Unfurling: A (Digital) Creative Retreat for Spring
A special five-day seasonal series of creative prompts and reflections, April 3-7, 2024.
UPDATE: Take part in the UNFURLING series here.
If you’re a regular reader of Creative Fuel, then you know that I like to treat creativity through a seasonal lens. We ebb and flow in our creative process, and we all move through different creative seasons. While the seasons of the natural world don’t always align with our own creative seasons (sometimes I feel like I can cycle through a creative winter, spring, summer, and fall all within a 48 hour period), I do think that the seasonal transitions in the natural world are an excellent time to do some checking in with our creative selves.
Last year I did a 5-day digital creative retreat around the summer solstice, and you may have been here for the longer, 24 Days of Making, Doing, and Being series in December that honors the shift into winter. Since we celebrated the vernal equinox this week, I figured I would put together a spring edition.
UNFURLING: A (Digital) Creative Retreat for Spring
Consider this a seasonal creative reset. A little moment to take stock, to do some thinking about what seeds you want to be planting, and how you’ll grow into this new season.
I know that for me, the early days of spring are sometimes some of the more difficult ones creatively speaking. This year in particular I am feeling that more than ever. I am certain that I am not alone in feeling the weight of outer and inner worlds.
I wrote about this last year at spring equinox—if we’ve been a little dormant, we need time to wake back up. We need to gently unfurl. And so, that’s what we’re going to do in UNFURLING.
This series will run from April 3 to 7, 2024. You’ll get one newsletter a day, each one with a little prompt or reflection. These will all be geared at easing into spring and taking inspiration from the season to apply towards our creative practice.
Not just on your screen…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the cost of our digital lives, and how to figure out ways to encourage more analog connection. Of course, my own livelihood is very dependent on the internet, but I still like to find workarounds when possible, so I am adding an analog component.
In an attempt to encourage getting off the computer/screen, I’ll be making a printable PDF component for every day of this series.
I know that means you need a printer, and not everyone does… but if you do, I want this to be an option that feels a little fun and different. As if I was hand-shipping you creative inspiration, but a little bit easier. Something you print and take into the outside world with you, no screen necessary.
UNFURLING: A (Digital) Creative Retreat for Spring
WHAT: A 5-day series which includes a daily newsletter, each one with a little prompt or seasonal reflection. These will all be geared at easing into spring and taking inspiration from the season to apply towards our creative practice.
WHERE: In whatever creative corner or space you have available to you, from sun dappled kitchen tables, to an outdoor chair on a blustery spring day in a wool sweater. Which is to say, you can do this wherever you want.
WHEN: April 3-7, 2024
HOW: UNFURLING will be available to paid subscribers.
What do you need?
Mostly just a pocket of time. How much is up to you. 5 minutes? 15 minutes? Half an hour? You get to decide, but see if you can carve out a little space for these five days. Make a ritual out of it. I recently read about the concept of “habit stacking,” where you attach something that you want to get in the habit of doing to a habit that you already have. Personally, I think morning coffee is a very good place to start—if you’re going to be drinking morning coffee, you might as well bring your notebook/sketchbook along.
Where should you do this?
Any physical space that feels conducive to pondering and creating. That could be at the kitchen table, the couch, at your desk, or even a park bench.
What about supplies?
A notebook or sketchbook will do, as will assorted scraps of paper. This is mostly a space for reflection, plotting, and planning, but hopefully you’ll be inspired to take this in whatever direction, with whatever medium you like. Hello: spring color palettes!
Will there be art?
Yes, of course. Always.
What if I miss a day?
While this is a self-imposed retreat, there are no expectations to this series, and there are certainly no “shoulds.” You do this however you would like to.
Do I need to be an artist?
The ethos of Creative Fuel is that we are all creative, so I’d say that as long as you’re human and interested in the creative process, you’re good to go.
How do I sign up?
This is an offering for paid subscribers. I am so grateful to all of you for helping to bring this newsletter and series like this to life. If you want to take part in UNFURLING please be sure to update your subscription.
If you are experiencing any kind of economic hardship and want to take part in UNFURLING, send an email to hello@creativefuelcollective.com and I’ll sign you up no questions asked. If you want to help support this offering, you can also donate a subscription. And yes, you can gift one to a friend!
I’m looking forward to doing this series with you, and I hope that you consider taking part.
-Anna
Do you enjoy Creative Fuel? You can support this work by becoming a paid subscriber. You can also order something in my shop, attend one of my workshops or retreats, or buy one of my books. Or simply share this newsletter with a friend!
That trillium paper cut backlit by the forest-filtered sun is absolutely magnificent. What a gift!
Amazing synchronicity: having just put my kids to bed, and having seen this in my inbox earlier but not wanting to get on my phone, I said to myself, “I wish I could subscribe to my substacks in print form.” And here you are, offering me a tangible, printable activity! Yay! What a lovely workaround. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be in a state park with my family for a few of those days. 💚
The fern grabbed me and the retreat description upgraded me. Excited for it🌿