On the left - me, showing up as myself ready to see where the day takes me.
On the right - some pretty cool looking architecture from Leicester.

And this below -
is the webpage I signed up for the day on about 6 weeks ago during a business course.

I initially registered my business in 2014 / 2015.
No training - no structure - an artist who liked to paint things for people.
That last part in 2025 is still true as ever,
But I've been making big changes since I re-registered in 2024.

I'm mostly writing this for 3 reasons:

So I'll be writing something for each title of what people might want to know and then a nice summary at the end. 

To get out there! I am happy with one string to my bow being individual commissions - but art can lift, heal, entertain, decorate and capture so many other places beyond peoples homes. Finding those connections without face to face contact can be like shouting into the void. Who even are you? 
And for inspiration.
I had so many great talks with people throughout the course of the day about possibilities that become opportunities and then diary dates and memories. So many genuine, kind and interested people with equally interesting business stories and passions for art outside of their career. Foxes in suits, love for abstract art and aspiring artist daughters - some great conversations.

Honestly, and this is going to perhaps come as a surprise - getting there via the train system.
I know most people would think talking to strangers or making a pitch or even walking into the room. But once you're in there - seeing everyone all talking together and knowing everyone is there for the same reason - takes a lot of pressure off. No one forces you to chat but they are waiting in case you'd like to all the same. 
Reminding myself everyone is feeling a little nervous at first no matter how cool cat they are on the outside helps too. Mention it - be honest - you'd be surprised!
But it's the trains for me - I am one for getting numbers and times all mangled up - so navigating a new journey gives me the most anxiety! Especially when they cancel your connecting train - but the staff on the platforms were super groovy and helpful. Ask for help and often - you're gonna get it.

Ok so that initial conversation is a bit like jumping off a dive-board.
But remembering you're not just speaking to a stranger in the street and that everyone is there literally to network really helps.
Susie - thanks for helping me rip off the band aid with that great, inviting smile.
And also showing me how the Linkedin scanner works. This is the future. (I am joking - but equally thank you hahah).
Try not to overthink it.
Say hello and away you go.

Sometimes you're gonna talk to people who it's clear you aren't B2B compatible with - but still appreciate a great chat. 
My unexpected moment is spending 10 minutes chatting to Gareth and having a laugh as they tried to convince me to sticker graffiti Leicester on my way home with my tiger stickers.
They're a car company.
I don't even drive.
​But what fun!

Graham said it's a Lincoln Imp!
​And you bet it's branded!

I had a great chat with Amir (very thankful to see a familiar face - would recommend taking someone or meeting someone if possible) who drops gold advice like it's going out of fashion anyway. The best advice I got was to keep building your support network - fill it with likeminded creatives, people who are supporting you, people who know way more than you, people who do different - and do the same for others. Being self employed means you are stocking your own office floor.

If you walk around with a clipboard - people are going to assume you either work there or have a stall - and that's not a bad thing - because you end up in some great chats about all sorts!
​Wear comfortable shoes if you're walking from the train station.
Also - go and get gelato afterwards - you earned it.

At the start of the year I was aware I 'should' go to things like this - I was working on changing my mindset towards being visible and comfortable in business spaces. I don't fit the stereotypical bill but that doesn't mean I'm not committed, serious and reliable. Changing the face of business by turning up as yourself helps other people to realise it's not unattainable. 
This networking event was free and it was packed - all day.
So many opportunities for connection, advice, learning and inspiration all in one building.
I'm very glad I went.
​Roll on the next one!

Leicester sights spotted on the way - such a sunny day too.

So, today we celebrate the wonderful
​

Social links:

Chloe at work on the 'Twilight' mural.

