Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

I’ve been a little bit of a hermit this summer, but with good reason! We’ve been busy sending out my Kickstarter packages (nearly 500!), along with hosting visitors, doing house renovations, a little gardening and sketching in my garden.

Thank you!

First of all, thank you to everyone who ordered my books on Kickstarter! We launched my new art book in May, so it’s been a busy two months getting them packaged and shipped out all over the world.

If you missed it and want to purchase a book, hang on! We’ll be restocking my online shop with all three books in August. We just need to do a final inventory count after the Kickstarter packages go out. I’ll probably send out another email when that happens.

A quick reminder…

I’M TEACHING AT GOUACHE LIVE!

August 20-21

It’s a two-day online event all about gouache! Join some of the best gouache artists in the world for this exclusive event - Book your spot

Get 10% off your ticket
with my code: GCL-BURNS

Sketchbook Revelations

In a recent video I shared my dilemma of having way too many sketchbooks started at once. Let me be clear, I don’t see anything wrong with having tons of sketchbooks. I collect them for fun. My struggle was due to a very annoying tendency to create sketchbook rules and not allow myself to deviate from them. This led to feeling stifled and restricted and sketching a lot less than I wanted to. I ended up with over 30 sketchbooks started with lots of weird rules and I could barely bring myself to use any of them.

In the video I talked about how I’m working on overcoming this issue. And I’ve had hundreds of comments, messages and emails about how grateful people felt that I shared my struggle. I was honestly blown away by the response. You are not alone.

So many of us suffer from ADHD, OCD, and much more- and yet it’s hardly addressed by professionals in the art industry. Even in an online world, where we have access to millions of people, we can feel very isolated when all we see are successes online.

You are definitely not alone.

I personally find comfort knowing someone I look up to struggles AND finds a way to overcome it. Because that’s human.

And I am happy to report that I am overcoming my struggle, in fact I’ve sketched more during July than I have all year (despite being my busiest month!).

I guarantee a lot of the people you follow online have really terrible days where they don’t paint anything good and want to give up. Just ask Wolfy. It happens all the time!

Those accounts you see online where someone is posting their best work, or happy vacation photos, or clean house tours…they’ve still got to do taxes, go to the dentist, get their car fixed, mow the lawn, and do laundry. Try not to lose site of the humanness behind what you see online.

And remember, you are not alone.

Travel Sketching & Gear

In about 2 months I’m travelling to Provence to teach two back-to-back gouache workshops, so I’ve already started thinking about travel sketching and supplies. Anyone else feel like creating a travel kit is a hobby in itself??

I have some tried and true kits that never let me down. And I have some experimental DIY stuff that’s fun to play with. I’m always trying to customize my kits to suit my needs just a little more.

As a reminder, I keep an updated list of all my favorite supplies here, so if you ever see me using something that you’re curious about you can find the link there.

Sometimes while traveling I only have the time and mental capacity to do quick pencil or pen sketches. In fact I can see a LOT more of a city by doing this. So if my intention is sightseeing with a sprinkle of art, this is my best method.

But I also love to plant myself somewhere for about an hour and paint. It’s a nice way to rest and take in the life of a location.

My gold standard kit is a nice sturdy easel. Everything in one spot, hands free (well besides holding the brush). I can use paint from the tubes, or small palettes on it. And I love that it can withstand a fair bit of wind too!

But this setup weighs more and fills a backpack.

So what if I want something more portable, maybe for big hikes or a long day of urban sketching?

The Portable Painter Classic palette (affiliate link) is my favorite for watercolor and gouache outside. The convenience and portability is unmatched. I often balance it on my leg or even the ground next to me, but I sometimes wish I had one of those little collapsible camping tables. But those can be bulky and I already carry a camping stool so I don’t want to add much more bulk. I want something extremely easy to setup and pack away. Something I can use while standing or sitting.

Then one day I was out filming my sketches with my iphone, and I was using a magnetic phone mount on a retractable monopod. It suddenly hit me - this could work!

What if I attached magnets to a sturdy board…

An idea was born.

The Portable Painter fits snuggly into the custom holes I cut so it won’t slide around.

I’m calling it my Portable Painter Buddy.

It’s still not perfect, but it got the job done. I’ll need to replace the magnets with something stronger, and cut the board down a little. It was too wobbly at that size and I don’t need my sketchbook to fit on it. I might also add some small holes to hold my brushes or pens.

It was incredibly fast to setup and put away too which was perfect.

I’ll need to test it out doing some urban sketching to see if it’s worth it. Keep an eye on my YouTube channel for a video about it soon.

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes with watercolor and gouache? I teach monthly live tutorials through my Patreon membership page.

When you sign up you get instant access to dozens of tutorials. You can play, pause and rewatch at your own pace. You also get monthly reference photos, exclusive newsletters, private art chat, sketchbook scans and more.

Check it out!

On a Personal Note…

In addition to more frequent sketching, I try to do 30 minutes of knitting at night. It helps me wind down, and I really want to finish my “artist poncho” before I go to Provence! It will be my first big wearable.

I’ve been falling behind on YouTube, and each week that goes by I feel so guilty! But I have to remember that right now is a special circumstance. Having my dad visit in June was fantastic and we made wonderful memories. He got to see our new house for the first time and help us with some projects (something I will always cherish).

And sending out nearly 500 kickstarter packages is a huge effort. Seeing the boxes ship to so many different countries warms my heart!! I am always happy to share the beauty of Scotland and inspire others to paint.

I know a lot of you keep up with me on YouTube as well as this newsletter, so thank you for your patience. I have so many great video ideas for the future!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

The sweetness of summer is here in the highlands, and we are busy with various remodeling projects in our new home. I have to be honest, I’m finding it tricky to balance all the projects while still making time to enjoy summer. But I’m embracing the explosion of energy I feel this time of year by tackling some of the bigger house projects (which you’ll see in this newsletter).

My NEW BOOK is out now!

Get it on Kickstarter until the end of May!

Only ONE WEEK LEFT to get special launch pricing and free goodies.

After that, I’ll restock my webshop at full price.

I’M TEACHING AT GOUACHE LIVE!

August 20-21

A two-day online event all about gouache!

Book your spot

Get 10% off your ticket with my code: BURNS

STUDIO REMODEL

Now that we are settled into our new home, we figured it’s time to make a real mess. I waited as long as I could, I swear…

During April, we made a big push towards transforming this large bedroom into my DREAM STUDIO and office. Now that it’s almost complete I thought I would share a few behind the scenes images and thoughts about it.

We had remodeled the closet in February/March because I desperately needed more storage. Apparently I like to collect a lot of supplies. Who knew! But this allowed me to fully focus on the room now, and bring my vision to life.

The Vision

Uplifting, colorful, inspiring, inviting, comfortable.

And of course: useful!

Light

My windows are south-facing, which means I get tons of brilliant light. During the winter, beams of light come straight in, hitting every wall directly, but sometimes causing a lot of glare. I chose bamboo roller blinds to soften (not block) the sun and offer a bit of textural interest. Yellow ochre muslin curtains bring the sunshine in even on the dreary days, and the color instantly lifts my mood!

I installed LED strips in the coving to create a soft ambiance in the room. I have plenty of task lighting for painting too, all of which is dimmable and moveable (very important for how I like to work).

Color

You probably know by now but I love color. I surround myself with color and pattern in every facet of life, so you probably could have guessed that my studio would be the same.

I specifically chose paint, fabrics and finishes that reminded me of my travels in Europe. Old plaster and brick, hand-painted tiles, yellow ochre hills, sandstone cliffs. Things that transport me back into those inspiring places.

I used interior filler to give the walls a rough finish, then applied clay paint to create a ‘distressed’ wall look. Throughout the day the clay shifts in hue between deep terracotta, warm burnt ochre, and pinkish plaster. Each wall is unique and has a little color variation.

Function

It’s an art studio! So creating a beautiful space was only part of the goal. When designing the space, I thought of 4 main functions or zones I needed:

1. Computer

More than half of my time in the studio/office is spent at a computer, so I have a designated corner office for my big PC & monitor. A standing desk helps me avoid sitting too long. But I can also edit videos on my laptop in my comfortable oversized rocking chair (this was one of my best purchases).

2. Painting

As an artist I need a space to paint, and for the longest time I thought I wanted a plywood wall I could nail canvases to when I work. But over time and through the design phase I realized that would be somewhat limiting. I like to use a standing easel so I can tilt and move my canvas/paper in all directions. I often let wet paint flow naturally together, so my setup needs to be changeable. I also love to spread out on the floor and work on several big paintings at once.

So this left me with a big wall for…what? I decided it would be my gallery wall, a place to hang paintings I have finished that bring back an important memory or milestone, or things that aren’t finished that I need to think about. It also acts as a nice backdrop for filming videos.

My new large desk is perfect for easily recording top-down painting for videos, and for streaming, because it’s next to my computer.

3. Relax & 4. Storage. Done and done.

Final Thoughts

Anyone who has remodeled a house knows how much work goes into the stuff no one will ever see. At times it I found it completely overwhelming, but knowing it would be the room I spend the most time in kept me motivated.

I’m working on a longer video about the whole remodel, so keep an eye out on YouTube for that.

And I’m already onto the next room - Wolfy’s “man cave.” It’s only fair he gets a space too!

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes with watercolor and gouache? I teach monthly live tutorials through my Patreon membership page.

When you sign up you get instant access to dozens of tutorials. You can play, pause and rewatch at your own pace. You also get monthly reference photos, exclusive newsletters, private art chat, sketchbook scans and more.

Check it out!

On a Personal Note…

In addition to remodeling our home, I’ve been making an effort to enjoy summer. It already feels like I’ve missed so much. I haven’t spent as much time exploring as I thought I would.

But I keep reminding myself that we only moved 5 months ago, and we’ve already done so much! I’m currently in a special “season” of my own: urged on by excitement and anticipation of making our house our own beautiful space.

Once we finish the major projects, I’ll have decades to explore my surroundings and paint the beauty of the seasons.

Or at least, that’s the plan!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

PS- “On the Needles” update: At night I’ve been slowly chipping away at this project which I’m lovingly nicknaming my watercolor pullover. I’m making it up as I go but so far it’s going well. Hopefully in my next email, I’ll be wearing it!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

Sign up to my email newsletter to get more frequent updates.

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AFTER 5 YEARS, IT’S FINALLY HERE

Sketching Scotland Volume 02!

