As I transition from social media and tech platforms to more real-life living , I am exploring a short newsletter to timestamp this wonderful moment in life, that includes current curiosities, muses and projects I am exploring.
First off, I launched a website. A year wresting with Square Space - and I never found a spark. The platform felt vacant, like I was last one left in the corporate office, the overhead lights flickering, AI passive aggressively lurking. Yuck. A good friend and a fave creative community building mind, Christina, turned me on to Other People’s Pixels, a portfolio website service ran by artists for artists. A simple, affordable and user-friendly space, I dove in. Please give wrustynib.com a visit.
As I started to watch my website galleries grow, I felt a internal nudge to close up meta (Facebook, Instagram). I miss the sweet dopamine hits from a “like” but with any addiction there is a price to pay for that - for me it’s the mental health damage of the message I give the non-message, healed only by time lost mindless scrolling. I would rather be strolling on a long walk lost in story-sharing with a cherished friend. Check out this recent Foment podcast Moving Away from Big Tech to hear a great conversation about experiences and resources for shifting tech platforms, banking institutions, etc.
I have just finished a couple of commissions of animal portraits and although I am currently full, I am open to discussing a future project with you. Let’s chat.
After letting go of a heavy story I have carried with me my entire life - I found a sweet place to recharge and it opened a huge wave of creative energy.
Since then,
I have been working my way through a 30 day Watercolor Portrait class, I look forward to this class and the new face every morning. Art is a practice, like meditation, like yoga, that I make time for everyday. Some days I show up strong, some days tired - but I practice. Some days I finish what I set out to do, sometimes I only lay out a sketch and play with colors - but I practice.
I had my first handing building class at the Benton Center last week. I am building prototype zine display/holders and pinching ground hogs.
I recently stumbled into a creative world, new to me, known as Sequential Artist Workshop (SAW) and their Friday Nights Comic classes. When SAW’s recent promotions found me, a reader with new space for more creativity, I made the leap and grabbed the early bird deal for their 6 month Graphic Novel Development Intensive. It officially starts in June, I can’t wait to see what content I can wrangle into a graphic novel.
4. As I prepare for the graphic novel intensive, I continue to create mini- zines. My printer, out of retirement, is working through aches and pains - but IT IS happening. Eight zines have been self-published and tucked into unexpected corners of my community. With a supply of zines, postcard prints and freshly printed stickers - I am getting ready for future community events I don’t yet know about. Tell me about your favorite community building art events. Wanna buy some prints? Zines? Stickers? Message me.
What is your creative obsession these days? What would you make if you had all the time in the world?
"I miss the sweet dopamine hits from a “like” but with any addiction there is a price to pay for that - for me it’s the mental health damage of the message I give the non-message, healed only by time lost mindless scrolling." Gah! So well said.
I LOVE all these creative spaces and projects fueling you and filling you up. And I love your zines. And the fact that you share them round the community by tucking them into spots where folx will find them! Wonderful. Truly.
So glad you've started this stack. Can't wait to see what else you share here and elsewhere!