April 2025 blog | painting and writing

As mentioned last month, my novel-writing had gotten to a stand-still and I was a little burned out from art. I attempted to re-kindle my love for writing by planning out another, shorter story. That worked for a few days.

For my art-making, about half-way through the month I decided to build my portfolio to submit to a potential opportunity I found online.

Painting

I enjoyed painting two pieces at the same time, which I’ve rarely ever done. I used @stillherestilllife’s photo prompt of an odd spread of vegetables and a fish vase to paint in my sketchbook, while I used my own photo reference of a spread of sweet treats on a separate sheet of watercolour paper. The main aim of the latter piece was for building up my portfolio with this new watercolour-and-pencil direction I’ve been taking my art in lately. I really enjoyed painting and outlining the interesting shapes in the fish vase.

Starter Pack

If you’ve been on Instagram you’ve likely seen the ‘Starter pack’ trend that uses Ai to make a (frankly terrible) doll out of someone’s photo. Real artists have been fighting against this trend (which, as all Ai art does, steals art from other artists) by drawing their own versions of the ‘Starter pack’. You know, with their actual hands and creative minds.

I decided to join in on this. In my sketchbook I drew out a portrait of myself (which I have done maybe only one other time in my life) and a couple of things that represent me. I scanned these watercolour drawings into Procreate and put them together. It was a fun little project. I really love how the background turned out especially.

Chepstow Castle

We went out to Chepstow Castle this month, where I focused on painting en plein-air more than sketching. I used watercolours to make two pieces of different parts of the castle, to then finish off with linework at home. I really liked how the sketches looked, a little more than the final pieces! The painting of the main keep (yellow painting) is not completely finished as I ended up not having very much fun with it.

I did still do some sketching in my travel sketchbook of the castle, too.

---

Again, I was trying to build up my portfolio with watercolour pieces, so I decided to make a piece from a sketch in one of my sketchbooks of Croome Court. I…don’t think it’s anything special.

---

Sketchbook play

I genuinely keep forgetting about my self-imposed aim to skethbook everyday, but when I do I make sure to be as loose and free of worries as possible - just playing, not trying to make final pieces.

Arthole Party

I was very kindly invited to Arthole’s shop opening party in Cardiff. The space looks great so far and watching the studio spaces getting built it very exciting (I so wish I lived near and had the money to rent one!!).

Writing

Nearing the end of the month, something clicked, because I was suddenly back to my novel-writing, getting thousands of words out a day. I’m back to enjoying it and am really glad I’m back on track to finishing the first draft this year :)

---

If you’ve read this all the way through, consider supporting me and my work by going over to my Etsy shop and having a browse if you like zines, stickers and prints mostly based around nature and travelling. You will also find my pet portrait commissions there! letsgetartyshop.etsy.com <3