First off, thank you for stopping by. I’m really excited to share my creative journey with you—whether it’s new projects, bits of progress, or the occasional spilled tea (because there’s always some, right?).

Over the past few years, making art has become a form of meditation for me. The art world can feel oversaturated and honestly, putting your work out there is no small feat. But you’ve got to start somewhere—so, here I am.

I’m Kate, and I’m an artist… or at least, I make things. What I’ve learned recently is that my best work comes when I create what I love—not what I think others want to see.

Printmaking was my first love, followed closely by illustration. Lately, I’ve found myself gravitating toward painting. I think learning reduction printmaking helped me understand how to build forms, which now really informs how I paint.

This week, I’ve been playing with sketching in the garden using a thick black calligraphy pen. I block out the shapes of plants by holding, say, a leaf up to white paper in sunlight to create a silhouette. It gives me a strong, simple form to start from. I try not to look at the paper too much while I draw—it’s hard, I know!—but the point is to really see, not to be exact. It’s amazing how close the drawing ends up being, even without focusing on the details. This isn’t about creating a finished piece—just about observing and learning.

Oh—and in other exciting news, I submitted three artworks to the Royal Society of Marine Artists this week (woohoo!). Their annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London showcases art inspired by the sea and marine environment. Selection notifications come out on August 8th, so fingers crossed—it would be amazing to take part.

Thanks so much for reading. I’ll be back soon with more updates!

— Kate