Stick Season & Artist Dates (After Noah Kahan & Julia Cameron)

Stick Season & Reconnecting with Inspiration

I've had the intention of creating prints for the past few months but truthfully, I haven't had the inspiration or energy. I've been feeling creativity come closer, but not in my field of vision. My creative work has always had a long research and alchemy process, so I know that I need to alternate between inspirational input and mundane tasks. As the weather has been getting warmer, I’ve gotten back into a phase of listening to music in the afternoon instead of binge watching TV shows. Most of my playlists are an Indie Folk vibe and heavily influenced by my love of Noah Kahan, who has been touring for his album Stick Season.

The week after the solar eclipse on April 8, I was upset with myself for not getting tickets to his concert in Toronto on April 6 as I watched videos on TikTok. As I wiped away tears (yes, actual tears) I kept feeling the nudge to look up tickets. I had been so disappointed when the tickets sold out originally that I didn’t realize there were two more shows, and I ended up with a single ticket for Tuesday, April 16! In the past, I would have seen the logistics and price as justification for not going, but not this time. I was determined to be in the live energy of that concert! I’ve listened to his music through every emotion and felt like it would be cathartic to be surrounded by other Noah Kahan fans.

I was so inspired already just from buying the ticket that I decided I would make a print on the weekend! I didn’t have any direction yet, so I put on the Stick Season album and did some cleaning until it hit me - it’s stick season!! Every spring, I start picking up bits of nature off the sidewalk again, which includes a lot of sticks. I often look at them without any idea how to use them in my work. It’s as if an outside force is making me continue to pick them up despite the fact that they just sit in a second hand piece of rocky mountain pottery.

When the title track came on, I had the idea to create a Stick Season series! I gathered a bunch of the sticks from my collection to try out different compositions and determine whether I’d try intaglio or linocut for this series. I settled on some thin sticks and created a dainty and imperfect drypoint print that I actually love! One of the things about printmaking, especially drypoint, is that you don’t know how it will turn out until you ink up the plate and print the first proof. For this little plate, I had to make adjustments to the line weight to make a few parts more visible while other parts were already pretty dark. I might still even it out a little but for now, I really like how it eludes to the shadows in my original composition!

Artist Dates & Saying Yes

I’ve realized recently that it’s been months since I’ve been engaged in the practices from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, morning pages and artist dates! I’ve done podcast episodes on all 12 chapters, but there are two practices that are carried throughout the book. Morning pages is a process where you free write for 3 pages each morning to empty your brain and flush out anything that is hiding your creative ideas. I used to do this religiously, and I plan to start again soon! There’s something amazing that happens when you are forced to release all of the free range thoughts taking space in your mind.

The other practice, taking yourself on artist dates, takes a bit more planning and determination to adhere to long-term. The concept behind this is to create weekly solo dates for yourself that will fill up your cup and inspire you. It helps to use your childhood interests as a starting point! In the past, I was fairly consistent with this practice. I would go to thrift stores, new parks, the library, book stores, art supply stores, galleries, markets. My creativity never ran out of fuel. I still occasionally visit these places, but not with the same intention and childlike wonder as before.

However, I realized upon reflection that going to this concert was an artist date! I was doing something for myself that didn’t benefit anyone else directly, and required me to unplug from all of the things that usually hold my attention hostage. By saying yes to myself when I saw the ticket was available, I was following my intuition and making my inner child very happy! There have been dozens of times that I’ve wished I bought tickets for something in hindsight but always told myself it wasn’t a good time, or convinced myself that I couldn’t go alone.

This experience was a catalyst. I could feel something change within myself in a way that can’t be undone. I’m not sure if I was finding a part of me I’d forgotten or discovering a new one, but I am thrilled to have found it.

Presence vs. Documentation

I could only bring a small purse into the concert venue, so I didn’t have my usual Mary Poppins bag that typically has a book, journal, sketch book, and several other ways to pass time. I still managed to bring a tiny notebook and found myself writing quick bullet points to capture the night without elaborating. I usually find myself scribbling madly to not leave anything out, but it seems the miniature notebook also reduced the level of description I was putting onto the pages.

