Thanks, Sam! These are good reminders. You are definitely correct that the more we use Substack the better, and easier, it gets. You have built a Learning community for artists of all levels and ages. That’s so hard to do and I salute you. No one out there is doing it as well as you do. And the way you have consistently used words as part of the art process is a big plus. We get so much from you - art skills, books, wide horizons, a caring community….just for a start. Thank you for all you do to make this work for each of us. It’s a gift.
Michele, Midway, Utah - just over the hill from Park City. I live in a nature paradise so I better keep painting.
Sam, I really appreciate this post and so glad that you wrote it because now I just have to link your post to all my Substack subscribers who get lost! Lol.
Hello , I’m Char , Charlotta , Charlotte… I get called them all.
I live just outside Toronto but am originally from the UK.
I have been making art my life since the year I left art school in Spain. (I was there for 6 years)
I run online Art classes and free morning Lives.
I have a Substack newsletter here called “A World of Colour” and although I’m not a super active writer here, I love the community and try to make everyone feel welcome no matter where they are in their art journey.
Thanks Sam! I’ll have to read through and keep this handy! I haven’t really taken advantage of all this, so this helps answer questions and gives info I didn’t know. Have a fabulous time in Paris! Can’t wait to see photos and sketches. We went to Italy 2 yrs ago and I was enchanted by all the door knockers, it got to be a joke w/our friends shouting to me daily, “Look at those knockers”!
Sam, your Substack was one of the first I found myself drawn to when I landed here in September. Your work has been an incredible source of joy and inspiration for me, a creative who's found various means of expression over the years, thought not necessarily skill. Writing is the thread that's shown up throughout my life, but I love art, of all kinds. There's something very magic -- to me -- in work like yours.
Creative practices -- like stopping to (poorly) sketch a pile of foam blocks at the trampoline park while my kids play, inside the blank notebook and with the microns I've taken to keeping in my bags -- help me to stop and notice. Noticing, being one of the most important aspects of my life as a writer.
I'm an East Coast native (MD and VA) who made her way to Tennessee some 20+ years ago for college and career in the music industry. Somewhere along the way, I pivoted, pivoted, and then pivoted some more, getting in a master's in education, getting married, starting a photography business, working in higher education, and then letting everything shift again when I became a mother almost thirteen years ago.
At present, I'm a mom of three kids, two in elementary, one in middle, all three at home where we shifted our schooling to, starting in 2020. What was supposed to become a temporary solution to the confusion in our world has become a surprising four years, with maybe a couple more to go (at least for the youngest). The bulk of my days are spent learning alongside my kids who have also, with their art, taught me to see the beauty in every day, and working on my (as yet, unagented and unpublished) novels that hopefully will do the same for others, also.
This is such a nice guide. Really looking forward to your next meetup. Richard's art is so fun and listening to you two chat with everyone will be such a treat! Oh, and SUPER excited to cohost with you in April!
Thanks so much for this extremely helpful post. So generous of you to take the time to do this given all you have on your plate right now. I have enjoyed joining your community recently after taking some of your workshops and find everyone to be compassionate and super creative and stimulating. Thanks for making us all feel welcome and acknowledging all of our work so beautifully.
I was gifted a subscription so am brand new here! I sketch, paint, collage and write. All the things, not necessarily in that order. I will have to check out the meet ups, although I suspect it will be before my brain is fully awake.
This informative post has been very helpful. I'm new to Substack and and still learning the ins and outs. It has take me a while to click on the various highlighted segments in your message to be brought up to date.
Sam - Thanks so much for this information - it was beyond helpful and a great reminder. I have been in the weeds lately and feeling "behind" with my sketches and daily practice - so this was an incredible motivator for me to remember that I can easily go back - even to the beginning and work at my own pace - slow growth.... and not feel pressured. I love reading everyone's comments and I look forward to getting emails from you with reminders:) I can't wait to attend the next live meet-up.