Zoe Davey  0:00  
Hi, welcome to the first video of this type on this channel. It is linked to a blog. And if you've been following my creative journey recently, you'll know that I've been making a blog every single Friday, and recently, I reached out to my mailing list because I knew there's some wonderful creative people on there that I wanted to hear from, and figure that other people might want to hear from too. And and someone replied, It was Chloe, and I was so pleased, and I'll always be so pleased and thankful for her being the first interviewee. Enjoy the interview. It's long. We go off on tangents, but I love to listen to that kind of stuff where creatives talk to other creatives. They go off on tangents, and they don't apologize for it. I've done the best I can with the audio. It will get better in time, but for now, is what it is. It's scrappy. I've done the best I can with it. I've really enjoyed this interview. We talk about what you tell her younger self about what she's doing now, we talk about what her favourite projects were, and why they were her favourite projects, and how she pushes through on the really difficult times. It's heart-warming, it's wonderful, and I hope you really enjoy it. And now there's just one more message from me before we carry on. So it turns out, if you screen record a phone call, it doesn't necessarily record the audio. So this is the video of me apologizing for not being in the corner of the screen because I turned my camera off by accident and the audio doesn't work. So we live and we learn. That's what I'm going to say.

We'll get better from our mistakes.

Chloe C  1:32  
Lady, right. We are going to make an attempt at an introduction. Okay, this is the first one of these, my honoured guest, Chloe Chicarelli, here she is all the way from America. Thank you for being the first one. Thank you for being

Always down to be your test guinea pig, whatever you need. I love this. This is so awesome, amazing.

Zoe Davey  2:01  
Um, we've basically got how many questions are we doing today? We are doing eight whole questions. But the amount of me and you like to talk this is going to be, like, six hours long. So buckle in, everyone.

Chloe C  2:14  
Shut me up if I start yapping.

Zoe Davey  2:19  
No that's the point. Is, if I'm yapping too much. I need to be reined in, because I'm the one that's supposed to ask the questions and then shut up.

Chloe C  2:26  
That's fine. I am definitely more of the listener in a relationship than us than the talker. So...

Zoe Davey  2:32  
Well, it's your turn to have the spotlight put on you. I don't know how you feel about that. Try well, for anybody who doesn't know Chloe, she is a mural artist and general creative person, I will link her stuff on her website, because it looks amazing. My favorite piece, I think that you've done, I've written it down here so I didn't forget was the Downtown Box. Like it's a huge side of the building with the birds in it, and they're like the Heron, yep. It's amazing. That's really nice colors. And that's the picture that I'm going to put in there. 

Chloe C  3:10  
A little segue into question one. Then, fantastic.

Zoe Davey  3:15  
I didn't even plan that. That's perfect. Let's what is question one. Question one is, what's your favourite project you've ever worked on? And why? 

Chloe C  3:23  
Oh, my goodness, crazy. Yeah. So Twilight, that one was called, and it's actually the biggest project that I've done to date. And funnily enough, it was only my second ever mural. So I used to work a nonprofit in downtown Dayton, and I just completed the first one. They just kind of said, Hey, did anybody want to do this mural? Nobody really wanted to paint it. The design had made. So it was already like, ready to go. And I was like, I'll do it.

Zoe Davey  3:59  
That's the dream, there, right? 

Chloe C  4:01  
Like, you're pretty good at this. I'm like, thank you. Like, any other opportunities that you've got, like, thrown my way, I'd absolutely love that. Definitely no money. This was, this was before. This was definitely getting my experience. Yeah. So yeah, the owner just approached me one day, and she was like, Hey, we're going to be doing a really big project. Would you like to be the lead muralist? And like, no hesitation. I was just like, let's go. And then she kind of proceeded to, you know, go. Just explain a little bit more about what that would all entail. It was actually a program with the Montgomery County Juvenile court system. So they it's juvie kids, you know, just under 18, kids who have, you know, maybe kind of done something they shouldn't have. They're in bad situations. It was one of them. Most like humbling things I've ever done. So they have a project called the halo project, which is helping adolescents achieve long term objectives. So it just gave these kids, you know, something to do that kept them out of trouble. A lot of them were, like, really, really good artists, and they just, you know, I'm so happy that they finally had something where they could be themselves. It was a little bit scary. I'm not gonna lie, I had a couple of like, 18, 17 year olds who were like, I'm a run. I'm a run every day. And I'm like, please don't run. I've got so much of the stuff that I have to do with this, but it was such an eye opener. I was the lead muralist on that one, so I kind of really got to understand, like, the inner workings of it all, you know, like, I didn't get too much into the budget side of things, but just kind of like all the working parts and everything that it takes to make something like that go and I just, I loved it. I loved being able to orchestrate stuff, you know, getting out there doing actual work. The design was actually done by a local, famous artist called gay Hilton. So I was just like, super stoked to be doing her work, getting it all done. It was, it was really good. It really could, really cool, really good, really cool. 

