A Slower, Seasonal Rhythm for the Creative Flock

Exciting updates to how we explore creativity together 💚

No monthly round-up this month, as i’ve been busy working on my new offering for the Creative Flock. Visit the ‘Archive’ tab to catch up on May’s sessions. Read on for an announcement of what’s to come..

Hello Flock Friends,

As I shared in this post, I’m making some gentle shifts in how we do things here at the Creative Flock, to give myself (and you, my lovely subscribers and members) more space to daydream, play, and dig deeper into bigger creative projects. While I’ve always loved having monthly themes, I’ve often felt that a month just wasn’t quite long enough to truly settle in and explore them fully.

From Monthly Rush to Seasonal Flow: Shifting the Pace of the Creative Flock

Introducing… Creative Seasons

Starting in June, the Creative Flock will shift from a monthly rhythm to a seasonal one. Each theme will now span three months, giving us the time and breathing room to explore with more intention, without pressure or feeling the need to keep up.

This slower, seasonal rhythm mirrors the natural cycles of creativity: intuitive, spacious, and ever-evolving. 

Each creative season will gently unfold in three phases:

• Gather inspiration & references 

• Explore the theme & play

• Develop & complete creative work

In between these ‘active’ phases, I’ll encourage you to pause, to rest, reflect, and make space for what’s next. These quieter moments are just as essential to the creative process as the act of making itself.

Art, illustration, nature and storytelling will remain at the heart of everything I offer and the themes will reflect these areas.

By aligning with the energy of the seasons, we’ll create a rhythm that feels more sustainable, nourishing, and inspiring.

Creative Seasons themes:

June – August: Wild & Wandering. A creative season inspired by the outdoors

Inspired by: wildness, abundance, growth, travel, wandering, daydreaming, colour and light.

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September – November: An Ode to Autumn. A deeper dive into the natural beauty of this season and its creative potential.

Inspired by: warm & cosy colours, gatherings, harvest, folktales, and nature's transition from light to dark.

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December – February 2026: The Art of Noticing: An invitation to slow down and explore the creative possibilities within the quiet of winter. 

Inspired by cooler colour palettes, cosy comfort, liminal spaces, silhouettes and shadows, finding the light in the dark, slowing down, quiet contemplation.

After trialing this new way of working, I’ll take some time to reassess and evaluate. I’ll keep members updated on future themes.

At the start of each creative season, I’ll share a mood board and a selection of resources for further exploration. This will be your anchor, a place to return to whenever you need a spark of inspiration.

You’ll be invited to explore the theme in your own way. Let it sit with you, see what it stirs, and stay open to wherever it might lead. Throughout the season, we’ll gather for live sessions where we’ll reflect on the theme, respond to journal prompts, and sketch together, keeping our ideas fluid and exploratory.

Midway through the season, we’ll have a live session focused entirely on play and experimentation, whether that’s in your sketchbook or on loose sheets. This is a chance to follow your curiosity without worrying about a final outcome, just pure creative exploration.

As the season draws to a close, we’ll shift into a phase of developing and shaping our ideas. You might choose to pull together what you’ve created or discovered into a final piece or project. This will look different for everyone and might include:

• A travel journal

• A handmade book of sketches

• A set of three artworks

• An informational poster

• A picture book dummy

There’s no pressure to complete a finished project. These resources are here for you to use in a way that suits your creative rhythm. Your focus might be sketching outdoors, experimenting with colour, researching seasonal plants, writing poems, or simply playing in your sketchbook. At the beginning of the season, set a goal that feels meaningful to you, and use the live sessions and community space to check in, share progress, and stay inspired.

Above all, enjoy the process. Let go of perfectionism and embrace the joy of creating.

We’ll meet regularly on live calls to co-work, draw, and share our progress. I’ll also check in through the community chat, where you’re always welcome to ask questions, share your work, or simply connect.

