February 2026
Welcome to this month’s CREATIVE FIX.
A place to share what’s been happening at the kitchen table studio, and to remind you that your art deserves some time too.
This month, I’m sharing:
– New YouTube video: creating cohesive collage papers with a winter-inspired limited palette
– Studio Notes: all about FOCUS
– Inspiration: a book, a recipe, music, and a few things you might like
If you’re feeling the urge to play with some paint and paper but you’re in need of inspiration grab a cuppa and have a watch over my shoulder as I make a stash of winter inspired collage papers (watch time about 8 minutes).
STUDIO NOTES
This month I’m inviting us to think about the word FOCUS, and what that might mean for you and your art - not just this month, but beyond it too.
At the start of the year there’s always a lot of chatter about goals, planning, and this sense of almost hyper-focus. But by the time February rolls around, that energy often slips.
I’ve often heard it said that where we focus our attention is what grows, and that’s something I’m really trying to lean into right now. Not only because it fits perfectly with my word of the year - CULTIVATE - but because I often find focusing on my creative practice genuinely hard.
I think part of that comes from working in small snippets of time. Between family life and all the other things, I can end up flitting between projects, feeling like nothing ever gets my full attention. Do you recognise that feeling too?
So where am I focusing my attention right now, and what do I hope will grow?
In my creative practice, I’m choosing to focus almost entirely on our little allotment. By working with the same subject matter for a whole year, I’m hoping to slow down, dig deeper (excuse the pun!), and really get to know that space.
I’m also deliberately refocusing my attention away from social media this year. I deleted all the apps from my phone before Christmas, and it’s already helped me shift my attention towards reading and other things. I still use Instagram, but only on my desktop, so I can be intentional about using it during work hours - rather than filling every spare moment.
I’d love to know what you’re focusing on right now, or where you might be gently refocusing your attention?
You can always message me here rebecca@rebeccachapmanart.com
Studio snippets - exploring tempera sticks, gelli plate image transfers, scratching into wet paint, nature made brushes with ink and all the daffodils
INSPIRATION
BOOK | I’ve been reading Meadowland - The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis -Stempel. I found it randomly at the library and I’m really savouring each month as he talks about the flora and fauna of his field in Hertfordshire - if you’re after a calming, slow read this could be worth seeking out.
RECIPE | I’m really trying hard to do more meal planning for our family this year - so far so good and here are a few of the things we’ve tried - A cowboy beans and sausage traybake (we used veggie sausages instead) here and these gunpowder potatoes from Dishoom were really tasty! Recipe here
MUSIC | I can’t believe I didn’t know about this sooner! Do you use ‘Library music’? I like to listen to music whilst I’m focusing on computer tasks but I struggle with anything with vocals - I recently heard someone mention ‘library music’ so after a search on spotify I found so many playlists! Here’s a favourite - perfect if you need to knuckle down and get stuff done! Playlist here
YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS | My friend Sally Hirst has a wonderful newsletter that I think you might like - click here
That’s your Creative Fix for February! I hope it leaves you with a few sparks to play with. I’ll see you next month for another drop - until then, happy arting x