November - Folktale month
Creative intention-setting, my plans for Folktale Week, a note on paid subscription options and what's coming up for members this month.
With Folktale Week just round the corner and being a fan of folktales myself, there seemed no better theme for this month.
If you haven’t heard of Folktale Week, it’s a 7-day art and story writing challenge which takes place in November on Instagram. It’s free to join and anyone can take part. Set up by a group of artists and illustrators who love folktales and visual storytelling, the seven different word prompts are released on the Folktale Week Instagram account in October so participants have time to create something in time for the week-long showcase in November. Even if you don’t take part, it's worth checking out the #folktaleweek hashtag, the challenge has a world-wide following and so much beautiful, inspiring work is shared.
The official dates for Folktale Week 2023 are 13-19th November and the word prompts for each of the seven days are below:
For the past two years I’ve used the challenge as a way to write a folktale inspired story, and created a few sketches and thumbnails too (a couple of which I share in this post), but I kept these as a personal project and didn't share it online. That may sound strange, but for me, art challenges have a way of magnifying my insecurities and send me tumbling into the comparison trap. So, for the past two years, I didn’t feel like putting my stories out into the world.
However, despite those nagging Mind Monkey’s chattering away again this year, my creative intention this month is to share all my Folktale Week work (the good and the bad) with the lovely community here in The Creative Flock. I want this to be a space where we share our creative lows as well as highs and support each other through it. Who’s with me?! 😆
So if you do take part in Folktale Week, I encourage you to do it in a way that feels right for you, and you may wish to follow my example and set an intention of what you want to get out of the challenge.
On Monday, I’ll start a chat thread where we can share these intentions, and during the coming week i’ll be sharing a Folktale inspired playlist, some extra book recommendations and the date for our monthly drawing session.
but until then, check out the resources at the end of this post for inspiration and drop a comment if you have any questions, folktale themed recommendations of your own to share or let me know if you’re definitely planning to join Folktale Week!
A note on subscription options..
This publication is reader-supported and enables me to do what I love, which is creating art and illustrations. In return for your support, I share my insights and processes with you to help you cultivate your own creativity.
Starting this month the membership will have paid options - £8.50 a month or £85 a year (working out at £7.08 a month) with the annual option. Paid subscribers will have access to all content in the membership including the full archive.
If this is not possible for you, don’t worry! There will always be content available for free subscribers. For free you can access the first six weeks of content in the archive and will then receive two posts a month. There is also the opportunity to join the subscriber-only Chat space each Friday and get involved in public discussion on Notes. Occasionally I will open up archived posts to all subscribers and offer discounts and free trials on paid memberships.
I offer free monthly spaces to students and people who are in need of this membership but can’t take on the financial commitment. If this would be useful to you, pleased drop me a message - contact@emmacarpendale.co.uk.
Whether you are a free or paid subscriber, I deeply value you hanging out with me in The Creative Flock, your support means the world to me, thank you! x
Folktale inspired resources:
Book - Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
This was recommended by Sarah Dyer in her brilliant Patreon, this new edition of the dictionary is a bit pricy, but there are second hand older editions available if you have a search online, or try your local public library.
TV - I always find The Storyteller a great show to go back to when I want to feel inspired with folk or fairy tales.
Podcast - Candlelit Tales Irish Mythology Podcast. A group of storytellers, performers, and musicians who tell Irish myths to a live audience with live music.
Websites with links to further resources - The Museum of British Folklore and The Folklore Society
I would love to join. Not a writer but could be good to get out of my comfort zone. I lay keep the work to myself rather than share on the socials.
Just wanted to say I am in love with the first piece you show in this post. Love the feel of panels.
Your inky sketches look gorgeous! And somewhat mysterious too, which seems a great match for folktales. Looking forward to see what you will make this year! I’m joining folktale week, but I’m taking my own approach. I had an idea for a picture book just a few days before the prompts were announced, so I’m making a little dummy book with sketches rather than following the prompts. I’m having a lot of fun with it, but it does take a lot of time. As I’m not a professional illustrator but a hobbyist, I sometimes wonder why I do this, especially during the second part of a project when the novelty has worn off, but I guess I like a challenge (even when I don’t follow the rules but make my own).