Now available on Kickstarter

This art book is a visual journey of my time painting outside in Scotland. Through almost 200 pages of art, photography, stories and more, it covers my adventures over the past five years.

I’ve met so many people around the world who feel a deep connection to Scotland, so I not only wanted to create a book of the artwork I’ve painted, but to share the experience of living here as an artist with lots of insider tips. I’ve included maps and guidance for those of you who’d like to visit, and plenty of imagery for those who will admire it from afar. In short, it’s got a little bit of everything!

Kickstarter

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes with watercolor and gouache? I teach monthly live tutorials through my Patreon membership page.

When you sign up you get instant access to dozens of tutorials. You can play, pause and rewatch at your own pace. You also get monthly reference photos, exclusive newsletters, private art chat, sketchbook scans and more.

Check it out!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

Sign up to my email newsletter to get more frequent updates.

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

Spring check in. What are you planting this year? It’s our first spring at our new home, so we are discovering what’s blooming for the first time. So far we have tons of snowdrops, crocus, violets, daffodils, and so much more. I’ve been taking notes about what’s blooming so I can plan our future garden. Do you prefer to let your garden run wild, or do you prune and plan meticulously? Feel free to hit ‘reply’ and let me know :) (and all gardening tips are welcome!)

I’m editing the final draft of Sketching Scotland Volume 2, and planning to run the kickstarter in late April. Can’t believe I’m in the final stretch I want the book to be ready to print when I launch the Kickstarter so you don’t have to wait long.

In case you don’t know, I self-published Sketching Scotland Volume 1 in 2021 (along with my other book, Brush Mileage). This series is dear to me because it encapsulates everything I love about Scotland and painting. I think it’s so cool that these books have captured my entire journey as an artist!

I’ll also be reprinting Volume 1 at the same time because it’s been sold out for a while. I usually offer a discount and special art goodies for the Kickstarter backers, and I’ll be offering a bundle option for both books.

Stay tuned for more!

Embracing Creative Changes

Being a full-time artist gives me a lot of time to think about art (or should I say over-think?). And despite this amount of time, there are some changes that sneak up on me, that brew silently in the background as I work, and suddenly spring up and surprise me.

I think that creative change - whether it’s a change in subject matter, materials, or techniques - is healthy. Change leads to growth. And sometimes change is required to keep enthusiasm and passion high.

One of the quickest ways I know to invite change is to push yourself outside your comfort zone.

The change is not usually the goal. We don’t sit down and think “hmm let’s see, how can I change myself?” Rather, we focus on a specific goal, and the result is a leap forward!

I’ve changed a lot over the years, going from a focus on fantasy art and Lord of the Rings fan art, to studying nature en plein air.

But those are the easy-to-spot changes. The stuff people notice from the outside. What about the internal change that usually isn’t visible?

Sometimes I fear creative change, because when your income depends on the success of your art business, that creates a certain amount of pressure to maintain the norm. It does depend on the audience and product, but it’s a legitimate concern.

However over the years I’ve realized that change is healthy and my audience likes it, to an extent. My passion lies in painting and sharing the beauty of nature, and that will always be the basis of my business. But within that there is room to play.

I have to constantly remind myself that it’s OK to try new mediums and subjects and styles and that in the long run, my audience is there for it all. They recognize the joy in…(read more on the blog)

Let’s Hear From Other Artists

I’ve asked seven artist friends to weigh in on this. Below are some snippets of their answers (more on the blog).

Have you gone through creative changes over the years - if so what were they?

Emma Lefebvre: “I think I’ve gone through a ton of creative changes over the years. I feel like I’ve evolved so much in my style, skills and approach to art. A huge reason for that is because I am constantly being inspired by other artists on YouTube and Instagram. I have learned so much from other artists that push me to want to try new things and explore new mediums and I’m so grateful for that!”

Marion Boddy-Evans: “I think of my art as as circular, that I move through the different subjects I enjoy, and work in different mediums. I regularly come back to something but it’s never the same as I have more miles under my paintbrush. If you look at my Instagram you’ll see it’s eclectic, not tightly curated.”

Sketches.n.Scrubs: “I do sometimes worry about how my art will be received. I find myself wanting things to fit into clear themes or subjects—to feel cohesive and easy to follow. But art isn’t always logical, and my creativity definitely isn’t linear. Some weeks I’m painting gouache landscapes, other times I can’t put down my watercolours. I love painting landscapes, still lifes, florals and abstracts. Creating art and sharing the joy of creating art through teaching are two different things, I love both, but they require balance. I’ve tried being very structured, and I’ve also tried having no structure at all…”

(more on the blog)

Studio Reno

In the future, I’ll be able to share how I renovate my home studio, but for now, I’m allowing time to get familiar with our new home, and to let it tell us what it wants to be. Living in the space for a while has already helped spark some new ideas about what could benefit me and what I can leave out of the renovation.

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes with watercolor and gouache? I teach monthly live tutorials through my Patreon membership page.

When you sign up you get instant access to dozens of tutorials. You can play, pause and rewatch at your own pace. You also get monthly reference photos, exclusive newsletters, private art chat, sketchbook scans and more.

Check it out!

On a Personal Note…

Pleinairpril is about to begin! What is that?

An annual art challenge (now in it’s 10th official year) where you paint outside every day during April. This will be my fifth year doing this challenge. It’s the best way I know to encourage myself to get back out after a long winter! Some days I record and share the adventure, other days I just enjoy the sun. It’s definitely therapeutic.

You can follow along the adventure on my Youtube Channel where I do weekly recaps.

On the Needles

Since knitting has become a huge part of my life now, I thought it would be fun to share my latest WIPs. I recently finished this cowl using the “Sundial” pattern by Wool & Pine. It started out as a wrap, but suddenly became a cowl inspired by spring colors! I’m also working on another pair of fingerless mittens, I’ll share the finished piece next time. And there are 4 other projects in the queue…

I know knitting isn’t everyone’s jam, but I have noticed that a lot of artists are also knitters. It’s a great creative outlet.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

Sign up to my email newsletter to get more frequent updates.

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

I apologize for the delay in getting this newsletter out! I started the draft in November but then…I’ll share more below.

A New Chapter

Many of you know by now, but we moved deeper into the highlands during the Christmas break.

Yes, after years of hoping, searching, saving, we finally found a home that we can confidently say is a dream come true. Buying a home in the Scottish highlands was always the plan, but we didn’t think it would happen when it did.

To put it bluntly, I didn’t know if it would ever happen, given that we live on my artist’s salary which is unpredictable. But after years of hard work, a focus on getting rid of debt and saving up, coupled with the impossibly perfect timing of finding this home (in our budget), and winning the bidding war…here we are!

We are so thankful, every day, to call this place our home. We constantly stop and say “I love this place!” Surrounded by quiet natural beauty in the forested hills near Inverness, it is truly a cornucopia of inspiration for me. Especially now, in a time when the world feels like a cyclone of chaos and stress. Having our peaceful sanctuary in the forest is a boon.

But as you know, a move is no easy feat. We put our life on hold to pack and move during December - quite possibly the worst time of year due to bad weather and lack of daylight, and stresses of the holidays on top of that! But we made it work.

While we were able to immediately move in and be comfortable, this place is a project house. Each morning I wake up with a burning desire to tackle the miles-long TO DO list, but I have to remind myself that there’s no rush.

I guess that’s the thing that has changed the most for me. It feels like for years I was rushing towards something. I had such an intense need to build momentum. Like I was on a freight train hurtling towards something big and mysterious, only to discover that it was this - a chance to settle. To set roots, real deep roots, with no lease renewals, landlords checking in on us, inspections, rent increases, or pressure to do anything except exactly what we want to do.

A chance to create a real home and my dream home studio.

I didn’t know how badly I needed this until it happened.

How it has affected me

I’ve never felt so grounded and hopeful for my artistic future. I feel the call to create bigger work again. I also have space to create a small ceramics studio and a stained glass work bench. Two things I’ve been dreaming of returning to for over 15 years.

It makes me wonder…how will my art practice shift in the coming years? You can be sure I will document it all and continue to share the ups (and probably downs) that come with it.

But back to now…it took me over a month to settle in and finally begin to paint again. And now it feels like the floodgates are opened. Time to let it flow! You can hear my thoughts about returning to art after a long break in this video. I also shared some more behind the scenes photos on my art blog.

Studio Reno

In the future, I’ll be able to share how I renovate my home studio, but for now, I’m allowing time to get familiar with our new home, and to let it tell us what it wants to be. Living in the space for a while has already helped spark some new ideas about what could benefit me and what I can leave out of the renovation.

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes with watercolor and gouache? I teach monthly live tutorials through my Patreon membership page.

When you sign up you get instant access to dozens of tutorials. You can play, pause and rewatch at your own pace. You also get monthly reference photos, exclusive newsletters, private art chat, sketchbook scans and more.

Check it out!

On a Personal Note…

“But Sarah, weren’t you already in the Scottish highlands?”

Well yes, but in a TOTALLY different region. I was on the edge of Moray which was a beautiful stretch of coast closer to Aberdeenshire. Now we are back in our dream area near inverness. We lived in Inverness when I first moved over 8-ish years ago (can you believe that number) and we always knew we wanted to end up here.

Also, Thank You.

From both of us, thank you for helping our dream come true by supporting me over the years. And if you’re new here, welcome to my inner circle!

Thank you for your patience while I was moving. Thank you for your kind messages of support during the last few months.

And my art channel just hit 100,000 subscribers - WOW!

As we continue to settle into our home, I want to extend an invitation to follow along my journey on my Scotland YouTube channel (if you haven’t already), as I’ve been sharing parts of the house journey and will continue to share the beauty of Scotland.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

Sign up to my email newsletter to get more frequent updates.

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

Autumn is setting in, and a lot is happening! We’ve finally had some rain, which makes the season feel more real. Time to pull out the cardigans and autumn duvet and spend 3,000 hours finding that one missing glove…

Who Doesn’t Like Free Stuff?

First of all, I have FINALLY completed my “Beginner Guide” PDF’s (that I meant to update last year…)

These free PDF guides are the updated versions of what I shared in 2021.

(Some of you might remember those…they had some typos and were outdated by a couple of years).

Have a look if you’re curious. Don’t forget to leave a review if you find it helpful! (or email me if you find any typos! lol)

NOTE: You must first sign up for my newsletter here, then you’ll receive a welcome email from me with links to download the PDFs.

Shipping to the USA is back!