Zoe Davey  6:34  
You can see it on your website, and that that side of the building is absolutely massive as well. I think you've got, like, a panel over there and before and after.
I didn't know that they had been painting it with you as well. That's amazing. Like, I mean, to throw you in at the deep end, like, obviously you said yes, not only that, you you're also in charge of these people, making sure that they like, on task, doing their thing. And you nailed it anyway. No wonder it's your favourite.

Chloe C  6:53  
It was definitely stressful. It was literal blood, sweat and tears shed mostly, I was hoping, like heavy equipment and stuff. Yeah, it was a it was one of the most cool learning experiences, as stressful as it was, and lots of egos and personalities and stuff, it was none of that mattered. Like, the moment I had done that, every all the kids were only helping on, like, kind of, like, the block colours and stuff, I just remember there was a little bit of lettering in the bottom left corner, and that was, like, the last thing I was doing. And like, it's so crazy. Like, you start something that's so daunting, and then, like, you have that final brush stroke, and then you're like, Oh, I'm doing it so weird, all of that, all of that stress, and I finally just finished, and you're like, oh, oh, it's happened. I did it.

Zoe Davey  7:57  
It was so good. So, yeah, no, that's an amazing answer. Thank you so much. If this doesn't record, because this is our first time doing this. If this doesn't record, I'll just cry, because that was a wonderful answer, and people need to hear that, because I think it's it's really inspiring to hear the joy that comes out of doing things that aren't necessarily always broadcasted as like, job type. Isn't easy.

Chloe C  8:26  
I mean, there's a couple of things, ;)  but...

-dog barks - sorry, just making sure the dog was fed.

Zoe Davey  8:36  
Important things in life.

Chloe C  8:38  
...is that, yeah, no, I just You just gotta keep going. Just gotta keep pushing. It's really cool, even when things are hard, like, I guess this,

Zoe Davey  8:52  
Maybe then after we piggyback and we go on to Question three, because that would be a perfect segue. It's, How do you push through on a hard day? Okay? And then we can go back, unless you want to do question two?

Chloe C  9:05  
What is Question three?

Zoe Davey  9:10  
Question three is, how do you push through on a hard day when the going gets tough? What? What are your ways of pushing through?

Chloe C  9:18  
Um, so David actually has this quote that he says all the time, and it's really and I want to say this right? I'm going to try and say it, and then I'm going to make sure it's right. What is it? Leave nothing for tomorrow, which leave nothing for tomorrow, which can be done today. Abraham Lincoln, oh, we like that. And I really hold it like quite close to my heart, honestly, as I continue to, like do this and start to, you know, get deeper into this, I'm a solo artist. I. Uh, the work comes out of my hands. Like, yes, there's times where I have assistance and they can do, you know, block colouring and stuff like that. But whatever I don't do today, if I want to be lazy today, I'm going to pay for that tomorrow. Yeah, I and it can really start to become a knock on effect, and that really affects me with burnout. So, yeah, I I am. It's kind of funny, like, I do feel like quite a lazy girl at heart, and it is hard to kind of push through sometimes when all you want to do is just go home and just, like, watch something on Netflix. But I just, I just know that if I don't do it today, it's tomorrow's problem, and then that will be the next day's problem. And it kind of like weirdly pushes me to keep going. It just makes me do that extra, you know, that extra 20 minutes that tomorrow, you know, and 20 minutes every single day you've lost another hour. And then, you know, that's that Friday feeling when I want to actually go home. I've kind of been through that. So I guess it's all about just trying to find the balance, listening, obviously, to your body. And I guess this does actually kind of go into like question four as well. Yes, yes, like that. I'm getting older. My body is not getting younger. I'm trying to get fitter right now. I'm trying to be better about listening to my body, but it really has been a game changer, especially for women. Following your cycle, I think is one of the most important things that you can do, because me, in my luteal phase, all I want to do is scream and cry. I don't want to be understanding to be I don't want to be dealing with bugs. I don't want to, you know, think no matter what industry you're in, I definitely think women should do that, because we are absolutely beating ourselves raw trying to keep up with men who have cortisol levels that get reset every 24 hours. We're just different creatures. And I just, I wish that every woman would give themselves the grace that I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I don't always do this. I sometimes have headlines, you know, I sometimes have to push a little bit harder. But if I could preach from the mountain tops, listen to your body. Listen to when you need rest, listen to what hurts and what you can do. You know it's like, oh yes, self care. It's just some face masks that's put some conditioning treatment on our hair. It's so much deeper than that. It's listening then checking in with yourself. Every single day, I find myself often, and more often than not, like, in a bad mood and trying to figure out the the core of that is it my body saying, oh, I need, I need to rest. Oh, my body's like, irritated, like, everything that you need is within you. I feel like, and maybe I sound like a crazy, crazy lady at this point, but like

