I. I watched the documentary series entitled “Q: Into The Storm” over the course of last week and WHOA. Fascinating. Everyone should watch it if they want to understand how the fuck QAnon happened, who is behind it, and how *creepy* it really is.
II. Mentioning it on Facebook led to the discovery of Qanon Anonymous – a fantastic podcast that is both hilarious and informative. I found it on Spotify and almost immediately signed up with them on Patreon. This is good stuff.
III. I spent yesterday in a relaxed state, slept well, and woke up this morning feeling refreshed. Got my newsletter sent out + the Darling Human note + read a bunch of blogs with my morning coffee. Now I’ve tossed a corned beef brisket into a pot to simmer all day so I can have it for dinner tonight. My studio is clean. My kitchen is clean. This feels really good.
IV. I’m going to paint today.
V. Storytime.
This train of thought was prompted by seeing this meme floating around Facebook:
I could make quite the list.
VI. I have some tender things on my mind about friendship and lineage and giving credit and the way I’ve seen some people mine other people’s content to pad their own. Renee and I talk about this fairly often because we’re both in a position where people get close to our work because they love what we do and then we find what we do cropping up in their stuff without any kind of acknowledgment of where it came from. It is disheartening, mostly because I don’t think people realize that they’re even doing it. There’s no way to address it without seeming like a fucking asshole, either.
Thankfully, there are those who integrate what we’ve offered and then make their own thing – things that are obviously their own – and even though those things are obviously their own, we find ourselves mentioned in the ‘credits’ in some way. That is beautiful, and that is where I prefer to spend my energy and attention. I have art teacher babies who started out in my classes and have now way surpassed me in terms of numbers, and I am *incredibly proud of them*. Without fail, you will hear them say things like “I got started on this journey with Effy Wild” or “Effy was a huge inspiration to me when I first started out.” or “Effy was one of my first teachers” or “Effy is the OG Art WItch”.
This kind of acknowledgment makes me feel appreciated.
VII. I had a relationship very early on in my tenure as a teacher that totally fell apart once I realized that she wanted the benefit of my network more than she wanted my friendship. There was this weird period of time where I was paying her half of everything I earned through my network as part of our agreement, but she wasn’t signing in. She was totally absent. She had a million excuses about why, but it boiled down to this:
I was giving her half my income for nothing.
I girded my loins over time and pointed this out – that I couldn’t keep paying her if she wasn’t going to show up, that I got that she was going through a hard time, but I couldn’t subsidize that, butandalso that the friendship was way more important to me than the business partnership, and I wanted to find a way to work it out. She muttered that it was the opposite for her. She needed the money. The business mattered more.
Ooooof.
I was deeply hurt by this. Deeply. But I was not in a place at the time where I could respond in a healthy way – and yo, healthy would have been to say “Well, fuck off then because I am not a charity and I’m not here to pay you to do nothing just because we’re “friends”.”
I was sure I’d somehow brought this on myself. I didn’t like myself enough to stick up for myself. I guzzled a bottle of wine, cried a lot, and then, within a matter of a few months, while continuing to pay her for doing nothing, I started my own thing without her. When I started the new thing without her, and it became obvious that this thing was going to outpace the other thing financially, she blocked me on the socials and talked shit about me to anyone who would listen, even going so far as to “report me” to people I collaborate with.
Ooooooooooof.
It was hard not to take this personally, but in time, I started getting emails from people saying “Oh, hey! She did this same thing to <insert name here>.” Something about knowing that helped me move on from it, but it left a wariness in me that I haven’t shaken to this day.
VIII. When people get close to me through my work, I admit I wonder if they’re there for me, or if they’re there for my network or because they want to be associated with me because it gives them some kind of Effy Bump…
Do they want *me* in their lives or do they want what they can get out of being associated with me? Or some combination of both?
Tender, tender subject. No resolution at the moment. Just some honest grappling served up for your entertainment.
IX. Video chat with my Bean scheduled for this afternoon. I miss his little face so much and I can’t wait to see him and hear him bellow AWESOME MIMI! AWESOME!
