On keeping the spark for you artistry, even when it's your job

You won't feel like showing up for your art every day, but that's most likely when you need it the most

Welcome to Follow Your Gut, a newsletter about the artist life and business from a mother of two. After soon a decade as an independent artist and writer, the question is not only how to do it, but how to continue to follow your gut in a world that tries its best to stuff it with fluff.

85% of new letters are free to read for 3 days, whereafter they go behind a paywall. If this is our first date, I warmly invite you to check out the free archive first. I’m Swedish after all, don’t want to be too pushy (just a loving nudge ❤️).

Hi there, how are you?

I’m feeling a bit low today. It’s fine, really. And I suppose I shouldn’t be writing. But truly, that’s the only thing that I think I need to be doing.

You see, I’ve come to realize, after about 8 years of independent artistry, that I won’t feel like it all the time. But that it’s on the days I least feel like it that I need it the most (for my own creative soul’s sake).

Isn’t that very counter-culture?

There’s an awareness, which by the way I think is a good thing, around how we must listen to ourselves more.

Rest more.

Stress less.

Chill.

For God’s sake, my entire publication is called Follow Your Gut!

It’s just that arts and writing have the effect of making me feel better. And it just so happens to be my job too.

But as soon as I start treating my art like a traditional job, as in not doing it on certain times or certain ways because “I shouldn’t be working here or now”, I enjoy it less.

I love my artworks most when I’m free to roam whenever and wherever it suits me.

Like scribbling notes while cleaning, or writing in the car as we’re driving somewhere with the family, or quickly adding some stitches to an embroidery while the kids are content for 5 minutes in the sandbox.

It’s everything but what a professional job should look like.

No office.

No set hours.

No structure.

But it works.

And shouldn’t it matter more what works than what doesn’t, regardless of whether it fits the mould or not?

When I treat my visual art and writing strictly as a job, I don’t necessarily feel energized when doing it. But when I keep it fun and healing, in a way that I know heals me (like this ramble), I feel eternally grateful that I also get to call this my work.

Thank you for reading and for being here! 🙏🏼

An example of how I keep my artistry fun:

I’ve been pondering on creating a physical art book FOR AGES. But the time just never seemed to appear.

I wasn’t able to push through and make the time either, which is otherwise a quite effective strategy to be sure you get closer to your goals.

This time, the idea had to sink, sit, simmer and mature. It’s been floating around in the background for several years, until suddenly the stars aligned.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel overwhelmed, as expected, but in a good way.

I feel the butterflies in my gut, which tells me that this is the perfect moment to jump.

Try it.

Explore what happens.

It also aligns with loads of other changes in my business, which tends to bring along this “whatever” energy; PERFECT for trying and daring new things, if you ask me.

Change can be a beautiful thing if we allow to lean into the uncertainty and to trust that our guts will lead the way.

Oh, on that note…

Change is another thing that tends to be exactly what we need, but don’t feel like doing.

And when we finally go for it, we cut the strings of limitations enabling our minds and spirits to be set free in the idea that anything can happen.

How LIBERATING!!

So what am I doing?

I’ve just set up my pre launch page on Kickstarter for the creation of a pocket-size art book called:

Travel The World Through The Eye Of A Needle

The book will be curated from the artworks on my Instagram (Petronella.Art), and serve as a physical translation of the 1000+ art posts (architectural hand embroidery) that I created over a period of several years.

I’ve hardly posted to Instagram for the past 4 years, and it has felt wrong to encourage people to follow me in a place I no longer want to be.

With the art book, you won’t need to bring me in the pocket through an app, but can grab a physical inspiring copy instead ✨

If you love the concept of a portable pocket-size art book with inspiring artworks and travel stories, I warmly invite you to come and follow the Kickstarter campaign.

Why follow the campaign if you’re already subscribed to this newsletter?

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform with an all or nothing approach, which is why it’s very important to have followers on the actual campaign to have a greater chance to reach funding within the campaign period (It will also tell me when the project is fully mature and I can ensure a greater chance that everyone who orders will get their copies 💖).

To follow the campaign comes with zero strings attached, it simply tells me that you’re very very interested 🥰

I will share more visual insights into the process over in the

Petronella.Art Magazine

and honest reflections on the campaign development and experience here on Follow Your Gut.

I have never done a Kickstarter campaign before so it’s a golden opportunity for all of us to learn in real time, this will be a fun ride 🎉.

Embroideries from Arcachon, Paris and Lisbon - In that order!

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Before leaving…

I’d love to hear you ponder on the prompt of “needing something when you least feel like it”.

• Do you do it (the thing you know you need but don’t feel like doing) anyway?

• Do you stop yourself from doing it (the thing you know you need but don’t feel like doing)?

• What impact does doing vs not doing have (in those moments of not feeling like it), on your overall relationship to your artistry?

Warmest wishes,

Elin xx