Zoe Davey  13:01  
I'll join you!

Chloe C  13:03  
Your body knows what it needs. And I am really trying to, like, yesterday, it we had tornado warnings yesterday, and it was crazy. And I just said, okay, my body needs to rest. And I even joke about it. It's my forced relaxation. I sit there, and I will make myself just sit there, and it's like, I just wait for my body to, like, soak in and just appreciate it. I also think there's a lot of like, good with like, meditation and all that kind of stuff as well. But that's a whole 'nother. That's a whole 'nother conversation. I like it, though. Just take care of is that so obviously, yourself, learn how to listen to your body and then actually listen to your body, and then actually do the things that your body kind of needs you to do before everybody else who's up at 5am and doing this and drinking this and doing everything that's so good like Do what makes you happy? Sometimes I'm barely surviving, so

Zoe Davey  14:04  
We're just doing our best.

Perfect. Well, what was, Oh, we're going back to two then what were the biggest challenges you faced on that project? So we kind of covered them going back to the first mural project. But what was the biggest challenge for you? Do you think 

Chloe C  14:24  
Bugs.

Zoe Davey  14:28  
 Bugs?!

Chloe C  14:30  
So many bugs. There's so many spiders, outdoors, outdoors, flying creatures and like, I don't really care for them, but it was just constantly. No, that was that was definitely not ideal, obviously painted in summer, when the lights come on at night, it's 

Zoe Davey  14:58  
Oh,my God. I. Had not even considered that that's wild. I did paint outside for pretty much the first time with acrylics the other day, and there were a few, but I imagine over there, it is a little bit Wilder.

Chloe C  15:13  
I was led over to America. Was not informed about them - horrendous.

Zoe Davey  15:18  
God damn it, David, you didn't inform her?

Amazing. What made you say yes to the first mural or creative or creative opportunity that you did? What made you say yeah?

Chloe C  15:33  
Can I swear?

Zoe Davey  15:34  
Yeah.

Chloe C  15:34  
 Why the fuck not? Yeah?

Zoe Davey  15:38  
 I agree.

Chloe C  15:39  
 I just, I'm, at that point in life, like I'm a take opportunities. I, you know, we get presented with these weird and wild things every day, and some of them can feel scary. Some of them, one right now, yeah, like this is literally to be on podcasts and stuff. And I'm just like, I am not. 

Zoe Davey  16:03  
Well, you clearly are. You're doing some great answers.

Chloe C  16:08  
And if I can do something that benefits other people as well, but women like, it's kind of funny around here late. I mean, there's, there's a lot of artists who have a lot of egos, and that's like a global thing, but just trying to find people who have, like, similar mindsets, and just, we all got to eat. We all want to eat. Why can't we all eat? You know, it's like, I really want to support everybody, and it doesn't have to be like, this petty thing and like so just fucking vibe, and we all have different skill sets. Let's come together. 

Zoe Davey  16:44  
-sings- Yes, collaborate and listen.

Chloe C  16:49  
Yes. Why not? 

Zoe Davey  16:54  
Indeed. 

