Hey there,
We’ve just had a heatwave in the UK, which makes collage difficult. Everything gets sticky, glue doesn’t work how it’s supposed to, and you can’t even sit in front of a fan without pieces blowing everywhere.
Whenever my environment isn’t right for deep work, I switch into active creative rest mode. That means doing things that keep me creatively engaged, but aren’t too challenging.
Las week, that meant making ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) to use up scraps (aka the pieces I cut for other collages but didn’t end up using). Feels good to finally get them off my desk!
Active creative rest also gives me space to plan things, like the agenda for How to collage like a storyteller: a 2-hour online workshop that I’m running on July 11.
Upcoming workshop
The hands-on session runs Saturday July 11 at 5-7pm BST / 12-2pm EDT on Zoom, and will be a relaxed, friendly environment to learn:
Where to get your materials in the first place: come away with strategies for evaluating purchases (even online purchases that you’ve never seen in person)
How to source for narrative: practice identifying and gathering figures, objects, and other pieces that contain narrative charge
How to collage like a storyteller: how to think about theme, story, character, and emotional impact
How to combine and iterate for narrative impact: learn and practice composing collages that feel clear and cohesive
How to create emotionally resonant collages: discover how to pull your viewer in, capture their imagination, and make them feel something
We’ll also be doing some exercises around the above during the session, so bring your collage materials! If you can’t make the live session, sign up anyway and you’ll receive a link to the recording to watch back in your own time.
What to expect
No pressure or expectation to be on camera or speak
Some sections where I show examples and resources on-screen while talking through them
Some sections where you get an exercise to work on for 15-20 minutes (I often share my desk view during these parts, so you can always watch me collage as an alternative)
Text-based chat if you want to participate
Ability to ask questions throughout
This session is going to be a lot of fun, and I’d love to see you there!
If there’s anything you’d like to know before booking, just reply to this email and I’ll get back to you.
Other things I’ve enjoyed this month
Creating a section in my journal to document daily progress towards my goals, because it’s very easy with ADHD to get hung up on the things you haven’t done. When I look back at the week, I’m really pleased with what I’ve accomplished.
Tapping Solution app - I’ve been doing EFT/tapping instead of meditating recently and it’s working better for me! I’m falling asleep a lot faster.
A few weeks back I chopped the top off my fiddle leaf fig, and it’s been popping out new leaves at a ridiculous rate ever since. This was a big “trust the process” moment but I 100% recommend
For All Mankind on Apple TV: alternate history sci-fi series
Putting matcha powder in my morning vanilla protein shake to trick myself into thinking it’s an iced matcha
An author I love randomly liked one of my reels, so I think I’ve basically made it?
Speak soon, and hope to see you on July 11!
Lily
