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Artist Dates as Resistance: Why Random Matters More Than Ever

jane lindsey

At the end of last year, someone mentioned The Artist’s Way in one of our Studio Bee gatherings. Lots of members had done it years ago - found it useful, then somehow let it fall away. The practice they remembered most was artist dates: weekly solo outings to feed your creative self.

We decided to pick it up in The Studio, sharing our artist dates in the forum each month. And as I started taking them myself, I realised they matter even more now than they did when Julia Cameron first wrote about them in 1992.

We’re being spoon fed by algorithms. Pinterest shows us more of what we click. Audible recommends books based on what we’ve already read. Instagram feeds us the same aesthetic over and over. And AI is making this worse, not better - it’s just scooping from an increasingly limited pool.

If we want to think original thoughts, make unexpected connections, see beyond the safe playpen the algorithm builds around us, we need to step into analog randomness. Deliberately.

In this week’s Friday Film, I share three artist dates I took - a museum visit, an old graveyard, a dusty antique shop - and what each one taught me about thinking outside the algorithm’s reach.

This isn’t about self-care. It’s about resistance.

Relax into the weekend with my Friday Letters delivered straight to your inbox.

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Tags: slow living

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Genevieve Jackman

I only joined your wonderful community in January so very new and still finding my way ~ this has reminded me that I still have 'The Artists Way' and joined a lovely group many moons ago where we met each week and followed the guidance of this and I had forgotten ! I rushed upstairs and found the box where I though it was had the book still and I have so am going to look through it again and although then I didn't always remember the weekly artists date I will now try and reinstate it and hopefully find some interesting things to do and will also try and write the 3 pages which will be really helpful ~ its been a tough couple of years and we are hoping to sell and downsize and have lots of things in boxes! I was up this morning at 6am not able to sleep and switch off thoughts so following the artists way again hopefully will give me some gentle guidance and joy ~ very thought provoking episode thankyou so much ! warm wishes Genevieve

Louise White

Hello Jane, The letter for today was very uplifting and fun. have done The Artists Way three times. My memoirs and people I met are quite special. The journaling is a very essential part of being mindful about the day ahead of you. I think this week I will look for colors and photograph them. I am not sure where I will go or where I will find these colors but that is the joy of the journey. Peace and happiness to you, Louise

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