“Where the paths that have an affinity for each other intersect, the whole world looks like home.”
― Hermann Hesse
While I was staying on Vashon Island last month, I hit a bit of a low moment.
No, unfortunately that isn’t a typo meant to refer to our recently ended Slow Moments Project. It is definitely low with no ‘s.’ One of those low, dark stretches in our journey when the path seems to disappear from beneath our feet and we’re left feeling rather lost in life – unsure of how or which way to proceed next. I tried to write about it here, but none of my attempts made the cut.
Last fall, I felt a real sense of momentum – I loved my time in the Balkans and Turkey, and throughout the trip, I had several sketching commissions come through. I soon fell into a perfect rhythm – sketching on-location during the day, from a family’s back garden in Mostar, Bosnia, to a beautiful cathedral in Belgrade, Serbia, to Istanbul’s bustling Grand Bazaar, and then retreating to a café or my guesthouse at night to work on sketches and illustrations for other people’s projects.
But by the time I arrived on Vashon, I had no new sketching commissions waiting to be completed – a first for me in about a year. Coincidentally, my freelance writing was at its own standstill. Now I was the one waiting to receive edits on assignments I’d already turned in, waiting to hear back from editors about new stories I’d pitched, always waiting, waiting, waiting.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve had a nice self-sustaining financial cycle in place. I’ve gratefully made enough through writing and sketching to keep myself going on the road. For the first time on Vashon, not only had the cycled slowed down, but it seemed to be grinding to a sure and final halt.
For the first time, I didn’t know if I could keep myself going.
* * *
On Valentine’s Day of all days, I mentioned my little crisis in passing while writing to my good friend Mike Sowden. If you haven’t met Mike online (his fantastically witty blog is Fevered Mutterings), I highly recommend doing so.
In addition to his own freelance writing, he also offers mentoring services to individuals and businesses, specifically with the aim of helping them tell their or their brand’s stories better. He’s consulted me several times in the past about various projects, and I can’t recommend his combination of humor and rock-solid advice enough. (Mike is wonderfully British, so he won’t be happy I’m singing his praises so openly like this. But really, he’s great).
At the end of my email, I briefly mentioned I was feeling a bit unsure of how to bring in new commissions. When I got home that night, a reply was waiting for me, and what it said was this:
“It’s your fault.”
Actually, it didn’t say that at all (Mike would never, ever say such a thing). But what he had graciously taken the time to do was to ever so gently point out that nowhere online did I have a portfolio of my sketching commissions available to view. Nowhere had I quoted from people who have hired me. Nowhere had I said outright – hey! I’m a professional sketch artist and I would love for you to hire me.
So basically, yes, it was indeed my fault, and what I realized that night was that I had a choice to make. I’d been so busy dwelling on my funk, I had failed to find a way out of it. I was as bad as a shopowner or restauranteur lamenting a lack of customers when they haven’t even hung an ‘open’ sign.
What I realized that night was, I could give up or I could kick myself into shape.
* * *
Since then, I’ve spent the last two weeks scheming up a makeover for the site. I love this blog as it is, and I didn’t want to lose the traditional blog format, but I also wanted to find a theme that offered a little more – especially space for a proper portfolio.
I finally came across a company called ThemeTrust, and as soon as I decided on a theme (I went with Port), I got to work. I rounded up the commissions I’ve done over the last year, asked people for testimonials, and wrote a new About page – one that makes it just a touch more obvious that I am in fact a sketch artist. The previous version sort of kept The Great Affair and my sketching separate. It kept it all ‘ne’er the twain shall meet.’
But that’s not really the case anymore. Sketching has become a big part of what I do and what I hope to keep doing in the future, and to have separate pages explaining me and my sketches didn’t feel right. My business card may read Writer and Sketch Artist, but the two didn’t feel so cohesive in reality.
And so that became my main focus as I put together The Great Affair 2.0: to make the things I love most in life – writing, sketching, and traveling – just as intertwined in my mind.
