So, this past week I created by first content for YouTube and Patreon.
My public video on YouTube is below- How to Draw a Cat’s Head. I feel so official and accomplished now that I have done this! I had envisioned starting a YouTube channel in the Fall of 2020 during Covid and got sidetracked for some reason. Then, late last year I felt the push to just *do it*.
I’m also big on affirmations. Regretting that I didn’t attend Oprah’s 2020 Tour, in January 2020, I walked into a Barnes and Noble and bought some Louise Hay Affirmation cards. I brought those to work and used to read them at my desk. When Covid hit in the middle of March that year and I was sent home to work, I took my affirmation cards with me. I’m so glad I did because they helped me get through a rough time in my life.
In 2022, I started to write my own affirmations and created my own affirmation cards which are the size of a business card. They are also available at my Etsy shop.
Inspired by Patrice Washington who also loves affirmations, I started my own affirmation of the week for my YouTube and Patreon.
Here’s my Affirmation of the Week: January 28, 2024: I will return to the basics of self-care including taking care of my mind, body, and spirit. I will sleep 7-8 hours a day, eat a healthy diet, and exercise. I will meditate and pray. I stay in the present moment rather than ruminate on the past or try to predicate the future.
Affirm: I will return to the basics of self-care including taking care of my mind, body, and spirit. I have a YouTube/Instagram post for the Affirmation of the Week also.
Stay tuned for bite sized, effective drawing tips for drawing my favorite animal- the cat.
The YouTube channel is about art, drawing, selfcare, and cats. Reviews about ink (acrylic ink, India ink, watercolor ink); other water soluble art supplies (watercolor, water soluble graphite, gouache); books; stores, etc. YouTube content will be released Sundays at 11:11 a.m. Central Time.
The Patreon account will be a similar account but with bonus content created just for Patreons.
There will be two tiers for the Patreon- Weekend Workshop & Atelier:
Weekend Workshop
For $2 per month, watch videos published from January 2024 to watch without ads.
Early access to YouTube videos (released Wednesdays at 11:11 a.m. Central Time instead of having to wait until Sunday) including how- to instructional videos, products reviews, vlogs, affirmation of the week, etc.
This tier does not include access to bonus content.
Atelier
For $5 per month, this tier has access to all Marsha West Art videos without the ads as well as bonus content created exclusively for Patreon
More descriptive how-to instructional videos created exclusively for Patreon.
I would like to take a break from talking about art supplies (which is definitely pragmatic) to discuss self-care for artists. This is a topic I have been wanting to blog about for quite some time but, ironically, other things were always getting in the way.
Holistically, I believe that self-care means that you are taking time to do things that help improve your physical, mental, and spiritual health so you are living at an optimal and authentic level.
It seems to me a lot of people struggle with putting themselves first for fear of being labeled, shamed, and being called the dreaded S word- selfishness. For instance, how many times have you felt guilty or selfish for doing something just for you- whether it was taking a yoga class, going for a walk, or wanting other “me time.” Or perhaps you are the type of person who says yes to everyone when you should be setting boundaries and saying no.
Honestly, who wants, what Brene Brown describes as, that warm wash that comes over us and makes us feel small and not good enough and like we just want to disappear?
To me, self-care means getting back in touch with your spirit and protecting your energy so you can fulfill your purpose. This is why I created a set of affirmation cards with the affirmation, “I protect my energy by…” which are available in my Etsy shop.
What are some of your favorite self-care activities?