The tariffs really threw us off, didn’t it? But after a little investigation and testing, we discovered we can ship to the USA again. We are paying the fees on our end so you don’t have to worry about it when it arrives.

But Royal Mail increased their prices (again). We’ve updated our shipping costs to reflect the new prices to all countries.

To help offset the increased shipping costs, I have an idea…

HOLIDAY SALE COMING SOON! (Nov. 1st)

We are going to be running a holiday sale this year. For the first time ever, my books will be on sale! I’ll send out another newsletter when the sale goes live. I’ll also be adding a couple goodies to my shop like new note cards and prints.

The sale will run until December 20, 2025 - or until supplies last. Bookmark the shop page and save the date!

And…

My Gouache Subscription Boxes + Brushes are on SALE!

As part of Craftamo’s Colour Your Summer Sale 2025 you can get a discount on my subscription boxes.

Choose a code:

• SARAHSTART25 → 25% off the first box for Monthly Plan sign-ups

• SARAHSTART → $37.50 off (equal to the first box free) for 6 & 12 Month Plan sign-ups

In addition, my brushes and accessories are on sale as part of their site-wide 15% off sale:

• Use code: SUMMERSAVE15

(one code per order, you can’t combine codes at checkout)

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes?(watercolor and gouache)

Get monthly tutorials through my Patreon membership page. Check it out.

On a Personal Note…

It’s just a short update this month. I’m headed to Spain in only 2 weeks to teach another workshop, so I’m busy preparing content for that.

This photo of an empty container might seem random, and you’re right. Except it’s also EXCITING! I am renting this unit to start storing some of my bigger art gear that I currently don’t use (I could fill half of it with my canvases and oil/acrylic boxes!) in addition to some big furniture that’s been in our way for a while.

We are still house hunting, and since the Scotland market is crazy, I’m not waiting. I’m sick of tripping over stuff. Especially as we get ready for winter. I don’t want to feel claustrophobic again. Being this far north takes a toll - weather, lack of daylight - we are stuck inside more often and when there’s too much STUFF around me I feel like I can’t breathe.

Funny how a simple storage container can bring me so much joy. I bought some industrial shelves so I can make it nice and organized and tidy in there. I love organizing and purging stuff, so this is a great project to sink my teeth into when I return from Spain.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you who responded to my last newsletter with such kind, generous, loving words. It is so wonderful to know I can be honest and authentic in this space and people understand. Speaking of which, I recently shared a long overdue vlog, and have been overwhelmed by the amazing responses - I’m still going through the comments! What can I say, ya’ll are awesome.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

Sign up to my email newsletter to get more frequent updates.

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

Summer in Scotland is unpredictable. Last year we had a very (very) cold, wet summer. My garden, which is a modest collection of pots and planters in the courtyard, failed miserably. Most of us felt like summer had skipped us completely. In contrast, this year we’ve had long stretches of sun, warmth, and some dry weeks packed between heavy rains. My hot peppers are flourishing for the first time. And best of all, I have finally found a routine again after busy travels earlier this year, and I’m feeling a sense of profound peace and inspiration - but more on that later.

New Opportunities

For a long time, I said “yes” to almost every opportunity that came my way, but after years of overworking myself, I’ve started to become very protective of my time and energy, which has led me to say “no” far more often than “yes.”

Not for lack of desire, but from an understanding of what comes from overbooking myself. Most of all, my art suffers - By saying yes to every opportunity that appears in my email, my calendar soon fills up with zoom calls, product meetings, recording content I’m only half invested in, or worse- being too mentally drained to even paint for fun.

But over the past few years I’ve identified what opportunities are worth the extra effort. The ones that I feel will either force me to grow in some important way, to be a little nervous but excited, to reach new people, and to feel a greater sense of purpose.

Not all of the opportunities are profound. Some are just fun. Some I want because I want. Like making brushes and gouache subscription boxes with Craftamo. That was a blast, and now I have a collection of brushes I designed that I love to use, and an audience who is passionate about learning gouache.

That’s the fun stuff that breaks up my work week with a bit of excitement (and yes, I’m admittedly a brush fanatic. Sketchbooks too).

And more recently, I said yes to going to the Adirondack “paint camp” - the event I talked about in my last newsletter and in this video. During that trip I met Eric Rhoads (founder of Plein Air Magazine).

From that meeting, I said yes to being a guest on his YouTube channel Art School Live.

Here’s a shot of my creative “mess” - the aftermath of the show:

From there, I said yes to being a faculty member of Gouache Live 2026. So sometimes saying yes opens new doors. Maybe you don’t want to walk through every door, but at least you know they exist.

Painting Small

Lately I’ve been painting small. Really small. Like 2x2 inches. Why paint small? Good question.

But first let me ask: Why paint large? Painting large forces me to think about paint consistency, flow, spread. Larger brushes are harder to use. But it also allows for more detail.

Above: “Caught in the Rain,” gouache.

Both large or small have advantages and disadvantages. Both provide opportunities to explore new brush technique and layering.

Painting small provides an opportunity for:

1. Painting fast - allows me to paint more views in a shorter time

2. Creative brushwork - I have to figure out how to tilt and turn and swipe the brush in creative ways to create tiny little marks, all while capturing the painterly quality I love. Wow! What a challenge.

3. There is less real estate to explore color, so color placement becomes critical. Distilling the information down to bite size nuggets to create the desired effect is a fun creative challenge.

These paintings are small windows of time and space, each one packed away as quickly as it appeared, but the memory of its creation burned in my mind. The lessons I learn from each piece compounds to a deeper understanding of my environment.

Plus…tiny things are cute…

Late Summer Colors in Scotland

I’m a keen observer of colors in the landscape, as are most painters. We can’t go anywhere without thinking about how to mix that shadow color, or that leafy green.

This time of year is unique (I know I say that every season) in Scotland as the fields turn a rich golden color. Earth tones start to creep across the land, feeling all the more earthy next to pops of color that hang onto the summer showers.

I am obsessed - o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. - with the color palette in late summer. Sure - I love greens, but I’ve come to realize my ideal aesthetic lies somewhere in the more muted palettes. These can be happily accompanied with pops of green or any choice of wildflowers. But as long as the base palette is mostly earthy and muted, I feel a great sense of peace - and strong longing to paint.

This is the time of year when shadow colors start shifting towards purple - a unique feature in Scotland that I’ve grown to love. Don’t worry - I’ll share plenty of that come autumn and winter!

Perhaps I like it because it allows me to add my own sense of color more easily. I do tend to use creative colors, different to what I see in person.

What is your favorite color family and why?

Fresh Palettes

Speaking of color families, I’ve been experimenting a bit more with various combinations. After years of collecting dust, I finally pulled out my airtight palette (shown above, freshy refilled) because I wanted to have lots of color choice on my desk at all times (without tubes spread everywhere). Having a palette like this takes steady maintenance, but I find it worth it for the ease of use while painting. I can either paint straight from the palette, or scoop colors out onto a mixing tray. The latter is my preferred method to avoid creating a mess in the palette itself.

At any moment I can scoop another color onto the tray. Since refilling this palette, I noticed I’m using colors I don’t normally go for (like hot pink or cobalt purple or cadmium red). It’s resulting in some interesting mixes, and I wonder where this will lead me?

Book Progress

Some of you know I’m working on my next book, Sketching Scotland Volume 2. I had given myself the goal of completing draft 1 by April, which I did.

Then I gave myself a soft goal of completing draft 2 by the end of August, with the caveat that it didn’t have to be perfect, just good enough for a test print. I’ve been plugging away at it, and I’m almost there! This would put me on track for releasing the book in early October.

But I lost steam when the suspension of ‘de minimis exemption’ on US tariffs was announced, as it could make shipping to the US completely outrageous. That’s where my biggest audience is, where we ship 95% of my books. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a synopsis. (scroll down to “Suspension of the de minimis exemption”)

This news came as a blow, so I’m tempted to pause shipping the US completely to avoid any surprises until there is more clarity for small art businesses.

I’m looking at other solutions, too. US printers? Or a warehouse in the US that can drop-ship for me? E-books are an option, but trust me when I say NOTHING compares to holding a high quality art book in your hand. I have a lot to consider.

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes?(watercolor and gouache)

Get monthly tutorials through my Patreon membership page. Check it out.

On a Personal Note…

I mentioned earlier that I’ve been feeling a sense of profound peace and inspiration. But I feel the need to add: it didn’t come without effort. You see, I’m a very anxious person and have suffered from OCD for most of my life. Of course I didn’t know any of this until I started therapy as an adult. Knowing gave me a sense of empowerment in how to work through it.

I know it doesn’t come across that way online, but that’s because you don’t see the whole me. Most days I distract myself with consuming things that make me happy. And painting might just be the only thing that makes me truly come alive without fear. Only those closest to me know the extent of my struggle and how much I’ve worked on it over the years.

But with work, true work, comes results. And I wish it didn’t take me until my 40th year on earth to get here, but I finally feel some of those results. Inner peace, happiness, joy…these are fleeting things, like summer rain. As a deeply empathic person, I feel the pain of the world and it can consume me wholly if I allow it. Each day I have to wake up and choose to try, to push out the negative and make space for what I want.

I guess the reason I’m sharing this is because there were times when I felt this was impossible. And to be transparent in an age when fakeness and AI and evil people are shoved in our faces daily on social media and the news. I have no intention of hiding my humanness. If my readers…you…didn’t want to know about it, it’s easy to ignore. I don’t talk about it constantly, just in this tiny little private space. But I have a feeling most of you are human, too. And to find a real connection nowadays feels sacred.

This sacredness is something I became very aware of this summer during my art retreat in France. Spending a whole week with others who yearn for beauty and joy. That opened my eyes to something I thought might be lost - or at least rare enough that I may only find it once or twice in a lifetime. And although we don’t talk all day long about our feelings, we shared something special, and still do through texts, and that gave me hope.

Which is why I am so excited for my future workshops. Spain this October. France next autumn. And who knows what else.

Oh…my song just ended. (“Waterfall” by James Quinn)

Probably made me go a little more mushy than usual here. So let’s leave it at that ;)

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

Has it really been almost 4 months since my last newsletter?? My apologies…a lot has happened since then. A lot of traveling, a lot of painting, and a lot of inspiration. So this will be a quick little catch up.

Let’s start with where I’ve been since my last newsletter, since so much time has passed.

My workshop in France (May)

The whole trip was absolutely magical (literally a dream come true for me) and the best part? I’m still chatting with these wonderful woman, over two months later, sharing inspiration and paintings because of the bonds we formed in France.