Number six, we're firing through these. I'm going to check what time we're on. What time are we on? It doesn't tell you we're in the zone. Excellent. What? Where's my I can't read number six. What do you-This is my favorite little question that came up with- what do you think little you as in, like you as I don't know, maybe like 6, 7, 8, would say about the work you do now?

Chloe C  17:22  
You know, I got a little bit like, when I read your questions, I like, a little bit teared. I thought that one, oh, I think she'd just be really happy that she's doing something that's just me. You know, I just feel like we all again, we take these opportunities in life. And I got to a point, you know, had my fancy corporate job, everything was good, but I just wasn't happy. I just wasn't where I thought I wanted to be in life, and I didn't know where I wanted to be. I spent my life just thinking I'd be kind of a bit of just a floater. I've never really had like a secure friendship group. I've got my family and stuff, but I've just always been a bit of a lone wolf, so I knew that whatever I did do, I needed that to kind of fill that little bit that I always felt safe, and I've always felt safe when I'm on my own, because I only have to worry about myself, and that's clearly some therapist talk. 

Zoe Davey  18:25  
I'll make a note of that one down for you.

Chloe C  18:31  
I think she'd be really proud. I didn't, I didn't even know I would live this long. Yeah, think I'd make it, and I keep seeing milestones, and it's it's really cool, and I keep pushing, and I keep making cool stuff, and I keep doing cool stuff, so better not stop now.

Zoe Davey  18:53  
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being really honest with that answer. You could have just said anything, and you gave me your heart.

Chloe C  19:00  
And that was because you said it my whole body -visibly wiping tears-

Zoe Davey  19:05  
Well, that's how you know it's true. That's how you know it's the good stuff. Yeah. So what do you wish more people knew about the process behind your work?

Chloe C  19:19  
Everything?

Just just the care, attention, love, devotion, that I will put into what I do, like I don't. There's not many things unless, like, you're a real prick to me. I'm going to give you my everything. Like you really have to, like, be an asshole to me, for me to, like, start not giving you my fault. Yeah. Wait, what was the question again, my brain just...

Zoe Davey  19:50  
 I think the question was, what do you wish people knew? Yeah, what do you wish more about the process behind it?

Chloe C  19:56  
Yeah, just the work that goes in behind. Scenes, the admin, the putting in every single receipt that I've ever spent on any kind of pain, figuring out how to be a business owner, because this is my first year full time. I still don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm figuring it out every day, and...

Zoe Davey  20:21  
...clearly something's working.

Chloe C  20:24  
I just wish people would give me the support and appreciate artists and the time and effort that does go in, because I will forever wear mug across my forehead. If I could do everything for free, I would, yeah.

Zoe Davey  20:38  
But we can't. We can't eat that way.

Chloe C  20:42  
I could do this, like, just as a philanthropy thing, that would be awesome. Maybe one day, that is where, maybe one day, because I hate talking about money, but we gotta eat.

Zoe Davey  20:53  
We have to eat, we have to pay for houses. We have to put clothes on our bags because we get arrested otherwise, you know? 

Chloe C  21:00  
Yeah, I guess that's the thing. A lot of people come to me and go, Well, I could do that. And I'm like, Well, go on. And then, well, you know, the cost of this, the cost of that, the cost of that, they can't seem to think of all the things like I, I was painting a mural, what, three days ago, and a guy came over. He was a general contractor, and I had four brushes laying on the floor. He was like, why have you got $200 just spilled out on the floor like that? And I went, Oh, you actually understand the value of things. 

Zoe Davey  21:36  
That's really cool, my friend, I saw something in my friend's story the other day that was like someone had asked, like, oh, you're a photographer. Do you just do that for fun or whatever? And then it was like, No, I just go to places with 300 300 Wait, 3000 pounds worth of equipment just hanging off me and try and make friends with toddlers for fun. No, of course, it's my job. But yeah, it's like when someone realizes how either how much time something takes, how much something costs, or how much effort and understanding and trial and error, how many times you failed before you got to that point when they recognize that, oh, that's a good day. That's a nice day. That's almost better than a pat on the back. It's a I see, I see what's going on here.

Chloe C  22:26  
I do. I mean, like, when I do my abstract stuff, a lot of people, that's where you really start to get the oh, well, I could do that. 