Thanks, Sam! These are good reminders. You are definitely correct that the more we use Substack the better, and easier, it gets. You have built a Learning community for artists of all levels and ages. That’s so hard to do and I salute you. No one out there is doing it as well as you do. And the way you have consistently used words as part of the art process is a big plus. We get so much from you - art skills, books, wide horizons, a caring community….just for a start. Thank you for all you do to make this work for each of us. It’s a gift.
Michele, Midway, Utah - just over the hill from Park City. I live in a nature paradise so I better keep painting.
Wow! I needed to know this information! Thank you very much!
Sam, I really appreciate this post and so glad that you wrote it because now I just have to link your post to all my Substack subscribers who get lost! Lol.
Hello , I’m Char , Charlotta , Charlotte… I get called them all.
I live just outside Toronto but am originally from the UK.
I have been making art my life since the year I left art school in Spain. (I was there for 6 years)
I run online Art classes and free morning Lives.
I have a Substack newsletter here called “A World of Colour” and although I’m not a super active writer here, I love the community and try to make everyone feel welcome no matter where they are in their art journey.
Thanks Sam! I’ll have to read through and keep this handy! I haven’t really taken advantage of all this, so this helps answer questions and gives info I didn’t know. Have a fabulous time in Paris! Can’t wait to see photos and sketches. We went to Italy 2 yrs ago and I was enchanted by all the door knockers, it got to be a joke w/our friends shouting to me daily, “Look at those knockers”!
Sam, your Substack was one of the first I found myself drawn to when I landed here in September. Your work has been an incredible source of joy and inspiration for me, a creative who's found various means of expression over the years, thought not necessarily skill. Writing is the thread that's shown up throughout my life, but I love art, of all kinds. There's something very magic -- to me -- in work like yours.
Creative practices -- like stopping to (poorly) sketch a pile of foam blocks at the trampoline park while my kids play, inside the blank notebook and with the microns I've taken to keeping in my bags -- help me to stop and notice. Noticing, being one of the most important aspects of my life as a writer.
I'm an East Coast native (MD and VA) who made her way to Tennessee some 20+ years ago for college and career in the music industry. Somewhere along the way, I pivoted, pivoted, and then pivoted some more, getting in a master's in education, getting married, starting a photography business, working in higher education, and then letting everything shift again when I became a mother almost thirteen years ago.
At present, I'm a mom of three kids, two in elementary, one in middle, all three at home where we shifted our schooling to, starting in 2020. What was supposed to become a temporary solution to the confusion in our world has become a surprising four years, with maybe a couple more to go (at least for the youngest). The bulk of my days are spent learning alongside my kids who have also, with their art, taught me to see the beauty in every day, and working on my (as yet, unagented and unpublished) novels that hopefully will do the same for others, also.
This is such a nice guide. Really looking forward to your next meetup. Richard's art is so fun and listening to you two chat with everyone will be such a treat! Oh, and SUPER excited to cohost with you in April!
Thanks so much for this extremely helpful post. So generous of you to take the time to do this given all you have on your plate right now. I have enjoyed joining your community recently after taking some of your workshops and find everyone to be compassionate and super creative and stimulating. Thanks for making us all feel welcome and acknowledging all of our work so beautifully.
I’m new to Substack thank you for this Sam
I was gifted a subscription so am brand new here! I sketch, paint, collage and write. All the things, not necessarily in that order. I will have to check out the meet ups, although I suspect it will be before my brain is fully awake.
Hello from a former architect, now photographer & writer who’s REALLY trying to find more time to art for fun in Denver!
This informative post has been very helpful. I'm new to Substack and and still learning the ins and outs. It has take me a while to click on the various highlighted segments in your message to be brought up to date.
Sam - Thanks so much for this information - it was beyond helpful and a great reminder. I have been in the weeds lately and feeling "behind" with my sketches and daily practice - so this was an incredible motivator for me to remember that I can easily go back - even to the beginning and work at my own pace - slow growth.... and not feel pressured. I love reading everyone's comments and I look forward to getting emails from you with reminders:) I can't wait to attend the next live meet-up.