The Artist's Almanac
A self taught artist's guide to nurturing a creative practice
A skilled farmer knows they are in communion with their soil; they do not try to dominate it. They know that they are as small as the microbes in their tiny plot of earth beneath the cycles of the moon. They know that to disrupt these cycles will only produce dry, brittle soil.
A skilled artist would have the same wisdom. The creative process works under the command of the same cycles. There is putrefaction, the breaking down of material, followed by periods of germination and growth. Then things mature, flower, and ripen. Then we harvest. This is the way of life.
We’ve grown to believe we can skip to the harvest. We think we can rush to the finish line—the posting of the image, song, or essay that will finally go viral. Even if it does go viral, we will feel dissatisfied. That thing we posted, though sparkly and full of interesting ideas, was not given the time it deserved to mature.
In the education of an artist, much attention is given to technical ability, but little to the tempering of the artist’s spirit. At the most prestigious art schools, artists are taught to render, mix colors, and compose an image. Rarely are students taught how to work within their creative cycles, develop an artist’s sense of presence, or a method to grow a concept from a flash of inspiration into a body of work.
What is The Artist’s Almanac?
This space within The Patchwork Principle is dedicated to navigating the ebb and flow of creative cycles. It serves as both a practical guide and a companion for artists who feel lost in their pursuits—offering insight, structure, and reassurance through the natural rhythms of making.
This page will serve as a directory for the almanac. I plan to use this space for book recommendations, creative prompts, seasonal reflections, and practical insights on developing and keeping a creative practice. Please let me know if there’s any specific topic you’d like for me to cover!
I’ve organized earlier pieces into the four cycles, below. While every artist’s cycles look different, I believe these four cycles are universal. Where are you on the continuum today?
Putrefaction
This is the first and longest of the creative cycles. It involves the most discomfort, but it must be endured to become our own artist. Is there a way we could make being a beginner fun?
Essays under putrefaction will explore themes of deconstructing artistic identity, embracing failure, and shedding societal expectations to make room for authentic, transformative expression. They would also delve into the liberation found in releasing the need for perfection, challenging cultural norms, and reclaiming sincerity in the creative process.
This piece argues for the intrinsic value of making art without the need for recognition, skill, or external validation. It champions creativity as a means of preserving ordinary life, resisting consumer culture, and cultivating freedom through play. Within the almanac, it serves as both encouragement and permission—reminding artists that obscurity is a gift, imperfection is essential, and everyday experience is more worthy of artistic attention than anything manufactured for mass appeal.
In this post, I explore the tension between sincerity and commercialization in the art world, reflecting on how external pressures and the commodification of creativity stifle authentic artistic expression. I delve into the necessity of embracing truth in art, even when faced with skepticism or industry constraints. Through a personal lens and the example of Joan Brown’s unapologetic sincerity, I call for a return to the simplicity and power of creating art that tells our genuine stories, no matter how ordinary they may seem.
Germination
The seeds you planted are starting to sprout. At this stage, you’ve identified the themes and influences that inspire you, but they need to be nurtured before they become your own.
Essays under germination will focus on the early stages of creative growth, where seeds of ideas are planted and nurtured. These writings explore the exciting but uncertain beginnings of a creative journey, embracing curiosity, intuition, and the initial signs of life that emerge from personal reflection and experimentation.
This piece explores the act of drawing as a practice of presence, using the author’s partner, David, as both subject and metaphor for contemplation. It examines how artistic observation transcends mere likeness, instead becoming a meditation on thought, attention, and connection—both with the subject and with oneself. Within the almanac, it serves as a reflection on artistic devotion, urging creators to focus on the everyday and embrace deep presence as an antidote to distraction.
This piece explores the impact of digital culture on creativity, arguing that reclaiming our attention is essential for meaningful artistic engagement. Through personal anecdotes and museum visits, it contrasts passive image consumption with the deep, immersive act of truly seeing art. Within the almanac, it serves as a guide to cultivating presence, resisting algorithmic control, and rediscovering the value of everyday reality.
Maturation & Flowering
You are coming into your own, finally seeing the fruits of your labor!
Essays under maturation and flowering will celebrate the unfolding of fully realized creative ideas, where confidence and clarity emerge after periods of growth and exploration. These writings focus on the artist’s deepening understanding of their own voice, embracing the fullness of their creative expression while maintaining a sense of play and authenticity.
Like a plant reaching its full potential, I'm starting to embrace my unique voice and letting go of the need for external validation. Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, I’m learning to trust the process, focusing on self-love and playful experimentation as I grow into a more liberated and intuitive approach to my art.
The Harvest!
I’m not sure if I’ve made it to this stage yet or not. In away, this post was a harvest of all of my previous work. It allowed me to see how my writing about my creative work has existed within cycles, whether I knew it at the time or not.
I do not have anything to put here yet, but I hope to soon. :)
Your writing is exquisite... It's resonating with me deeply. I am new to this platform and considering sharing here. And I am in owe that I was able to find so much treasure in two days.
For what it's worth, I really love your paintings (as well as writings). I do think you have an idiosyncratic, well-developed 'voice' in your work. Maybe harvest can be more like picking a cherry tomato or a blackberry off the bush every time you go past