Artists in Progress

Creating the environment to develop ourselves as artists and, therefore, developing all of our projects in the process.

Feb 23, 2025

The 35 minutes has begun. You can read all about the power of 35 minutes in last week’s letter here.

That’s the length of time that feels most supportive to my creative process. It’s short enough for you to feel like, “oh, it’s only 35 minutes”. But long enough for you to get hooked by your interests and hook, line and sinkered into 35 minutes of progress. I’m a little superstitious, or more scientifically (although don’t have the tests to prove, sorry) I know how my mind works, and therefore I wouldn’t want to jinx it - despite it being factually accurate - when I share that it has always worked for me every single time. Okay, some stints pass quickly or I get more things done but every single time, I have tricked my mind into seeing the clock as “the principle of my mind”. A discipline of sorts that it actually responds to. So maybe those excruciating school exam tests did serve a sort of purpose.

29 minutes.

Of course, now it seems as though I’ve found a new writing tool through the process of writing these posts. It has never failed and I will do my damndest to protect it.

I just realised that already this process of committing to a challenge (for me the consistency that writing these posts every week demands - which by the way is something that I SET MYSELF). Nobody is asking for these posts but I’m doing these posts for myself and for whoever might happen to come across these letters-of-sorts, and write with the intention to share what I’m overcoming in my own creative process (i.e. consistency…) and how working on yourself first leads to all of your other projects being watered too.

23 minutes remaining.

That’s a beautiful sentiment shared by Dr Christy Dena - an artist with a PhD in transmedia practice. I had the good fortune of meeting Christy on an artist’s retreat that she had masterfully co-created and orchestrated lifelong memories for all of us. A gathering of thinkers & doers working across a diversity of creative fields who came together for 4 days in a remote location (in our case, Kenya) and focus on sharing, making, experimenting and innovating - I think to have designed an event like this already reveals a lot about Christy's character. When we applied for our space on the retreat, we weren’t told where in the world we were meeting. So there was a trust required but a bloody big reward being prepared on the other side of any fear!

6 minutes remaining.

You see the 35 minutes is demonstrable. I’m not sure without my 35 minute timer if I’d have written with, I suppose an urgency. Time is running out. What starts as “urgh, 35 minutes” ends with “eeeek I only 35 minutes(!) please give me more time!”

4 minutes remaining.

As I’m writing, because the time is ticking, I am also more mindful about what I give myself permission to steer off course for. The opening was focused, led naturally to speaking about Christy after sharing what I’d learned as Christy’s who shared it with me but then I started thinking about the memories in Lamu! I googled Lamu, Kenya on the map to ensure if I referenced the sea then I would be accurate - decided against it because I didn’t want to spend too much time being distracted by photos and the map. I need to stay true to my objective: to write a blog post each week, which has now evolved into, within 35 minutes.

That’s time.

Woof. I rushed that last part but in general stayed on track and got to share another insight into what has been helping fuel me as a creative.

Have a great week and continue reading below for photos, quotes, a recipe from a chef in Lamu and a transcribed clip from my conversation with Christy.

Louise x

LKS : 04:11

Even the [application] process of thinking about which three practices or “acorns” I would, I would bring to this got me thinking about my own practice. It's like, if I'm going to choose three sessions of 20 minutes to share with people, what would those three sessions be and why am I specifically choosing it and for what purpose?

Christy Dena: Yes!

LKS: So it really got me thinking about that.

Christy Dena: Well, and yes, exactly. And that was the point is it's reflection on yourself, on your own practice. Anytime you have to communicate something, and we know this from working on our own project, even putting together a pitch every time you have to communicate it to someone and simplify it down, boil it down, you have to understand it more for yourself. That was the whole point of the whole residency, was that you're developing the artist and the artist community as opposed to their projects.

Christy Dena: 06:58

And in fact, if you invest all your time into enjoying the process, like where the process is actually the most important part, then it's actually, it sort of doesn't even matter. It undermines, you know, the outcome, and you've got more of a chance of creating something that you believe in, but at the same time, it doesn't matter if it sort of doesn't work. So I'm not saying this is a method for success. You know, it's like, yes, you'll definitely sell for millions via this, but when you do, you know, it's selling, you know, because it's something that's true. Rings true for you, and then [it’s a]…

LKS: …Real expression of you.

Christy Dena: Yeah, the point is to enjoy the process. And then with that, it's like, well, isn't it all about actually who you are as a creative and the thought processes and what you're bringing to the projects?

Listen to our full conversation here

Read Christy’s Field Notes from Earth here.

Christy is “a storymaker, educator, and researcher who is living and making for a more kind, just, and creative world.” She’s intelligent, wise and warm and I truly enjoyed getting to reconnect through our conversation together on my series, “What does it mean to be An Artist?” You can listen to all episodes here.

A page from our zine that we collectively contributed to throughout the time we spent together. This recipe above came from our very generous and talented chefs who were excited to share some of the magic behind their cooking.

My other contribution to the group zine. Written in 2018. I wonder what prompted me to write about that? I wonder if any of the group can remember what those prompts for us were.

My third contribution. Wow, this one surprised me as I had completely forgotten about drawing this. I, again, can’t remember the prompt but judging by my choice of focus, I would hazard a guess that maybe it might have been around something that might be holding us back or has been a challenge for us. Because that urine sample is the bane of my childhood/young adulthood with an ongoing illness that would humble me into realising how short a life we have on Planet Earth - and to make the most out of our healthy days. (I’m thankfully manageable now but oh the time spent within hospital walls).

And final share, here are some unedited phone images from Lamu Island. It’s so nice to get to share them with you!