Another blog and a new website

It’s that time of year again when I start reminiscing over the last year and would have never believed I would be sitting here with my cat staring at me, in a new town and with a freelance business reaching five months old.

That’s not to say that this year hasn’t been tough. A year ago, I left my steady job at a pub and lost our seven-month-old puppy to a birth defect. We moved to a new town, closer to my partner's family, and searched for a new job for months. Throughout that time, I focussed more on my artwork. I took up driving again and enrolled in a marketing course.

I started attending a local community centre for the social and creative aspects, which in the end landed me my first big commission. With the encouragement of this group and the family around me, I decided to finally give my art a chance.

This is where ‘The Pendle Witch Project’ began. I’ve always been interested in witches, fairytales, and folklore. Now Pendle Hill is close to my house, and the areas are filled with their history and the relationship of Tolkien’s imagination. The timing seemed perfect. I’m a believer that things happen for a reason, and even though at the time those things may be awful, they usually have a lesson behind them.

I started work on creating my witchy creations. My art process before was digital, working with Procreate to create my colourful, slightly cartoony imagery. This was my mistake. I was trying to bring with me my old way of working and making prints the same way I had always done. This works for some people but it just didn’t sit right with me. At this time, I also sent a portfolio to an illustration agency, who decided that I wasn’t the right fit. I have recently spoken to this agency again who gave me some lovely advice.

When the Clayton Portraits Commission came through, I knew that I needed to change my style. In the past, I had messed around with a black-and-white pointillism style and had forgotten how calming and intricate it could be. Inspired by Aubrey Beardsley and Arthur Rackham, I took this style into my own hands.

And now here we are. This past year I’ve traded at craft fairs and made some lovely connections. I’ve had more artist dates and spent more time with family and friends.

There have been bad times this year, family emergencies, house problems, and just everyday situations but overall, I am glad and grateful to be writing this today.

This is a new blog and website, as I attempt to build a strong portfolio for myself and future clients. Within this blog, I hope to explore future events and commissions and the everyday life of a self-employed artist. I hope that maybe, something I write can help you. My shop will open in the new year with original artwork and maybe some limited-edition prints.

I look forward to 2025 and what the year brings.

Thank you for taking the time to read this

Until next time

Natasha