Sometimes I get too caught up in wondering if I’m a writer or an artist first. But as close friends have kindly taken the time to remind me lately, the distinctions don’t matter, do they? It doesn’t matter whether I’m a writer who draws or an artist who writes. I might as well be chasing my tail.
It was time to start looking at things a little differently.
So with all of that being said, I’m tremendously excited to share this site’s new look with you today. The blog itself is essentially the same – the only real difference is that the column for posts is a bit wider now, so photos and sketches will get even more space to stretch out (something I hope makes you as happy as it makes me).
But there are plenty of other new features I would love for you to check out:
The home page. Possibly the biggest change is that the blog is no longer the first thing you see when you come to the site. I immediately fell in love with this theme’s scrolling parallax landing page. It does exactly what I set out to do in this makeover – it brings everything together in one place.
The new About page. One of the things I love most about being an artist now is that drawing and painting were things I loved doing while I was growing up. In a way, sketching has brought me full-circle in life, and I felt it was time to make this a bigger part of the story I’m telling here.
The sketching portfolio. This is the change I’m most excited about. There’s a new page featuring just the sketches I’ve done professionally – from custom blog headers to editorial illustrations to an illustrated map – along with testimonials from the wonderful people who commissioned them. It’s an awesome feeling to see them all together for the first time.
There’s still some work left to do – I’m adding a load of new links and ideas to the Resources page (which is currently hidden), and I also need to go back through old blog posts and re-size their photos.
For now, though, I want to take a moment to welcome you to the new Great Affair.
Theme makeovers are a strange beast – they seem a little superficial, with their main concern being what your site looks like and how it functions. But the process ends up being about so much more than that. As you work your way through the new layout, it gives you a chance to dig below the surface of it, and to reflect on why exactly you started writing it in the first place.
What I discovered yesterday as I uploaded the new theme and content was that more had changed than just this blog’s look – what also feels different is my own outlook on who I am and what I do. I found that the process of walking through that low, dark stretch on Vashon has brought me to a place of fresh clarity and purpose. In a way, not a lot has changed, but in other ways, it feels like everything has changed. I’ve finally owned my passions and my path, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
One of the final things I re-did was hand-letter the quote this blog is named after. I did contemplate whether The Great Affair is still a fitting name for this site, and I ultimately decided it is. As I invite you to read on the new About page, it encompasses so much more than travel.
For me, it’s the great affair of pursuing a life worth living, and of writing for ourselves a story worth telling.
I can’t thank you enough for reading and following along, and I so look forward to sharing this next stage of the journey with you.
I thought that you had designed Molly’s header – it’s beautiful! Well done on all fronts and for deciding what’s important, what you love and how you can make something of it.
Thanks so much, Cat! And yes, I loved working on Molly’s header for her – she suggested such perfect elements to include in it, so it was a lot of fun bringing all the scenes to life 🙂
I’m a new reader, so hi! 🙂 I did get a chance to briefly get acquainted with your old theme and format, which was lovely, but the new site looks wonderful!
Sometimes it really does take that “low moment” to figure out what direction you’re headed in next. Good luck!!
Welcome, Lisa! It’s great to hear from you, and I’m really glad you’re enjoying the site so far. I had a brief read through your blog and love how you’ve combined your passions for fitness and travel…running a 10K in Iceland must have been incredible 🙂 Thanks again for stopping by and I look forward to following along your future adventures!
It looks so beautiful, Candace, and I think it definitely accomplishes what you set out for it to do. I can’t wait to see where your talents take you next!
Thank you so much, Brenna! That means a lot 🙂 I hope all is well in lovely London, and I love that our paths will cross again at Book Passage this year!
Wow! What a bold new look Candace and absolutely perfect for rebranding yourself and what you do. You’re right that I had always primarily considered you a writer who also happened to sketch (I hesitate to say “dabble” because you certainly did more than that), but I think this really helps bring the two together and make it clear that both mediums are your passion.
