Welcome to Studio Diaries!
Creative pursuits tend to be solitary — the writer typing away at her desk, the artist busy painting in her studio, the potter throwing pots at the wheel, the quilter stitching together pieces of fabric after the entire family has gone to sleep…
But solitary pursuits don’t have to lead to isolation…
We can come together to create community; tell our stories; share our projects, our fears, and our breakthroughs.
Studio Diaries is the place where I choose to think, to express, and to connect with creatives like you, away from the performative pressure of Instagram, from the emptiness of vanity metrics, from the constant demands that the attention economy puts on my mind-space and time.
This is a space that feels quiet, that encourages reflection and conversations, and I hope you will join me in this little gathering place for us artists and creatives.
What to expect from Studio Diaries
I’ll be sending out weekly notes from my studio. You can look forward to:
Pages from my art journal, along with some notes on the creative process
Behind-the-scenes in my studio — works in progress, process videos, studio additions, or tips on how to use art supplies
Notes on the creative life and on other ideas that capture my interest {productivity, journaling, mindset, etc.}
Creative prompts to explore in your sketchbooks and art journals
Hit that button below to get full access to the newsletter and website, and ensure that you never miss an update!
A little bit about me
Hi! I’m Shinjini, a self-taught artist and art educator, tarot reader, and podcaster based in India. I’ve been journaling since I was a snotty 6-year-old; writing and blogging since 2006 {gasp!} and picked up the paintbrush for the first time in 2011.
I tend to start more projects than I can finish, but having multiple ideas on the go is what excites me the most! Through intuitive play and playful experimentation, I aim to capture the dialogue between myself and the divine on the journal page. I’ve been told that my podcast, Art with Soul Podcast, is like "having a creative coach and artist friend in your earbuds", and that delights me no end!
I currently work a day job as a business editor with an asset management company, but you will find me painting up a storm, filming classes and YouTube videos, or typing up an article or two at my tiny home studio most evenings and weekends. If I’m not in the studio, you’ll find me on the couch, with my nose buried in a book!
Other places to connect:
You can go through my blog posts on my website, see more photographs from my art journals on Instagram, and watch art tutorials on YouTube, or drop me an e-mail at shinjinim {at} substack {dot} com.
Kind words from readers
“I really enjoy your letters! I always feel so uplifted and energized when I read them. But, the best part is there are always little nuggets of information and suggestions for helpful practices, so I really do feel like I come away with something great! Thank you so much for all of your letters and for the time and energy you have put into them all.” — Barbara Holt
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything – your podcasts are my absolute favorite, and your emails are just beautiful and always thought provoking and helpful and your website is just full of creative inspiration. You’ve helped me through the last year or so in so many ways. My art practice is still in its infancy, but I’m getting there. Thank you.” — Laura Works
“I appreciate the spaciousness that is in this email, and in most of your communications. There's nothing hurried here. It's a nice place to step into. Thank you.” — Walker Bass
Want to subscribe but hate email?
I hear you! E-mail overwhelm is very real *eyes the 1,000 unread emails clogging up her inbox*.
While I hope that these Studio Diaries will feel like a nurturing part of your creative life, I understand the need to protect your inbox. This is one of the reasons why I chose to host Studio Diaries on Substack — because you can download the app, which allows you to opt out of emails without missing any of the latest posts!
Unlike many other apps, it offers a clean and distraction-free reading experience — a brilliant alternative to the mindless scroll and cheap dopamine hit that is on offer with most other social apps.
Join the community!
I hope that these Studio Diaries offer you some nourishment for your creative soul. That my words inspire you to pick up your tools and to make time for your art.
While these diaries offer a glimpse of my studio and art practice, I hope you see some of yourself reflected back in these notes too.
I’d love to hear your stories, to know where you find your inspiration, to see your creations. The best way to do that is to comment, take part in the discussion threads, ask questions, and be a part of what I hope will be a thriving community in this little corner of the web.
Thank you for being here! I look forward to connecting with you.
But before you go, why not invite a few of your art buddies to join us too?
About the links
Some of the links that I share in the Studio Diaries are affiliate links — if you purchase anything through those links I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
