DAYS OF SUMMER 🍃 Art Vlog | Painting process + a haunted castle 

Loved the Vlog. It was nice to see you hold your brush on the same finger I do!. I remember growing up and my teachers always trying to correct my grip, but it always felt right that way. I have a permanent callous near my nail there that makes me happy because it was caused by art.

Thank you for sharing this vlog! It was a treat to see the beautiful country side and travel with you down the wonderful path, and you look so beautiful walking down the path. I love the new postcards and I hope I’m lucky enough to add them my collection. The watercolor of the bird was great and I would love to see more. I love birds and yours are enchanting as are your country side paintings. My younger sister holds her pencil similar to how you do. I’m a lot older and the teachers were very strict and weren’t allowed to hold our pencils as we liked. The art teachers were the smartest and wonderful exception, they encouraged us to be ourselves. Thank you, again, for sharing your art work along with your thoughts and ideas. I appreciate you very much. Fran

We don’t have old structures like that in America. Really cool to see!

As pretty as everything is on your desk, I enjoy the close-ups of your work. The texture of your work is lost when it seems far away from the camera. ❤️

Uuuu 🤩 can't wait for those future new palettes videos - and hopefully a few paintings to go along with them😉😚

I hold my pens and brushes the same way. It’s more comfy to me... That location is very beautiful.

The miniature landscapes are so beautiful!

I too hold my pen, etc on that finger…always been told it’s wrong, but I could never change. We are rare birds, and I’m okay with that❤️

Beautiful landscapes. I love to see everything from above, much more to see in detail. Ah, the stones.

I love your landscapes, but your birds just speak to my heart 🥰 your watercolour bird is perfect. Sometimes I wish I had the precisesness and patience to work like you. My sister has the same precisesness, her handwriting is always beautiful. I'm more everywhere all at once with lots of bright colours, though I do love the moody colours too. I think I love all colours and sometimes it's hard to choose 😄. I rest my pen/brush on my middle finger, how we were taught in school, but I've found sometimes resting it on my ring finger gives more stability. I know more people who use their ring finger, you're not alone 😊 Thank you for this lovely vlog. The panting dog sounds like a dark hound from the Wheel of Time. Pretty scary!

I liked the sideview in this type of vlog, but for a painting video I would like to see painting process better from above. Enjoy your august holiday!

Thank you for taking us to see the sights in Surrey. The Painted Garden is very inspirational and I would imagine that the Haunted Castle is, too. - To be honest, I have not seen anyone hold the brush/pen like you do but I have noticed quite a few artists hold them in other "awkward"-looking ways. I wouldn't worry about it since it is your natural way of holding your tools, it's just another part of your uniqueness! 🥰😘

Painshill looks beautiful! It reminds me of Stourhead.💖 I love your watercolour bird with the gorgeous granulated paint and I hadn’t thought about it until you’d asked but I prefer the new angle of being able to see the desk rather than a straight on overhead shot. Have a lovely break Natasha!xx

Patty- I really like this angle. It gives a really different feel while watching. I ordered my first real sketchbook, which will arrive today. I'm very excited about this. You and other artists gave truly inspired me to go down this part of my journey. Thank you.

The over the shoulder angle is a good idea... it lets us see your materials and how you access them.

Yes! I hold my brush like that. People always looked at me a bit strangely, with how I hold pens, pencils and brushes. Many a teacher have tried to correct me. They all failed… 😂

This is a lovely vlog - wonderful scenery and seeing you paint your little bird was so interesting. Thank you for sharing it

I rest my pen or brush on my ring finger, too. I'm a lefty and an overwriter with a pronounced hook, too, though, so it's by no means the first thing people notice about my grip when I'm writing, drawing or painting!

Your so patient and careful. I am having a really hard time slowing down. Your art is really so nice, different!

I don't know what the grey watercolor for the background of the bird painting is, but I love it 😍

love this angle too! The granulation on the bird is really nice :)

I loved everything about this vlog. The paintings, countryside, and the beautiful ruined castle. Something about it made my heart skip a beat. I love old buildings and castles. You have such rich history there. Can't wait to see your next paintings! 😊

Thank you for showing me two beautiful locations which aren't too far from me.

