News and Updates from the studio

Hi friends,

I hope that 2025 is treating you well so far. It’s been a bit of a bumpy start for me as my whole family has been sick with the flu, and the icy fingers of seasonal depression are gripping me stronger this year without the cushion of antidepressants.

Nevertheless, there are some really good things to report. I continue to have a transformational journey with my health, which I discussed in my previous email. Since the last email, more health issues have come to light for which treatment is available. I have spent more than a decade wondering why I am so exhausted all the time, and in the space of a few months, I have uncovered several answers. It’s like I was living in a muffled dark room and someone suddenly switched on the light and opened the door!

I also find that the start of a new year is a great opportunity to reflect. We are so often caught up in the day-to-day, looking at our short-term goals, that it’s difficult to get a sense of the bigger picture. It’s helpful to ‘zoom out’ of our lives a bit and look from a different perspective, and the start of a new year is a natural time to do that. I wrote a blog post with all my ponderings, and also made a YouTube video:

I also decided to start a Patreon. I have been feeling ambivalent about Facebook and Instagram recently; not really enjoying the user experience with so much spam and advertising. Also, Meta’s negative influence on the world (watch the Social Dilemma film if you don’t know what I’m talking about!) makes me feel uncomfortable about participating altogether.

On Patreon, you can share the kind of posts you may have previously shared on Instagram, and people can join your community (for free!) to see them without the dreaded algorithm, spam, and adverts. You may think of Patreon as a place where you have to pay money to see content from artists, but most artists have free membership options as well as paid subscriptions.

I have decided to share photos and short posts for free on my Patreon, so please join me! I will also share more intimate, behind-the-scenes videos for people who sign up for a paid subscription.

Right, I’m going to get back to painting now!

Sending love and the hope of spring,

Rose xx