He doesn't need to ask what the hard times were, at least. Not that he would either way. Tell me about your misery isn't generally how he goes about making friends, when that misery isn't handed to him in a letter.

"I would not have guessed you started so recently." Painting, obviously. "I asked Benedict Artemaeus to help me add some color to the dining hall—maybe you could help, too? If he wouldn't mind. I think he wants to do a mural, but we could hang up some things, too, so you could paint without having to be here for it."