January Studio Letter
- Margaret Shipman
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
The below is a portion of my monthly email from January 2026. To receive a complete version of my next email which will include a free design to download and print-out, first access to my new paintings, and exclusive sales for subscribers, please sign up at this link.
thanks for your interest! ~ Margaret
Hello Friends,
With all the pain and upheaval in the world right now, and the constant stream of frightening news, I sometimes find myself wondering whether making art about herbs and wildflowers really matters. There are days when it feels like I should be doing something more practical with my time and energy.
When I start thinking this way, it becomes harder to be creative. It’s hard to let go enough to be present and playful, which is such an essential part of making art. Instead, I find myself doomscrolling and searching for hope while trying to stay informed about the latest injustices and political shifts. I suspect I’m not alone in feeling this way.
Recently, I came across a TED Talk that spoke directly to this struggle: The Case for Making Art When the World Is on Fire by Amie McNee. It was exactly what I needed to hear, and I hope it might be helpful to you too.
Two of her points especially stayed with me.
First, she talks about attention as an act of rebellion. Every moment we choose not to give our attention to the billionaire-owned social media machine is meaningful. Our attention has value, and choosing to spend more of it on our own creative lives is, in its own way, radical.
Second, humans are wired to create. Making things is deeply healing. It steadies our nervous systems and helps us remember who we are. Taking care of ourselves matters, it takes real strength to keep showing up and standing up to what isn’t right.
So I keep working in my studio, trusting that this small act matters. And I believe your creative acts matter too, whatever form they take.
So make your stuff. Care for your spirit. And in doing so, resist the systems that would rather keep us exhausted and disconnected.
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