the art of noticing
31 January 2026
Plus new work, shop update, and special suscriber code!
Happy new year (since it's still January - just - and my first newsletter of the year. Welcome to new subscribers, I'm so glad you're here!
This month I'm starting a little differently with inspiration from a book - my newsletters don't always follow the same format. If you want, scroll down and use the headings to scan & find what you're interested in. Or grab a cuppa and read on...
I've been enjoying reading this book since new years day and trying to do a little noticing exercise every day, either from the book or just something that's come up for me. The plan is that I do this long enough to make it a habit.
On the practical side it has 131 activities (or 'opportunities' as they are called in the book) from easy to ones to those that might need more planning. So there's always a starting point and something that is achievable.
It's been easy to keep up with... until the last week where I keep forgetting to write up what I've noticed. But that doesn't mean I've not been noticing.
Here's are some snippets
3/1 Cover 4'33" (set a timer for 4mins 33seconds, close your eyes and just listen).
I noticed that my body felt warmer than expected and my left foot felt colder than expected. I noticed tension in my jaw, then in my face and later in my neck. I noticed my breathing and that made me take a couple of deep breaths. I noticed the traffic noise, some sirens that made me think if I tried this again I would likely hear sirens as 4m33s is enough time to hear sirens this close to a main road. The timer seemed to go off sooner than I expected.
7/1 Spot something new everyday
This morning I spotted some beautiful snowdrops in a neighbours garden. So on my walk to school this afternoon I thought I'd look to see what else is growing now. The moss on our driveway is very green. I also noticed mini daffodils that are nearly out, some crocuses that are also almost out and some other spring bulbs pushing up through the ground.
16/1 Feeling poorly. I noticed my body and listened when it said "no exercise today please". Sometimes I push through and do some anyway, usually when I'm just tired. Today I chose rest.
19/1 Spot something new everyday
I noticed the colour of some of the stones in the wall down the road from the pub are the same colour as the Fiat 500 that parks close by!
21/1 Spot something new everyday ~ you may have guessed by now this is a pretty easy one to complete
I noticed how spacious the hall looked without two bags of clothes and a tumble dryer in it! Enjoying the space.
Image from 12/1 where I realised this tree is a silver birch by noticing the branches (following on from 1/1 where I was noticing different silhouette shapes of trees on our travels).
February I'm taking the whole month to notice numbers based on 'opportunity': Count with the numbers you find!
How is this feeding into my art? Well, I'm not sure it is, directly, but the practice of noticing is a great creative act and most of all it's fun!
Here's some more typical news...
New Work
Subscribers get first access to new work. Before I announce my website shop update, here are some new paintings that continue my investigation of patterns from my time in Morocco.
First Impressions is 9" x 12" on deep canvas, presented in a white wood tray frame and costs £250.
{a subscriber discount was available until the end of February – subscribe to my emails using the form below if you are interested in receiving discounts and special offers}
Reflections (left) and Shadows (right) are a diptych, they come as a pair of 15cm x 30cm wood panels and can be purchased framed in simple white wood tray frames for £275.
The subscriber discount does not apply to this diptych, as it is being exhibited at the Northants & Rutland Open Studios Spring Open 2026 at Lamport Hall, 7–8 and 14–15 February. Also showing is Within the Shadows, from November's newsletter.
Finally, Tom's Cottage Garden has had a makeover! Available for £255 with a slim white wood frame.
Website Shop Update
Hurray! My new website shop is live!
I have re-structured the way you can view my paintings from my close-up responses to familiar items ‘inside’ our homes to those relating to ‘outside’ places, from buildings to nature.
Clicking on a painting gives you more details and clicking on the Buy Now button takes you to my sumUp online store, where you can now purchase a piece of art simply and using your preferred payment method.
Newsletter subscribers have a limited-time 26% discount (until 28 February 2026) on all original paintings in my shop {sign up to my newsletter using the form below if you are interested in receiving discounts and special offers in the future}. So if you have Christmas money that you've been looking to spend, or the time is right, why not head over and have a look to see if there's anything you'd like to add to your home.
Bye for now,
Lucy
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