X. My family is healing. Oh. My. Heart.
I’m planning to blog every day this month along with a crew of almost 300 other bloggers in my “Artfully Wild Blog Along“. If you’d like to join us, you are most welcome! Both bloggers and readers are invited to join in the fun! The only requirement is that you agree to comment on three blog posts for every blog post you share in our Facebook
OMG that picture of the Bean is freaking ADORABLE
He’s growing SO FAST!
Awesome blog as always!
Thanks, Deb!
You are an inspiration and amazing💖
Oh yes. This. I love you. ♥️
Same, bebe. <3
Love you, for you.
Oh yes. I know. <3
I love your writing! Authentic, honest! Every time I read something your wrote – I get a glimpse into who you really are! That takes amazing courage! You inspire!
Thank you! <3
Bean got big! Such a cutie! And — let’s be honest… I’m here for your freaking network. Why? Because they are an awesome bunch of supportive women lead by THE ABSOLUTE BEST OG ART WITCH who has only done 2 things for me: 1) gave me permission to step fully into my “woo”, and 2) been the best fucking art journal/mixed media teacher I’ve ever had — and also my first! And I tell the world this all the time… I buy your classes and then only do 3 months of a 12 month class because I get to be in circle with you throughout the year. It’s you I seek… (in a non-creepy, love your art, love your energy, love you kinda way lol).
OMG Bean has gotten so BIG!! Where did the time fly to? He’s just adorable!
I saw that meme, and instantly my brain started making a list.
You are one of my first art teachers and I’m so glad for that. You are the best and
I am so grateful to you and for you. ❤❤❤
Effy you are always so honest, I love reading your posts and newsletters etc. I learn so much from you, and not just from your art, which I love. I hate it when I see art that’s clearly inspired by an artist but it’s not credited. I try so hard to always mention my tutor or inspired by. It’s so important to do that. X
Great post with lots to think about. You inspire others, you bring light to people. You’re valued. I found you via Art for Earth, and life book, and I’m so glad I did :) that picture is beyond cute!
that meme!
people!
the bean looks quite mischievous lol
This issue has come up for me recently, with a new penpal contact. She has suggested we collaborate on some writing, and has said it would be a way for her to get noticed. I fell about laughing. My response: “Working with me will in no way get you noticed. Trust me. I don’t get noticed.” She then poutily said: “Well, maybe I want to submit to X journal as well. How do I do that?” I pointed her in the direction of their submissions page and wished her luck. I now gather that her first penpal letter to me will be ‘delayed’.
Wow when did Bean get so BIG?!! What an adorabubbly.
FWIW and just so you know, I’m here for YOU. I adore YOU. Without even your art offerings or anything, I haven’t been able to afford to do your amazing art offerings for some time now so no, I stick around for you, the kind of person you are, the way you share even when you’re not efficacious Effy. This blog-along is awesome cause I get to have some of YOUR people leave me comments but whether I was commentless or commentful wouldn’t matter. You matter. I just want you to know that.
Love and hugs for all of the shares. But oh that picture of Bean and his dad! So much beauty! I can’t believe he’s such a big boy already! <3
Holy moly the Bean got BIG!! Wasn’t he just a baby a minute ago?
Ugh for the toxic barnacles….I’m sorry you had to go through all of that and I totally understand that the taint of such an experience doesn’t fade for a long-ass time. If ever. all the love. xo
As always, I appreciate your honesty and transparency, Effy. Because of your example, I do my best to show up authentically in the world. I examine my motives and dig deep.You teach and lead by example. My only regret is that sometimes the lessons you teach have come about through some pain you’ve had to deal with. But seeing you deal with it, examine it and mine it and adapt it strengthens my own resolve. So good to see Bean. He’s adorable! And getting so big. <3
That wee one is ADORABLE 😍😍😍
Discerning who is worth time and effort in a non-public life is difficut. So, once you’re a RockStar (yes, you are – and I suspect the signs were there when you started); it’s gotta be extra tough. Sounds like you’re already on this, but here’s what I do as a relatively private person: Keep looking for the love, you’ll find it. I worry much less these days about what other people are doing and so much more about what I am accomplishing. Some people will be jerks no matter what… karma will catch up at some point (this life or next).