Tickets here:

Made in Dagenham is not a musical I'm familiar with so my concepts came from a run by session with my sister who is Assistant Director.
I like my photos to tell a story and have a clear vibe to them so naturally I had a million questions for her (thanks for your patience Laura).
I love a location shoot so much as there's always inspiration strikes from the surrounding area.
Giant tire?! 
Amazing. Let's use it!
I planned each shot individually with stick men doodles and a spreadsheet.
On the day I ended up using... the stick men doodles. What can I say I'm a visual learner!
Shoot days are ALWAYS rapid. The more people, the more shots? The faster time moves!
Planning each shot saved my butt.
I'd like to take a moment to thank my human guineapig Lilly for standing in so I could quickly test each area for 
a.) are you being blinded by the sun?
b.) can i see you
The usual.
Many thanks for everyone who also brought me the chair or my stick I left behind during creative, chaotic flow mode TM.
There were shots we couldn't get and people missing and time running out etc - the usual so to that I have my favourite phrase:
Always aim for perfect and be happy with good enough.
​
The weather was on our side and the cast were excellent sports.
We had a good laugh and I am absolutely looking forward to seeing the show!

That reminds me. I need to book my tickets!

Best way to cure any camera nerves - make 'em laugh.

Dale asked if reorganising my space counted as work... yes?
The night time vibes are immaculate.