Zoe Davey  22:33  
Like, what the pain pouring thing, it looks amazing?!

Chloe C  22:36  
Just abstract work in general. Like, yeah, sometimes stuff only does take me two hours, and, yeah, charge you $1,000 for it, because that's how many times before, years and years and years learning all these different things to get me to that point. And it's just like anything. I just wished artists were kind of treated like general contractors. That's kind of where I feel in the same vein, yeah, yeah. 

Zoe Davey  23:05  
Never questioned a plumber. Never questioned a plumber in my life.

Chloe C  23:09  
Weird, isn't it? I can't believe we've made

Zoe Davey  23:12  
It has come to the last question, but we have, is there a moment in your creative journey that changed everything for you. 

Chloe C  23:23  
I was thinking about really, like trying to think of like something profound,

Zoe Davey  23:32  
It's okay, if there's nothing.

Chloe C  23:35  
I think it's kind of been like a slow burn more than anything. Yeah, I feel like every single little thing that I've done, I mean, I will say that working at the nonprofit, opened up a lot of doors, met a couple of people. I mean, yeah, just definitely, just through the years, just kind of, you know, building it up, building it, building it up. And like, now I'm at a point where, like, I'll go on Facebook every day and somebody's tagged me about a project, and like, I feel like just getting that reputation. And, yeah, you know, it's, I could lose that reputation in one day. I could do something, say something like, you know, cancel culture, like, and as a 90s baby, it can, it can be hard sometimes to find, like, where the wokeness is, and like what I can and can't say. I feel like, since moving to America, I was kind of given a, like, a bit of a second chance. I got to become the person that I know I am without all the past and everybody else's opinions and all that kind of stuff, you know, and it made me realize that I am a good person, and I want to do good in the world. And since that really it's just motivated me to want to do more. And I think within. Motivation comes that, you know, just it tumble. It's a big Tumbleweed of feelings and emotions to it.

Zoe Davey  25:11  
Doesn't have to be a movie moment right?

Chloe C  25:13  
 Sometimes, on and on and on, little meet cute, where everything just kind of went. You're a magical artist. 

Zoe Davey  25:21  
It's now, like, congratulations, but like, it's today, you're a magical artist. 

Chloe C  25:26  
Now, I feel like I've worked really hard over the like, I mean, I went to art school, I did all that good. 

Zoe Davey  25:36  
You did.

Chloe C  25:38  
Everything has just come out to this point where it was supposed to be. And again, I'm floating in a random country, in a random town, and my name's on buildings, and it's just, it's bizarre, but amazing. So yeah, definitely no magic firework moment, just a nice little slow Ember that's growing, and I hope it just keeps growing, because we should I want this to go to glow, glow forever with a because you're glowing right now, because this is so bright, the sun's just come out for the first time.

Zoe Davey  26:15  
Oh my gosh. Um, thank you. Thank you. That's not going to cover it. It's not going to cover it. It's it because, like, you need the people in your life who take a chance, and you take a chance of me all the time, so and now you're doing this for me. A special wish that this recorded properly. Wish with me. Ready? Please, please, please. -Chloe wishes, fingers crossed, on camera-. And then I had the little thing pop up that was like, You need to upgrade if you want to do 10 more minutes worth of speaking. I was like, I think the takeaways from this will be so lovely, because you've been so honest and so just full of joy about it all. And I think that shines through at the end of the day, even though things get really rough and like life is trying. Like, the thing that keeps shining through is that you love doing this stuff, and you love making beautiful things for people. And like, if you can keep doing that, then you're gonna pretty happy be

Chloe C  27:17  
I wanna, I want people to smile. Like, I mean, somebody almost crashed the car yesterday, and a policeman went like the wrong way yesterday, just because they're looking at my work and I that's one thing of a town where I don't think people understand general laws, but that's okay.

Zoe Davey  27:39  
I mean, that's a high compliment

Chloe C  27:41  
Oh God, Ohio now.

Zoe Davey  27:44  
So I think we'll carry on. Go, go.

