The hottest Substack posts of lifeboat

And their main takeaways

The cringe stage

1434 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Inspiration Community
  1. Creative work goes through a 'cringe stage' where things may not turn out as expected.
  2. Persisting through the cringe stage is necessary to improve and grow as an artist.
  3. Care and attention to detail are essential in creating meaningful and impactful art.

The sound of the sea breathing

884 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🔬 Science Nature Oceanography Climate Weather
  1. The sound of the sea breathing is created by billions of tiny air bubbles.
  2. The sea's interaction with atmospheric gases and weather is influenced by the waves' movement.
  3. The energy released as sound in a stormy sea comes from the impact of water onto water, creating a monumental roar.

No more heroes

864 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Artistic Process
  1. Art doesn't have to be about heroism or self-expression.
  2. Seek to create art that carries a sense of peace and tranquility.
  3. It's okay to draw inspiration from the work of others and focus on finding stillness within movement.

What is the colour of water?

786 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Color Nature Perception Creativity Gallery
  1. The color of water can be a blend of various colors like bronze, blue, umber, pink, gold, and silver.
  2. Different cultures and languages may perceive and name colors differently, affecting how we see and describe the world.
  3. Words and language can both reveal and limit our understanding of the world, especially when it comes to describing the ever-changing colors of water.
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The unlit space between the stars

530 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
🔬 Science Astronomy Physics
  1. Darkness can reveal different kinds of understanding and truths that are often hidden in the light.
  2. The universe is much wilder and darker than we once thought, with most matter invisible and elusive like dark matter.
  3. Dark matter, although invisible, plays a crucial role in creating stars and light, showing that the source of substance and energy is found in the unlit spaces between things.

What darkness reveals

393 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Nature Writing
  1. Winter brings darkness, but it's time to embrace it and find beauty in it.
  2. Darkness isn't just the absence of light; it has its own role and significance.
  3. Exploring darkness can lead to insights about creativity and nature's wonders.

The Clearing

314 implied HN points • 28 Aug 23
📚 Literature Memoir Reflection Art Family Mental health
  1. The Clearing is a memoir about reflecting on family dynamics and mental health.
  2. The author delves into classical and scientific concepts of empty space.
  3. Praise for the memoir highlights its sensitivity and resonance with readers.

Meander, Spiral, Explode

157 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
📚 Literature Writing Narrative structure Memoir
  1. Writing doesn't always need a linear narrative arc; explore different structures like meanders and spirals.
  2. Finding patterns and modulations in writing can help with structuring, instead of just plotting timelines.
  3. Consider visualizing your writing as a river, tree, or collage of colors for a more artistic and patterned approach.

Build your own lifeboat

137 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Sculpture Craftsmanship Nature Materials Creativity
  1. Artist Jenny Pope discusses building a coracle as a metaphor for navigating uncertainty and climate anxiety.
  2. Creating buoyancy in community is important, as seen in the collaborative launch of the coracle.
  3. Exploring the sublime power of nature and reconnecting with the vastness of the sea is crucial in facing the impacts of climate change.

Be more Agnes...

176 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
  1. The aspiration to be like a great artist, such as Agnes Martin, can inspire us to create meaningful work.
  2. Creating art that connects with people and makes them feel deeply can be a lofty goal that we may never fully achieve, and that's okay.
  3. Setting ambitious artistic goals, even if we'll never fully reach them, can help us grow beyond our ego and keep us on a path of continuous improvement.

On the tyranny of Goals and SMART Targets

117 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
  1. A creative life is an orientation toward learning and growth, not just achieving goals.
  2. Practice can be a powerful tool for resisting societal pressures of constant productivity and achievement.
  3. Making commitments to practices aligned with our values can lead to 'easeful growth' over anxious striving.

Writing a memoir? I could tell you stories...

117 implied HN points • 15 Jun 22
  1. A memoir is not just about the author, but an exploration of memory and experience to share with others.
  2. Memoir goes beyond simply recounting events in a life, focusing on finding connections and meaning.
  3. Memoir plays with time, using reflection and writing to give shape to experiences and engage readers.

The Invention of Rivers

19 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🌞 Climate & Environment
  1. Water is in trouble due to lack of replenishing rains and pollution from various sources.
  2. Rivers are not just single linear entities but a gathering of various sources of wetness, showing the complexity of water flow.
  3. The idea of land and water being separate is a colonial construct; considering landscapes in terms of depth can help us understand the interconnectedness of wetness.

Clock time or rock time?

19 implied HN points • 03 May 23
📖 Philosophy Time Existence Agency Perception Nature
  1. Time is weirder than we think, with deep connections to the past and future.
  2. Different cultures have different ways of understanding time, like the concepts of Chronos and Kairos.
  3. Changing how we perceive time can shift our sense of agency and possibility, moving us from despair to action.

Mark Doty on looking

19 implied HN points • 29 Jun 22
  1. Looking is fundamental to making art, in writing or visual art.
  2. Attentive looking is a political act against the attention economy.
  3. Attentiveness cultivates a way to live, an ethical project.

An incitement to complicated joy

0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 23
  1. Ross Gay explores the complex nature of joy and its intimate relationship with sorrow.
  2. Joy is not a privilege but a birthright that should be accessible to all, not based on luck.
  3. Community, connection, and care are seen as acts of resistance and incitements to joy against injustice.

Glimpses of another world right beneath our feet

0 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22
  1. The idea of an otherworld beneath our feet is present in various mythologies
  2. In some cultures, the otherworld is accessed through water like ponds or rivers
  3. Reflections in water may symbolize the connection between our world and the otherworld

Where Once the Waters

0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 22
  1. Climate change impacts are happening now and disproportionately affect those who contribute the least.
  2. Art can convey the urgency of climate change impacts in a personal and global way.
  3. Small actions and persistent pressure can lead to positive change in addressing climate justice.

On the pleasures of looking

0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 22
  1. Going for walks with other artists can help you see things you may have overlooked.
  2. What captures your attention influences what you see - it's a selective process.
  3. Looking at the world is like having a conversation with it, not just passively observing.

Casting for hope

0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 22
  1. The book 'Illuminated by Water' is not just about fishing techniques, but also delves into the rich and complex philosophy behind fishing.
  2. Fishing is about inhabiting time differently, experiencing 'contented expectation' and calm focus.
  3. Despite the environmental challenges facing waters, fishing offers hope and renewal through acts of casting.

What really goes on in an artist's studio?

0 implied HN points • 06 Jul 22
  1. Having a dedicated workspace is a privilege for artists
  2. The artist's studio is culturally significant and can carry expectations
  3. The studio is a place for study, reflection, and maintaining curiosity