Hi friends,
How’s your summer been? I hope you’ve had opportunities to get outdoors, enjoy some time in nature, your garden or green space and let out some exhales. Or perhaps you find the summer to be a very creative and productive time? I’d love to know what’s been keeping you busy these past two months. Also, did you see the Odyssey? I have mixed feelings about the film, but (spoiler alert) I thought Matt Damon’s beard put on an Oscar-worthy performance!
From August 1st the membership unpauses, thank you for your patience while I took this break! Read on for what i’ve been up to over the summer and what’s to come in the Flock…
The summer for me has been a mixture of some slow contemplative moments, frantic end-of-school shenanigans, family time, studio work, workshop hosting and trying not to melt in the studio or indeed be consumed by anxiety by the crazy temperatures we’ve experienced in the UK. It’s not as extreme and deadly as parts of Europe and my thoughts go out to anyone who’s been badly affected, but it’s still deeply concerning. I have some thoughts and feelings to share with you about our climate emergency, my fears and hopes, but I will come back to that another time.
Above: This week I walked and sketched with a good friend and we observed the golden stubble of harvested wheat fields, parched grazing meadows and sparse wildflower patches, wondered how the wild birds and mammals were coping in finding food and we willed slate-grey clouds to burst and bring some much needed relief. Sadly, the wind was strong and it blew the rain clouds away as quickly as they appeared. While this happened we sketched for a while, and it wasn’t until later that I noticed my half-completed rain cloud sky more closely resembled rising smoke. Perhaps my subconscious anxiety about climate change was playing a part here, or maybe I was too slow at putting my marks on paper before the clouds moved on, but I think it’s made for a more interesting sketch.
As some of you who have been in the Flock for a while know, I’m a big believer in slow progress, paying attention to the needs of your body and mind and adjusting output based on what you can give. I’m not a person who can be on maximum setting all the time, my brain and body just can’t cope! More and more, I prioritise my health over productivity, and pay more attention to little warning signs my body gives. Over the past nine months I’ve experienced more dips and prolonged periods of fatigue and I was diagnosed with anemia at the end of last year. I don’t think the recent heatwaves have helped my energy levels, and I can definitely see signs of hormonal changes which isn’t surprising given I’m in my mid-40’s! and I’m in the process of having some more blood tests done and looking at hormone treatment (fun times!).
I wanted to be honest and upfront, both for myself and for you, my lovely readers! So many of you have supported me since the beginning. I also know that some of you reading this will be going through the same thing, or know someone who is and I hope that by being open about it, we can help normalise rest, a slower pace, and taking care of ourselves.
Menopause and the effects of ageing and hormonal changes weren’t talked about openly when I was growing up, only in hushed tones, as ‘women’s problems’. I disliked that term even then, though I couldn’t quite say why. Now, it’s a term I HATE with a passion, and quite frankly i’m furious that something that directly affects 50% of the world population (and indirectly effects every person to some level) was ever played down, dismissed or made a medical issue to be embarrassed about.
You may be asking, Emma, where is this rambling and ranting heading? Apart from it being a sign of peri-menopausal rage?! 😆 The point I want to make is that I've had to get honest with myself about my energy. I don't want to come back and immediately overstretch myself. So the Flock is returning a little smaller and slower than before, not because I love it any less, but because I want it to last. I love this little community - it’s brought me so much joy and purpose, I just need it to be sustainable so I can run the Creative Flock long-term
Here’s what the Creative Flock will offer from 1st August:
A reduced and simplified offering and the cost of the membership will reflect that:
Membership is now £6/month or £60/year
What’s included:
Co-sketching, twice a month: Relaxed get-together, a bit of chat and some focused sketching or creative time together to work on your projects with accountability.
A seasonal themed monthly livestream: Just me or occasionally joined by other creators for a collaborative session. Recording will be available to catch up on
A seasonal something: This might be a process video, creative exercise, sketchbook share, a seasonal reflection, dropped in when I have the capacity to make it properly, rather than forced out on a monthly deadline.
Occasional, themed drawing sessions with artist friends and collaborators
Our longstanding Good Stuff Friday chat thread where I invite you to share little moments of joy or gratitude from your week.
Discounts from my online shop and Deep Deep Light Watercolours (who i’m a brand ambassador for)
Access the full Flock archive - Three years worth of videos, drawing session recording and posts
Be part of a creative and supportive community - Read and comment on all posts and threads
Also, by becoming a paid member, you’ll be helping me continue to create art, share my processes, seasonla inspirations, as well as share my love of nature and leading a slower, gentler, but no less purposeful, creative life.
I won’t be promising big, lengthy posts and a ton of extra content. If I have something to share, I will, but only what I genuinely feel would be of worth to you. Our inboxes are full enough and time stretched thin, I don’t want to add unnecessary strain!
If you’re a free subscriber, you’ll still get to join in the Friday chat threads as this has always been a lovely way to connect and spread our stories of gratitude, plus join the monthly live stream and access the recordings. You also get to access the free archive which has over a dozen posts, videos and free live session recordings. Occasionally I’ll add new content to this too
Founding members (£160/year) will get everything in the Flock membership plus a piece of original art from me each year, plus a bit extra off anything from my shop, a proper thank you for the people who want to support me in a bigger way 🙏
If you’d ever just like to say thanks with a coffee (or a pencil!), there’ll be a small way to do that too.
Down the line, I’m planning to offer some one-off workshops, small group sessions, maybe some little critique gatherings, but as and when my energy allows, not as a fixed monthly promise. These will be one-off paid sessions, which help me manage my time and create something of real value to you and also something you can dip in and out of when needed. More flexible and easy going for all of us.
Existing paid members of the Flock
If you’re an existing member (either on a monthly or annual subscription), your payments will drop to the new amount in your next billing cycle. If you have any billing issues please drop me a message here or email contact@emmacarpendale.co.uk
Dates for co-sketching and live streams will be announced very soon!
If you’re still here, thank you for reading this far! And thank you for being part of this community 💚
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