Welcome to June: Materials Play!
Audio message for June and what's coming up this month in the membership.
Hello! And if this is the first post you’re reading, welcome! You may like to read this welcome post which tells you more about the membership and what to expect from being part of The Creative Flock.
Below is my regular monthly audio message plus links to things I mention.
Further down the post is more info on what’s coming up this month including the details for our drawing session (paid members) which will be on Thursday 20th June at 2pm (BST)/9am (EDT), plus a new BONUS SESSION which i’m trialling this month - Co-sketching session for all subscribers (free and paid).
Mentioned in my message:
Co-swatch sessionChisel drawing pens - This is one of the pens I have been using, i’ll share more in my process and testing video this month.
Why Materials Play?
This month I want to honour the value in messing about with materials as a way to stay curious and open about new ways of working.
Being playful and experimental has led to the greatest developmental leaps in my work, kept my spark for sketching alive and has led me to create the work I am making today.
This month I’ll be digging out my rarely used gouaches, pastels and neocolour and share ways I embrace the play and experimentation with materials, to help inspire and encourage you.
Do you have some acrylics gathering dust? Or a pack of oil pastels you were gifted for Chistmas that are still in their packaging? This could be a great month to start using them.
This month’s live drawing session (for paid members):
Pop this date in your diary - Thursday 20th June at 2pm (BST)/9am (EDT)
The drawing session will be themed around Materials Play and will differ from our usual session as it’ll be more guided and involve a small amout of prep. I’ll share more details, plus the zoom/lu.ma link next week.
What else to expect this month:
VIDEO (Paid members). Process and materials testing of chisel/calligraphy pens and A6 Jacksons sketchbooks
VIDEO (All Subscribers/Paid members). Testing and paintings using Deep Deep Light Watercolours. I’m honoured and excited to now be a brand ambassador for Deep Deep Light and I look forward to sharing my testing of their watercolours and the paintings I create.
VIDEO (All Subscribers). Sketchbook share and write up from my trip to Wales and Skomer Island.
PLUS - BONUS SESSION FOR ALL SUBSCRIBERS:
Join me for a free session of co-sketching! I’m trying this out as an experiment and if it’s popular then I’ll do one a month.
Date, time and link to join:
Tuesday 25th June, 1-2pm (BST)
Sign up via luma to see the session time in your part of the world and receive e-mail reminders - https://lu.ma/o9ymri37
These co-sketching sessions are not recorded, all participants will be muted on entry, but you are welcome to switch your microphone on to chat or use the text chat function.
I look forward to sharing a golden hour of creativity with you! 💛
Website update and print shop discount.
As mentioned in my audio message, I’ve refreshed my portfolio website and also my print shop. All orders are fulfilled by fine art printers - The Print Space.
https://www.emmacarpendale.co.uk
https://www.emmacarpendale.co.uk/shop
Discount codes for Creative Flock Subscribers:
All my lovely subscribers will recieve a 10-20% discount off print orders. I’ll send out an email to all subscribers and paid members this month with details and discount codes so keep an eye on your inbox!
Chat Threads
If you’re unfamiliar with the chat function on Substack, it’s kind of 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 Desktop too.
I have two threads:
Every Friday: Share Good Stuff from your Week (all members)
At the beginning of each month: Member Chat. (paid members). This is a creative chat thread for paid members to dip into at any time during the month. It can be used to chat with the Creative Flock community, drop in recommendations, ask me questions, or share creative highs or woes.
Here’s the link to join the chat:
Thank you for reading! I’m excited for this month and what we’ll create together 💚
Congratulations on the new prints in your store, they look incredible! I love them! And congratulations on the brand ambassador role too, I had never heard of the brand before, but they look incredible!
I'm really excited that this month is all about materials, I really feel the need for more play too! I can't wait to hear more about your trip. When you said you wanted to stay there, I could feel how strong that desire was!! Can I join you?! Maybe we can just ship our husbands and babies off to a commune somewhere and we can just go and live on an island retreat 🤣. There's some witchy deep desire for communing in nature with women coming through!