2 years, 200 paintings: a retrospective
In 2024, I started painting again after a 20-year hiatus. For each painting, I created a video and posted it on Instagram. As I near 200 paintings, here’s a brief retrospective.
Growth as an artist
Progression sometimes happens quickly—sudden realisations that jolt me forward. These ‘aha!’ moments are wonderful but yield less momentum than most of us would suspect.
The truly valuable lessons are more subtle and subconscious. I can’t always immediately articulate what I’ve learned. These discoveries sit in the back of my mind without words—more like a feeling than something tangible. I sense them quietly, and they’re what keep me exploring. Textbooks can teach perspective or colour theory, but it’s the intangible that really drives us to create.
These undefinable discoveries take time to show up in my work, and learning and demonstrating are rarely in sync. This comforts me: growth continues on bad painting days, and I have silent friends—entities born to nudge me.
If there’s one lesson I wish I could share, it’s this: progression is intangible, and whether a painting succeeds or fails is irrelevant. Hold to that, and the nameless will deliver your momentum.
Medium of choice
Choice of medium is, I suspect, deeply personal to most artists. The joy for me with watercolour comes from her wild nature. Losing control can happen in an instant, which frustrates some, but I love that she keeps me on my toes and that I get to react as she plays her own cards.
Being able to ‘fix something by painting over it’ doesn’t interest me. I want a medium that can endlessly surprise and delight me. I can live with the cauliflowers. This keeps it fun, which is all it should be.
Video creation
My favourite thing about the videos has been the visual diary they’ve created. I love looking back and remembering where I was when each one was made. Some I’m proud of; others make me chuckle. There’s a feedback loop in reflecting on painting choices, and I’ve enjoyed finding ways to turn that into Instagram-based entertainment.
The outdoor videos and the ones made with art community members hold the richest memories. Nothing beats creating outdoors, and nothing beats having creative people around you - I am immensely grateful for the community I’ve found and hope it continues to grow.
Reaching 200 painting videos feels like a natural place to pause. I’m proud of that number, and from here I’ll shift to photo-blog posts instead — they’re easier to sustain and give me a way to look back over my creative adventures.
What’s next
It’s been fun, and I look forward to seeing where lady watercolour takes me next. I could say more, but I’d prefer to let the paintings tell my story. If you want to hear my latest obsessions, come paint with me or shoot me a message. I can talk watercolour for hours and value honest critique from those who share my enthusiasm.
Thank you to all who have supported me in different ways—I’m truly grateful.
