Summer updates
So we are now well and truly into Summer of 2025, it's been nice and sunny and very hot. I am so glad I installed a super duper air conditioning unit to my studio/office, I even had to turn it up from a chilly 18 degrees C to a slightly warmer 19 degrees C.
On the painting front, its a little slow as per normal although I now have the first ‘This Britain Shorts’ prints back, these are a lot of fun to paint and I have another one on the go and more in the pipe line. You can pick up a print directly from me via the contact page on this website, I have them at the Bosham Walk in Bosham and will also have them at the Emsworth Gallery. This reminds me that I need to add more information on the this Britain gallery page for available prints.
As for DarkWood, the sketch book is being updated almost daily, working on ideas or scanning in and uploaded to the DarkWood section on this website. I even had my first online order for a copy of the EvenClaw hide and seek (A3 print) I am still looking into a print on demand option but for now I am managing the printing and packaging.
The above is from my DarkWood A3 Moleskine sketch book, this is inked with Micron and coloured using the Winsor & Newton promarkers
So as I finish writing this update, it’s worth taking a moment to share a few additional thoughts that have been on my mind lately. One of the biggest realizations is that I seriously need to carve out more time to dedicate to my art because there are only so many hours in the day when I am not at work or tied up with other commitments. This means I really must stop spending so much time watching those "So you are ready to retire" videos on YouTube. The other thought is that I would truly love to have a bigger studio. Right now, I find myself frequently putting things off, mainly because I keep having to rearrange everything in the limited space I have available. This constant shuffling is frustrating and disruptive, so the idea of finding somewhere to rent a larger space has been bouncing around in my head more and more recently.
Also, due to the sales from the tax year 2024-25 (thank you to everybody who bought a print) I have crept over the very low revenue threshold on my Art practice side hussle. Currently as I have to complete my yearly tax return I have to also declare the income from my print sales although I am nowhere near making anything that looks like a profit, which is fine for me as these initial few year are more about creating a collector and interest base for when I can give up my full time job and focus 100% on ‘RicksWorld’. I am interested if anyone is able to share their experience on this transition please let me know, especially how they factor in taxable income when it come to a sale price?