In case you missed it, I shared a vlog with lots of gorgeous scenery and more about what we painted during our week together. Check it out here.

So after a week(+) of painting in the gorgeous French countryside, I came home absolutely flooded with new inspiration, with hundreds of photos and grand ideas of big studio paintings.

A lot of lessons were learned in France, not only about painting but about traveling with supplies for extended periods of time.

What colors were used up? Which supplies did I not touch? These are the kinds of trips that help to narrow down, or hone in on the important supplies and appropriate quantities required.

Which brings me to my next trip…

Only three weeks after I returned from France, I headed to the Adirondacks in upstate NY!

Publisher’s Invitational: Paint the Adirondacks

This event was an artist retreat hosted by Eric Rhoads at Plein Air Magazine (Streamline Publishing) and was a fantastic opportunity to be immersed in nature with other artists.

Not that I was lacking inspiration or companionship, but I knew a solid week of painting would be a unique opportunity (no cooking, cleaning, errands, obligations - just paint). Despite being a full-time artist, you’d be surprised how rare this is. Daily life and business requires a lot of attention away from the canvas.

The week was fantastic. I came home with a couple dozen sketches. I shared a vlog about the full experience, check it out here.

After the Adirondacks, my dad and I took a short trip to Ireland, before he came to Scotland for the first time!

We spent a lot of time exploring the countryside, castles, distilleries and golfing, but I especially loved those nights at home, playing music or cards, and chatting late into the night. I cherish moments like that.

I was so grateful for our time together, and for him to see my home (and meet the fur kids).

Summer in Scotland

Now that I’m finally home, with nothing pressing in the diary for a while, I can settle into summer mode! This means painting outside as often as possible. It means day trips to gather inspiration. It means lots of daylight, bike rides, camping and beach days. The good stuff.

Admittedly, my routine has gone out the window. As I’m primarily a plein air painter, during the summer I have to pay close attention to the forecast, which isn’t exactly compatible with a 9-5 schedule.

I sneak hours of admin and editing in during the frequent rain showers. And paint when it’s nice enough. It’s chaotic and unpredictable. But I manage my workload with an almost child-like excitement.

I find joy in the spontaneity of chasing the light, and comfort in the stability of the studio. One is a leaf on the wind, the other a root deep in the earth.

For now, in the heart of summer, I’m fluttering somewhere in-between.

Monthly Tutorials

Interested in learning how to paint landscapes?(watercolor and gouache)

Get monthly tutorials through my Patreon membership page. Check it out.

On a Personal Note…

Although I love traveling, it feels so good to be home, and I don’t need to go anywhere for a good long while now. I will be exploring the highlands throughout the summer, and I plan to get back to a regular monthly-ish newsletter schedule.

Thanks for being here!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

My energy is returning as spring approaches! Here in Scotland there is a very noticeable shift this time of year. More light, more green, and slightly less icy wind.

It’s going to be a busy year of international travel in new places - Adirondacks, France, Spain - I am starting to feel the potential of the year ahead!

Speaking of Spain…

I wanted to let you know that I am teaching a plein air workshop in Spain in October, and there are only 7 spots left!

My May France retreat is already sold out, and I will NOT be teaching any other workshops this year besides Spain, so grab this opportunity if you’ve been thinking about it.

This will be a trip of a lifetime, set in the stunning Andalucía region, in a private estate with a chef, day trips to amazing locations, and plenty of painting. I am so incredibly excited to see Spain for the first time and paint it!

Book now: https://uptrek.com/retreat/paint-your-travels-with-joy-art-retreat-artist-sarah-burns-spain

Preparing for #Pleinairpril

Each year I shaxre thoughts similar to this: how I like to mentally and physically prepare for “plein air season.”

My plein air season truly kicks off in April. Which is why I love the “pleinairpril” challenge - painting outside every day during April.

But it’s a huge mental hurdle to jump out of the sticky mud of winter slumber into the fresh (cool) air of April.

Do you ever feel like you desperately want to paint outside, but don’t know where to go, or worse, you immediately assume you won’t be able to paint anything well, so you talk yourself out of even going?

I find the easiest way to break through those mental hurdles to give yourself structure. Structure isn’t stifling, it’s freeing.

If you can choose from 100 options, you start overthinking things. But what if you only have 2 options? It becomes a lot easier, and maybe you can even do both!

My #pleinairpril structure this year is looking like this:

• Rather than taking 8 different pens with 8 different colors, I filled all my fountain pens with 1 color of ink. So the only choice between them is the nib size and flow rate.

• Weekly themes. I started this last April and it worked wonders! I will be creating my final theme list by the end of March and sharing all the details with my Patreons, many of whom are joining in the challenge.

• I prepared my palette ahead of time. I’ll be using gouache all month, but as you know I often use it diluted like watercolor. So it’s really versatile and gives me options. Watch the video about how I chose my colors.

• On days where I feel extra low on time or energy, I have some local spots picked out ahead of time. I wrote them each on a piece of paper and put them in a jar. I can pick from the jar and just go! No excuses.

• Time limits. I wish I could spend an entire day painting somewhere cool, but in reality I just can’t, especially for an entire month. So I have given myself a time limit of 1 hour per day. This also takes the pressure off to “create a masterpiece” mindset which is an easy trap to fall into.

Regarding materials, I’m keeping it simple. I’ve setup my art bag with:

• Sketchbook (100% cotton Hahnemuhle 19.5x19.5)

• Sketchbook (Stillman & Birn Beta 9x12”)

• Gouache palette (Portable Painter)

• Several fountain pens with the same ink (the only difference being the nib size)

• Etchr black pen set (trying this set for the first time)

• Pencil/eraser

• Travel Brushes (my Craftamo set)

• Spray Bottle

(contains affiliate links)

On a Personal Note…

Food for thought: No matter what you see on news or social media, there is always more to the story. More depth, more struggle, more sacrifice, more hurt, more joy, more life.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

I recently wrote on my instagram stories what it felt like turning 40 years old, which I’ll share here too, because it kind of sums up the past month:

Decades of unique experiences stacked high.
Hard earned wisdom.
An ever-growing joy for quiet moments full of pure beauty [in nature].
And an appreciation for a really good mattress.

Join me and 20+ other artists for 3 days of demos at Acrylic Live this March.

Use code BURNS for 10% off your ticket at AcrylicLive.com!”

I’ll be sharing my acrylic gouache demo on Basics Day:

Knowing When to Stop

I recently had one of those ah-ha! moments in the studio. But it almost snuck by. The only reason I noticed is because I was taking progress shots along the way.

I was painting this forest, and realized that at about 75% of the way through, I should have stopped. But I kept going. And I like the result, but I LOVED it at 75%.

I’m a proponent for painting something more than once, especially to learn certain techniques or practice color mixing, so I’m sure I’ll paint this again. And hopefully stop when I should stop. But that is one of the hardest things to know, especially for a semi-realism painter who prefers a very painterly style. Capturing the subject without over-rendering it, leaving a little room for the viewer to interpret and put the puzzle pieces together.

I’m learning to recognize those moments. To know why my gut is screaming “STOP” - not just because I’m tired. Or worried I’m going to ruin it. But to know it’s done. It’s time to put the brush down, Sarah.

Here’s a little step-by-step, unfortunately I didn’t take a photo at my favorite point. It was somewhere between the top two.

Again, I don’t dislike the result. If I had to be picky, I think I made the forest floor a bit too busy. I lost some of the big chunky marks I liked. But hey, that’s another lesson learned.

One thing I’m doing lately that really helps, is to stop halfway through a study and set it aside. Even the small ones. I come back to it the next day to finish it. Or sometimes I take three days. I don’t make a final decision until I’ve given my mind space to interpret during different moods. This is training me to make conscious decisions about how far to take it (or not), rather than just call it done when my brain is tired or I have something else to do.

Above, the snowy rock study was a February paintalong with my Patreons. I find it even harder to stop early during a demo, because I have a feeling that people want more. I don’t know why, especially since they are watching to learn my way of doing things.

But in this demo I made an effort to put the brush down. This was evident in the length of the recorded demo. Typically they are 2-3 hours long. This one was 60 minutes. And not because I was rushing either. It was simply about embracing the fresh quality of the al dente painting.

Another thing that helps is to paint smaller, like postcard size (below). This means I don’t have to back up as far, I can just squint and see the big picture.

I think we each have our own tricks that work for us - something that gets us to stop before we overdo it. And it might change painting to painting. Over the years I’ve realized “done” is a moving target. And the best thing you can do is keep shooting.

EXCITING NEWS: COMING MARCH 16

Introducing: my LIMITED EDITION Travel Brush Set!

Join me Sunday for a live launch stream, I’ll be sharing a 5% discount code during the stream!

The limited edition kit includes: 8 brushes in a deluxe art box, high quality print, and a carrying case covered in my art.

You’ve probably seen the brushes in my YouTube videos over the past few months and now you can get a set too. While supplies last!

Watch the unboxing video here.
Buy here. STARTING MARCH 16th

Join me for 8 amazing days in Spain - October 13-20, 2025 - painting our hearts out in beautiful Andalucía. Watch the video to learn more. It’s going to be a trip of a lifetime!

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - Sign up here

On a Personal Note…

Spring is approaching, and I’m preparing! Once again I’ll be doing “PleinAirpril” - painting outside every day during April. It’s an annual event that gets my year started. Come to think of it, April feels more like New Years to me. Maybe I should start celebrating that! This could turn into an annual retreat…I’m imagining booking an Airbnb somewhere on the west coast, and spending all of April painting outside with fellow artists…who’s in?? Let’s plan on it for 2027!

I may send out another update at the end of March to share my #pleinairpril plans, in case anyone wants to play along. In the meantime, I’m getting all my plein air gear ready and trying to acclimate my body and mind to Outside by sitting in the garden at least 20 mins a day. It’s not terrible.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

After my last newsletter, we had a deep freeze, from which I am just now thawed out. The light is slowly coming back to us (though it still feels like a sunset all day - not complaining). When it’s not too cold or rainy, I go out for long walks and a fresh perspective. There’s a cafe just over a mile away, which makes the perfect destination and motivation to get out. I like to take the scenic route, which takes me by the river and through a dense forest. The cold air coats my lungs as I breathe deeply beneath frost laden boughs. Will I miss winter in the height of summer, when the same branches cannot protect me from the heat?

Join me and 20+ other artists for 3 days of demos at Acrylic Live this March.