Thank you, Steph! I’m so glad to hear you like the new look 🙂 The funny thing is, I definitely considered myself that way, too…I’ve always thought of myself as a writer first and have been hesitant to own the artist I’ve become along the way, so hopefully the new site will help me change that. Hope all is well with you and Tony in Saigon – I love following along your updates!
Candace, love the new look, especially all of the sketches. Can’t wait until you have a book of sketches. I want the first copy, signed. lol
Thank you so much, Susie – I thought you might like that the sketches have a more prominent place here now! And you know you’ll be fighting your sister for the first signed copy, right? 😉 Miss you!
Read this today and immediately thought of you and your new look and outlook. You see, your fluidity is one of your highest gifts. You’ve always kept US, mom and dad, guessing. Challenging us to being fluid, as well. The last thing on earth I want to do is…congeal. Even saying the word leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Even though congealed salads are very pretty, don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be one. SO, here’s to change. To lonely hours that prod and poke us until we are fully awake. To waiting rooms that slowly peel back the layers of life and show us what is eternal and valuable. To treks that test every fiber in our being. To fear which looks us in the face and forces us to believe.
Here’s to unfolding! I can’t wait to see what is next.
“There are two kinds of people. One kind, you can just tell by looking at them at what point they congealed into their final selves. It might be a very nice self, but you know you can expect no more suprises from it. Whereas, the other kind keep moving, changing… They are fluid. They keep moving forward and making new trysts with life, and the motion of it keeps them young. In my opinion, they are the only people who are still alive. You must be constantly on your guard against congealing.”
― Gail Godwin
Wow. I don’t even know where to begin! That quote is amazing and perfect and something to keep forever in front of us. And even what you wrote before it is so beautiful – thank you for sharing that here. What you said about the lonely hours and the waiting rooms and fear connects so well with Rilke – it’s something he talks about constantly in his “Letters to a Young Poet” – to embracing our sorrow and solitude, because in the midst of the darkness, there are important changes taking place within us. It’s hard to hang on and keep trusting, but it’s worth it, too. Thank you for reminding me of that. xoxo
Love the new look Candace! Even while we have yet to meet in person, it seems to personify the YOU I have come to know through your writings and sketches. It’s wonderful that you made such a positive change after a bit of a low point.
Rhonda, I am tearing up at your comment! Thank you so much – what you said means the world to me. This summer is slowly coming into shape, and I’m really feeling the need to swing through Portland again…I will keep you posted 🙂
Can’t wait to meet up. We will be out of town for much of May but other than that mostly around in between camping weekends 🙂
Okay, brilliant! I won’t finish up on Salt Spring until the end of May anyways, so that might work out just perfectly. I will definitely be in touch as we get closer to the summer 🙂
LOVE it! I think it’s beautifully designed, Candace!
THANK YOU, Pauline!! I’m so glad you like the design, I owe it all to ThemeTrust 🙂 PS – There is an email headed your way asap! Now that the re-design is officially done, it’s time to catch up on the inbox….I’m sending lots of love across the country to Toronto!
Candace, congrats on the new design and on “owning” who you are. The changes seem subtle, but also very clear and intentional.
I spent some time on Vashon last year, and it changed me, too. I hope this new/continued adventure brings you even more of what you are looking for!
Thank you, Angie! So I just spent about fifteen minutes looking through your site and love what you’re doing so much – I’m not sure why it’s taken us this long to connect online 🙂 I so look forward to following along your own illustrated adventures from now on! It was wonderful to hear as well that you’ve also spent time on Vashon…isn’t it a magical place? I love how close it is to Seattle and yet feels a world away. Thanks again for saying hello here, and I wish you all the best on your journey! Where are you off to next?
Thanks for sharing, we all have those dark times and low moments and it really helps to hear that we’re not alone in that.
