Remember the last time I did a live quick-draw on Instagram?! Well, it happened again, as one of the demos for the Super Seconds Festival in my previous post and it was so much fun! My followers suggested a variety of fun things to draw (mostly dogs!)... And it was an adventure in paint and... Continue Reading →
super seconds festival spring 2022
There is a massive SALE this weekend! I am so excited to be taking part in Super Seconds Festival Spring 2022, and it's going to be a whopper, at which I will be getting myself some bargains too! Check out the FESTIVAL PREVIEW now! The event starts at 10am on Saturday, 9th April and runs... Continue Reading →
working for good – a fundraising announcement
This month, I signed up to fundraise for UK for UNHCR via Work for Good (#notsponsored!!) in order to be able to fundraise both legally and consistently. UK for UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the UK, building solidarity and raising funds to protect refugees worldwide. (via Work for Good which takes care of the legal aspects of fundraising as a business). You may... Continue Reading →
using good quality art materials is essential
Using gouache as a base, with pencils adding detail on top, it's a joy to work with good quality art materials. The priorities are always ease of use, range of colours, depth of colour and, of course, lightfast-ness, because you don't want the tones to fade over time, right? These Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils have been... Continue Reading →
trying neocolor ii pastels for the first time: swatches and sketches!
I bought some Caran D'AcheNeocolor II water soluble pastels and am trying them for the first time! The obligatory swatches of course, and a couple of sketches to experiment and figure out how they work! You can also watch on and subscribe to my YouTube channel. There are subtitles available, and the transcript is below... Continue Reading →
love is in the air + a funny, very personal valentine’s day story
There are some sweet new cards in the shop, sooner than the traditional date of February 1st, because what does it matter when you CELEBRATE LOVE... especially if you can't wait until everyone else gets into the commercialism and pressures you into buying chocolates and cards and all sorts. Making these cards has actually reminded me of a funny story from a... Continue Reading →
swatching all my gouache brushes: 2022 inventory, cleaning and maintenace!
This post is all about my gouache brushes... an inventory of all my paint brushes, how to clean paint brushes, and a list of the types of brushes I have and the marks that you can make with them. Enjoy! Also, doesn't our dog look cute in the thumbnail image?! He was very clingy when... Continue Reading →
studio vlog #7, the last vlog of 2021!
Hi everyone! Can you believe it's already time for the last vlog of 2021?! Happy New Year!!! I look forward to making more videos for you! You can also watch on and subscribe to my YouTube channel. There are subtitles available, and the transcript is below if you need to read as well as watch.... Continue Reading →
talking about how art matters in your home, on Make it British facebook LIVE
Another Christmas, another set of hand made DIY wrapping paper! Paint along with me or wrap your pressies while you watch me decorate my basic kraft paper with beautiful designs, using gouache paint.
making DIY gift wrap using kraft paper and gouache paint!
Another Christmas, another set of hand made DIY wrapping paper! Paint along with me or wrap your pressies while you watch me decorate my basic kraft paper with beautiful designs, using gouache paint.
a small business gift guide, 2021 edition!
I'm so excited to share some of the wonderful makers and artisans whose work I have purchased in the past year. Please shop small this Christmas, and through the year too. Do show your support to them even if you don't purchase, by boosting their social media – like, comment, save and share their posts!... Continue Reading →
painting a crafty fox
Sly as a fox” is a traditional saying, painting the fox as a very crafty and cunning hunter in many fables and stories, so, over time, the fox became associated with trickery. I painted this fox in an instagram live "quick draw" the other day; it was requested by Sinead of The Crafty Fox Market,... Continue Reading →
painting YOUR suggestions LIVE on instagram
Today, I went live on my instagram @artysubu, and did a 'Quick Draw' session in my sketchbook. I asked my followers to suggest things that I should draw or paint, and it turned into a very fun hour, chatting with people and filling my spread. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWQcaayofbd/ I used gouache and pencils as per usual, and... Continue Reading →
adding a new sticker design to my branding
Previously having used ready-made stickers that just say 'thank you' with a little heart, and a nice grey tissue paper. I like it, and it's worked well so far. But, as I build my brand identity, there is a need to up my packaging game. My previous packaging. Pretty, but not as on-brand. So I... Continue Reading →
i finally filmed a studio tour for you!
It's here! I finally got around to filming and editing my studio tour! I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know what you thought in the comments. You can also watch on and subscribe to my YouTube channel. There are subtitles available, and the transcript is below if you need to read as... Continue Reading →
adding silver leaf to a pet portrait print: live on Instagram
This afternoon I went live on my instagram, just for fun, while I was adding a layer of silver leaf to a pet portrait print for my client. It was pretty fun, and I had some nice conversations with my followers. https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWBWZG7IG-C/ It was a little difficult to concentrate on doing a good job as... Continue Reading →
studio vlog #6, using a LOT of gouache paint!
This month was full of painting, using up a lot of gouache and also giving me a lot of happiness! Enjoy! You can also watch on and subscribe to my YouTube channel. There are subtitles available, and the transcript is below if you need to read as well as watch. I'd love to hear what... Continue Reading →
the joy of tidying
There is nothing quite a satisfying as neat and tidy product storage. It's quite terrifying how much I appreciate a tidy drawer. It's not that I spend an inordinate amount of time organising or cleaning up, it's just that once I have done it, it stays like that for quite a while and it's enormously... Continue Reading →
cats seem to be on my mind lately
Everyone who knows me would unanimously agree that I, Arati, am a dog person. I don't by any means hate cats at all, I just prefer dogs! But, lately, I have been painting rather a lot of cats... Mostly influenced, I have go admit, by my sister's rescue cat, a lovely lad. This latest piece... Continue Reading →
my art in your home brings so much joy!
A lovely person sent me this picture of my original paintings in their kitchen in Canada! I'm so excited to receive it, because it's not often that I see my work in customers' homes. A view of my original art in their kitchen. It really makes me so very happy to see their love for... Continue Reading →