Recently I was at a life drawing 'event'.
Ok, it was a Hen Do.
But I do regularly go to life drawing classes when I can.

And the model was offering out charcoal to sketch with.
A 'proper art tool' in my mind.
The pressure was on all of a sudden.
Make something good - it's a 'proper' tool.

So I turned around and I picked up a grey felt tip pen and immediately felt a lot calmer.
Felt tips are for making a mess.
Felt tips are for expression.
Felt tips ask for bold moves but without the judgement.

I am aware this is slightly ridiculous.
You could think the exact same way about charcoal.

I fully recommend changing up your tools to see what clicks.
For years I painted in watercolour and never really anything else.
I tried acrylic and I loved the depth of colours it gave and the fast drying (I'm a little impatient - adhd).

Sketching in HB pencils felt awful.
I was aiming for a finished line art straight away - it took too long to make marks and most importantly - I could erase it.
Meaning I would get stuck in this cycle of make a mark - rub it out.
Not learning to trust what I was drawing or forgive myself for mistakes.

But felt tips - that's for some big boy moves.
And.
It's seen as a 'kids' art tool.
Somehow - in my head, it takes the pressure off.

I use felt tips a lot in my digital line art - I love the textures it brings both in the sketch and line art.
I never really got on with digital pens - couldn't find a flow.
So my digital work is like a collage of hand-drawn parts and Photoshop.

Before we start - I'll let you know I'm not about to start laying into commissions I've done in the past for anyone else.
There have been some I have not been happy with - especially in the early days.
I did not have as much experience and I was trying my best - so I'm letting bygones be bygones.
I learnt a lot from those about managing expectations, not rushing and that it would have been totally ok to start again!
I don't think there is much kindness in making fun of past work when it's the best you could do at the time. You never know who is reading or watching and comparing. These 5 are all from my Inktober challenges - where you do a piece a day to a prompt. I didn't have the time to fix them or always properly plan which had some... interesting results!

These are my 5 worst 'posts' on Instagram that I still to this day - cringe a little to look at.
Ok - that is dramatic.

I'll be offering positives, constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.

The Positives
- Nice use of colour
- Concept is pretty cool!
- I now have Thunderstruck by ACDC in my head and you do too.

Constructive Criticism
- Needs more depth with light and shadow
- More attention to detail on body proportions

​Suggestions
- Redraw with a larger torso and hands in proportion
- Add more shadow and light to the clouds
- Perhaps as an acrylic this would reach the level of drama needed of a Greek God!

The Positives
- Cool screenshot reference to use, I remember going digging through episodes
- I like the texture detail on his hair
- At first glance it's pretty cool

Constructive Criticism
- It's missing structure in Lucas's face making him a bit too 2D
- That hand is wayyy too small on the left

​Suggestions
- Draw it bigger to get that detail! I remember them all being in an A4 sketchbook 
- Fix those hands with size reference
- Do some warm up practice on Lucas's facial structure

The Positives
- Nice colour scheme - very Mad Max
- I like the effort on the arm structure
- Textures on the body are pretty cool

Constructive Criticism
- Even at this point I know I rushed that hand. 
- Unclear structure to Furiosa's outfit
- Face needs more study

​Suggestions
- I think this was A5 so - you guessed it - draw it bigger!
- Sketch out a shape plan for the top and harness
​- Use a ruler for the gun to make it pop!

The Positives
- Good shadows and lights 
- I like the hair on the edges
- I like the eyes too - when I look at them as a section they look pretty well proportioned

Constructive Criticism
- I know for a fact that the reference photo I used that man had a different lower facial structure
- Hands - alas

​Suggestions
- Do some practice sketches to loosen up and explore his face shape beneath the hair
- The hand needs more definition from the face with shadows 
- Draw out a map for the whole sketch first

The Positives
- It's obviously the Hulk!
- I like the texture on the trousers
- Right hand is actually pretty good!

