7 things I loved on the second week of March
The internet as art studio and a new way of holding my pencil
Hey friends! One month ago I started this “7 Things I Loved This Week” series as an offering for paid subscribers. I am now concluding the experiment and opening 7 Things to all readers. I believe in sharing the things I love and pay attention to. I believe in supporting other artists and writers and shouting out their work. Restricting that for only a few folks to see didn’t sit right with me.
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Reimagining the internet as an art studio. This online realm is what we make of it!
The internet is such an outstanding realm for endless input, output, collecting, documenting, sharing, archiving…it’s its very own art studio. When I feel I am using it properly, as in, I am inspired and enjoying myself, it comes close to being an extreme form of collage art.
— Gabi Abrão, The Creative IndependentMaking a quick one page zine titled “Places to Make Friends” in
Create+Engage zine workshop led by Shay MirkThis free talk happening tomorrow with Jocelyn K. Glei, where she’ll share her 10-point manifesto for finding creative insight in a distracting world. I’ve been listening to her Hurry Slowly podcast for years so I know it will be good…and you know I love manifestos.
Discovering Taylor Swift’s “adaptive tripod” pencil grip while researching different grip styles for my hypermobile joints. I’ve been trying it out and honestly, IT’S GREAT! Perfect for journal writing or addressing a bunch of envelopes (or signing countless autographs—can’t relate).
Continuing to read lots of Japanese novels leading up to my Japan trip next month. This week’s pick is Yoko Ogawa’s The Housekeeper and the Professor, a sweet tale of a housekeeper and her son who take care of a math professor with short-term memory.
The Professor never really seemed to care whether we figured out the right answer to a problem. He preferred our wild, desperate guesses to silence, and he was even more delighted when those guesses led to new problems that took us beyond the original one.
My favorite stamps for sending sticker/postcard/zine mail. These are designed by LA-based illustrator Ellen Surrey, who does midcentury illustration so well. She even illustrated this book on midcentury modern women artists!
Author and illustrator Lizzy Stewart’s studio tour, which is really an examination of the impossibility of amassing wealth and having a studio of one’s own as a working illustrator.
I ordered the Ellen Surrey stamps based on your rec & they arrived today & are already bringing me so much joy! Thanks for sharing 🔹🔸🔻
I LOVE The Creative Independent. Such great advice, guidance and insight.