One Year on Substack

Paint, Knit, Read, Repeat!

Mar 27, 2026

Hello,

It has been a busy couple of weeks, and I ended up skipping a post last week. I had everything planned, but never quite sat down to write it.

I can’t quite believe that I’ve been posting on Substack for a year now. You can read my very first post here: Slow Start to the Year

It felt very brave pressing “publish” for the first time. I’m not someone who naturally likes to share myself on the internet, but I’ve come to really value the connection with other artists. Making friends online has meant so much to me.

The 100 Day Project

No matter how I plan it, the 100 Day Project always seems to take over my art time.

Maybe next year I should try something different, perhaps 100 days of paint swatches.

I’ve been having more fun with watercolours lately. I often prefer the bolder, more colourful pieces. When I work into them too much, they can start to look a bit flat or muddy. But I’m really starting to enjoy the practice.

Today’s sketch for the 100 Day Project - Day 34/100

Seeing in Shapes

I haven’t been able to join all the classes live, but I’ve managed to keep up through the replays, which has been really helpful.

It is not to late to sign up: Seeing in Shapes

March Doors

This project has evolved slightly. I originally planned to create a watercolour painting each day, but alongside the 100 Day Project, it became a bit too much.

So I scaled things back and switched to sketches and mixed media work in my sketchbook.

It’s okay to change a plan when something isn’t working or you don’t have as much time as you thought.

YouTube

I’ve posted a few videos this month. My channel is slowly growing, but it still feels like a lot of trial and error as I figure out what I want to film and share.

Watching

ER
Still on my epic rewatch. I love it so much. I’m now on Season 8.

Hamnet
After not enjoying the book, I wasn’t sure what I would make of the film but I absolutely loved it. The music, the beautiful scenery, and the acting were all wonderful. Not a cheerful film, but a very moving one. I will definitely reread the book at some point.

Reading

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
I listened to this very quickly and really enjoyed it.

The Long Walk by Stephen King
Very dated in some ways, but I thought this was a good book. I think it may have been made into a film recently, so I’ll try to watch that.

Knitting

I’ve started a mitred square blanket and I am obsessed! I can’t stop knitting. I’m determined to use up my scraps before buying any new wool 🤣

Once again, thank you so much for reading my posts over the past year. Writing here has given me a real sense of purpose, even when I don’t manage to post every week.

Take care,
Louise

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