Constructive Criticism
- Not enough shadow and light
- Face falls flat
- Surface beneath needs to be straighter to give him a grounding

​Suggestions
- Zoom in - pick a more dynamic pose
- Use a ruler for the base
- I think this is one for colour - taking away his green is weird!

Look, I'm all one for some cool insight.
But I am aware of how much a stretch "daily yoga helped me start my business" sounds.

Up there is a post-it covered in stickers.
It's how I track my yoga practice - I hesitate to say 'daily' as that's not completely true - but I try my best to show up every day to the mat every day.

I've followed the Yoga calendars.
Done the random spin and pick.
Searched key words for what I felt I needed on that day.

On the good days - you feel great.
On the average days - it's 20 minutes that you know is good for you.
On the bad days - you still get a sticker anyway.'
On the worst days - you definitely need it the most.

I'd decided to start this practice this year as I've always been inconsistent with yoga.
I'm a big example of 'tries it for a week and then has to give up because something else comes along'.
I realised the habits I had built which stuck were the ones I did every. single. day.
(or at least plan to and keep coming back to)
The difference being  -

Yes, it's nice for exercise and a moment of calm each day.
I've done it solely for those separate purposes in the past.
But the practice undeniably soaks into the rest of your lifestyle.

I started to notice I was building mental stamina in the face of stress.
I was staying calmer in a crisis's and I was starting to believe more in my own abilities off the mat.
​The world looks different in downward facing dog.

I've been fitter.
I've been stronger.
And I've been more flexible in the past.
But what I couldn't do was stay consistent.
And that's the part that is more important to me now.

I'd like to add that your reasons are your reasons and they are perfectly dandy indeed.
​I'm not judging here.
I use Adriene because I love her nature and vibe, it's nice to tune in each day for the familiarity - you use whomever or no one - that's up to you.

So what the heck has it got to do with an art business?
Well it's that 'soaking into the rest of your life' part.
Those hard practices, new moves, consistency, gritting and breathing though bad moods, looking at things upside down, turning up every day even no one is checking.
Yep.
All of that is really useful when you're being your own boss.

Knowing your own expectations of yourself.
Being kind when you fall short of them.
And getting up the next day to do it again.

So I'm going to keep going with both.
And I'll either see you on the mat - or in the studio - same difference pal.

and a time consuming business to run behind the scenes.
Ah, the life of a self employed artist in 2025.

I want to make this clear - this is not me complaining.
I thoroughly enjoy a lot of what I am doing.
I love making reels, I love editing long form videos and I actually love updating my website. I don't see it as a chore a lot of the time - more like the extra limb to my art practice.
I enjoy writing this blog, I can find cheer in making social media posts and I adore connecting with people.
Learning the ropes for digital marketing and the absolutely overwhelming intricacies of SEO has taken me a good amount of my time so far and I still have a long way to go!

I try to remind myself daily what it's all for - so I can keep making art and being creative.
I try to keep making it my no.1 priority even when things get super busy/super tech heavy.

Setting up my art shop was not easy - I had no idea I was going to have to understand 3 different platforms in order to outsource.
The successful combination of Printful, Stripe and Weebly felt like an algebra lesson.
​I did that moment out of ratatouille where the critic yeets back to his childhood in his head. Information overload. Help! I want to draw instead! 
Trying to link it all up took a lot of brain power.
I knew setting up a non-outsourced print shop at the moment wasn't a great move for the physical space I'm in. Plus - I'm pretty clumsy and there is paint and glue everywhere in my space...
​In the future - I'd love to.

Learning what SEO is was a minefield too. It took a good few hours on a course before it started to click. I felt the resistance of all this new information on the first day - I was so, so grumpy.
I took myself for a walk like some kind of stir crazy dog.
Grit my teeth kind of stuff.​

Digital marketing also feels like standing on a stage every day going,
"hey guys. it's me again. I do art."
On rough days it's tough - just like any job can be.
I'm constantly resetting my mindset about why I'm doing all of this.