Chloe C  27:50  
You inspire me again. The fact that you you have shown that you know, just because it doesn't always go the way you want it to the first time. Like tenacity, Zoe is it's all inspiring. It really we're doing this. Like, I just, we all have like things that we can, like, look up to, and like, just, I don't know, I love your style. I love how you can just bash it out and not overthink stuff, like everything that like, I wished I could do, like you just do it. You don't worry. You just do how do

Zoe Davey  28:28  
Oh how do you a how do you know I don't worry? You interview me one day. I'll tell you!

Chloe C  28:34  
You finished a painting. Zoe, 

Zoe Davey  28:37  
Oh, that is true.

Chloe C  28:38  
 I have ones, but I can finish them.

Zoe Davey  28:41  
But I'll get on you after we finish this, this interview, in a second, I'll harass you about finishing some art. How about that?

Chloe C  28:47  
Yeah, I mean, I'm getting my studio space set up right now, so I'm kind of, I can't wait to see that journey and where that all goes and my canvases have gone so like that's happening in the next you fully, fully talked, amazing, right? 

Zoe Davey  29:04  
Where can people find you if they don't know who you are or they don't already follow you? 

Chloe C  29:08  
They can find me on Facebook, on Instagram and Chloe Chicarelli Instagram at, just at, it's just because I sometimes put stuff on Tiktok. I am not the biggest social media girl.

Zoe Davey  29:25  
Want to we'll get there. You're a great example of someone who is bossing it without having to completely follow the norm. So that's okay. If there's people out there who are like, I don't know it, you're in that boat too, and you're still smashing it. 

Chloe C  29:41  
So okay, as the ex social media manager, I don't want to, I don't want to be there. And if you mural, I am International, you can go on my website, submit request, www.chloechicarelli.com,

Zoe Davey  29:57  
Oh my gosh. I want to see where this leads. I'm very curious. Trying to edit like that. All right, we're gonna end it now. Thank you for listening to everyone. Bye.

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.

Following last weeks Birthday Post - 31 Artist Thoughts - it got me thinking about the future.
And I've still got this quote from a course swimming about in my brain:

Dreams stay dreams unless we do something about it.
So I'm looking back at what I wanted to 'be' when I was a kid.
I love that.
I did a course with my dear pal Caitlin recently about calming your nervous system around money.
It turned out pretty great in the end and had some practical applications -
I think our respective partners did believe we had joined a cult, but we roll!
I followed the host on LinkedIn - so I don't think we did?
(that is a joke. Kate Northup is a cool cat and had some great stuff to say on compound interest, financial compursion and adding value to your life.)

Her mantra is about learning to 'be' before we learn to 'do'.
Working from a place of grounded resonance.

I've noticed I've done a big circle and I'm back to where I started but with more knowledge this time around.
I wanted to make art.
Play characters on stage.
Teach.
and I think I wanted to be a vet - but honestly. I know I am way too much of an emotional sponge for that. Maybe I will satisfy this by getting a pet again.

I tried the 'make a living acting' and it turned out - not fun.
To be fair to myself I had 0 plans and I was also not very well.
So I'm returning to the am dram roots and having fun again.

I tried the teaching out - in the form of coaching.
I liked it but I knew it wasn't fully me (the emotional sponge thing).

So I'm back to art.
And I'm looking at what went wrong from a place of curiosity.
- Have a plan 
- Understand business 
- Don't avoid the sticky stuff - it's the most important (accounts, maths, complicated stuff).
​
So them's the goals right?
​
That's how we get the dream into a reality - we put it in a calendar and work backwards.
And get sweaty palms when we publish shops.
And get a fast heartbeat when we message a customer the first time.
We keep going.

1. Get some art into a gallery - feel like the real deal!
2. Get that YT following - make a community!
3. Teach some art - get someone else inspired!
4. Paint some portraits - help people feel seen through art.

That's my dream list for now.
One day I might look at it and think it's small in comparison - for now - it's pretty big.
I'm a fan of dreaming a step at a time.
I'll let you know if they get any bigger!

Why 31?
​Well, today - I am 31!
​🥳

​Somehow that kid on the left is 31? 

31 Thoughts on creative/art things just for you.

1. Art block is an important time in life - its you facing your resistance and perfectionism. It's you needing a rest. It's normal and it will end and you'll work out how to get through by getting quiet and listening to yourself.

