When the world gets weird... create something
Weekly Roundup - Week 5 2025
Well, it’s been a week full of bizarre news headlines, none of which I’m going to mention here. Though, in class this week we did have a good discussion about whether or not artists and writers should be weighing in on politics and world affairs. For the moment, I am restraining myself. Instead, here’s a quick review of the fun things I’ve been up to this week.
Thriller Update
We are making progress! Every week we (
and I) meet for a couple of hours on ZOOM and write together. Sometimes, I need to stop and do some research - this week it was to see what Ecstasy tablets look like… some shenanigans are about to take place at a nightclub. One of our main characters is being tormented by some anonymous emails and another is about to make a very poor life decision. Heh. Heh. Heh. It’s a LOT of fun putting our poor people through the wringer.What I’m Reading
Justine by Gerald Durrell
Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin
Alpine Rising by Bernadette McDonald
Rising by Sharon Wood
The first two are for school and the second two because I interviewed Sharon and Bernadette for the most recent Fireside Chat at the Canmore Public Library last night. This series has been a LOT of fun. We live in a valley full of talented creative-types and through this series of conversations we’re getting to know some of them a little better.
Biggest Challenge
Fitting it all in. Sigh. It will come as no surprise to anyone who has known me for more than five minutes that I usually have a lot going on. Well, now is no exception.
Greatest Joy
Stepping outside and sucking in a lungful of clear, fresh mountain air. Which is another way of saying that being alive and able to step outside is a gift for which I am grateful every day.
Random Fact
A group of sea otters is called a raft.
A group of otters on land is called a romp.
Daily Drawing Challenge
Missed one of the daily drawing exchanges? Click on the days in bold below and that should take you to the relevant post. Sarah and I have been diligent in our efforts to create at least one drawing a day each. If you are interested in following along, you can see not only what we are trying to learn in the drawing department, but also read over our shoulders as we exchange emails each day. Note that we are no longer sending out an email to all our subscribers each day (that was a bit much) - this weekly summary newsletter provides the links if you didn’t log into Substack every day to see what we have been up to.
Day 29
Day 30
Day 31
Day 32
Day 33
Day 34
Day 36
Hm… not sure what I’ve done to the numbering of the daily drawings! It’s too late this evening to go back and figure out where I went wrong…
Sigh. It is all I can do to NOT COMMENT on what is going on out there in the real world. Should I feel guilty for not throwing my useless two cents into the proverbial pot? Am I abdicating my responsibilities by not formulating a serious critical essay? Or are you secretly relieved that you have found a corner of the world where we debate the merits of softer vs harder pencils? Shading vs stippling? Colour or black and white?
Love those patchwork pieces! As creatives, I don’t think we can create without being influenced by the (chaotic) world around us - I know it definitely creeps into my work. Austin Kleon tells readers not to read the news as they wake, and I think that’s a pretty good rule to live by!
My world does not involve pencils, shading or stippling( whatever the hell that is) but my world is "colored " with musical notes. Each note I play swells my heart and soul. Music helps me find the beauty in life when it is hard to find. I am glad we both have something that fulfills us...