I just love your vlogs SO MUCH !!!! 🤍

Such an enjoyable video.... I've never been to a castle, we don't have them here in California, at least where I live. As for ghosts, I know of some places in which they hide...

Loving those greens in your palette

Beautiful! Last bits of summer….fall (my favorite) coming soon!

This is lovely and relaxing, great video ☺️

I love all your videos , filled with beauty ! Very inspiring, thank you so much for making them ❤

If you're heading back to Painshill in Sept, you'll have to do the Bat Walk! x

Agreed about preferring the overhead or zoomed in views instead of the over the shoulder! Lot harder to see colors/details accurately from that view. Much prefer to see your beautiful art instead of more of the desk 🙃

Lovely. I do like the overhead filming much more as I find myself being distracted by the other things on the desk. I also find the side view less “intimate”…Iless like it’s just you and me having a chat?

I really enjoyed your vlog/art video. I hope you will do more in the future. Your country is beautiful, and the landscape is a place I hope to visit one day. Thank you

I have always held my pens/pencils the same way you do. Teachers tried to break me of it in grade school, but they were never able to. And I can't wait to learn more about your new palette and to see your paintings with your A.Gallos. I recently purchased their 24 pan set and love it. Thanks Natasha!

Excuse me but the mini landscapes are ADORABLE.

I really enjoyed this vlog and I love the angle seeing you amazing talent in action! Another wonderful video. Thank you for sharing your artistic talent!💕🎨

Hope you are feeling better and feeling rested. I know how you feel with the blasted heat it is just terrible.

A beautiful vlog Natasha! Painshill looks glorious, those grottos are stunning 😍 I am another one who holds my pens/pencils/brushes like you do, and my children naturally do the same without ever being told what was correct and what wasn't. I've noticed a few other creatives do as well. I was told at secondary school that all the writing I would have to do at exam time would hurt my hand if I held my pen like that, and I remember retorting that it was comfortable for me to hold them like that and to change it would hurt my hand more! XX

Beautiful inspiring vlog artwork haunted Castle 🏰 you have a great way with narrating the story thanks for sharing Natasha 💜

Gorgeous bird watercolor! And love the English Fields series. So glad you're enjoying it. Ooh, your beach art is fantastic! Beautifully edited and narrated video. I think however you hold your tools is cool. I use the first knuckle on my third finger, and I think my sister uses her fourth finger.

Such a lovely vlog Natasha. What a wonderful part you live in. We are close to Dartmoor and I love walking around there with all its mysteries and folklore. The legend in this vlog reminded me slightly of the hound of the baskervilles. I too recently got a gallo mixing palette and am building up to painting something soon. The colours are just gorgeous. Can’t wait to see what you create with the beautiful green and blue palette. Those painted pebbles, pottery and seaglass are just adorable. 🥰

I also hold pens and pencils and brushes in this way, but I’m a lefty. Love your work and your videos. Thank you for sharing it all with us!

Hi Natasha, hope you are getting some relaxing times. The videos here are beautiful with the architecture and scenery. Love your artwork as always. I hold my brush lots of ways depending on what I am doing. I think anything goes in that respect. The little bird was gorgeous. x

I rest my pen / pencil / brush on my ring finger too, didn't even realise it was a weird thing, and I had to pick one up to see how I hold it when you mentioned it!

Hi Natasha I used to work in paediatrics OT and would provide programmes for children to build up fine motor skills to help with pen grip, despite the fact I have the worse pen grip, resting on ring finger with a thumb wrap 😂 the reason is to try and encourage a better pen grip is it gets tiring and the muscles get stiff the “wrong way” but it doesn’t really matter that much in this day and age, thought this might interest you 😉 and I love your videos by the way, always relax me!

LOL!!! I hold my brush and my pencils the same way, hubby cant figure out how that is comfortable

I hold my brushes or pen/pencil too. I really enjoyed your video. Especially the gouache

Wonder-full video. I enjoy seeing what inspires you. I also really like the new angle of filming.

