CreativeMornings - 💘 If you make people feel something

March 23, 2023

“People will forgive a lot if you make them feel something.”

Ana Stretcu wasn’t sure how her Romanian heritage fed into her work — as an illustrator, her drawing style leaned more modern than Romanian-folk. But she began to investigate her cultural identity when she immigrated to the Netherlands. Associations popped up, from an elaborate woolen thinking cap she puts on for creative blocks, to her mother’s whimsical stories about barging into neighbors’ homes as a child.

Stretcu realized that even if her illustrations didn’t feature traditional Romanian costumes or mythic beasts, she was creating works that struck an emotional chord with her audience. And that chord connects her to the line of entrepreneurs in her family with dreams bigger than themselves. Watch Ana Stretcu’s amusing talk for CreativeMornings/Rotterdam and notice when the ordinary becomes extraordinary and (eventually) tradition.

🎨 Your responses to “The artist who couldn’t draw”

Last week, we asked what you might do to make creativity a part of your everyday life! Here’s what you said:

I already use a bullet journal every day. My magic marker is taking the time every morning to doodle a cute little header. It's simple. It's low-stakes. And it brings me joy. — Heather

Thanks for this. It was exactly the inspiration I needed. I've been noodling with drawing and have had many of the same obstacles. I'll start drawing something, anything, today. — Richard

Thanks for being a joyful, inspired part of our creative community! As always, we love to hear if something we shared in the newsletter moves you. Just hit reply 😉 .

Fun Stuff to Click On
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🐉 FEATURED FIELDTRIP: How to slay your creative dragons

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy discusses a mesmerizing soundscape he created with his sons Spencer and Sammy.*

Six rules of unselfish listening.

How this short animated film captures the impossible terror of floating away.**

Project visibility is critical, but often tricky to master. Here’s how to keep everyone on the same page.*

This violin doctor repairs some of the world’s most fabled — and expensive — instruments.

If you had to make a mixtape for your hometown, what would it sound like?

Watch this watercolor orange to slow down your breath.**

What we learn about creative careers sets us up to fail.

The breakup couch is a rite of passage.

Bees teach their babies how to dance.

Why AI can’t draw hands.

* This content is curated by us, brought to you by our sponsors.
**Thanks to Robin Sloan and Volta Voloshin-Smith for the link inspiration.

A live Pop-Up Magazine performance in a dark auditorium

Pop-Up Magazine: One More Time

The Farewell Tour

We are so sad to say goodbye to one of our favorite live experiences, Pop-Up Magazine. Imagine a comedy show, podcast, play, and film — all wrapped up in one night, backed by Magik*Magik Orchestra's live performance. For the very last time, this unforgettable multimedia experience will take the stage in three cities, featuring some favorite stories from over the years.

Sunday 4/30: Paramount Theatre (Oakland)
Tuesday 5/2: Theatre at the Ace Hotel (Los Angeles)
Thursday 5/4: BAM Opera House (Brooklyn)

Come celebrate with us and say farewell. Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, March 28, and CreativeMornings readers can get $10 off with the code PARTNER.

CreativeGuild Spotlights
A global directory of creative companies and individuals.

A desktop monitor with hand-lettered "Carolyn Sewell" across the screen with a mural wall backdrop

Carolyn Sewell is a designer/illustrator/letterer living in Northern Virginia. A potty-mouthed lover of all things typographic and bacon-y, her work is hand-lettered and deep-fried in butter and hugs, topped with shiny, irreverent sprinkles. Check out her work for Chicago Magazine.

An assemblage of signs by homeless people asking for help from the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS installation at CentralTrak Gallery

The WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project buys and collects homeless signs from people on the street. These signs are used in art to change the conversation about homelessness. View the installation at CentralTrak Gallery in Dallas, TX.

Cool Jobs in Our Universe
Hiring? Looking for work? Check out the CreativeGuild.

M+R is on the search for a remote Senior Motion Graphics Designer to join their Advertising Area.

Mailchimp is hiring a Web Marketing Manager in Atlanta or New York to lead innovation and optimization of our global website for customer acquisition.

Netflix is on the hunt for a remote Creative Director to imagine, develop, implement, and drive understanding of the gaming project’s design.

Asana in Dublin is looking for a User Operations Specialist, German to help customers with questions, feature requests, and bug reports.

Who Gives A Crap in Los Angeles is hiring an Email Marketing Manager to play a key role in their continued focus on new customer growth and retention (remote-friendly).

Animated colorful kaleidoscope of spring floral colors drawn with colored pencil

In the time that I made this newsletter, spring has sprung in the northern hemisphere! My eyes are popping with the kaleidoscope of colors emerging everywhere.

🌷 Waving,
Annie Yi, CreativeMornings HQ

GIF by @jamesthacher