Hello Friends,
I am writing to you from Barcelona.
After reviewing several drafts of unsent Substack issues, many unrelated to art I decided to pause paid subscriptions. I’m considering returning to my journal and newsletter The Studio Chronicles.
When I lose steam I feel like I’m cheating people so it feels much better to stop billing and take my time.
I realized I’d fallen again into the trap of creating only to be swayed by the response. I don’t like that.
I haven’t been drawing much. I brought a tiny sketchbook, a few mixed-media sheets, and the Caran d’ache gouache set, but I don’t feel inspired. Hopefully, after visiting museums, galleries, and bookshops and taking long walks around the city, something will motivate me.
I archived all my IG posts at the beginning of the year and left the platform. I am now over here. It feels spacious and clean. No weight-loss ads, no Chinese marketplaces or dropshiping products and no time suck.
VSCO doesn’t have many social media features, although you can follow people if you register. My account is public, so there’s no need.
Unpopular Move
Unplugging from the news cycle feels like the new luxury and privilege. People who can disconnect and touch grass will feel like they won the lottery. I wrote about this in a previous issue.
The moderately good news is that things can change fast. People who rise quickly, fall quickly. I retired from reading the news but kept peeking into Bluesky and Substack’s notes feed. The torrent of hot takes and images of president musk was overwhelming.
I went to see the Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition at the MAPFRE Foundation. The photographs of course were lessons in composition, subject matter and mastery.
It was also proof that humanity will never, ever change. Some Cartier-Bresson’s images immediately bring to mind current genocides, economic crises and human cruelty.
I also re-watched two movies from the early 90s: Pump Up the Volume and Reality Bites. I recognized the disenchantment and innocence of youth from back then and immediately thought: the audience of those movies is now ruling the world.
But when you disconnect from infinite content, life almost seems normal, enjoyable and wonderous.
Let’s see. I’m sorry for being such a downer.
Thank you for reading.
Luisa
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p.p.s If you are old school I have a journal and I recommend Feedly’s RSS reader.
