Your Saturday posts (and your Substack pages in general!) are one of the most precious highlights of my week! As we have been living between the UK and Brazil for the last 2 years, your posts, particularly this time of the year, connect me with the little delightful things that make life there a joy - including our yearly pilgrimage to Whitby during Feb half term, which continue long after kids went to uni!
It’s also a bridge between me and my daughter, who lives in London (she might visit your favourite art shop today!).
Love your work! Thanks for sharing. Are you a jk rowling fan/supporter? No disrespect, but if you are, I can’t continue a paid or any subscription. She hates trans people, and they are my kin. Given the Supreme Court ruling that just happened in the UK, along with what’s happening here in the US, casual mentions of her work make me feel sad, disappointed, and unwelcome. I know HP has lots of meaning and nostalgia for people…I get it…but I do have to ask, simply bc I can’t use my money to support transphobes. Thanks for your consideration.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing your perspective. I see Harry Potter as more as a magical world in its own right, quite separate from any views its author may hold. As a literature nerd, I am sharing my love of storytelling and crafting — not a statement about any wider issues. I hope this makes sense. I also wonder if HP is more of a symbol in the USA, I'll ask a few people. I'll certainly be more aware moving forward. I appreciate you reaching out with honesty, and I’m grateful that you’ve enjoyed my work and visual journals.
Thanks for writing back. As long as we can agree that trans people exist, are who they say they are, and deserve love, safety and dignity just like everyone else…then we’re all good. ❤️
I am fairly new to your Substack and love your style and approach so much. I have never used pastels and am wondering if they smudge easily, and if so, do you have any tricks for preventing that? I love the vibrant colors and would like to give them a try in my journals but am worried it might be a little too messy for me. Thanks very much! Stacia
Maybe consider having 2 sketchbooks- one to experiment and play in, to make a mess and learn how you like to make marks and learn your favourite colour combinations (think of it as a science experiment). And the 2nd sketchbook can have your journals , adding colour and textures little by little as you grow in confidence??
Do the pastel sticks create a lot of dust (I don't know why I keep thinking they are like using chalk - which is fun but can also smudge easily and create a lot of dust)... is there something that helps prevent pastel from smudging in journals? I do like the idea of having 2 sketchbooks for this experiment!
Your Saturday posts (and your Substack pages in general!) are one of the most precious highlights of my week! As we have been living between the UK and Brazil for the last 2 years, your posts, particularly this time of the year, connect me with the little delightful things that make life there a joy - including our yearly pilgrimage to Whitby during Feb half term, which continue long after kids went to uni!
It’s also a bridge between me and my daughter, who lives in London (she might visit your favourite art shop today!).
Much Love and Gratitude from Campinas-SP!
Love your work! Thanks for sharing. Are you a jk rowling fan/supporter? No disrespect, but if you are, I can’t continue a paid or any subscription. She hates trans people, and they are my kin. Given the Supreme Court ruling that just happened in the UK, along with what’s happening here in the US, casual mentions of her work make me feel sad, disappointed, and unwelcome. I know HP has lots of meaning and nostalgia for people…I get it…but I do have to ask, simply bc I can’t use my money to support transphobes. Thanks for your consideration.
Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing your perspective. I see Harry Potter as more as a magical world in its own right, quite separate from any views its author may hold. As a literature nerd, I am sharing my love of storytelling and crafting — not a statement about any wider issues. I hope this makes sense. I also wonder if HP is more of a symbol in the USA, I'll ask a few people. I'll certainly be more aware moving forward. I appreciate you reaching out with honesty, and I’m grateful that you’ve enjoyed my work and visual journals.
Thanks for writing back. As long as we can agree that trans people exist, are who they say they are, and deserve love, safety and dignity just like everyone else…then we’re all good. ❤️
❤️
I love your work! It’s so cheerful and I love the colors.
Hello Helen,
I am fairly new to your Substack and love your style and approach so much. I have never used pastels and am wondering if they smudge easily, and if so, do you have any tricks for preventing that? I love the vibrant colors and would like to give them a try in my journals but am worried it might be a little too messy for me. Thanks very much! Stacia
Maybe consider having 2 sketchbooks- one to experiment and play in, to make a mess and learn how you like to make marks and learn your favourite colour combinations (think of it as a science experiment). And the 2nd sketchbook can have your journals , adding colour and textures little by little as you grow in confidence??
Do the pastel sticks create a lot of dust (I don't know why I keep thinking they are like using chalk - which is fun but can also smudge easily and create a lot of dust)... is there something that helps prevent pastel from smudging in journals? I do like the idea of having 2 sketchbooks for this experiment!
The ones I used here are Neocolor II so they are wax and not dust.
Okay that explains it. Thank you!
Also I place a blank sheet in between my sheets
Thank you! That’s very helpful and I will try this.