Use code BURNS for 10% off your ticket at AcrylicLive.com!”

I’ll be sharing my acrylic gouache demo on Basics Day:

The Tree of It

Last year I felt like my artistic growth was a little too slow and I lacked a study plan. I had too many projects to juggle and my own growth fell by the wayside.

This year I am doing something a little differently on my Patreon in order to help with that. I’ve chosen 12 landscape themes I’m interested in studying and each month we will tackle a different one.

January was tree month - my favorite subject - and it was the perfect way to start the year.

I find myself amused when I think about how often I’ve “gone back to the basics” to study something I’ve been painting for years.

The truth is, our skills will level up each time we paint, but sometimes growth feels so slow that I almost wonder if I’m regressing. In those moments I pause, reassess what I’m trying to learn, and seek simplicity.

By breaking down a subject to it’s foundation, it’s skeleton, I can build up from there with new methods and vision.

Going back to the “basics” with trees was exactly what I needed. It’s so interesting how explaining something to others helps me to learn it better. By that logic teachers make themselves smarter by teaching, right? :)

I shared a very long post on Patreon about the absolute basics for trees - how to start with a simple shape and build up into a detailed tree.

Peek:

Then we painted a reference together with gouache. Many of the participants said it was eye-opening. Watch the paintalong.

By subscribing to my Patreon you get instant access to over 50 tutorials and fresh new content each month. Cancel anytime.

A New Method

At night I’ve been enjoying very relaxed drawing sessions, mostly playing with graphite in a new way.

I used to sketch primarily with 0.5 blue mechanical pencils using basic hatching. It has a distinct look and feels more illustrative in the end.

Over time I had found it wasn’t ideal for proper value studies, or quicker sketches on the go. Hatching seems quick because of how fast the hand moves while doing it, but it can take a very long time to fill in a larger area.

I wanted a method that would allow me to draw larger, faster. For those cold days in the forest when I want to study a tree, but have a few minutes before my toes are numb. For those moments during travel where I have 20 minutes in front of a cathedral before the next scheduled stop.

This method is a hybrid of hatching and soft shading. Steps to achieve this look:

• Do a loose sketch of the overall tree.

• Loosely apply graphite over the entire piece (including background). 2B or softer works best. Current favorite pencil: Graphgear 1000

• With a blending sponge (I use a makeup sponge), rub the graphite gently over the paper to spread it out. This creates that soft airbrush look. This also helps it adhere to the fibers of the paper so it doesn’t smudge as easily.

• Start hatching the shadows and contours of the tree. In this step I switch between hatching and soft shading.

• For greater shadows, add more graphite, rub in, add more, rub in. You get the idea. Don’t worry about going over lines.

• For highlights, use a small eraser (I like the Tombow Mono Zero). As long as the paper is sturdy and smooth, the eraser won’t tear it. I’ve been enjoying the Jackson’s softcover square sketchbooks. But I often use my Stillman & Birn Beta or Zeta which are great for mixed media. That way if you feel like splashing some watercolor over it, you’re good to go!

• If you want hatching and linework visible in the end, use a fine detail pencil to add some in key places but don’t rub them. I like to use directional lines to indicate curvature of branches and roots.

I’ve written more about it on my blog, have a read!

Join me for 8 amazing days in Spain - October 13-20, 2025 - painting our hearts out in beautiful Andalucía. Watch the video to learn more. It’s going to be a trip of a lifetime!

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - Sign up here

On a Personal Note…

Taking a pause at the beginning of this year was exactly what I needed to feel refreshed. Now that it’s February and I’m getting back into work mode, I see the benefit of relaxation even more. Without time off, there’s nothing left in the tank except fumes which won’t last long, especially when the voyage ahead is bumpy. I have quite a few projects in the works, each with their own mental challenges, so I need all the fuel I can get!

One thing that has really helped me is to stay connected to my art community, as small as it is. Here are some images from recent meet-ups. Lyn (above) is a wonderful artist I met at Iain Stewart’s watercolor workshop in Scotland two years ago, and we instantly connected. So when she visited the Cairngorms last month I knew I had to drive down to see her!

My plein air group has been meeting monthly and we just celebrated our two year anniversary! I wrote about it in this blog post.

I am meeting with them later this week in beautiful Portsoy, and am really looking forward to some sunshine and cold fresh air!

I’ll be taking some time off at the end of February to celebrate my birthday. Turning 40 feels surprisingly easy. I wish I could tell young Sarah that it’s no big deal. To take a deep breath. Each phase of life provides something new, and wisdom accumulates.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

I’m feeling very nostalgic this week as we leave behind 2024 and begin a new calendar year. I love reflecting on adventures, growth, lessons, changes, hardships, inspiration…reviewing the tapestry of life that we put together each year. And who doesn’t love making exciting plans for the upcoming year? But it’s so important to stay present, to not live in the past or future. This is my lesson this year.

Join me and 20+ other artists for 3 days of demos at Acrylic Live this March.

Use code BURNS for 10% off your ticket at AcrylicLive.com!”

I’ll be sharing my demo on Basics Day:

The Secret of being a YouTuber

I feel that I’m a little outside the norm when it comes to tracking personal progress (not only in art but everything about my life). Since I have been making YouTube videos for years I have a visual record of my growth. I can look back at old vlogs and listen to myself talking about what I’m struggling with. I can see the decisions I made while painting and hear myself describe what I was trying to accomplish. That is like having a diary on steroids - being able to relive your life in an uncomfortable, almost unfathomable amount of detail. A living record of who I was at any given point (since I started making videos). I cringe when I look back at some of the first videos I made. I even cringe when I look at videos from the beginning of 2024!

I know I’m not alone - I talk to a lot of YouTubers who feel the same way about their videos. So why do it?? Why put ourselves through the agony of watching ourselves make mistakes, stumble over words, get it wrong, over and over? We will always be our own worst critic, and seeing past the veil of self-criticism is nearly impossible until you remember it’s about connection.

When someone connects with something you share (whether it’s “good” or not in your own eyes), that thing takes on new meaning. It might inspire someone to try drawing for the first time. Or to walk in nature without their phone. Or to look at their own work in a new way, or overcome a hurdle. The potential is endless.

I get messages regularly from people sharing how a video inspired them to do something new, or even better - connect with nature and express it through art. It fills my heart with so much joy that anything I share can potentially change someone’s life for the better.

When I first started my channel I had no idea if it would turn into anything of value. It started from requests I received during my live streams on Twitch (back in the day). Over time, I realized I enjoyed the process of making videos and the opportunities for self-expression through video felt exciting. It was a nice way to share my love for nature and art with a wider audience.

They say you only need “1000 true fans” to make a living doing what you love. In my experience you don’t even need that many. If you offer something of value and charge fairly, you only need a small audience to make a living. Think about it - if you create a product of high value and charge £50, and 1,000 of your biggest fans buy it, you just earned £50,000.

The hard part is longevity - to ensure your able to stay consistent and keep up or improve that level of value over long periods of time. Which might mean making sacrifices in other areas of life, or hiring someone to help. Whatever it is, the key is to keep value high and engagement at the forefront of your business. Whether you’re engaging directly with the audience or encouraging them to engage with each other, or simply word-of-mouth advertising. I find this especially true now that the online art market feels saturated.

YouTube is a long-game. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you truly want it to be a success it involves thinking in 5 year increments, not weekly. The value of a YouTube channel is far higher than subscriber or view counts. It’s the quality of views that truly matters - and the engagement with the audience (either in the comments or elsewhere, like a discord chat or subscription like Patreon). You can monetize your channel with ads, but I use the minimum setting because I don’t want 3 ads popping up during a 20 minute video. That would drastically reduce the viewer experience. I don’t take sponsorships through my channel either because I view my channel it as an organic way to advertise my own products - Patreon subscription, prints, books, workshops, etc.

Although a lot of people call me a YouTuber (and I would call myself that on occasion), the majority of my income and time is not spent on YouTube. That is just a small piece of the puzzle. It is probably my best advertiser though. I make very little directly through YouTube but most of my audience found me through my videos. So it’s almost impossible to quantify the value of my channel, but it has helped me to earn a comfortable living doing what I love.

To wrap this up I want to say Thank You. Thank you for supporting me over the years, whether it was through watching my videos, reading my blog, buying my art, or just enjoying my newsletter. However you decide to connect with what I share - I’m truly grateful that it found a place to rest in your mind.

Fun Stats

Now that I’ve explained how being a YouTuber is far more than numbers, let’s dive into the 2024 numbers!

• 42 Public Videos (1 less than 2023)

• 2 Live Streams (1 less than 2023)

• 24 Patreon Exclusive Tutorials (same as 2023)

• 12 Full length tutorials for Craftamo Boxes (new in 2024)

YouTube 2024 Views

• 1.5 Million Views (8% more than 2023)

• 18.5K New Subscribers (9% less than 2023)

YouTube Revenue

• £4,972.08 from AdSense in 2024 (£44.73 more than 2023)

On a Personal Note…

One of my favorite memories from 2024 was picking up our new fur-baby, Akira, in early spring. Actually I was quite stressed about it because I didn’t know if I was ready to have a kitten again. But within days, we bonded so tightly that I knew it was the right choice. My second favorite memory was walking down the street on Whidbey Island with an iced coffee on a warm September day, on my way to the afternoon session of the Mike Hernandez workshop. I had a rush of joy and gratitude for everything in my life. One of those perfect moments where you feel lucky to be alive.

I am currently starting a new bullet journal and I’m including a gratitude page after each month so I can ruminate on those things throughout the coming year. Life - even in the hard times - is not as dark when you start your day form a place of gratitude.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my cold little corner of Scotland!

My, my, what a beautiful autumn season! After returning from my travels I was lucky enough to enjoy nearly 4 weeks of gorgeous autumn colours before the winds began to blow the leaves away. It’s getting dark around 4:00pm now, and I really feel winter coming. In fact a few minutes ago it hailed! Time for another cuppa…

Autumn

Most people think of brightly coloured trees. Maybe some hay bales in a field. Pumpkins. Spiderwebs covering the self-checkout station at the local co-op.

I too think of these things. But the majority of my experience and what I remember of autumn goes much deeper. I think of the countless hours spent driving through the highlands. Brown and ochre hills rolling past, sometimes dotted with white balls of fluff. Winding roads lined with naples yellow, burnt sienna, and deep scarlet. Sometimes passing through dense tree tunnels that create a kaleidoscope of color before opening back up to bright golden light.

