I woke up this morning and there was snow outside. For someone who doesn’t like cold, I have a weird love for white fluffy ice. I don’t know why but it felt like the start of the day I really needed today.
Image in the header is by Matt Hardy
Flow, right? I chose it as the theme for this month, not from some millennial-driven obsession with theming every damn thing in life, but because my friend Dylan gave me some great advice. Instead of planning everything to death, just do a general theme. It’s so simple in a way, but it’s often the simple solutions that we don’t consider.
Since I’m not the type to go through basic portrait technique topics, my themes this year will be at the mercy of my mood swings, which is nothing new here. 🙂 And look, I made a schedule!
Every once in a while I struggle with the motivation to sit down and do what I love. A first world problem in it’s purest form. But since I live in a first world country, here we are. Scrolling through my bloated mobile phone photo archive, I see shots of works I once made without really thinking too much about it. Just make for the sake of making. Flow.
As I focussed more on refining technical skills, a familiar voice started dominating my thoughts. I don’t want to call it the Inner Critic, because a critic usually has a point. This one doesn’t. It’s the it’s-not-good-enough-until-it’s-perfect-so-don’t-even-bother voice. Aka the Asshole.
Getting back into the flow of creating art requires a little work on my part. For me, it never works to just sit back and wait for it to kick in. So I’m gonna work on it. By planning art time and – as you can read below – social art time with friends like you.
But I’m also always inspired by reading what you do, to make sure you continue to create in whatever capacity. Do you need quiet time, or does a group work better? Inside your home or outside in nature? Short projects or the prospect of a longer one? Your trusted materials, or trying something new? As always, I very much appreciate you sharing your experience in the comments down below, or on Instagram.
And if you want to talk about this topic and other stuff, in a safe group space, make sure to read on because we’re doing a Zoom call this month!
Last year I did a lot of livestreams. It was – at times – incredibly difficult to show up for those but the fact that it was somehow planned, made it easier to do it anyways. And reap the benefits, because every time I would feel better mentally afterwards, than I did before. It’s also incredible how my brain doesn’t seem to register that fact at all, but that’s a rant for another day haha.
This year I’d love to continue those livestream together with a new feature; art club!
Livestreams are great because I can read your chats but I’d also love to be a little closer and hear some of your voices, or see your work. So we’re starting an art club on Zoom this month! No pressure, just a bunch of people who love art and want to hang out. Show up in your pyjamas, do some art or don’t. Turn off your camera and just lurk. It’s all good.
The Art Club will be held twice a month at 8PM CET. One is on Tuesday and one on Friday. Trying to get some variety in days so that it fits both your and my schedule! That’s Amsterdam time if you want to use a world clock to convert it to your time zone. All Art Club meetings are in my personal Zoom room so you can always use the same link:
We’re gonna take it easy on ourselves and just start and see what we like ok? I won’t be recording or live streaming the sessions because I’d like it to be a safe space. I might record my own work to use in reels but nothing you say, do or show will end up in those recordings.
I’ll be doing a livestream every other Wednesday this year! As you know I started hosting a real life (oh what!) figure drawing session. I’m also going to do some workshops. Those are also on Wednesday evenings so I need to move some stuff around. So two or three live streams a month is do-able this year.
You can find all my planned and previous livestreams on my YouTube channel:
For now I’d like to start with a pretty empty schedule so I don’t blow myself up, but I do have stuff I want to do this year. I’m building a community aspect for this website and my courses. That will roll out slowly in February so I’ll keep you updated. I’ve also (finally…) started filming a new course.
In the jungle that is the internet, it can be a little confusing to know where to get updates. I feel the same and for now, I’ve settled on providing you with updates through my newsletter (twice a month), and my Instagram channel (immediate and convenient for Zoom and livestream announcements and links!)
That’s it for now! Thanks for being here with me again this year. <3 I’m looking forward to reading your comments on the theme (or anything else) in the comments or on Instagram!
