Creative Juice Issue 2
We’re really settling into the year now, it does feel like it has been a long January, even though I am actually a big fan of poor January. I mean, it is my Birthday month after all. I need to love it a little.
I’ve been spending a lot of January trying to take it easy. I’ve slowly been building this giant Diagon Alley lego set I got back in 2020 or 2021 and it’s been very enjoyable in the evenings. I’ve also built a few other smaller sets. It’s been a very lego heavy month if I am being honest. I’ve also been enjoying a few new series and getting into bed very early. I’m mostly in bed early to read because I’ve been working through my to be read pile, but also I’m just tired a lot and I’ve been working to find some way of being less tired. I don’t actually feel that much better with the new bedtime, if I am being honest, but I am trying.
I think what I am trying to get at here is, take some time to nurture yourself and tap into things that make you happy because we all need some breaks sometimes.
But back towards the art, even though part of inspiration is taking breaks, seriously…the breaks are important. I’ve needed the breaks, but because of the breaks, I feel like I’ve been able to get into making again and even writing this newsletter again.
Art and Social Media
The big area of focus for me lately has been social media and art. We all somehow need it, we all somehow hate it, none of us knows what to do about any of it and it all feels bad. This pretty much sums up how I feel about social media generally, but especially about Instagram lately. It reminds me and it is also a reminder to you, to make a way for people to find you outside of these apps because we can not rely on them at all. If you don’t have a hub, look into building yourself one. I’ve been using Squarespace for a while now, just because it is easy for me, but there are some good free options. Just carve yourself a little space that is just for you, that you can control if you need. I also really dislike paying to host my website each year, but it is nice knowing that it’s mine and it’ll always be there. I am hoping substack will continue being a place of trust as well and I’ve added Bluesky into the mix.
I’ve been spending more time on Bluesky and I highly recommend it, at least for now. Fingers crossed they don’t turn their backs on us all and double cross us in the end. BUT, it actually feels nice being there! I can see people’s art, imagine that! It feels less manipulative and it’s been kind of refreshing connecting with people who I remember connecting with before, but had forgotten because I was so overwhelmed with ads and pushed content I didn’t care about. It’s kind of been like seeing old friends again and I have actually been enjoying the experience of social media for the first time in such a long time. So, I would recommend it, you can find me under my usual name and I hope you’ll consider joining. I know it can be hard to accept yet another app into our hearts, but it does feel better and it works.
Focus Areas
Personally, I’ve not been making a lot of art. I feel good about my art, but I just don’t feel like I need to make a lot right now so I am not. I’ve been turning my attention towards the other things I mentioned at the beginning of this post, but that doesn’t mean the gears haven’t been turning and ideas haven’t been brewing.
I’ve been having a play with a couple of ideas:
breakfast animals, they’re back, I love them, I love breakfast, I want them to be something. I’ve moved them from a retro style diner and into a food truck for right now. Maybe they’ll move out of the food truck and back into the diner. I don’t know, but I do know I like thinking about them. I also like thinking about breakfast…especially waffles. So, it’s been fun and I want to think a little more about what their story could be.
fruits and veggies, they’re objects, you can eat them, they’re fun to personalize and do things with because where do eyes go on a carrot? That’s a question I’ve been thinking about and it can open a lot of doors. What is the personality of a dragonfruit? I’ve decided grumpy, but it could be anything right?
I’ve also been spending a lot of time thinking about my style, I guess still. I just want to push it further into a more texture kind of thing, but I don’t really know what that means so I continue to think about it as I think about animals making breakfast and carrots and their eyes.
Colors
If I ever repeat a palette, please forgive me. Sometimes I am super into a certain a palette, but it’s a golden oldie. This is one that’s been knocking around for a while, but I don’t “think” I’ve shared it. Have a go with this one. I always find it’s kind of limiting for me and it includes red, which is a color I don’t really like very much. It’s kind of a challenge for me, but it’s also a bit fun. I hope you’ll have fun with it too!