I think of long walks with a heavy backpack filled with art supplies and lenses just in case I find the perfectly paintable scene. And yet what usually happens is I’m mesmerized by the tapestry of colours and spend hours filming and photographing nature before I realize I’m too tired to paint.

The Voices of Autumn

On one hand I’m aware of the fleeting beauty, which causes my inner druid to linger a bit longer within the details. My last desperate bid to forest bathe before it’s too cold. This is the same voice that compels me to sit and quietly observe each aspect of the forest and revel in each breath. To just be.

And then there’s the competing voice - which is often too loud to ignore. The inner artist that starts organizing what it sees into tidy little boxes. Labeling things by color, size, value and shape. The one that says “if you don’t take a photo of that, you’ll forget.” or “You’ll never see anything as beautiful as this again, you better paint it!”

This voice is often accompanied by a third loud voice. The inner business-person who constantly reminds me to take both vertical and horizontal images to maximize the shareability of my experience. To create content. Endless content. From every experience, ever.

All of these voices are in direct competition. My deepest desires align with Voice One. My livelihood depends on voices Two and Three. And they are all especially loud during autumn, when the changes of nature happen in daily leaps, not baby steps.

It’s not fair! I want to cry. But mother nature made up her mind long ago. It’s up to us to make the most of the time that is given to us.

And so I plod on, each day soaking in as much of the fleeting beauty as possible. When energy allows I make greater efforts to capture it in paint. Other days the time allows for a photo or two.

Each autumn I want to be exhausted by colour. To come away knowing I couldn’t possibly stand the sight of another red leaf on the driveway.

Gouache is a great medium for painting quickly outside. I often start with a diluted wash of color, almost like a drawing.

The final result is often made of very quick brushwork, meant only to capture the colors and feeling of drama around me. These studies lean towards abstract, but they bring so many memories flooding back.

All of this inner drama is fueled by the knowledge that winter is coming - long, dark, cold, wet winter. And on those long winter nights I can open up the Autumn Folder on my laptop and swim in the beauty I captured. I can flip through my sketchbooks and instantly be transported back to moments when my eyes were inundated by every colour imaginable in a chaotic ballet of branches and leaves.

These are just a few autumn inspired paintings over the last year.

What are your autumn colors?

Now let’s talk color palettes!

On one hand, I’ve always had a foot in the CMYK camp - using purest colors like cyan, primary magenta and lemon yellow - as it allows me to mix almost any color imaginable.

But during autumn, things shift for me. I lean heavier on the warm, earthy tones.

Lately I’ve been reaching for the following colors:

• Titanium white (of course)

• Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna

• Permanent Yellow Deep (or any warm yellow- cadmium yellow could work)

• Yellow Ochre or the very lovely Titanium Gold Ochre by Schmincke, of which I have one tube left! Naples yellow is also fabulous.

• Alizarin Crimson or Scarlet (a cool red to balance the warm yellows)

• Ultramarine, so my greens don’t get too vivid

• As a bonus, a premixed green is fun, like moss green or shadow green pale by Shinhan

This earthy palette is a lot of fun, and offers a wide variety of mixes to play with. I definitely recommend giving it a try! Feel free to send me some of your favorite autumn paintings, or ask questions. Yep, you can reply to this email! There’s a real person sitting behind the desk..

Visuals

Watch some of my latest videos about painting autumn:

• Gentle Forest Painting Watch here

• Lessons Learned Watch here

• Painting it again Watch here

Or some oldies but goodies!

• Hike, Paint, Repeat Watch here

• Autumn Tree Studies Watch here

• Autumn reference hunting & painting Watch here

Want to learn to paint autumn trees in gouache? Try a free skillshare membership and get started with my TREE CLASS

Gouache Subscription boxes now Available Here!

(Big discounts for 6 month and 12 month subscriptions. Shipping charged monthly.)

Get a peak at the boxes in this video.

About the Gouache Subscription Boxes

Each month you'll receive a new box in the mail with the supplies you need to paint a new tutorial. But this is not just about art supplies! I have created the same high quality tutorials that you've come to expect from me and each box will help you grow your skills and confidence in using gouache.

Over the course of 12 months, you'll grow a collection of premium gouache brushes (24 in total), high quality gouache (30 tubes), 100% cotton paper, washi tape, spray bottle, mixing tray, and a wealth of information that will last you a lifetime. The gouache tutorials are suitable for beginners and seasoned painters, offering tons of advice and a variety of techniques for creative landscape painting.

On a Personal Note…

As we enter the “dark season” in Scotland, I’m doing my best to embrace it, not dread it. I just posted a video all about it. Soon we will be down to 7 cold hours of daylight each day, limiting my ability to get out and paint. So I’m finding other creative activities to keep me entertained and inspired during the 17 hours of darkness (besides sleeping…I guess that’s important too). After work I reach for embroidery, writing, reading, baking, video games…all those “cozy” activities that remind me of vacation. They take a front seat this time of year.

My biggest and most exciting creative project has been writing Sketching Scotland Vol. 02 - which I hope will be finished by spring, so I can get it printed and available in 2025! It’s a big goal that I constantly pushed back this year, in favor of adventure. But now that it’s frosty, I think it’s the right time to focus on it.

Lastly I want to remind you that my limited edition calendars are available - they make great gifts!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my cold little corner of Scotland!

The fields here have shifted from green to golden and the hills are covered in purple heather. It’s a sign that summer is tapering off and we’ll soon enter my favorite season. It’s bittersweet because I love autumn but it feels like we haven’t had a proper summer - it’s been quite chilly and rainy. (yea, yea, I know it’s Scotland!)

I know many of you in the USA have been going through heat waves…I wish we could exchange some weather and even each other out!

Today’s message is a little catch up session and announcement for meet-up dates for Seattle and London this September!

What I’ve been up to

Besides learning how to golf, most of my summer has been spent working on two of the biggest projects of my art career. If you saw my latest VLOG you know about one of them. The gouache subscription boxes are almost completed! In that vlog I shared some of the final stages. I still have about two months left of heavy work on it, but the end is in sight. Not that isn’t enjoyable work, but it’s just been a long project!

I know there has been some confusion about whether the boxes are still available, so let me clear that up!

You can start your subscription anytime here. As soon as you subscribe, Box #1 ships to you. Each month (as long as your subscribed, or if you chose the 6 or 12 month option) you’ll receive the next box.

The subscriptions are available indefinitely. Even if we decide to retire the boxes in favor of another project, the video tutorials will be available indefinitely. So take your time, enjoy them, and I hope you keep learning! It’s been AMAZING to see the results from current subscribers, thank you all for sharing with me! Here’s a preview of the latest shares in my Discord chat:

The other big project is Sketching Scotland Vol. 02! I haven’t shared any progress on it but I’ve been chipping away in the background. Usually I sneak in a couple hours a week. It’s a massive undertaking and I have no estimated completion date. But it’s a joy to work on as it allows me to reminisce about some of my favorite plein air experiences in the past few years.

You might remember this image from a previous post, when we unpacked my huge order of books before signing and stocking the shop.

Sketching Scotland Vol. 02 will cover years 2021-present day. (Vol 01 covered 2015-2021).

Stay tuned for more on that!

Learn to Draw More Accurately

I’ve had lots of requests for more drawing tutorials, so I’m trying something new! Normally my Patreon posts are exclusive to Patreon, but there’s a new feature that allows anyone to purchase a single post. So if you love the idea of tutorials, but don’t want a membership, give it a try!

This is a step-by-step tutorial for only £7 and shows how to go from photo to drawing. I walk you through the grid method, pencil sketch then adding grayscale marker to capture shadows, then finishing with fineliner details.

Meet-Ups in Seattle and London

Let’s meet-up, chat, & sketch!

I’ll be visiting family in the USA this September, and along the way I’ve set aside some time to meet up with my online community:

Seattle

Sept. 19, 10am-2pm

London

Sept 29, 11am-dinner

(we will probably walking a lot at both locations, so make sure you can walk!)

NOTE: You MUST email me if you want to attend either meet up! That way I can email you with exact meeting locations/times or if something changes.

On a Personal Note…

I’m happy to report that Akira has graduated to the “big boy” phase and we can now leave him at home alone (with Floki) for a few hours. Which means we have more freedom and we are finally able to do THINGS again. I mentioned golf earlier…I never thought I’d hear the words “wanna learn how to play golf?” from my husband, but I did. And I said yes.

We’ve been taking lessons from a pro coach because we (he) need all the help we (he) can get. It’s been so much fun and we try to get out a couple times a week.

In addition, I’m finally planning a couple solo-camping trips (nothing extreme, mostly car camping) later this month so I can capture the amazing changes happening in nature. I feel a bit desperate to be immersed in nature after spending most of the summer cooped up at home.

It’s funny how I kept telling myself I’m missing out on summer - but it was a blessing in disguise because I haven’t burned myself out and I feel totally ready to embrace the autumn (which is going to be really busy with travel!!)

This is the most inspiring time of year for me! And since I’ve been working out, eating healthy and taking my meds regularly my body seems to be agreeing that we are due for a nice long hike deep in the mountains.

I’ll be sure to share whatever beauty I come across.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my cold little corner of Scotland!

I always have a surge of energy as the summer solstice approaches, and then in a blink of an eye it’s July. It sneaks up on me every year. Now each day is getting slightly shorter, a reminder that this wonderful time of year doesn’t last. It’s bittersweet, isn’t it? But it’s not over yet, and I’m taking advantage of the long days to paint outside as often as possible, learning from nature.

What I’ve been up to

Some adventures were had.

On the last day of May, I completed the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail - over 150 miles of beautiful and varied coastline. No, it didn’t happen all at once! I have a whole video series about it here. But the last leg was 50 miles and my first big ride of the summer. I had the perfect two-day weather window to complete that journey. To be honest it took me a few weeks to fully recover from that. But it was completely worth it because it was a great section and June was very stormy.

That trail was all part of my life-long goal to hike or cycle around Scotland, which you can read about here. I’m already planning the next big ride, going from the edge of Moray county to Inverness. Just waiting for the weather to cooperate.

Workshops

My France workshop sold out within 24 hours of sending my newsletter. You can get on the wait list, but I’ve been told there is a long list. The good news is that it means I’ll be doing more in the future. I have already spoken to other companies about doing workshops (tentatively planning a Spain workshop in May 2026!).

I also started teaching in-person workshops here in Scotland this summer and it’s been a blast.