Wonderful Vlog. Enjoyed the little painting and look forward to the new palette video.

I hold pencils and brushes this way too. If I'm writing for a long time, I sometimes get a little index 😅

Always such a gift to have a new Vlog. And to get to see how you are currently working,The Tri-pod is a great new way ti film and really does give the feeling og being in the studio with you and looking over your shoulder. The new "The garden Series" has gotte off to a good start,but they also look like spredsa for a picture book too,hope to see more of this new series in future videos and the new "English Fields Series" that ahs also begun with some stunning pieces with a new colour palette that really works for them. So hapy to haer about a new postcard set too!. It's always lovely to see you painting in real time,I love the magical feel your birds always have,so a bonus to see one coming to life in real time. Can't wait to see the new palette videos too as these are really inspiring and insightful. Paynes Hil looks like a realy stunning place and I can see why it has inspired you,a beautiful place and am sure it will transform when you return in the autumn and I hope that visit inspires you too. The miniature lanscapes you painted onto the beach pottery looked stunning and not surprised they sold out so quickly,treasured objets for sure.,they would look lovely in minatue/small deep box frames maybe,ut they are prect for your rich ;lanscapes and painting minatures is something they did a lot in history,so you are creating a new take on an historical way of painting.Your work is really ecolving and your colour palette is changing too and its so great to get to see this evolution in these videos you gift us with. (matt) Ps another artist who may inspire you in using soft pastels with water is Sandi Hester who has a channel here o youtube she has used soft pastels in this way and I thik ske inspired Kriksis to try it,but Sandi's videos about soft pastels with water might inspire you too. And I now hold a aintbrush,pencil etc in the same way you do,asfter my stroke and after losing an arm and having to rgeain the strength and use in my remaining right arm,holding a brush as I used to became difficult and aoften painful and put a strain on my wrist and hand,so I tried hoding a brush using differnt fingers and it really worked, no strain or anything.I think you adapt how you hold a brush in relation to how you work,I also sometimes use brush holders/ectenders as well,so the way you use a brush seems perfectly natural.

I rest it on thay finger too! 🙂

Beautiful 😻

Lovely vlog. Love the pebble landscapes

My writers knot is on my ring finger too...my mother always said I had a death grip on my pencil, pen, paint brush.

I hold my pencils and brushes this way too. As an early childhood teacher I work with OT specialists on finger muscles and pencil grips. I've found that the reason why we hold our tools like this is because Our index and thumb grip were not used as much or as developed and strengthened therefore we rely on our third finger for movement as well. That's all =)

I love your new series of paintings on paper and rock and peering over your shoulder as you work. I wish we had magical places,like that, to explore in the states. The way you hold your brush reminds me of a friend who holds her pencil in a similar way. Your artwork is wonderful so the way you hold your brush is the correct way. I’m glad one of your teachers didn’t try to force you to change it. Looking forward to your next video. Love, Fran

What a beautiful vlog! Thank you for sharing. 😊❤🤗

Beautiful summer colour palette you have going in that series! And the painting with those greens is lovely it has that decadent exotic look that reminds me 18th century paintings of hot countries and all the exotic fruits and garments. 😍🧡

I very much like the new camera angle and am SO excited to see your new work from "The Garden"! Looking forward to yoyr shop opening again as well Natasha. Thank you so much for sharing.

Aww Dominic carrying the picnic hamper 🐸 love your new paintings! We've been getting up at dawn for walks as it's still boiling here in the evenings (hard as we are both night owls!) 🦉🦉🐕

I hold my pen and paintbrush in exactly the same way. At primary school they tried to correct it by making me use a rubber triangle on pencils… it didn’t work. It feels so normal to me to hold it in such a way.

this is a lovely vlog😊❤️

Thank you for such a wonderful vlog! I enjoy watching you paint, seeing the palettes as well as the beautiful scenery.

