It’s time for my first monthly Q&A! Sorry if the audio’s a little shaky in some places, still getting used to my new wireless mic. 🙄

Here are the questions I’m answering in this one:

00:58 - “If you’re just getting started with Substack as an artist, and have no current following, where would you start?”

03:02 - “Why did you stop the podcast?”

07:55 - "I know you have been back and forth between using Substack, or a blog on your own website and a newsletter and would love to have your insights."

13:32 - "Could you share if you have a spiritual practice, like meditation? Or how have you developed and strengthen your calm attitude to life?"

17:42 - "Do you mostly create your art at home in the studio or also sometimes outdoors? Since you mainly paint birds and other wildlife, I was wondering if you ever draw or paint outside in nature itself and how that differs for you from creating in the studio (differences in mindset, approach, techniques, etc)."

20:58 - "How do you mentally re-engage in creative process when noise and chaos of life/world feels like too much too muchness?"

23:49 - "I've seen how you practice by sketching but how long in a typical day do you sketch for? Also do you complete an artwork in one day or keep coming back to it?"

Things mentioned:

My podcast

Darren Woodhead on YouTube

Beyond Anxiety by Martha Beck

My real-time sketching videos on YouTube

Thank you to everyone who left me questions! 🙏🏻

And if you didn’t get the opportunity this month, stay tuned for next month’s Q&A invitation. Everyone will be able to send in questions, but paying subscribers will get priority focus if I can’t respond to all of them.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit louisestigell.substack.com