Yes I have! And what a blessing it is. It helps put things in order and sense. Or at least a certain sense that explains a little of how I make sense of the world.
I’ve been teaching Capoeira for 20 years and in that time has gifted me the greatest lessons about my own ability. It’s one thing to be able to do something, but another to be able to put into words and explain something. The level of comprehension increases, for myself and those I’m sharing with.
Being vulnerable and sharing the loses as well as the wins has been an incredible teacher.
Each time I sit at the keyboard/journal I am as excited as I am to my sketchbook.
Oh this all rings so true for me too! With Substack and The Good Ship. As a teacher I learn all the time, it’s a win win all round! Yes explaining the fails is so important too, really helps to accept we are all fallible, even teachers. We are all muddling along, there’s no right way. It makes everyone including me feel amazing! Thank you.
I have noticed the same with me too! It was definitely not the intention when I started writing here in substack, just under a year ago. But all the thinking and writing about my art and process has brought so much clarity. It has now become one of the main reasons why I continue to diligently write here.
Thanks for always being so generous Helen 🥰 I love reading your thoughts and stories and totally agree about the benefits of writing. I’m just starting to ‘get’ Substack and only because of you and Good Ship enticing people in. I found it v. painful to start writing because it was self-reflection and analysis I don’t normally do. Which is precisely why it’s beneficial! Like the quote ‘I hate writing but I love having written’
Wow! Thanks so much for opening up the paid posts. Yourself and the other Good Ship captains & crew have really been helping me work out what I want to do with art and art in my life ❤️🎨
Happy New Year Helen! I’m totally with you on this! I realised quite soon after starting my Patreon (which I have now migrated here) that it was helping me understand me and my practice better!! So now I partly do if for the very self-serving reason that it is super helpful for me! It forces me to reflect and figure out how I got to whatever creative outcome I have achieved! Love the gate thing! What I’m wondering is, was if decorative or to scare crows off or something? Xx
I don't think my friend’s daughter had a plan, she was doing that gorgeous thing kids do where they make stuff for no reason. We should all be doing more of that!
Love this Helen 😄 I feel like Substack has unlocked my creativity in a special way - I don’t really understand it (which is fine) but the freedom I feel in writing here has translated into freedom with my art and creativity too 🥰🥰🥰 and ranching and tatching - pure genius 😍
Oh YAY for this... Can’t wait to read the free posts (after the day job👀 arguably shouldn’t be reading/writing this right now). Thank you... In answer to your question YES writing about my illustrating and process has definitely shown me things I hadn’t realised I do: Realisations a bit like a bag of pic’n’mix, useful if sorted through and chewed upon one at a time....
So true, I always love reading about your creative process and enjoy writing about my own because I also learn stuff about myself and kind of clarify and remind myself of how it all happens! And sometimes it's years later I can clearly understand the significance of certain ideas and decisions.
Thank you for the free posts, I'm going to have a look at the Procreate one. I've used it in a very minimal way on my last few books and for roughs, but I'm sure there's more I could do with it!
Happy New Year Helen, I'm looking forward to seeing your Smelly Peggy book! : )
She WILL go far! I love watching kids doing that kind of creative play, Frieda used to pile tape, in a kind of tap mountain, in the middle of the carpet to hold up a tall stick. Genius! Here’s to more ranging and taching in 2024!
Yes I have! And what a blessing it is. It helps put things in order and sense. Or at least a certain sense that explains a little of how I make sense of the world.
I’ve been teaching Capoeira for 20 years and in that time has gifted me the greatest lessons about my own ability. It’s one thing to be able to do something, but another to be able to put into words and explain something. The level of comprehension increases, for myself and those I’m sharing with.
Being vulnerable and sharing the loses as well as the wins has been an incredible teacher.
Each time I sit at the keyboard/journal I am as excited as I am to my sketchbook.
Thank you for sharing your precious words.
I’m really enjoying this journey with you.
