🍂 October Notes from the Atelier
As the chestnuts fall and the mornings turn cooler here in Brittany, I’ve been reflecting on the quiet beauty of September—a month of golden light, shifting routines, and creative momentum. The Autumn term is now in full swing and, as always, I am delighted by the commitment and creativity generated in class. As the season deepens, the garden slows down and the nights draw in perhaps there will be more time for creativity. Starting this evening The Portrait Artist of the Year begins on Sky Arts - it is well worth watching for artistic inspiration and entertainment. If you’ve not seen it before, artists from around the UK create a portrait from a celebrity sitter in a range of styles and media - a good watch.
This newsletter gathers the threads of recent projects, upcoming events, and a few local gems worth exploring.
September in Review - what we’ve been creating.
Monthly Project. Harvest.
La Gacilly. Photo exhibition.
Workshop Availability.
Artist Spotlight: Adrien Hervé
Upcoming Expos & Creative Gatherings.
Opportunities - Royal Watercolour Society - Open Exhibition.
Inktober - sketching prompts for the whole month.
🖌️ September in Review.
This past month, we took inspiration from domestic rituals, garden life and urban scenes. Highlights included:
A workshop featuring animal skulls.
Working on the Strawbales project in class
Urban sketches from Mauron and Vitre, capturing some late summer sunshine.
Painting a Swallowtail caterpillar in class.
If you missed any of these, they’re archived on the blog —thank you for your kind messages and shares.
🌾 October Project: “Harvest”
This month, your challenge is to create a watercolour inspired by the theme of Harvest. What does harvest mean to you?
You might be inspired by:
Gathering produce from the garden
Foraging sloes or hedgerow berries
Watching squirrels stash nuts for the colder months
Farmers working the land in golden light
Baking bread or cakes with seasonal produce
Interpret the theme in your own way—whether through abundance, preparation, or quiet celebration. I can’t wait to see what you create. My piece features windfalls from the garden on their way to becoming a Devonshire Apple Cake. There is a is a step-by-step tutorial for this piece here.
📸 La Gacilly Photo Festival – “So British”
This year’s La Gacilly Photo Festival unfolded under the theme “So British”, celebrating the rich diversity of British photography—from pop stars and excess to gritty urban portraits. The open-air exhibition meanders through gardens and picturesque lanes, with large-format images displayed all around the town. We enjoyed the images of Britain past and present; I felt that there was a sense that Britain’s glory days were in the 60’s and there didn’t seem to be any optimism for the present or future. That’s just my response, you should go and decide for your self! There are also many other themed displays featuring nature, the environment and climate change. Always thought provoking and an enjoyable day out and it’s free!
If you’re nearby, it’s well worth a visit before it closes mid-October.
🏡 Workshop Availability: Autumn Offerings
Just a few opportunities to join me in the studio this season:
Card Design for Print – A full-day workshop exploring layout, watercolour motifs, and preparing artwork for printing. Perfect for holiday cards or small-batch stationery. More info| Book Now
Private Class October 15th– Only one Wednesday afternoon slot remains for a bespoke watercolour session. More info| Book Now
🔥 Artist Spotlight: Adrien Hervé, Glassblower
This month I’m thrilled to highlight Adrien Hervé, a local glassblower whose studio is just down the road in le Coudray Baillet. L’atœll is a workshop dedicated to creation around the craft of hand blown glass. Located in Bretagne near the Brocéliande forest, it gives life to the old classrooms of a school in a hamlet. Highly recommended for anyone curious about fire arts - classes for individuals and pairs.
🧵 Upcoming Expos & Creative Gatherings
Here are a few happenings I’m excited about:
le Dinard Festival du Film Britannique & Irlandais
Dinard - 1st to 5th October 2025
Who will win the Golden Hitchcock award? Every Autumn, the same wave of suspense grips Dinard’s version of La Croisette in Cannes. Caesar can keep his César, the British Film Festival has Hitchcock for a mascot, and this is one festival where you won’t need subtitles!
Rennes - 6th to 18th October 2025
A fabulous mixture of Breton, world and contemporary music, the Yaouank festival is famed above all for its last night, considered by many to be the biggest fest-noz (traditional evening of Breton music and dance) in the world. But it’s so much more….
“L’Art au Jardin
Locmariaquer, Oct 19.Garden installations and plein air sketching. Presented in exceptional locations, surrounded by nature, our approach is to integrate art into your daily life—and why not make it yours?
Saint-Malo - 24th to 26 October 2025
The last weekend in October is when some 400 comic strip artists get together at the Quai des Bulles Festival in Saint-Malo.
Let me know if you’re attending any of these—I’d love to hear about your experience.
Submissions to the RWS Open 2026 are now open
Deadline: Friday 28th November 2025, 11.59pm GMT
Artists of all backgrounds at any stage in their career, based in the UK or internationally, are invited to submit artwork made in any and all water-based media on paper for the RWS Open 2026.
Why not enter your work?
Inktober 2025!
ANYONE CAN DO INKTOBER,
JUST PICK UP A PEN AND START DRAWING.
Jake Parker created Inktober in 2009 as a challenge to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has since grown into a worldwide endeavor with thousands of artists taking on the challenge every year. There is a drawing prompt for everyday in October - you are encouraged to make a drawing each day or each week and share with other artists (if you wish).
on SubstackWishing you a gentle start to October, with time for tea, sketching, and noticing the small things. As always, thank you for being part of this creative circle.
A+
Elizabeth
Stay Connected ✨
You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram