In this video I settle in for an artist’s copy and a proper studio chat while I study Degas’ “Behind the Scenes” ballet dancers. I’m working with Derwent Inktense Blocks, so you’ll see how I like to build colour in layers, nudge values around, and keep the whole thing feeling painterly rather than tight and fussy. Artist’s copies are one of my favourite ways to learn—there’s no pressure to invent everything from scratch, and you can focus on what the original artist did with edges, colour temperature and composition. I’m also talking honestly about my YouTube plans for the future—what I want to make more of, what I’m enjoying, and how I’m trying to keep the channel sustainable alongside life and work here on our Cumbrian dairy farm. If you’re a beginner, this is a nice watch because it’s equal parts practical (materials, paper, process) and encouraging (how I keep going, how I plan, and why studying other artists helps your own work).