Are creatives what they consume?
if you ever felt the media you’re consuming is lackluster, it’s probably because it is
Dear reader,
There’s an eternal struggle to balance creativity and consumption. Or, this is what Google will have you believe if you search, “Are creatives what they consume?”
Are we doing ok?
The prescribed advice says to slow consumption way down. Create a better content diet. Put boundaries around when you’re consuming.
Life is hard. It’s busy. You’re tired. I am tired.
And consumption is an escape. A place to indulge the senses.
I think it is important — essential — for creatives to consume. Immersive moments create things you can relate to. They stimulate sensory awareness, reduce anxiety, and regulate emotion. It’s here that you can find more personal significance. More understanding of who you are. How you see things. And how you want to express them.
The irony is that where you go to consume is making life even harder. It’s challenging basic cognitive function. Reducing attention. Making you unmotivated. And offering surface-level thoughts and ideas.
This year, I started doing all I could to reduce stress and find myself in a healthier body. I needed to do something about mindless consumption. And start doing more to curate immersive moments.
So I started journaling. And drawing in my journal. I began reading physical books. And cutting my favorite things out of magazines. I pinned images to real corkboards. And read more articles and essays instead of scrolling. I am doing full-body stretches. Closing my eyes. Listening to the night rain. Mediating. Breathing.
I realized that because I am an artist, my art can be an immersive moment. So, I began creating flyers to send to my friends. And when I offered a free one to my email list, and more than one person wanted one, I realized we all feel the same. We’re all looking for more immersive moments to consume. Because where we go to consume is en masse. We’re craving diverse perspectives. Original thought. Something we can actually hold. And form a personal resonance with.
Create more immersive moments for yourself. Invest in more intentional content. These artifacts become a wholesome part of our becoming. They build personal significance. So we have meaning. Individual thought. Ideas. Inspiration. Creativity.
My small idea to share my flyer is now a whole Flyer Club! It’s a destination to invest in more physical experiences. To participate in anticipation, delight, and possibility again. A place to feel the power of printed design. And a true spark from tactile inspiration. I am mailing the first flyer in June!
Warmly,
Lauren
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If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting—I’m Lauren Sauder, an artist, writer, and mentor. If you enjoyed this post, here are a few ways you can connect with me:
Join Flyer Club—a quarterly print delivery that delights people craving more tactile inspiration
Download the Artist Mixtape—a mix of books, playlists, and residencies to provide inspiration and company in the studio.
Receive letters from me—bi-weekly letters from me about what I’m working through in my creative practice and life.
Get in touch with me directly—send an email to laurensauderstudio@gmail.com.