If this feels like something you need, to take your creative practice further, I'd love you to join us:

What to expect this season and live dates

On 3rd June, I’ll share an introduction to Wild & Wandering: A creative season inspired by the outdoors. In this post i’ll provide details and sign up links to all sessions between June - August.

For now, I’ll share the first session which is coming up on Tuesday evening, an exciting collaboration with

Natasha Cross

from The Artist’s Toolbox.

Tuesday, 3rd June, 7pm BST - Live session for all subscribers: Drawing the Wild Beauty of Bolivia.

(Replay and image references will be available for members, after the session)

Join us for a creative journey through the rich and varied landscapes of Bolivia. In this drawing session, we’ll work from a stunning selection of nature photographs, taken by

Natasha Cross

. There’ll be a wide variety, from inquisitive llamas, distant mountain ranges and flamingos in the salt flats.

Ways to join the Flock:

🪶 Free Tier: The Perch

A calm, inspiring view from the edge of the nest. Perfect for curious creatives who want to stay lightly connected.

• Every month: Join in with a live, sketch-along on Substack. (Recording available) 

• Every Friday: Join in the community-only chat thread and share ‘good stuff from your week’. 

• End of season newsletter 

• Occasional bonus live sessions with artists and illustrators

• Enjoy occasional, free-to-read posts.

• 10% discount in my print shop

• 10% discount at Deep Deep Light Watercolour and Cult Pens

• You can upgrade or downgrade your subscription at any time.

If a paid membership isn’t the right fit but you’d still like to support my free offerings, you can buy me a coffee/pencil here, or simply like and share my posts. Every bit of support helps me reach more people.

🪺 Paid Tier: The Nest

A cozy, supportive space to build your creative practice. For artists ready to dig deeper, create, and grow.

Everything in The Perch, plus:

• Full access to seasonal themes & creative resources

• Invitations to live sessions, workshops and sketchbook share sessions with a replay available.

• Member-exclusive posts, videos, and studio insights

• A spot in the end of the season, Members Gallery

• Receive regular support and encouragement from me and the community in the members-only chat space.

• 20% discount in my print shop

• 15% discount at Deep Deep Light Watercolour 

• You will have access to the full archive of content.

 

Subscription Updates

From 1st June, the subscription rates will adjust slightly to reflect the new rhythm:

• Annual Membership: Reduced from £75 to £65/year. Ideal for those who want to invest in their creative journey, explore themes more deeply, and enjoy the full seasonal cycle

• Monthly Membership: Increased from £8.50 to £9.50/month. Suited to those who want more flexibility, join sessions that align with their interests and availability, or to access any of the sessions, workshops, videos and posts from the archive.

• Founding Member: No change to this tier for now, it will continue to be a way to support my work further. But, I would like to add some extra perks to this tier in the future, I'll keep you posted as this develops. 
  

Note for existing paid members:The new rates will apply to new subscribers starting in June. If you're already subscribed, your current rate will stay the same as long as you don't cancel and resubscribe.

• Monthly plans will remain at £8.50/month.

• Yearly plans will renew at your original rate, but since the new rate will be lower, you'll benefit from cancelling and rejoining at the lower rate when it's time to renew.

If you’ve recently paid for a yearly plan, I’m happy to arrange a pro-rata refund for the difference or extend your subscription by an extra month. Simply reply to this email, message me on Substack or email: contact@emmacarpendale.co.uk.

There will almost certainly be a few tweaks along the way, and I’m sure there will be bonus videos, workshops, or live sessions added over time. But there won’t be content for the sake of content. 

The changes I’m making are rooted in a desire to create a space that honours the seasonal nature of creativity and one that gives us all more room to engage without feeling overwhelmed or like we’re falling behind.

These changes recognise that small, incremental shifts can lead to lasting, transformative change in your practice.

Consistency, not speed, is where the real magic happens.

Thank you for being part of the Flock. I’m so grateful to create and grow alongside you. Here’s to a beautifully slow, intentional season ahead 🌿