Image above: a pair of friends walking on a rainy March day
✨Sparkly New Moon Eclipse Intention Reset
This month I wrote quite a few of these little email essays— one on being an introvert, one on feeling guilt, and still another on feeling stuck. Though I think all the writing I did helped me process different things I’ve been going through, none of it feels quite right to share in this space.
As I reflect back on what I set out to create through this newsletter, I’ve been wondering how I got to this place of essentially live-journaling my rambling thoughts. Looking back at my very first newsletters from almost 5 years ago, it’s clear that my intention was simply to share what art stuff I was up to and to give shout outs to other artists/creative happenings. My newsletter as it stands today feels decently far from that— just as I’ve evolved quite a bit in these last 5 years, this monthly dispatch has slowly morphed into a smorgasbord of thoughts, often containing very little in the way of my own art and more of a smattering of what’s been on my mind.
While I like sharing with ya’ll, reflecting on the content of these has given me some clarity on where my life could use some more focus. As you may notice sometimes in these newsletters, I often get caught up in the complexities of life and use my tornado of thoughts and emotions to distract me from actually making creative work. By sifting through the winding road of my life via this newsletter I can see that the times I feel most fulfilled are when I actually sit down and create regardless (or because of) how I’m feeling. During the months where I’m questioning everything and vacillating between selling out and burning it all down, I become too busy charting plans for the future to actually sit down and do the work.
On this special new moon eclipse Monday I’d like to give this newsletter a much needed little ✨intention reset.✨ While I will, like it or not, still surely be dragging you along through whatever I happen to be experiencing in a given month, I would also like to get back to the meat and potatoes of this email: sharing the creative work I’ve been up to. Though I genuinely love talking with ya’ll, at it’s core this email is meant to be an accountability tool to keep my creative momentum going and give me something to work towards. Moving forward I’d like to get back on track with that.
I think that sometimes it’s easier to hide behind thought tornados, which can sometimes turn into excuses or rationalizations of why not to do something, than to just go for it and share work. Sharing work is scary and can feel especially selfish/pointless/<insert negative thought here> in the midst of local, national, and global crises. But you know what: I like to make things and I like to look at things and I think we can care about those who are suffering AND make and share peaceful drawings of snails.
SO without further ado: here I am, shamelessly sharing my little drawings. They may not be changing the world but they certainly improve my mindset and well-being and I hope they inspire and uplift you as well.
If you’re still here, let me know what you think— are you here for the long personal ramblings or are you really just trying to see some drawings and maybe hear about some other fun creative stuff?
↓
Image above: another piece of A+ content from the brilliant minds at Spacies
Featured Maker: You??
One of my favorite creators/writers/makers lately is Michelle Pellizzon Lipsitz who, amongst many other things, created this series of interviews called “Spacies.” Each features a different maker and there’s something about the questions she asks that feel so deeply intimate and helpful and fun. (She also created the 12th House podcast which I love!)
I’ve been thinking for some time that I would love a way to feature more of my creative friends/subscribers here and I think now is the time! If you make literally anything at all (music, visuals, writing, knitwear, meals, tik tok dances, dog aerobics, etc.) I want to hear from you. Just send me your answers to the questions below and a pic or two of you/your work to gill.dreher@gmail.com. Can’t wait to hear from you!
Who are you? What do you make? How can we see the things you make? (social handle, website, or IRL location— or nothing is also fine!)
What is your favorite thing that you’ve made in the past year?
What are your favorite creative tools? Give us links for anything linkable!
How do you get started working?
What is your secret to getting un-stuck with your creative work?
Who are your creative idols/inspirations?
Do you have a canon learning experience that you can share with us?
What words of wisdom would you share with anyone looking to make more creative work?
Message me here or email gill.dreher@gmail.com
↓
Image above: a snail in the sunshine. I’ve been vibing with snails lately idk!
March Playlist: Vibey Soundtracks & Instrumental
This month I’ve been loving listening to soundtracks and instrumental jams while experimenting with colors and pastels. Here’s a little compilation of some of my favs from the past month, but I also highly recommend Spotify’s made-for-you Soundtrack playlist for when you need a vibey instrumental afternoon!
Punch Drunk Melody : Jon Brion
House of Woodcock : Johnny Greenwood
Photograph : Arcade Fire, Owen Pallett
Fantino : Sebastien Tellier
in the forest : David Torn
For Flora : Gia Margaret
Turtles : Flying Lotus
Ninety Three ‘Till Infinity And Beyonce : Andre 3000
Country : Porches
Tick Of The Clock : Chromatics
The Start of Things : Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Avril 14th : Aphex Twin
Comptine d’un autre ete, l’apres-midi : Yann Tiersen
Gretchen Ross : Michael Andrews
Detroit : Disasterpiece
Complication With Optimistic Outcome : Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
What If We Could? : Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Peer Pressure : Jon Brion
After The Quake : Emile Mosseri
Saint European King Days : Opium Flirt
Image above: color studies, my current fav way to draw
Recent Work: Color
This month I’ve found a lot of pleasure and freedom in framing any sort of mark making as a “color study.” By putting the focus on exploring color relationships, I’ve found that a lot of the pressure on the result is relieved and I can just have fun making stuff— a feeling I’ve been chasing for a while! Doing more of these “studies” has helped me loosen up and helped me get back in touch with what I love about making things.
Do you ever find that you feel pressure when making things, even when no one cares and theres no deadline or anyone to impress? What is up with that feeling? In my eternal quest to deal with that, I’m thinking that now could be a good time to revisit Austin Kleon’s “Show Your Work”— even though I’m not sharing much anymore, this book always reinvigorates me and helps me focus on the fun of making rather than the final outcome.
↓
Image above: cute lil purple flowers with yellow circle centers
Some Other Good Things
The “Killing the Starving Artist Archetype” podcast series from The Twelfth House, especially episode 2— these ladies put words to all the thoughts I’ve been having about creative work over the past years and it’s so inspiring to listen to! TL:DR don’t quit your day job— let it fuel your creative work instead.
Another great podcast episode about why it literally is so hard to be a millennial— I’m an ‘88 baby but still feel very seen by this.
My thing lately is seeing cute things on Pinterest and then making them myself from scraps or whatever I’ve got. Recent projects include these cute pants (using the Persephone pants pattern and “tablecloth” fabric), this lil scarf (in 100% cotton yarn that I had leftover from amigurumis for no itchies), and this jacket using some leftover denim. Next up: a simple lil beaded necklace!
This incredible Bubblegum Horror watch list from “ryan” on Letterboxed, which finally gave me a name for one of my favorite movie genres. The rest of my year will be spent working through this one!
Julio Torres’ new movie Problemista— he just really gets it. For anyone who’s ever had to work for someone who insisted on maintaining a database on Filemaker Pro.
↓
Thanks for reading – see you next month!