My Warm & Wholesome Art Process
(This post contains affiliate links)
There’s a certain kind of quiet joy in creating a painting that feels like it’s drifting in from another world. Soft edges, muted light, gentle storytelling woven in with every brushstroke.
This isn’t a strict tutorial, think of it more like an invitation to see the way I throw paint around when I create.
My Old-World Inspiration
A huge part of my process comes from the past. I’m endlessly inspired by the romantic era of balanced composition and the natural world. You can learn more about Romanticism here with this book! (https://amzn.to/4oH4FW6).
From faded photographs and delicate antique illustrations to forgotten sketches tucked away in archives, I love taking fragments of old worlds and reshaping them into something new. I adore gothic architecture and that makes up a huge part of this painting.
Often, I’ll begin with an old photo or drawing: a landform, a gesture, the way a landscape image moves. Then I reimagine it—soften it, distort it slightly, weave in my own symbols, and let it drift into something dreamlike. It’s a way of honouring the past while building a world that never existed. My paintings never actually end up looking anything like my starting inspiration material, but it anchors me with a starting point.
I never follow a strict plan. Mainly because I'm terrible at that and it never works so I've learned to just focus on what I'm doing and paint until I like what I see.
The Making of 'Faenwyth'
When you let go of perfection and just allow the painting to bloom, it becomes something otherworldly. I've never been that scared of making a mess and that is exactly what art asks of you; allow yourself to make a complete mess and then work with it. You may not know what a painting is going to look like in the end, but you can trust in yourself that you'll figure it out slowly.
Here, I'm using oils to create the soft, blended look.
Here's some behind the scenes insight into how my painting 'Faenwyth' came to life…
All of my original paintings and prints are available to collect on my website with worldwide shipping. You can find 'Faenwyth' prints here:
https://discoverrosie.com/products/faenwyth-giclee-fine-art-print
Here's a list of some of my favourite products and brands (or very similar):
Dark Wood Professional Artist Easel - https://amzn.to/3Ybz8Ax
Canon EOS RP Mirrorless DSLR Camera - https://amzn.to/4axbK7V
iPad Pro with Apple Pencil - https://amzn.to/4rFAbq5
12 oz triple primed cotton canvas roll - https://amzn.to/4oF40Eu