Source of Inspiration

From June for a creative indulgence

Hey there! I've been keen to share inspiring posts and discoveries from creative goodness on Substack for some time now, and today's the day! I've curated a collection of June's creative finds that caught my eye and that I have saved along the way—featuring travel sketchbooks, reads, and plenty of inspiration to fill your days with joy.

So I’m thinking of this as a creative roundup in support of fellow artists, thinkers, makers, and creatives from diverse disciplines. I know I have missed some incredible articles, but hopefully, you can help me, and share some below.

Enjoy this issue!

Sunday creative space during the June weekend Rose Challenge.

Let me start with three magical moments from Substack last week!

1. I received this private message from

   Christin Thieme
   : Susan! Thank you so much for being part of the summit! ⚡️ And congratulations! You WON the bonus prize of a set of
   Lucy Werner
   ’s best-selling books—”Hype Yourself” and “Brand Yourself”—and a pack of her 52 PR Tips prompt cards. 🎁

2. I won a scholarship — Congratulations! You've earned a scholarship to join the Substack Campfire's 4-week Note Writing challenge, starting July 8. Created by

   Michael Simmons
   and
   Tom Kuegler
   .

3. I received a beautiful message from the lovely,

   Kaitlyn Ramsay
   , sharing her painting of a rose from the last weekend of June: Day 1: Get loose with Roses & Day 2: Follow your intuition.

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SKETCHBOOKS TRAVELS

Preparing for our big summer road trip has me looking forward to seeing more sketchbooks from travels or out in nature. Gathering ideas along the way, here are the June finds. Did I miss any that you'd like to share?

Sketchbook pages from Samantha Dion Baker.

• Over time I’ve been following

  Samantha Dion Baker
  I admire how she consistently shares her sketchbook with us.

“My philosophy is to bring what you love and what you know you will use…”

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Carolyn Yoo sketchbook pages from Tokyo

• Such a fun sketchbook from Japan travels by

  Carolyn Yoo
  .

“I’m reminding myself there’s no right or wrong way to sketchbook. Any time, place, or method you want to use to play in your sketchbook is fully up to you, so have fun with it!”

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Watercolour urban sketching by Paul Wang

• I only just discovered

  Paul Wang
  substack and have become a fan of his sketch and how he uses his colour with watercolour.

I am always on a lookout for messy things/spaces in my own backyard and more so when I travel.

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• Beautiful Sketchbook tour by

  Nino van Vuuren
  from the Netherlands.

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June round-up by Melanie Chadwick from Seasalt & Sepertine.

• Lovely wildflower sketches, video diary and sketches By Melanie Chadwick from the UK. Also, her YouTube videos are so inspiring to follow.

ART READS

• How Three Letters -Ish can change your mindset and pressure of creating, a must-read by

  Aimee Guest

• Making art without trying, I find

  Rebecca Holden
  ’s writing is beautifully expressed and so much joy to read.

• Summer Newsletter is so inspiring to read, get updates and see the spread of

  Helen C Stark
  beautiful art.

• If you enjoy looking at artists’ creative process, A Glimpse Into My Creative Week by

  juliette crane
  .

• New paint to explore, Unboxing of Deep Deep Light Watercolours by

  Emma Carpendale
  .

• Gorgeous sketches, Monthly update from the studio with

  La Scarlatte

• The “coloured square lady” — Embracing Awkward by

  a handmade garden

CREATIVE FINDS

• Calling all creative, whatever your medium ‘A Festival of Creativity by

  Emily Charlotte Powell

• Recently discovered

  Kimbra’s Substack
  Beautiful poem, You Are Enough

• Podcast interview with the amazing

  Jeannine Ouellette
  by
  Evelyn Skye
  , on how paying attention to everyday life helps make creativity more easily accessible.

• Good stuff from June by Introvert Drawing Club with

  Beth Spencer

• Something to discover more about Mindful Bookbinding by

  Zoe Gardiner

• Victoria Smith, SFGirl Says Farewell was the first blogger I ever discovered, and has been a steady source of inspiration throughout my blogging journey.

• A conversation with artist Lindsay Gardner on creative process by

  Anna Brones
  .

  

  Lindsay’s studio space, article by Creative Fuel

NOTES INSPIRATION

SFGirlByBay

— Whenever I think of an inspiring blogger, Victoria always comes to mind. She will be missed!

Natalie Eslick

— Beautiful weekly drawings of wild animals.

Charlotte Durance

— Encouraging me to explore sketching people at the beach.

Tuğba Avci

— Love here Notes to Self

Lisa.Illustration

— Yes, to more wildflowers.

Elin Petronella

— I love my notes filled with daily inspiration from Elin!

Creative Challenges in July

• 31-day journalling challenge. Create the life you want in the next 6 months with

  Suzy Walker
  .

• Journal through July for change and growth, plus receive daily prompts with

  Tanya Lynch
  .

• 30 Prints - 30 Days. Every day, for 30 days, a new print will go ‘live’ by illustrated by

  Catherine Rayner
  .

• Join the fun at our next weekend's summer challenge: July 27th & 28th!

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Catch up on last weekend's Roses challenge:

Weekend Flower Challenge: Day 1

Weekend Flower Challenge: Day 2