"I go when I can, though it's been a while. I paint though. I paint a lot," he said, gesturing around them. The flat had become his art studio, and his work was all over the place, propped up against walls, laid flat on tables...
Other options:
no subject
"I go when I can, though it's been a while. I paint though. I paint a lot," he said, gesturing around them. The flat had become his art studio, and his work was all over the place, propped up against walls, laid flat on tables...