Sadly I only took two photos the entire weekend of the June workshop (one is above). I wanted to pack in as much knowledge as possible so I stayed focused! What I love about in-person workshops is the ability to see the student’s painting and give instant feedback, to demonstrate directly and answer questions as they arise during the painting process. Everything is much more fluid. I’ve been teaching online for over 5 years, and this has been such a refreshing change and is rekindling my excitement for sharing my craft.

My July workshop is this weekend and I’m so looking forward to it! Whatever the weather throws at us, we’ll embrace it and use it as an opportunity to study the truth of nature.

I’ll try to take more photos this time and share them in a future newsletter or blog post.

Interested in future Scotland workshops? You’re in the right place. I always announce them to my newsletter before social media.

Art on Display

Some of my artwork is now on display (and available) at the newly reopened Victorian Railway Cafe at Strathpeffer. It’s a beautiful cafe with wonderful teas, coffees, cakes, and fresh food. Definitely worth a visit and is only a 30 minute scenic drive from Inverness

How I create a drawing curriculum to IMPROVE my skills

Let’s talk about drawing. It’s my greatest love as an artist. I find drawing to be the most relaxing of all art-related activities. Why? Because the concept is so simple.

One tool. Paper. Friction. Thought.

While painting can be relaxing, it can also be ahellofalotta work to achieve something “good.” There’s so much involved. Color theory, paint consistency, water control, tools, how slow or fast it’s drying…the list goes on. That’s why painting can be mentally exhausting very quickly.

And I suppose drawing can be too when you are really studying something complex. But I find that I can draw for hours without getting as tired. In a perfect world of no obligations, I could draw all day.

But drawing is much more than a fun hobby. I think it’s the best way to improve hand-eye coordination. To improve muscle memory. To build the skill of observation needed to paint realistically.

If you struggle with consistently practicing, adding some structure can really help! So I wanted to share how I create a curriculum to improve my drawing skills over time.

Simplicity

I start by selecting my tools. If you’re new to drawing, I suggest starting very simple with either a pen or pencil and paper. Nothing fancy. Over time you can experiment with different options, or even add in paint. I sometimes love to draw with ink then splash some gouache over it, then draw on top of that. But to start, keep things simple.

Length

I typically keep the length of my curriculum to 30 days or less. This helps keep me motivated because 30 days isn’t that long. But it also means I can make adjustments afterwards or continue if desired.

I may organize it into chunks throughout the year. For instance, each “season” gets a new curriculum. Or perhaps every 2 months I start a new one.

Subject

Drawing from life is preferable to grow the skills needed to observe what’s in front of me and translate that to 2D. Since my primary drive as a painter is to paint on location, I need this skill.

My subject varies from architecture, still lifes, individual objects in the landscape and more. Sometimes animals or people.

I will often do 7-10 days of one subject, then move onto the next.

For instance, in a 4-week curriculum:

• Week 1 - Rocks

• Week 2 - Trees

• Week 3 - Boats

• Week 4 - Birds

They aren’t necessarily related, but they are each very interesting to me. Which is important.

Daily

Usually I’m trying to gain maintain (or gain back) a habit of daily drawing. It’s something that can easily slip away when my schedule gets busy. I have always seen massive improvements when I stick to a daily drawing schedule.

The goal: 10 minutes MINIMUM, 1 hour MAX. That is a good formula to start with. After 1 hour if I am still in the mood, I’ll switch to painting (or keep drawing with ink but add watercolor).

Doing this is more approachable and sustainble than big time chunks.

If I can’t do daily sessions, I’ll at least do every other day.

Share!

I find it REALLY helpful to share my progress with others. This is so encouraging, and also keeps me somewhat accountable.

For instance right now, I’m doing a 30-day challenge with my Patreons. We can share progress in our group chat on Patreon and stay motivated. And my monthly live stream will be drawing related.

Inspiration

If you’d like to try but aren’t sure where to start, here are some suggestions.

• Start with a shorter length, maybe two weeks.

• Each day use a new tool. Try different pencils and pens. Try different papers.

• Create a list of prompts. Write them on paper, put them in a jar and pick a new one each day. Use words of things around you so you can draw from life. Like “my car” or “the neighbor’s tree.”

• I have a pinterest board dedicated to fantastic sketchbooks that inspire me. Make one full of things that get you excited to grab your sketchbook!

I hope this discussion inspires you to start (or keep) a habit of drawing and improving!

On a Personal Note…

This has been a rather travel-free summer for us, minus a couple of events. Typically I plan lots of trips all over Scotland from May until September. However this year the timing of our new kitten called for a home-bound existence.

And it’s been such a joy to have Akira by my side most days! He is very affectionate, curious, and very clingy. It’s a lot of work to raise a kitten with his amount of endless energy. He requires near-constant supervision so he doesn’t chew cables, plastic, or clothes (he loves to eat our sandals). He’s like a dog! And because he isn’t able to go outside on his own yet, he still depends on us for everything. Everyone told us Siamese are very socially needy, and we can definitely see it! We’ve grown a deep bond in our short three months together.

He is also terribly smart. He quickly figured out how to sneak out of the catflap as Floki comes in. Because of that, Wolfy and I haven’t left the house together since March. So my adventures are solo, and my priorities have been to raise a healthy happy boy. Giving him the best start possible is biggest job of the summer. And this homebound existence has changed how I approach my art practice. I have given myself more time to relax and enjoy the summer. Gardening, playing with Akira, bike rides, just enjoying life. It’s like a new side of me has been brought out - someone who is learning to relax!

However we do have some exciting travel plans in September and October, so I am hoping that by autumn Akira will be wise enough to see that when his parents leave, they will always come back to him.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my cold little corner of Scotland!

May in Scotland is like taking a deep breath after being deprived of air for too long. I step outside each morning and take in the sweet scented air. Everything is bursting with life, blooming, and surging forth with color. The land quickly shifts from brown to intense green, calling to me: “Sarah, come out and paint!!”

In this newsletter I’ll share my tips for how I study greens in the field.

Learn gouache with me!

Gouache Subscription boxes Available now!

After a successful launch of my Gouache Subscription boxes last year, I’m happy to announce the boxes are available again to order!

Buy here

About the Gouache Subscription Boxes

Each month you'll receive a new box in the mail with the supplies you need to paint a new tutorial. But this is not just about art supplies! I have created the same high quality tutorials that you've come to expect from me and each box will help you grow your skills and confidence in using gouache.

Learn more and see what’s inside each box in this video.

Over the course of 12 months, you'll grow a collection of premium gouache brushes (24 in total), high quality gouache (30 tubes), 100% cotton paper, washi tape, spray bottle, mixing tray, and a wealth of information that will last you a lifetime. The gouache tutorials are suitable for beginners and seasoned painters, offering tons of advice and a variety of techniques for creative landscape painting.

The Green Dilemma

I’ve listened to a lot of interviews with master artists, many of whom discuss the challenge of mixing greens. There are hundreds of articles and videos online about this topic as well. It makes me wonder, what’s so difficult about green??

How I Study Green

Imagine sitting down at a piano and expecting yourself to play Mozart fluently? No, it doesn’t work like that. The same goes for painting. And especially for understanding how to use color.

As we grow our artistic skills, we are also growing our sensitivity to color simply by observing the world closely. Look, paint, repeat. It’s that simple. But it takes a long time.

Seeing subtle nuances of color takes practice. At first we see green. After a while we start to notice shifts towards yellow, blue or red.

At the beginning, many artists go over-the-top with color (I know I did). Color is fun and pretty. Landscape artists have to deal with green a lot. Green is pretty much in everything. A common beginner mistake is to buy premixed greens and use them straight out of the tube. But the issue there is that those greens are often far too saturated. Using them often leads to an unnatural looking result.

Top: original plein air study / Bottom: new study based on my notes

My personal aesthetic has shifted over the years from focusing on vivid color everywhere in the painting to subtle shifts of grey with pops of color. Grey has become my obsession. Now I see beauty in grey, because there are so many versions of it. By using colorful greys (yes it’s a thing) we can preserve our saturation for areas of focus.

Mixing Your Own Greens

When it comes to studying greens (or any color), my first tip is to spend time in the studio mixing your colors. This helps to discover some of your options before you get outside and feel the pressure. I almost always use a limited palette of 3-5 colors, but those colors change over time. I like to experiment now and then with different combinations.

If you’ve never made mixing charts before, now is the best time. There’s not one right way to do it - you can get creative and do what works for you. The most important thing is learning about your colors. I have some videos about how I create color mixing charts, and this strategy can be applied to any medium.

Videos: The easy way. The less easy way.

Or instead of charts, I often make “color notes” outside. This is done by mixing and swatching as I go. This is a great method for fast discovery. I do this outside by staring at something then mixing a color/value that matches. I rarely get it right at first. It usually takes a few tries. Doing this next to a small sketch helps me remember what I saw.

It’s especially difficult to do this when the light is changing. Small quick sketches are best.

Later, I can take these notes to the studio with references and paint it more detailed.

Master Studies

Left Photo: Painting by Edgar Payne / Right: my gouache painting

Another excellent learning tool is to copy master artworks (known as “master studies”) in order to learn how to mix color. This takes a lot of practice and attempts. I usually need at least 3 tries to match the color I see.

Using a very limited palette, and try different versions of the primaries. Practice mixing a color as closely to the master painting as you can.

Master Artists are known for their brilliant use of art principles to create magnificent paintings. Each of us has artists we look up to - choose one that inspires YOU!

In landscape painting, a few of the masters that are worth a look are: Edgar Payne, John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla, Richard Schmid, Hyde Harris and many others! For contemporary inspiration, take a look at artists interviewed by the Plein Air Podcast (my favorite).

Remember, never copy an artists’s painting and claim it as your own. It is for learning purposes only! Always give credit to the original artist.

Watch my video about painting greens: open YouTube

On a Personal Note…

I’m a little behind on emails. It seems the summer energy has already swept me away and my calendar is packed. When it rains it pours right? Although it will take me a bit longer to share what’s been happening, I appreciate all of you being here and coming along the journey!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

Miss a previous newsletter? See the archive.

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Hello!

from my cold little corner of Scotland!

A lot has been happening here, though I have been a little quiet online. February is a time when I start to see the light at the end of the winter tunnel. Signs of spring are appearing but cold wind and rain refuse to give up their hold on Scotland.

Preparing for Plein Air Season

I talked about this in a recent video, and it’s something a lot of artists go through: Preparing for Plein Air Season! Most of us are “fair weather painters” meaning we prefer not to freeze our butts off while we paint. Keeping busy in the studio while waiting for good weather, even if that means months, is just part of this way of life.

