Discover more from Play is the Opposite of Survival Mode
I wanted to make you new art. Something about how I’m feeling afraid and frozen when I want to feel angry or ready or wise. Or my desire to go inside myself taut with the desire to get us all to safety. How it feels like the world is changing, while it feels like it’s staying exactly the same.
Instead, I just stare out the window. I have a stomach ache. I rewrite yesterday’s to do list under today’s date. I focus on a pain I have in my foot that seems to have come from no where. Danielle found me this morning and said I’m putting too much pressure on myself. I can see that. We were planning to release new art and stickers and notebooks this week, but it feels insurmountable.
I know that this is not the time to stop being an artist or to withhold art. A few people wrote me letters this week to say my art is getting them through, and these surprised and touched me. And of course they weren’t talking about new art that I made for this moment, but art that I already hold.
Art I made about grief before is now a gift to my grieving self. I am understanding this in a new way.
So, I hope it’s okay to keep sharing these ones for now, until my creative self can restore a bit. I picked out a few that feel resonant to me. Do any of them connect with you?
One thing that felt really good was our live art hang out on Wednesday. I was thinking we should do that again, maybe next week. Would you want to come?
I love you.
- brit
🌱 News
In normal years we would have released our big pre-holiday collection of new art, stickers, notebooks, calendars, etc. this week, but I’m pushing it back a bit for now. I think next week?
We do have everything ready to go here in the studio, and each item is in limited quantity. As usual, first dibs will go to members. If you’d like early access to this year’s drop (it will be in the member shop) you can become a supporter here on Substack, or join us on Patreon.
Thanks for being part of keeping our community going as we move into the future 🌱
Subscribe to Play is the Opposite of Survival Mode
art & writing about learning to love this life, for you, by brit
"Or my desire to go inside myself taut with the desire to get us all to safety. How it feels like the world is changing, while it feels like it’s staying exactly the same." This is how I've been feeling, too, but I haven't been able to put it into words. Thank you for articulating it so beautifully!
Your art always resonates so deeply. The before and after with dangerous and safe people hits hard, and the another day with crisis and peace.
I would LOVE to participate in art making! That time won’t always work for me but I’d love to join at some point!