Welcome to March - Materials Play! 🎨

Audio message for March and what's coming up this month for subscribers and paid members

Welcome to March in The Creative Flock, and hello to all the people who have joined recently. If you’re brand new here, you may like to read this welcome post which tells you more about me and what to expect from being part of this community.

Below is my regular monthly audio message and links to things I mention.

Mentoring sessions with Jo Henley

The Bookmark Project, organised by Sharon Hattersley

Raj’s Co sketch session for March (Weds 19th)

AOI - Alexis Deacon talk

Ink-making workshop with David Begley

The Federation of Children’s Book Groups, Northamptonshire Children’s Book Group and National-Share-a-Story-Month (NSSM)

Head further down the post to see what’s coming up this month for both free and paid subscribers, including the details for our live drawing session/workshop which is taking place on Monday 24th March, 7.30-9pm GMT

March - Materials Play! 🎨

This month, we’re revisiting materials play, we spent last June on this topic and I loved it! It was a great opportunity to loosen up, explore, and stay open to new ways of working. 

I find messing about with art materials to be a very useful exercise when I can see myself working too tightly in my sketches or if I’m feeling creatively flat or uninspired. It has a magical way of improving my mood and giving me a fresh perspective on my work. 

Whether you have new art supplies waiting to be tested, old favourites needing a fresh purpose, or even homemade inks (like I do!) calling for another experiment, this is the perfect chance to play without pressure. 

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then I’d love to see you in the Flock! The 7-day free trial is active for another week if you want to have a look around first 🙂

Playful experiments from last year’s workshop

This month’s live drawing session (paid members)

Monday 24th March, 7.30-9pm GMT

As mentioned in my audio message, this session will either be guided and involve a small amount of prep, or just a chance to mess about with our art materials for an hour or so! I’ll ponder on this and let you know soon, but if you do have a preference either way, please drop a comment or send me a message. If you’d like to check out last year’s workshop, paid members can find the replay here.

For now, sign up via the link in the calendar post, more details about the session will come out in a separate post to members soon.

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✨ 7-day free trials are active for another week! ✨

I have more than 125 posts in the archive, so if you’re curious and would like to explore what the membership has to offer, now is the perfect time to try out the free trial before it closes.

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In The Creative Flock Membership:

Along with the live session, there are extra benefits for Creative Flock members, so if you like the idea of getting stuck into the Materials Play theme with us, here’s what you can expect:

• A video where I’ll be testing out some of my art materials and YOU get to decide which ones, via a poll I’ll be sending out soon. You’ll get to choose from alcohol markers, pastels, inks or something else entirely! The decision will be in your hands…

• I’ll be suggesting ways to creatively explore this topic with prompts and visual inspiration.

• You will get to share your ‘Materials Play’ creations and discoveries within the supportive community in the member-only chat threads.

• You’ll have the opportunity to share more widely in the member’s gallery at the end of the month.

Co-sketching sessions this month.

There’ll be two co-sketching sessions this month, open to all subscribers.

I’ve found these one-hour periods of concentrated drawing time so useful and they force me to focus on creativity instead of admin or my ‘to-do’ list. Thank you to Emma Carlisle for introducing me to virtual co-working!

Details are below, sign up via luma.com to get these sessions in your time zone and receive handy email reminders.

All subscribers co-sketching:

Wednesday 12th March 7-8pm GMT - https://lu.ma/9q2two5n

Monday 17th March 2-3pm GMT - https://lu.ma/jeje1ep6

These co-sketching sessions are not recorded, all participants will be muted on entry, but you are welcome to switch your microphone on at the beginning to share what you plan to use the hour for, or you can use the text chat function.

I look forward to sharing a golden hour of creativity with you! 💛

Chat Threads

If you’re unfamiliar with the chat function on Substack, it’s like a group chat or live hangout. I love this space as it’s a great way for us to get to know each other and encourage supportive conversation among The Creative Flock members. Chat works best in the app, but you can join in on the desktop too.

I have two regular threads:

• Every Friday: Share Good Stuff from your Week (all subscribers)

• ‘Toot your horn’ 📣 (paid members). Use this as a place to share your wins, passion projects or anything that deserves a big ol’ pat on the back. I know a lot of us are bad at cheerleading ourselves, so let this be a place for that!

Paid members are also able to start new chat threads to kick off community conversations or ask questions.

I look forward to joining in these chats with you 😊

Discounts on art materials and my print store

If you’re new to The Flock you may not be aware of the discounts I share with my subscribers and paid members, details below and in your welcome email.

Deep Deep Light - 10-15% off site wide:

All Creative Flock subscribers receive 10% off at the Deep Deep Light store, and paid members receive 15% off. Use code emmacarpendale10 for 10% off, paid members will receive their discount code in their welcome email after upgrading.¹

Cult Pens 10% discount:

Cult Pens is my preferred online store for pens and inks due to its wide range of products. Click this referral link for 10% off your order at Cult Pens.

My online print store:

https://www.emmacarpendale.co.uk/shop

This is a great way to support me if you can’t manage the paid membership, plus you get some unique art too! 😀 Free subscribers receive 10% off my giclee prints, paid members receive 20% off. Use code printshop10 for 10% off, paid members will receive their discount code in their welcome email after upgrading.

Don’t forget that this month you can make use of the 7-day free trial. If you have any questions about this months theme, or suggestions for future themes or content, please get in touch, i’d be happy to hear from you. 🙂

I’m looking forward to a creative month and messing about with materials!

1. I receive 5-10% on each sale when you use the discount code. This will be something that helps fund and support my work as an artist and I want you to know it’s very much appreciated. I’m happy for you to share the code with fellow creatives, along with a link back to my Substack. Thank you! 😊