Oh this all rings so true for me too! With Substack and The Good Ship. As a teacher I learn all the time, it’s a win win all round! Yes explaining the fails is so important too, really helps to accept we are all fallible, even teachers. We are all muddling along, there’s no right way. It makes everyone including me feel amazing! Thank you.
❤️❤️❤️
I have noticed the same with me too! It was definitely not the intention when I started writing here in substack, just under a year ago. But all the thinking and writing about my art and process has brought so much clarity. It has now become one of the main reasons why I continue to diligently write here.
Isn’t it magic? Like psychotherapy on ourselves 😍
Exactly!
Thanks for always being so generous Helen 🥰 I love reading your thoughts and stories and totally agree about the benefits of writing. I’m just starting to ‘get’ Substack and only because of you and Good Ship enticing people in. I found it v. painful to start writing because it was self-reflection and analysis I don’t normally do. Which is precisely why it’s beneficial! Like the quote ‘I hate writing but I love having written’
Oh I love that quote! I feel like that about most things 😂 especially exercise.
Yes! I always thought it was a Dorothy Parker quip but apparently it was someone else. And YES re exercise 😅
Such a good quote! I hate houseworking but love having houseworked 😆
Shhh I secretly like housework 🫢
🙈
Wow! Thanks so much for opening up the paid posts. Yourself and the other Good Ship captains & crew have really been helping me work out what I want to do with art and art in my life ❤️🎨
Ah you are welcome! I’m so happy to hear you are making plans with your art 😍
Happy New Year Helen! I’m totally with you on this! I realised quite soon after starting my Patreon (which I have now migrated here) that it was helping me understand me and my practice better!! So now I partly do if for the very self-serving reason that it is super helpful for me! It forces me to reflect and figure out how I got to whatever creative outcome I have achieved! Love the gate thing! What I’m wondering is, was if decorative or to scare crows off or something? Xx
I don't think my friend’s daughter had a plan, she was doing that gorgeous thing kids do where they make stuff for no reason. We should all be doing more of that!
Like therapy for the art brain!
Ranging and taching - That is perfect! Totally making ranging and taching my goal for 2024! Happy new year Helen!
Mine too! Big life goal: spend my whole life ranging and taching.
Love this Helen 😄 I feel like Substack has unlocked my creativity in a special way - I don’t really understand it (which is fine) but the freedom I feel in writing here has translated into freedom with my art and creativity too 🥰🥰🥰 and ranching and tatching - pure genius 😍
Oh YAY for this... Can’t wait to read the free posts (after the day job👀 arguably shouldn’t be reading/writing this right now). Thank you... In answer to your question YES writing about my illustrating and process has definitely shown me things I hadn’t realised I do: Realisations a bit like a bag of pic’n’mix, useful if sorted through and chewed upon one at a time....
Oh now you have given me a craving for pick and mix. A refresher lolly and some jelly tots please. Googling if Asda is still open…
So true, I always love reading about your creative process and enjoy writing about my own because I also learn stuff about myself and kind of clarify and remind myself of how it all happens! And sometimes it's years later I can clearly understand the significance of certain ideas and decisions.
Thank you for the free posts, I'm going to have a look at the Procreate one. I've used it in a very minimal way on my last few books and for roughs, but I'm sure there's more I could do with it!
Happy New Year Helen, I'm looking forward to seeing your Smelly Peggy book! : )
Yes, sometimes it takes years doesn’t it? I love that, given time most things become clear.
H thanks, I just got my first copy of Smelly Peggy, I am so proud of it. The Walker team did a good job of patting me into shape.
Oh what a great feeling! Love your phrase "patted me into shape!" Walker are v good at that! : )
Your friend's daughter will GO FAR! I'm going to spend my whole day playing with string, sellotape and wooden spoons now... #rangingandtaching
She WILL go far! I love watching kids doing that kind of creative play, Frieda used to pile tape, in a kind of tap mountain, in the middle of the carpet to hold up a tall stick. Genius! Here’s to more ranging and taching in 2024!
Adding a tape mountain to today's to-do list... children ARE geniuses, all of them! That's why I love my weekly nursery visit so much :)