Creative Recommendations for October
What I'm reading, listening to, and making art with!
Hi friends,
It’s time for my Creative Recommendations for October! These are just for my lovely ~patrons~ aka my paying subscribers.
Each month, I curate my favorite things I’ve been reading, learning, and making art with. If you want to upgrade to get these 1x/month, you would make my day!
Reading
I read Maybe an Artist by Liz Montague, a graphic memoir by the first Black female cartoonist to be published in the New Yorker (and when she was just 22 years old). It’s a coming-of-age story about her deciding to become an artist. It made me think of how much I loved art class growing up but never thought I could pursue a creative career.
She does an incredible job of illustrating tough topics like 9/11, climate change, and her dyslexia. It’s heart-warming, funny, and I would highly recommend it. Read here.
Here’s a New Yorker cartoon she did for the last election cycle. Listen to the universe on this one! I just voting early this morning ✅
Here are 4 resources to get the vote with our last 4 days before the election:
Dave Margulius guide to Working on a Swing State. Info here.
Environmental Voter Project: Call inactive environmentalists and transform them into consistent voters. Info here.
Climate Changemakers: Phone banks boost turnout for climate candidates in competitive states and districts. Info here.
How to Make Calls for Harris in 30 minutes or less. Info here.
Learning
I’ve been learning how to paint landscapes and nature for a new, secret project I’m working on! To practice, I started a mini series showing the beauty of clean energy solutions. I’ve painted heat pumps with flowers and solar panels with trees. Up next, I’ll be painting induction stoves cooking mac and cheese.
Here are a few Youtube and Skillshare classes I’ve taken:
Creating Depth and Texture: Watercolor Lavender Landscape Tutorial
Paint a River in Summer | Watercolor Masterclass | creeks, brooks, streams and trees
No More Flat Paintings: Master Value and Contrast in Watercolor
Listening to
I’m in my first book club and this month we’re reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchet. I’m listening to the audiobook because it’s narrated by Meryl Streep. What’s not to love about 11 hours of Meryl whispering in my ear! Listen here.
This made me want to share some of my other favorite audiobooks:
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: This was one of my favorite reads during the pandemic. It’s written by the author of The Martian and a very endearing sci-fi book.
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara: the mindset of how to delight customers in the hospitality world. It’s told by the co-owner of Eleven Madison Park and tells the story of how they transformed it into the Michelin star restaurant it is today
Making Art With
Thumbnail worksheets. I’m taking a class at the School of Visual Arts about How to Make Children’s Books. I’m having an amazing time and it’s pushing me so much creatively. I officially have my very first draft of a children’s book about agrivoltaics! It’s about sheep on a strawberry farm that gets solar panels.