I’ve spent a lot of time at the easel this week, painting every day. I am pushing through to get as many pet commissions done for Christmas presents before it’s too late for oils to dry in time. I used to sit in front of old pieces of furniture, and now I sit in front of small wood panels clamped in an easel. Both tasks were about transformation. Both involved paint, brushes, and creative decisions. I have grown and changed as an artist, and my business has evolved, but at the heart of it, it’s just me and paint, pictures, and words, sharing what I’m up to each day.
I’ve just been thinking a lot this week about creative seasons, how things change, and how they stay the same.
Here are my four things for the week: Mansfield Park, Next Gen Chef, no need to sparkle, and new papers…
what I’m reading
I finished Pride & Prejudice and now it’s on to Mansfield Park. I think that is my favorite Austen story after Sense & Sensibility. I love both Edmund and Fanny so much, and their meandering way to one another. I’m about 1/3 of the way through the book so far…
what I’m watching
Jeff and I have enjoyed watching Knife’s Edge, a show about restaurants chasing Michelin stars on AppleTV+, and I was able to convince him to watch another chef’s show – Next Gen Chef on Netflix. After watching the first episode, I wasn’t sure if he would stick with it, but he has enjoyed it, and we’re on the fourth episode now. We enjoy “watching the food” and it’s fun to cheer on young chefs trying to find their culinary voice.
Even though it’s a competition show, they’ve managed to create a somewhat encouraging environment for the competitors. You don’t feel like the judges and show format are trying to squash young dreamers! They offer constructive criticism and coaching to help them improve. If you enjoy cooking/competition shows, this is a good one.
what I’m loving
“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.” – Virginia Woolf
I read this quote in James Clear’s newsletter this morning, and it spoke to me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
When I first started sharing in the online space in 2009, it felt like I just needed to show up. There was no need to be anybody by myself. It doesn’t feel like that any longer. It feels like hurry, hustle. It feels like there is a need, a demand for sparkle. The platforms say “we are just giving the people what they want”, but the string-pullers are also pulling all the strings to make sure the people are getting what they want. As someone creating and sharing content that is seen by fewer and fewer people, that is being crowded and drowned out by AI, clickbait, algorithms, and paid ads, it’s hard not to feel like I’m not sparkly enough for this current online landscape. Just showing up might not be enough anymore.
But…
There is still a lot of good in the online world – so many kindred spirits, creative minds, good intentions, and beautiful souls. I don’t want to miss meeting those people. I don’t have to buy into the push to hurry and sparkle. I can continue to show up as myself for those who connect with what I make and write about.
A flower is just as beautiful unseen on the forest floor as it is in a public garden with heavy foot traffic.
what I’m working on
Painting & writing, naturally. Every day and always.
But I’ve also been working on some surface designs for papers and products. I’ve been uploading the designs and ordering papers, so hopefully I can show them off next week. Here are the ones that have come in so far…
What have you been reading, watching, loving, and working on?