First, I ease into it. I switch to using the materials I usually take outside. For instance, I recently added new gouache colors to my Portable Painter and practicing with it inside will help me learn what color mixes are possible. I can start to get a feel for what colors I like for lochs, forests and mountains. I learn the color placement in the palette which helps with muscle memory.

I also recently started a new sketchbook specifically for lots of little studies to prepare for painting outside. I pick old reference photos of different places I’ve hiked and painted. That gets me into the mindset of being outside again.

I like doing small studies in order to work through lots of ideas more quickly. My formula is as follows:

• Simple sketch with pencil to ‘design’ the scene

• Small color study

• Take color notes along the way so I remember the color combinations I use

• Repeat 2x or 3x per scene

Secondly, I use my small sketches to inform larger more finished paintings, like this mossy tree. I made a video sharing the entire process from sketch to finished painting here. This helps polish my technical skills as I’m putting much more effort into realism.

Lastly, another thing that helps get me excited (and prepared) for plein air season is to plan day trips. I scour google maps for different routes, marking all the potential spots I might like to sketch. I make notes about what areas would be good for a gorgeous sunset view or what would be better on a cloudy day (I don’t always want bright sun).

Doing this also takes away a lot of guesswork when the weather finally gets nice. All I need to do is pick a route, grab my pack and go.

What are you doing to prepare for Plein Air Season?

On a Personal Note…

We recently celebrated our 6th year Wedding anniversary. I barely have more than this single blurry image to remember it by. And you know what? I’m totally OK with that.

Many of you follow my adventures and life on YouTube through my Scotland vlogs, which I really enjoy making…sometimes.

I go through phases of wanting to be private and spend less time with a camera. And other times I want to capture and share everything I see!

I suppose I’m going through the former right now. I have barely touched my camera in the last month and a half, preferring to be fully present in life. To have real downtime. Time to think. I often wonder if it’s even possible to be fully present while filming. I haven’t figured out how yet.

But a funny thing happens when you start to grow a following online. People genuinely start caring about you, even if they’ve never met you. Total strangers start contacting you when you ‘disappear.’ If I go a couple of weeks without sharing a vlog, I get messages of concern.

On one hand I really appreciate that- it’s nice knowing what I share matters. But it also adds to a feeling of guilt when I step away and take time for myself. It’s not intentional but it’s the reality of being a ConTenT CreAtoR nowadays.

My vlogs are created in addition to my weekly art videos. And that takes a ton of work, even with Wolfy helping. It leaves very little time away from the camera. So I have to give myself permission to be private, to live life without feeling obligated to share it all. But ultimately I think it’s healthier.

I listen to a lot of podcasts about full-time youtubers and this topic always comes up. It’s ever-present among millions of creators. It’s the collective guilt we feel for having a personal life away from camera. It stems from a need to regularly publish a video to stay relevant in the algorithm and to keep up with the universal expectation of ‘weekly episodes.’

So imagine filming everything that happens Monday-Friday, then spending Friday/Saturday editing so you can publish on Sunday. Start again the next week. You spend most of your life recording yourself, then staring at yourself on screen while you edit, only to publish a video about yourself and answer comments about your life. In all of your free time you wonder if you can improve your video stats.

Where is there room for a life outside of that? There is none. It becomes all consuming. It might sound extreme but that is what most youtubers go through for years until they eventually burn out and need a change. Personally I don’t like perpetually reliving my life through frequent vlogs. I would rather have new experiences and work on my art.

Since I already have my full-time art channel, I don’t want to spend the rest of my time making more videos. So I’ve decided it’s time to pull back a little.

I don’t plan on stopping my vlogs altogether, but they will be more scarce. I like the idea of filming little bits of life over a couple of months, to edit together a video of what life is actually like when I’m truly living - when I’m thriving.

Personally, I want to spend more time in my garden without feeling guilty. I want to spend more days wandering the coast without filming. I want to spend more time in forests with my eyes closed and my feet in the moss.

What do you dream about for the summer?

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

I want to wish you a very happy holiday season! Soon we will tiptoe into 2024 and I am SO ready! I’ve already started my annual winter cleaning marathon, a tradition I enjoy to start the year with a fresh feeling. It’s like spring cleaning except the windows are frozen shut.

This December we’ve had storm after storm of extreme wind and rain with only a few sunny days peaking through, and you better believe I’m soaking up every drop of sun I can get!

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Special Announcement: Last Chance!

We are doing a final flash-opening for pre-ordering my gouache subscription boxes! If you missed the first pre-order window, this is the last chance to sign up before shipping begins!

This final Pre-Order window for the boxes closes December 31, 2023.

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About the Monthly Gouache Tutorial Boxes

They arrive to your doorstep each month with brushes, paper, paint, and an exclusive full-length step by step tutorial for painting a landscape. Each month we will focus on different skills and types of landscapes, and I’ll walk you through it all. Even if you’ve never used gouache before you will have fun and learn a lot!

Over the course of 12 months, you'll grow a collection of premium gouache brushes (24 in total), high quality gouache (30 tubes), 100% cotton paper, washi tape, spray bottle, mixing tray, and a wealth of information that will last you a lifetime. The gouache tutorials are suitable for beginners and seasoned painters, offering tons of advice and a variety of techniques for creative landscape painting.

Signing up for the year saves you 25%, which is the equivalent of 3 free boxes!

Shipping billed monthly.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already ordered, this directly supports me and helps me to continue doing what I love for a living!

Watch the promo video and see what’s inside!

Let’s Toast To…

As we wrap up the year, Shaun and I have been reflecting on what a wonderful community we are part of - all of you who respond to these emails, write comments on YouTube and Instagram, those who send me emails, and come to events. Those of you who do my tutorials and share your work online, and to all of my Patreons. Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, enthusiasm and passion. Without you all, none of this would be fulfilling. We really do appreciate everything.

It’s been 8 years since I quit my day job to pursue this “art thing” for a living. And there have been MANY challenges over those years, and times when I thought of giving up. Yet here we are…

I am always trying new things, adjusting (or ‘pivoting’ as I always say), and thinking of ways to keep it all interesting. Each year I grow so much as a person and artist. And each year the desire to connect with my audience grows stronger. I have a feeling in 2024 the connection will grow even deeper, as we begin to do live workshops. I can’t announce dates yet, as we are narrowing down a couple venues, but we hope to announce something soon!

So, this year we are toasting to our community, YOU!

We are so looking forward to an exciting year ahead! Happy New Years!

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

As we hurry along towards the holidays, life can sometimes feel a bit hectic. Roads are crowded and slippery, shops are packed full of panicked shoppers, and the weeks blur together until suddenly, it’s New Years!

I’m making a greater effort to slow down and appreciate the beauty and peace that can only be found in nature.

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Now available!

I’ve had many requests to make a 2024 calendar, and I live to please!

2024 Calendars - Scotland Photography

These 2024 calendars are filled with some of my favorite Scotland images of 2023, a year of exploration and adventure!

Shipping dates: The first batch of calendars will ship starting December 5th.

Christmas shipping deadlines: Dec 13 (worldwide), Dec 20 (UK)
(the sooner the better to avoid delays!)

Product Details: Square desk calendar, 20x20 cm (7.8”x7.8”).

Each Calendar will be signed by Sarah.

ORDER NOW

And of course there are lots of other prints, cards, books and notebooks available in my shop too.

Thank you to everyone who has already ordered and supported my independent creative business!

On a Personal Note…

I can hardly believe I’m writing this but…

MY VISA WAS APPROVED!!!

Finally after 6 years of applications, expenses, and worry - the wait is over!

I am officially Scottish :)

OK not quite, but in my heart I feel it. I am home. And it feels like the weight of the world has been lifted. I can finally breathe and plan for the future long-term. Something we have been waiting to do for years.

This visa means I can stay indefinitely in Scotland without worrying about renewing or losing access. It’s a big deal. And if you’ve followed me for a while you know how much this process has been weighing on us. I’m so thankful that is over with the best outcome!

If you’d like to watch me surprise Shaun with the news, and celebrate with us virtually, here is my latest video.

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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Hello!

from my little corner of Scotland!

As autumn shifts to winter, the landscape is changing quickly. Heavy blankets of fog roll through the valleys and icy winds approach from the north. Despite the challenging weather we face in winter, my spirits are still high and I am determined to keep my good habits of painting outside regularly. I’m looking at it like a challenge - and I’m better prepared this year. I’ve got warmer layers, hand-warmers, and waterproof winter boots. What more does a plein air painter need in winter?

Ok, maybe a little sunshine doesn’t hurt!

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Learn Gouache with me in 2024!

Some of you may have heard that I’ve launched a brand new project and I’m here to tell you there are only 48 hours left to pre-order!

Monthly Gouache Tutorial Boxes

They arrive to your doorstep each month with brushes, paper, paint, and an exclusive full-length step by step tutorial for painting a landscape. Each month we will focus on different skills and types of landscapes, and I’ll walk you through it all. Even if you’ve never used gouache before you will have fun and learn a lot!

Watch the promo video and see what’s inside!

Over the course of 12 months, you'll grow a collection of premium gouache brushes (24 in total), high quality gouache (30 tubes), 100% cotton paper, washi tape, spray bottle, mixing tray, and a wealth of information that will last you a lifetime. The gouache tutorials are suitable for beginners and seasoned painters, offering tons of advice and a variety of techniques for creative landscape painting.

Signing up for the year saves you 25%, which is the equivalent of 3 free boxes!

Shipping billed monthly.

Pre-Orders for the boxes closes November 15, 2023. After that, get on the waiting list for the next pre-order window, spring 2024.

After the orders close, the project goes to production and ships end of December/January.

Thank you so much to everyone who has already ordered, this directly supports me and helps me to continue doing what I love for a living!

On a Personal Note…

As someone who spends the majority of daylight hours outside and gets all her inspiration from nature, I find this time of year very challenging. My world suddenly shrinks. There are near constant sheets of rain rolling through, and it’s nearing 0°C at night. Soon we will have less than 7 hours of daylight each day. It takes way more effort to do anything, as lack of daylight really drains the human body of energy. Even while taking Vitamin D, I still struggle to keep my sanity.

When the frequent storms roll through, the heavy clouds block our limited sunlight, making 2:00 PM feel like sunset! As you can see from this image:

Take care and see you next time,

~ Sarah

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