Beyond that - I can already see the potential for burn out in this type of job.
You are doing the work of an entire team.
So, I'm trying to be as patient as possible with my growth with that in mind.
Keep my work/life balance as decent as possible - sitting down each week and each day to see the lay of the land.
​
What is essential?
What can I set to post so I can have my weekend?
How long is this piece going to take?
Trying to ask the smart questions.

But I think most importantly.
What support can I get?

I am very much looking forward to working with The Kings Trust - It's free and for those under 30. (I turned 31 on the 23rd May and I made it in - phew).
- I'll post about it soon to update anyone who is interested.

Time limit? Check.
At the mercy of the elements? Check.
Slightly pressurised environment in the form of a competition? Check.

On the last day of May 2025, Long Eaton Community Garden hosted Artist of the Year - and I was lucky to be a part of the competition!
4 hours to paint a piece inspired by the surroundings of this wonderful space teeming with plants, flowers and wildlife.
The community garden contains a lovely pond (which usually hosts ducks), a greenhouse strung with colourful bunting and even a row boat surfing the waves of grass. They host 'Little Foresters' and you can get involved as a volunteer on Mondays and Thursdays. Check the link above or look them up on Facebook.

​Hour one and two were pretty blissful. Smiling along. 60's tunes. Chats with fellow artists. Literally went for a walk around the spaces. Ate some cake. Drank some tea.
​Honestly very chill and a swell time.
​
Hour three - I was already listening to much heavier music to try and make friends with my painting again and convince myself it was going to work out. I allowed myself some short wanders of about a minute at a time to try and reset. Glugged some more tea. Locked in a little more.
​
Hour four I had moved onto my angry gym playlist and there was paint in my hair and I actively jumped at one point when someone tried to talk to me.
​I had major empathy for the Bake Off contestants when Noel or Sandi or Alison yells:
"15 minutes Bakers, you have 15 minutes."
And they all yelp and scatter like ants.

I have watched landscape artist of the year.
But I feel like Bake Off somehow encapsulated the fire hearing that lit under me better.
​

Truly my creative process every single time James.

Here's a photo I accidentally took of my face when I was trying to take the one of the foxglove up close because I think I need glasses.

The weather was idyllic - not too hot but warm.
Little bit too windy for trying to hold down sketches so my equipment and my easel made a break for it a few times.
Actually my finished piece leapt from the judging zone at least twice in a big gust just face planting the concrete. 
Just to the distant sound of me going "oh no".
I think she was nervous.
I am going to buy some easel clips - thank you to Martin for trying to lend me yours - you are a star.

I think my Bake Off feeling probably mostly came from the homemade cakes, scones and flagons of tea. If I hadn't needed to lock in after hour 2 I think I'd have happily just drank tea and chatted all day.
Many thanks to the ladies for having the Fuel of Artists readily available.

I decided to paint the first plant I saw upon entering the Community Garden - the bright pink foxglove. I watched a bee nestling in his lunch and I thought - yep. Trying to keep it simple and focus in on this little tableau. (I have at least learnt in my years that 4 hours is not actually that long for a canvas this size!). I love that shade of pink - it features a lot in my pieces - and over the process blues, browns, blacks and purples made their way onto the canvas too.

I planned to document the entire thing in time lapses - and I mostly achieved this!
It turns out its really hard to multitask two full time tasks during a competition.
​And to do without a phone tripod (it will fall over mid video).
Lesson learned.

So I leave this short post to say there will be a behind the scenes/speed paint video.
I'm so glad that this event happened!
Thank you for organising it!
Well done Martin and Alix for achieving first and runner up!
​
Artists happily painting and sketching away amongst the flowers and  grasses.
Chatting with fellow creatives and making new connections.
​The added fun of a competitive edge and plenty of caffeine.


Well done everyone who showed up and created a piece - you're awesome,

​What a perfect day.