Your new site looks awesome and I will be excited to follow the new high times that it will surely lead to.
Thanks so much for your comment, Sarah – I’m really glad that this resonated with you. They’re not easy times, but I know I’m always encouraged by reading stories of other low moments and drawing strength from them to keep going! Are you in Guatemala yet? I hope all is well there with you and Nathan 🙂
Mind-blowing re-design Candace, I love “the new great affair”! I really like the symbiosis between the clean and subtle design and your cheerful sketches… 🙂
Thank you so much, Oliver! I’m thrilled you like the new design – I had a lot of fun putting it together (after I’d made it through the low moment first, of course 🙂 Can’t wait to keep sharing stories and sketches with you – hope all is well in Edinburgh!
The new site is gorgeous, Candace!
Thank you, Lindsey! I loved your recent musings on what makes up our sense of home…I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, especially in regards to this new site, and how for a lot of us, these blogs become a place to call home as well – one constant in a sea of ever-changing addresses. I loved that teapot as well, by the way 🙂
What an incredibly introspective and purposeful redesign. I’d have to agree with Mike, taking some time to promote those other aspects of who you are are really important, especially in business. It’s good to take stock of life on occasion, and constantly evolve but not necessarily to “Keep up with the time” but to keep up with yourself, because you are changing even if it seems subtle. I like the added space given to the portfolio and I wish you the best in growing yourself and your business.
I love the “writing ourselves a story worth telling”. That resonated with me and I think that sums up my own goal in life more so than I could have said myself. I think you’ve so far done a pretty good job of that but I imagine your story is long from being fully written. I may have only gotten to know you through messages and writings, but I’m usually a pretty good judge of character and devotion, and I think yours will take you far.
Anwar, the only reason it’s taken me a day to get back to this is because your comment left me rather speechless…what you said about not keeping up with the times, but simply keeping up with ourselves was incredibly profound. I can’t even begin to thank you enough for sharing that here! I’m so glad I could somewhat return the favor with the line about writing ourselves a story worth telling 🙂 And right back at you – although our paths have yet to cross in person (as I’m sure they’re bound to eventually!), I can tell you’re definitely writing such a story for yourself. I’m grateful to be in touch with you here, and can’t wait to keep following along your own journey as well.
I love it, Candace.
I hope with the new redesign, projects will soon come knocking on your door.
And as always, I look forward to hear your stories 🙂
Thanks so much, Clarice! I’m delighted to hear you like the new look, and that you’ll keep following along as I post new sketches and stories – I can’t wait to share them with you 🙂
Looks beautiful and as inspiring as ever! Cannot wait to keep reading about the adventures!
Thank you, Aurora! That means so much to me. I just went and got caught up on your last few posts, and I *love* the idea of creating a 10-word plan….although I am seriously tempted to just borrow yours, it’s that perfect 😉 It is wonderful as always to hear from you, and I can’t wait to keep sharing stories and sketches with you – here’s to a year of loving and living deeply!
It looks GREAT!
THANK YOU, Kim!! xo
Hey Candace, your site looks great! It’s all about evolution, right? I love how your sketches are displayed, they are beautiful! The comment from your friend above, about not ‘congealing’ is really beautiful. Here’s to staying fluid! Much love to you on your amazing journey xxx
Thanks so much, Sarah! I so appreciate you taking the time to check out my site’s new look 🙂 And I could not agree more with you on the importance of fluidity…although it’s great to have a plan in mind and an idea of how we’d like things to go, I’m always being reminded of how it’s sometimes equally important to let go of those plans. My big word for the moment is ‘surrender,’ and I’m trying to live with both hands and heart open to whatever life has in store for me right now! Sending lots of love right back to you – hope all is wonderfully well with you and Tyrhone in Mexico. xxx
It looks absolutely beautiful Candace! It’s such a clean, fun layout that really showcases exactly what you’ve said you want it to 🙂
Thanks for posting this, I’ve been feeling the rut a little too and you’ve inspired me.
