Tanya's ART NOTES 8

Feel good tidbits for creative folks to make you happy this week of Oct 8 to 14, 2025

it's all happening, but nothing's moving

Today I accidentally heard the news. If you're reading this, you’re likely highly sensitive and empathic too. So you know what’s its like when you’re in the feels trying to protect your mental health. But still not wanting to bury your head in the sand. Kind of like riding the razor's edge for most of the day.

About 8 years ago I got rid of my TV. I've never looked back. And I intentionally do not listen to the news because it overwhelms my nervous system. But sometimes it sneaks through. I mean it's inevitable if you are on social media these days.

It’s had me thinking about how there's so much going on. So much chaos designed to distract you from your personal power and choice. It's no wonder so many of us feel like we are at a complete standstill.

So this weeks roundup is dedicated to being OK with doing things differently than you usually do. Learning to be at ease with going a bit slower. Or standing up for yourself and rewriting the way that you want to move in the world. Basically being conscious of the fact that you have choices. Which means you can build a life for yourself while still respecting your connection with the earth and other people.

Being kind. Being mindful.
It’s really not hard and it can be a lot of fun. Let’s chat about how.

ps: If you find this even slightly amusing, helpful, provocative or as a call to action for change in your life, consider sharing with some friends. And thank you!

Table of Contents
(*sigh* still not clickable! Substack, I thought we talked about this?)

• What’s up in My Art studio?

• Featured Artist: Kristen Lango

• New Article: Do art challenges really get you sales?

• Nature Nuture

• Last Words

What’s up in My Art Studio?

This week there was all sorts going on. Continuing on in my Inktober challenge brought some insights and the impetus to write you an article about some of the misconceptions and challenges that artists if not anybody in a small business faces these days.

The weird thing about prompted art challenges is that you have fantastic ideas and hardly any time to implement them. Unless you’re a planner. And I am not.

Below is one of the illustrations I did this week. Considering how little time I spent on it, it’s not bad. Plus I really enjoyed the storytelling that emerged. But I believe in letting you make up your own mind, so let me know in the comments what you think of it.

Last week's portrait is pretty much finished. But being me, I decided to start in on another. Because you know, I'm an artist and that's what we do.

Inspired by a few artists I've seen lately, I thought I would incorporate their techniques and attempt a new style. So the challenge to myself this week was to use only three colours to paint a portrait. Plus to make it more fun - only doing heavy washes and less layers. Kind of the opposite of what I regularly do in my portraits.

(hey, did you know that you can enlarge the image to see details just by clicking it?)

But holy smokes, talk about learning to surrender your control! You can go after an idea and concept, but ultimately the paper, pigment and water are always gonna do what they wanna do. I think it's an interesting stepping stone into a new freer expression and I'm going to keep playing with it and see what comes up for the next one. And then I might consider doing commissions.

Lastly, a little sneak peek for you. I am taking some time off for a couple days next week and so there won't be a newsletter. But - I am doing a birthday sale and as a subscriber you have first access and a nice discount code. So keep an eye out for that special email next week!

New Article : Do art challenges really get you sales?

As often happens, a small comment I put on someone’s post seems to stir around in my mind afterwards. The next thing you know, it has turned into a full article. This time I wanted to address something that many of us face - artist or not - and that is the trickle down marketing used by many influencers on social media. As I say in the article, It’s like having a golden carrot placed in front of you - one that makes you jump through hoops in order to get to your “holy grail” goal. In this case connections and or sales.

Case in point was my many years of attempting to do long term art challenges under my own misguided assumptions that it would equal art sales. And I do want to stress that this is my experience after years of long term exposure to that type of marketing. As opposed to direct advertising by said art challenge that joining them will give you art sales. Hey! I own my shit and I don’t need to blame anybody. What I did do is learn from it and now I’m sharing my good and bad experiences for you in the hope that you can too.

Plus I laid out actionable steps you can use before doing an art challenge. Or heck - even when setting up goals for running your own small business.

Featured Artist: Kristen Lango

Kristen Lango has been popping in and out of my substack feed for the last couple of months. I enjoy her posts and always catch myself stopping to have a look at her whimsical line drawings. They are filled with joy, colour and movement! I enjoy her characters and stories and self exploration through art and I think you will too.

There’s something about them that has me creating little stories about what I’m seeing. And for me that’s always a great indicator of thoughtful work. I especially like the one that I’ve included below which I’ve affectionately started calling rainbow tuk-tuks.

You can find her website portfollio here

Like many of us, Kristen loves sharing her work. But she also posts insightful and funny articles notes that lift others up - something that is so vital these days. As a self confessed illustrator, bird lover and baker, I think you’re really going to enjoy her vibe, so give her a follow and lighten up your feed!

Nature Nurture

After a week of overcast cold days and sideways rain (blarf), I happened to take this snap in a moment where the sky cleared up. I was so excited by seeing the sun that I kind of looked right into it and didn’t even realize what I had until I looked at it on my phone a couple days later.

It had taken me 45 minutes that day to feel some sense of relaxation and so I really wanted to share this moment where I stopped myself midwalk to catch the photo and how it completely transformed my energy.

I hope that you have some moments this week where you can get out into nature, catch some vitamin D and connect back to the earth and yourself. And maybe magically catch a rainbow aura on film like I did

---

---

Last Words

“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating that going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is more urgent than sitting still”

– Pico Iyer.

When discordant forms of thought and action become the regular, how do we discern what's best for us? This week, I challenge you become a little mindful about how you are moving through your life. No big changes or adjustments required! Just observation and seeing what comes up.

When things start to get a little bit hectic where you feel stressed or you’re upset and you don’t even know why, here’s a great exercise to take you out of overthinking and anxiety and to become “embodied”.

I often make a joke about this, but it's actually true; if the only time you have to yourself is a couple minutes in the bathroom then use that time!

Take a couple seconds and look around your environment. Say out loud what you see: sink, towels, shower curtain etc. Wait a beat, then notice how you've come out of your busy mind and into your physical body. That is your starting point to ask yourself how you're doing.

The power to change your life and create what you would like to see in it is exactly that; power. Taking yourself out of thought and into action is where you create the change you want to see in your life. So give it a shot and see how it goes. The worst that could happen is you'll feel more relaxed :)

Thanks for hanging out with me today. Read or listen to the art challenge article and I'll see you in a couple weeks.
~Tanya