There is this idea, that some people find frustrating but I find endlessly beautiful – we’re all trying to make the same thing over and over again, different iterations until we "nail it” (I don’t think we ever really nail it). I know all I am ever trying to do is gather with artists. Recreating and creating those moments in the studio for us all to relish in process, together
I tried being 6039 others things before I tried being an artist. Or maybe, I tried being 589385 other things before I committed to being an artist. I went to hair school for a day before I cried on the sidewalk on King st downtown Toronto. I applied for law school and have looked at 7949 grad programs, all to try and talk myself out of being an artist. But I always ended up back in a studio. I found the weirdos and the freaks. I have always needed to be with artists. Its how many times do we have to learn a lesson in order to finally get it?
That is my favourite part about artists, we gather. We always find each other to discuss what we’re working on or how we’re working on it or that artist who totally nailed the idea we’re working on or to talk about things that we don’t even know are art, yet.
My most favourite moments I spent in art school were the moments leaning over to ask a friend what they thought if this blue, what tool do i use for this thing?, anyone else ever thought about… or just not feeling so fucking alone in creation.
We need community for our art.
I show up here each week to share dispatches from the Creative Journey and each week I ask myself what is it that I have learned what is it that I can share what is it that I know because this journey is so rough but only because life is so rough. and sometimes I feel a real aha moment is brewing inside me and sometimes I feel I have been hit over the head with the same lesson. I love to hike the same trails over and over. The trails I hiked with my friends as a teenage girl looking for a pond to swim in still feel so delicious to walk down in my 20s looking for fall leaves. I wonder how many times I will have to learn a lesson to finally get it, to tattoo it on my forehead and leave sticky notes around the house. I think knowing is making sure your body knows so I jump on my BOSU and shout out the reminders from the sticky notes like something from a rocky training scene. Only to be reminded of the reminder again when I feel I have lost my way.
Artist need each other.
That there is never a nice bow or finality to the journey, but we gather, we keep going. I keep talking to artists and I keep asking them their craft and they tell me what it is that pays the bills and then they tell me what it is that lights their soul on fire and we share in that gaze of flames for a moment over over drinks and then another round because art is all we have. Or ever had. And all we can do with that, is gather to share in the moment of creation and remembering, to feel not so alone.
So let’s gather 🍜🕯️☕️🌳
NEW Substack Community Offering // Open Studio Nov 16th
An inviation to gather! To discuss and be in process together! I’ve been apprehensive to give this space a name because – I don’t know it (yet? ever?). But I know our purpose. To gather, to come together in creation. We will have monthly themed workshops (Open Studio’s!) and a subscribers only thread to chat + gather in between meetings
Monthly Open Studio! Time for creatives to gather! A space to soak in!
Creation requires community. We are not islands. We are not meant to do this alone.
I am so pleased to gather this way. It makes so much sense to me to consolidate my work in this place where I actually have a back and forth with you. The mirroring of our art back and forth. Our first monthly creative check in AKA Open studio will be NEXT WEEK Nov 16th at 7pm EST
We will be talking about perfectionism in art! How to “overcome it” how it shows up for us, maybe how it stops us from writing the essay we’ve had in the drafts folder for 7 months 🙃) We’ll be starting with 15 min of journaling, a short lesson with me (Phoebe!) and then open discussion + group coaching. 60 min total. 60 minutes of being together. 60 min of being seen, together.
Monthly subscribers get access to locked essays, community events and new incoming feedback thread. A subscribers only chat 📱
You can join us for $15 CAD/ month or if you commit to a year I am running a 15% off promo 💃🏻
Thanks for reading the Creators Dispatch. A weekly essay about the creative journey! Here I write about being an artist, human, angry woman on the internet and living in the dumpster fire of a world that says not to make your art. If what I say here inspires you (or pisses you off 🥰) share my work with the group chat, or your best friends neighbour. Word of mouth is the most special and radical way of sharing – plus it helps put the Zuck 🏄♂️ out of business 👼
FINDINGS 🗺️
I’ve been doing NaPoWriMo this month, and truly loving it. Just write, the words will always come.
My sweet love/roomate
is at it again with his latest.Newest episode of Do you ever feel like is out 💃🏻 (hilariously after an unexpected hiatus because we were in fact going out too much )
A couple of welcomes to friends who have arrived on the platform! Sweet internet pal
, Justice and I exchanged fabric suppliers in the dDMs years ago (when I used to make stuff) and we’ve been cheering other on from across the internet since 💕And welcome to pal
Chelsea was our FIRST guest on the pod and has been so generous with her support and cheerleading for the pod and all and I create
WHEN I SAY ARTISTS NEED EACH OTHER HOLY FUCK I MEAN IT! 🔥💕 I AM SO BLESSED BY THE ARTISTS I SURROUND MYSELF WITH
BIG LOVE AND MANY BLESSINGS FOR THE ARTISTS!!!
xx
Phoebe 💕
*typos are left to reflect the fury passion and 3D humaness of being a passionate freak in the world – and you know not a robot *beep boop* I am just a human girlie living on earth with a mortal brain 🤸♀️
Thirsty for more? I deeply believe in paying artists for their work and the work art/content we consume (think modern day patron!). To be cohesive with my values I allow readers to pay for the work I create here. If you love my writing, get value and resource from it consider becoming a paid subscriber! Paid subscribers get access to more of my writing and *new* monthly community events!
Thank you for the welcome!!!!! So happy to be here and consume your work 😍and YES to committing to being an artist
I wish it was easier for me to connect with other artists, because the community is as beautiful and essential as you describe it.