Artist Interview: Katie Moody

Katie Moody is a mixed media artist based in the south of England who's main aim is to encourage more people to pick up a sketchbook and discover their creative joy! Through mediums such as pastels, gouache and watercolour, Katie uses her sketchbook to capture life from reference or in location. Katie encourages the playful and experimental side to sketchbooking, which has led her to publishing her own book 'sketchbook Joy'!  

We had the pleasure of asking Katie a few questions, delving into her mixed media sketchbooks!  

 ©KatieMoody

'I really recommend going in with the play mindset — you’re not going to create perfect art, and that shouldn’t be the goal. Just enjoy the process, find colour combinations you enjoy, or just swatch all your materials! There is no right or wrong way to do art so go have fun with it.'

Katie Moody

'It’s incredibly rewarding to see when a lesson ‘clicks’ and seeing a student understand a bit more about how they can create, challenging their perspective, and getting their art to where they hope to be. I love seeing and supporting their growth and feel so privileged to be part of their journeys!'

Katie Moody

Q: Congratulations on publishing your own book ‘Sketchbook Joy’! Could you go more into detail with the inspiration for the book?

Thank you so much! Sketchbook Joy really encompasses my ethos for creativity in general, which is that creating is all about fun. Art shouldn’t be created whilst striving for perfection, but created to enjoy the process, have fun with the mediums and enjoying the time spent on the page. My inspiration to write the book has mostly come from battling my own perfectionism, seeing other artists struggle through and not wanting to do art simply because they don’t feel good enough. I wrote the book to be an encouraging voice that would allow that voice to diminish, and to let them find joy in their own creativity.

Katie's published book  'Sketchbook Joy' ©Katiemoody

Q: We love your nature influences in your art! Would you recommend being on location vs working from a reference when exploring the subject?

I think they are both brilliant! Each have their own merits, so I really recommend trying both if you can. Sometimes it’s just easier to create at home from a reference, and that in itself can encourage more exploration, such as trying more materials, varied landscapes from other countries and the accessibility of doing so. But on the flip side, drawing from life and on location comes with it’s own explorations to explore! It’s very different being outside and working with a view that can change, whether that’s because of moving objects, the light changing or even the weather. It can often encourage faster work as you work against the light, or simplified tools because of what you carried with you. Working from life is also a different way of working as you need to take a 3D view and turn it into a 2D drawing, vs taking a photo which is already flat and 2D for you to draw from. I recommend trying both, and then seeing what works best for you (and it could be a mix of them too!).

 Drawing on location ©Katiemoody

Q: You mention that “art is all about enjoying the process”, would you be able to go into more depth on your process and how you start an art piece?

I often start by choosing my mediums, and that is usually directed by my mood. If I want to be loose and expressive, I may choose a medium that works better with water and allows more flow or a medium that works well with big brush strokes. If I want to be detailed-oriented, I’ll reach for a fountain pen or something with more control. Time is also often a factor, so I may need a medium that’s quick drying if I only have ten minutes. My mood often dictates what I want to draw, usually referencing a photo I took recently or, if I’m feeling experimental, a subject out of my comfort zone. Once I’ve chosen these things, I just go for it! Sometimes with a timer (due to time restraints) and sometimes not, but I rarely start with pencil to sketch first. I love going straight in with colour and blocking out shapes.

©Katiemoody

Q: In your art practice you teach workshops, such as your upcoming ‘Secret Garden Sketchbook: A mixed media workshop’. What made you go into teaching within your practice and what is the most rewarding aspect?

I actually fell into the teacher role, and it’s not something I necessarily set out to become! By sharing my art online and with my audience growing, I started getting more and more questions about my technique. I began sharing process videos on YouTube and then had more requests for in-depth tutorials on subjects and how to use specific mediums. This lead to me starting my Patreon, a community-led platform where I post content for almost 600 students on a monthly schedule. It felt like the next step to then teach in person, and after teaching at a retreat in Portugal earlier this year, and really seeing the students connect and understand the lessons in person, I knew that teaching workshops in person was an avenue I wanted to continue. It’s incredibly rewarding to see when a lesson ‘clicks’ and seeing a student understand a bit more about how they can create, challenging their perspective, and getting their art to where they hope to be. I love seeing and supporting their growth and feel so privileged to be part of their journeys!

Portugal art retreat at Sofia In Monsaraz with TJ Marston and Katie ©KatieMoody

Q: With working with a variety of mixed media materials, we would love to know which art materials could you simply not live without?

Gosh I have so many! If I had to just pick one paint medium, it would be traditional gouache. I love the versatility of using it with lots of water and without, to create the opacity and matte finish that makes it so unique. Paired with Luminance coloured pencils and Neocolor IIs (which are water soluble wax pastels), they’re my golden trio. I can rarely resist adding on detail with pencil and pops of colour with the pastels to finish off a painting.

©KatieMoody

Q: Do you have any advice to artists who want to start using a sketchbook more often?

Quite a simple answer for this one — just go for it! Our limited beliefs can really hold us back, and I know it can be scary. But once you get going, whether that’s by setting a timer to help motivate you, or by studying a master’s art or even by drawing your pet, it gets easier and easier to fill your pages. I really recommend going in with the play mindset too — you’re not going to create perfect art, and that shouldn’t be the goal. Just enjoy the process, find colour combinations you enjoy, or just swatch all your materials! There is no right or wrong way to do art so go have fun with it.

©KatieMoody

Q: Could you tell us some fun facts people may not know about you?

I am a twin but no we’re not identical — complete opposites both look wise and personality! I can break an apple perfectly in half with my hands, and I have a massive sweet tooth — I can never resist chocolate!

Q: Thank you so much for your time and knowledge! We would love to know what you are currently working on/ do you have any exciting future plans in the making?

I’m currently finalising plans for a mixed media art retreat in France, for June 2026! We’ll be filling our travel sketchbooks so I’m deep into lesson planning and getting ready to launch that soon which I'm so excited for.

Sketchbooks on location ©Katiemoody

Be sure to follow and find out more about Katie Moody:
Instagram: @katie_moody
Website: www.katiemoody.co.uk
Youtube: @katiemoody
Patreon: Katie Moody

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