Also, can we please see more gorgeous yurt pictures?!
Thank you, Jade! Your kind words mean so much. I understand the feeling of being in a rut all too well, and try to share some of my own struggles here as much as possible, just to keep the encouragement flowing for all of us 🙂 And don’t worry, there are definitely plenty more yurt photos (and sketches!) to come very soon – I can’t wait to share them with you!
Congrats on the site redesign and new perspective, Candace! It looks fabulous!
Thanks so much, Susan! I appreciate you taking the time to check out the new look 🙂
I love the new look. Well done! I just spent a little time clicking through the new site and fell in love with the sketches in your portfolio. I’m going to Istanbul in 2 weeks for the very first time. So naturally, the sketch that really caught my eye was the Blue Mosque. Beautiful!
‘Living life in limbo’ (as I’ve come to call the waiting period as I choose which path to take) can be difficult, but it’s great to read your story and know that change can be a positive and fulfilling thing 🙂
Thank you, Gayla! It’s awesome to hear you’re headed to one of my favorite cities so soon – I left a big part of my heart in Turkey (I say that about a lot of countries, but I really mean it here 😉 Istanbul just has this energy to it that I fell in love with – so many sensory discoveries, and obviously the history is incredible to explore as well. You’ll have to let me know what you think of it!
And I absolutely love what you said about living life in limbo – I’ll never forget a class I took in college about Slavic folklore and rituals…it was quite random (taken just to satisfy an area requirement), but something the professor said has always stuck with me – that their rituals were meant for times when they were ‘betwixt and between’ two stages of life…i.e. going from being single to married, about to give birth, etc. That those times are scary and uncertain, and they needed rituals to help guide them through it. I think the moments when we’re betwixt and between two paths are just as unnerving today – limbo is hardly ever fun, but hopefully it leads to a new path we love 🙂
Candace….one word….Gorgeous! Great job putting it all together with a brand new look and feel…very upbeat. I love it and good luck!
Thank you so much, Corinne! I’m thrilled to hear you like the new design, I had a lot of fun putting it together 🙂
Candace,
Great work, I just really enjoy your writings about your Travels and genuine feelings about yourself. Your Sketches are beautiful. (My Mom is a artist so i know).
Love your New Blog look.
Not that I’m a professional Writer , but I enjoy writing about traveling.
You send out a lot of inspiring vibes when you write and share your sketches.
“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Thank you for all your kind words, Todd, they mean a great deal! And I absolutely adore that Kerouac quote – ‘On the Road’ is one of my all-time favorites. I quote it several times in the memoir I’m currently working on, and I might just have to add the one you sent through as well 🙂
I love it! The new design, the new focus, all of it! And as you know, I’m right there with you on that path (along with occasional lows and “what am I doing” moments)! It just takes time to figure out what works best–growing pains–and to not be afraid to put yourself and your talents out there. So excited for you! And excited about our little project.:)
I wish there were a ‘like’ button for your comment, Lily – it’s perfect! I am endlessly grateful that our paths crossed at Book Passage, and that we now get to figure out these creative journeys together! (and even collaborate at times 😉 I loved what you said about growing pains – they’re not easy to go through, but with a bit of patience and endurance, it’s exciting to think that we’re slowly making progress. Sending lots of love your way tonight!
I am super grateful we met at Book Passage as well! Cheers to figuring it out together! Lots of love!
Yay!! So much BP love 🙂 Here’s to another year of adventures – of both the literal and the literary kind! xoxo
Congrats on the update, Candace – love to see things are coming together!
Thank you so much, Alana! It’s been such a fun process putting it all together – and even some of our conversations from on the way to Mount Rainier were still resonating with me 🙂 I hope you enjoy your last few days in Italy, I’ve loved following along your time there!
Beautiful!
Thank you, Victoria! Hope all is wonderfully well in Berlin 🙂