Looking back on Creative Support Systems

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Right after I announced my last tour with Worriers, I threw out the idea of doing the Artists' Way with anyone who was interested. I thought it would be a fun thing to revisit with some accountability buddies. No big deal, right?

Not only were a lot more people interested than I thought, but some folks pointed out how the original text might not align with my personal worldview (shaming language, lots of mentioning God...). I knew the interest was there, but I wanted to find a way to re-work it so that others could avoid some of the dated framework.

And so, my weird 12-week project called Creative Support Systems was born.

I looked at being creatively blocked and The Artists' Way from a more inclusive, anti-hustle-culture framework so that there was no single right way to do any of it. Instead of guilting yourself for a lack of discipline, I wanted to address the deeply personal side of what holds us back, what we value, and how we prioritize our creative lives.

When I say "creative" this could mean "the arts" but really also anything you're passionate about. Anything you want to make. Anything you want to pursue independently.

By the end of the 12 weeks (TWELVE WEEKS!), I had built better daily habits, emotional space, and boundaries with myself that gave me more time for making and prioritizing what really lights me up. It didn't magically fix everything in my creative world, but it was a giant breath of fresh air.

I didn't know how it would all turn out, but after the first round it's obvious that it needs to keep going.

I'm turning it into an 8-week self-paced course that will be out later this year. You can join the waitlist here to find out when it launches.

By the end of the course you'll have:

• Creative direction and clarity in your roadmap
• Daily or weekly habits that sustain your creative growth
• Permission to move at your own pace
• Confidence in your own voice and ideas
• Tools to build a supportive community/friendships

My plan is to have a community space (read: comments section / message board) included so that people can keep connecting throughout. The conversations between participants were really special!

Truly, I credit this exercise with what kept me energized and focused to prepare for tour AND open studios that kicked off back to back. I don't know how I would've done it without the prompts, habits, and conversations from Creative Support Systems.

Here are some snapshots of new pieces I made during that time:

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