Good morning Reader!

Here's some Monday morning help for your creative journey.

Insights

Even the most accomplished artists battle on a daily basis with things we can't even imagine.

When Melissa was faced with a dilemma, her only concern was being able to continue working, not whether it was sensible, or made sense, or whether people thought she was crazy!

“ "I often try to portray the essence of an area, sounds a bit pretentious but..." — Melissa Scott-Miller | Cityscape artist

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True creative freedom is born from the sacrifice of money. Prioritising the time to make over what might make money.

Having said that, in her reflection interview, she talks about how selfish that is, and how much sacrifice it comes with in all her other life concerns.

Melissa has previously sold her latest painting for 'whatever I needed at the time'.

The assumption, from our own internal perspective, is that we will be judged and labelled the fool. Melissa is an incredible example of how this is only a problem if you let it become one.

As our first ever contributor, she serves us as the starting motivation for what has eventually become the Flowspire idea.

New content

Makers - Backs of Houses

We are delighted to share our first film trailer - Backs of Houses.

From a young age, Melissa Scott-Miller has found fascination and inspiration in the view from the window. To some, an environment might lose its wonder over time, but to Melissa, it’s an ever-changing landscape of nature, people and emotion.

She talks about finding joy in limitations, the healing found in the process, and why painting the ‘backs of houses’ will always feel like home.

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Backs of Houses will be published on YouTube on 18th August and we have many more Makers films on the way...

Characters

Ben, our junior videographer, is currently hard at work editing the first season of our podcast.

The first full season of Characters is scheduled to go live on Flowspire+ on 5th September, with the first episode launching on Youtube the same day.

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Answers

You may have seen our Answers series beginning to roll out on Youtube. These 1 minute clips bring you the highlights from our content and we hope they serve as a pick me up when you find yourself on a procrastination streak.

Reflections

4 years ago, after the first lockdown, I was driven by my desire for creative freedom to make something.

This has happened time and time again, and more often than not, I have succeeded.

My sister Polly recommended I reach out to Melissa Scott-Miller and perhaps make a film about her.

I made the film. Released it on my own youtube channel...and that was it. It was gone.

Back to my pit I went.

It turns out that 'time and time again' is not enough, it is consistency that matters.

I have since filmed an interview with Melissa reflecting her the film which you can watch on Flowspire+.

Flowspire update

Current projects

This week I am finishing up the first cut of a new Makers film about an interior designer, finalising the first season of Characters, all before heading off for a potential 6 day narrative production so we can keep this fire burning!

Ben will be joining me on the client narrative shoot, working with the wonderful people on the Making Money podcast team and delivering Characters.

That's all for this week. Keep showing up.

Best, Jack

“ Embrace the ordinary. — Jack Hobbs | Flowspire founder