Pictured above: Doors on Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland. June 2021. View the full photo on Instagram.
Hi there.
Happy new year. We made it, most of us. I can’t believe we had to collectively pour one out for the inestimable Ms. Betty White on the last day of 2021. That had me tearing up for real, I’m not going to lie. Nonetheless, she would have wanted us to live our hearts out.
Last year was one of stretching for me. One of the big mind shifts I had was to simply experiment with different approaches, to well, everything. I tried various workshops and courses, took up some exercise, pushed myself career-wise, moved country, bought a house, and climbed a few (Scottish) hills.
What happened with you and what did you discover last year? Below are three activities that carried me through 2021.
What Kept You Going Through 2021?
The Writers' Hour
Can I tell you how wonderful this is? You're on this call with 100 – 200 other writers (and non-writers) of every single stripe working on their day to day work as well as their passions. There are people writing novels, academic papers, manifestos, the whole lot and it is absolutely inspiring to be one body together writing and supporting each other. They start each session out with a quote from a writer to inspire you and get your mind turning.
Sprung out of the London Writers' Salon during the 2020 lockdown, the Writers' Hour is a free virtual, hour-long writing sprint held each weekday, 4 times a day. They run 8:00am sessions in 4 different time zones: London, NYC, Los Angeles, and Sydney, Australia. Some days I tune in multiple times depending on what I want to knock out for the day.
Some people are working on their poetry before running off to their jobs as lawyers. I tend to work on journal pages or planning my to do list for the week. Other times I work on things like proposals or UX reports, so honestly it doesn't matter what you're writing as long as you write and think. And be nice to yourself. On one of my first sessions, I even spotted someone in her cute little writing shed with the requisite writer's cat walking all over her desk! Please check it out if you can.
Focusmate is online virtual coworking. If you missed people over the last year, this helped dramatically when not being able to head to coworking spaces. Choose a time slot, start a video session, and knock your tasks off your list. These could be client work, house decluttering, exercise, academic research or homework, you name it. The base service is free for 3 sessions per week and a meagre $5/month for unlimited sessions each month. Sessions come in 50 minutes or pomodoro friendly 25 minute sessions.
Focusmate helped me concentrate and work through tasks while also having the fun unexpected aspect of being able to "travel" during the past year by talking to new people around the world. I've co-worked with people in Illinois, California, Latvia, Australia, India, Hong Kong, Poland, Sri Lanka, South Africa, UK, Ireland, France, Jordan, and my good old New York City as well. I've even formed a wonderful art buddy relationship with a lovely woman named in Doris in western Germany. Which leads me to the last but not least…
Making Art Again
"Unknown Place" Risoprint
Finding those two prior resources led to me developing an art making habit once again. I can even say that I'm beginning to have a practice once more. My approach last year was to try anything even though I may be scared. One of my blockers about making art again was the feeling I had somehow lost my conceptual mojo and the ability to put complex ideas together via a visual medium.
The irony behind this of course is that whenever I was teaching UX courses, I drove home the point to my students that drawing is thinking, it’s processing and by the act of making, we were refining our ideas. It’s difficult to take your own advice, huh? Remembering that as someone who tends to learn by doing, with a bit of handholding, I sought out short courses that could chip away at the anxiety and artist block I've had for years. With the help of my new friend, Doris, I played a lot last year and will continue to experiment.
Last year I took a risoprinting workshop and produced a small set of posters. More about my experiment process in next month’s newsletter.
Risograph printing is a technique best described as 'digital screen printing'. The process is similar to screen printing, but with the convenience of an office copier. It's known for its vivid colours (that other printers can't produce) and its specific textures. – Definition by Risopop
Untitled Monoprint
In the small Scottish town where I now knock about, I’ve discovered a very inexpensive print studio. There are several print presses along with a UV exposure unit which means I can try out screen printing and cyanotypes. This came in handy when I took an online monoprinting course which led me to print on a press for the first time in 20 years.
Early in December I tried my hand at cyanotypes again, after another 20 year hiatus, and am going to continue playing and refining my ideas and process. Next up this month is a Modern Sketchbook online course at the 92nd Street Y that I’ll use to create a more formal art practice and making marks on paper/surfaces. Join it with me!
So, tell me, what got you through 2021? Was it a particular course, routine, people, place you loved or discovered? I’m genuinely interested because I want to let more good things into my periphery this year. Just hit reply to this email and let me know.
A Fun Thing
Seeing as how we're all paranoid now about colds versus Covid this winter, at least have a laugh, and take care. Link: https://xkcd.com/2535
Peace for now…
Y’all know the drill. This year I’m trying to show up more and connect with people more. So, please do schedule some time in my calendar for a call or virtual hot beverage or wine.
Go find me around the web as well:
Website | LinkedIn | Medium | Twitter | Instagram
Have a good week y'all,
Tricia