In this video I’m having a little think about my artistic plans for 2025, and I’m doing it the way I like best—by getting paint on the board. If you’ve had a bit of time off drawing and painting, a warm-up sketch is such a good way to get your eye in again, and that’s exactly what I’m doing here with some pink hyacinths. I’m working from a free reference photo (linked below) and keeping everything loose and impressionistic rather than getting bogged down in tiny details. I’m painting a quick acrylic sketch on mount-board using a size 3 flat brush, focusing on big shapes first and letting it stay sketchy. It’s a simple little session, but it’s a really useful practice: you can test colour mixes, remind your hand how to move, and ease yourself back into painting without the pressure of making a “finished” piece. If you’re planning your own creative year, this is a gentle nudge to build a warm-up habit into your routine—because it’s amazing how quickly confidence comes back once you start.