Such a lovely video Natasha, I particularly enjoyed the variety of subjects in your artwork, mixed in with your countryside adventures, thank you 💚

Hello Natasha! You are new to me & love listening to you & enjoying your vlogs/videos. I'm hoping that you would be so kind to let us know your favourite w/c brushes? Many thanks, Kari (on a small island on the West Coast of Canada)

Painshill is incredible 😍 no wonder you have been so inspired by it. Loving the look of the new series, can’t wait to see more 💚

Beautiful work and so much lovely scenery 😻

I had to pick up a pencil and see because I swear I’ve never noticed. I rest my writing/painting implement on my middle finger and I hold it pretty loosely. People tell me my handwriting looks neat and fancy like I draw my letters 😊 I tried to hold it resting on my ring finger and it feels really strange. I guess when you get used to something, anything else seems weird.

I've never noticed which finger you hold your paint brush but I use my ring finger too!! Most people use their middle. I've always held my writing ✍ pencils and pens on the finger. I too have tired to be "normal" and use my middle but it doesn't feel natural to me. Your color choices are always so stunning. And of course all the texture and design. Your work is unique and inspiring. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

I don't hold a pen or brush as you do but I believe most people hold them in their own way. Just as everyone's art is different. Your art has so many small details. It just seems necessary for you to have as much control as possible with your brush. 🧡

.. what a beautiful vlog my darling, thank you for taking us along! I love the way your 'garden' pieces are looking .. I STILL ( 🤣 ) haven't ventured into Patreon, but look forward to seeing them when I do!! .. Much Love to you & Dominic xx xx

Lovely, lovely bird… 💕

Such a lovely video! I love the colour paint you used for the bird, would you be able to remember what it was? I'm watching all your old videos currently and enjoying them so much! x

Always noticed how you held the brush looks awkward but it works that’s all that counts 👌

Harry from Art gear guide holds his colored pencils that way too lol. It always drove me nuts when i would watch his videos, iam always like " how in the Hell does he draw like that?!? " 🤣🤣 not in a mean way, but I do teach private art and Binding lessons here in my art studio and Bindery. I get people, here and there, that will resort to holding their colored pencils an extra finger down like you. It does give you more control, but it also locks your wrist and doesn't allow you to get full movement/motion with your wrist. And once you make it a habit of holding it that way, it becomes like a type of crutch... because you feel like you don't have any control unless you hold it like that. But hey, at the end of the day... if it works for you, rock on lol. Thanks for the vid Natasha, it was lovely seeing the English country side. Have a great one 😁

I love the texture in your bird! Is that technique or granulation? And who is the artist who inspired you to use water with your pastels? Thank you!

I've always held my pencils like that to write ever since I was a kid. When I was in kindergarten my teacher tried for a short time to correct it but my hand writing was really good for a 5 year old so she just let it be lol

A.Gallo paints are incredible- wish they were more accessible 😔

Hi Natasha, what paint do you use to paint on your stones? I am moving to the Essex coast and I am sure I will be finding stones on the beach and may want to try them for myself. live the Vlog as well.

Lovely blog and love your birds!

Lovely relaxing vlog 🤍

Hi Natasha! I like your new setup but unfortunately I'm getting pain in my neck from turning my head so I can see what you are doing. Sorry but this doesn't work for me. I love your painting though. I hope your migraine has gone! The scenery in this video is amazing! I love it. I love the caves, is it?? Such beauty. Have you ever heard of Mary Fedden? Her art is beautiful!! A black dog eh? I remember that Led Zeppelin had a song called Black Dog. Maybe it's from the same place? Who knows...Take care dear!

🤩👍👍

Wow, are those Cravens man-made?

😇 ρяσмσѕм

First!

I think that the way you hold your brush looks really painful

Hello, Natasha. Yes, I have always noticed they way you hold pencils/brushes. I don't think it is especially uncommon. Nor is it uncommon for teachers and/or parents to attempt a 'correction'. (sometimes cruelly and with disastrous results for the child). The roof of that cave knocked me out - nature does these precise geometrical forms with such ease. I'm looking forward to the sharp change in your work that you previewed here. I have a question for you and any other newts that have an opinion. What is the ratio of men to women followers and newts? AND is that a general trend on YT? Are there more women than men creating art channels and more women than men following art channels? Or is it just my bias?