2. You should keep at least one creativity practice just for you in my opinion - no posting, no sharing - just for you to get your feels out or to mindlessly create.

3. Find the little reward that gets you to do the tougher stuff - mine is stickers.

4. Every time you feel like you hate what you're making - take a break.

5. Take a break before you hate it.

6. Find the time of the day you feel the most creative and use it. Aka don't force yourself to create at 9am if you are not a 9am person. Alter working hours accordingly. 

7. It is ok to buy a present for someone's birthday even if you are 'usually' the one who makes them.

8. Put your tea and your paint water on separate surfaces if possible.

9. You don't have to finish every project if you don't need to. I mean, if it's a client project obviously you do - but if it's a half felted hedgehog - it's ok - you can let it go.

10. Write or doodle the 'idea' that pops up down as soon as you get it.

Zoe, about 14.

​11. Have a notebook handy for this purpose! One you look at regularly and can weed out the good stuff or look at when your imagination has run dry.

12. Give yourself permission to adapt and shift in your style and in your practice.

13. Sit with your mental blocks and your resistance to things - you learn a lot in these moments when you approach them with curiosity and not blame. Do this with journaling, meditation and I recommend talking to yourself.

14. Don't belittle your old work - I've definitely done this - it was coming from a place of insecurity. I was trying my best back then and I'm trying my best now. I've improved and I'm proud. You never know who is watching and where they are at in their own journey.

​15. You're going to end up loving what you loved as a kid and called 'cringe' as a teen so you might as well lean into it.

16. You have to be prepared to be not good to start whatever you're starting.

17. Buy a bigger canvas.

18. You are going to finish pieces you don't like.

19. Always account for a 'Pandora's Box' in a big project. Just write PB and give it wiggle room. Something is going to go wrong at some point.

20. Admit when you need help. The more you do it the more you'll see it coming and the less it will be about crisis management.

It's me - I think I'm 24.

21. No one is going to call you an artist until you call yourself one.

22. Put the date in the diary to make the thing. Stick to it.

23. Just because someone is 'already doing it' doesn't mean that you shouldn't. I.e. someone already paints woodland creatures with little party hats. WELL. I think the world needs MORE.

24. Shop local business when you can - it gives people so much joy.

25. Take a sketchbook wherever you can.

26. Your sketchbook does not need to and, in my opinion, should not need to, look like a finished piece of art.

27. Celebrate the creatives around you whenever and in whatever way you can. They need the love!

28. Art is a voice for the voiceless.

29. Talk to your self employed friends about your business goals - they get it and they might have some amazing advice. Listen to their stories too.

30. Paint the thing that either slightly scares you or makes you nervous. Do it.
​
31. If you can get your face painted like a dragon you should.

Finding time and space for creativity again.

I mentioned it in the 'Bury a Friend' behind the scenes video - but making 'photoshoots' is something I've been doing since I was a kid. That - and making YouTube parodies in the summer holidays with friends. The most cherished memories. Just the kids who took a DSLR and random clothes in a bag to a field to simply make stuff.

Doing the same thing recently when I felt the need to change up my reference person (from myself) - it felt like stepping back in time - galivanting around with a bag of outfits and at one point
​- a large fake sword...

​ I've added some examples of baby Zoe and gang below.

I went through many stages with how I felt about this hobby.
I think we all go through those phases that we cringe at as we get older.
But I think I've somehow managed to come full circle!
Because, at the end of the day - it's harmless fun and childlike creativity. Not putting too many structures in place and going - hey - let's make something.

We seemingly had all this 'free time' as kids.
Our brains weren't as full thinking about bills for one!
I think time was more relative, slower even. We got this 6 week block of time we knew was coming each year smack bang in the middle of summer.
I've found the best thing is sticking the photoshoot in my diary and keeping to it. Once my brain recognises 'oh, we're taking this seriously? It's actually in the diary?' - it gets done.
Something else more important will always take over otherwise.
It's not always something more fun either.
But if I know I've scheduled in creative time then I somehow find time to do the hoovering.
They are both 'important'.