This limitation actually created a deeper sensory experience and forced me to be more present. Knowing the concert was only a couple hours away, I also needed my phone to be charged. I came prepared with a portable charger, but still decided to just be more present. I watched people interacting with each other in line, smiled as groups took photos in front of the arena, listened to excited squeals, and felt the energy expanding as the waiting time dwindled. I was choosing to see myself as part of a collective experience instead of being so concerned with it being mine and I was actually a lot less anxious than I usually would be in a situation like that. I was so present that I didn’t even capture most of the bullet points in the notebook until after the concert when I was on the bus!

When I opened the book to look over it the next day, I realized that each short line of documentation holds a layer of emotional depth that I don’t want to lose. The dilemma I had was that I also liked how the lines gave a simple poetic overview of what was important enough to make it in. I came here to brainstorm a way to have both and came up with this accordion format - a way to expand each point while maintaining the original list!

• Union Station 430-5

  I could take a later train, but then I wouldn’t be able to wander around imagining where everyone else is going after I find my gate

• Empanada

  I couldn’t eat before I left because I was so anxious, but I can’t survive on vibes all night, so the vegan empanada is exactly what I needed

• Charging phone

  My phone is my lifeline to get home, and also a way to bottle up the night for later. I’m charging it to 100% every chance I get

• no foundation

  Why put on makeup when I’m going alone and it’s just going to be washed away with tears or highlight dry patches I didn’t know were there?

• jean jacket

  Perfect garment to stay warm without overheating, and to blend in with the crowd

• black ankle jeans frayed

  These fit and are a blend of casual and put together. They are also the first ones I saw

• blue bodysuit (mom's)

  My mom gave this to me a long time ago when she was donating some clothing. I love the texture of the fabric. It fits perfectly and the little rose in the center of the neckline still looks like new.

• white canvas shoes w/ quilting? Crochet/texture

  These are new and are one replacement for about 4 different pairs of casual shoes I need to throw away

• hair - front pinned back

  The curls in my hair didn’t turn out the way they do when I have nowhere to go, to pinning the front back is the only way to make the style look intentional

• merch line outside

  I want all of it, but the ticket is more than I planned for. Watching people line up and take their photos is the souvenir I’ll keep in my mind

• commuters not fans

  It’s wild to think that 30 000 fans are going to be swarming this place when the only people coming past the gates right now are commuters on their daily walk to the train

• trust the crowd

  hanging out in a line that I hope is in the right place for when the doors open

• megaphone man

  Angus is his name. He tells the people right in front of me to go around to the other side of the divider and up to the front. We follow and it turns out it’s the x-ray line. We stay even though security says it will take longer, and we’re some of the first people in

• side view an understatement

  Not only was it a side view, but the screens blocked center stage. I could kind of see the screen if I craned my neck a bit. It was cool to see the artists coming up from the back though

• seat mates

  I realized there were two girls in the row above me with no one around them and offered to take a photo. They were so thankful and asked if I wanted one, to which I said “I absolutely don’t but thank you so much!”

• pink digital camera

  The same girls asked if I could use their camera and asked if I knew how to use it. It looks exactly like the one I used to take clubbing but thinner. Wow I feel old.

• Swifties vibing

  Before the show, people in the sparse crowd were already singing and getting out their phone lights when Taylor Swift songs came on

• Jensen McRae

  She started a bit early and I was excited to hear her. I was blown away by her voice live!

• perfect break timing

  I waited until the first wave of people came back from the washroom etc. between performers. I went to the further washroom, didn’t wait in line, and decided I didn’t want a drink but needed a snack. OnRoute had a sleeve of oreos. I got back to my seat just in time to see a squabble over double booked tickets being resolved

• Worth every penny and moment of anxiety

  Hearing the first few lines of Dial Drunk, I could already feel the genuine love from the crowd and hear that Noah Kahan is just as amazing live, a true artist

• forever crying

  I tried to get a photo or video clip of each song but I immediately started crying when Forever came on, so I have nothing but the feeling in my soul

• immaculate crowd vibes

  It was incredible to experience thousands of people who know and love the music as much as I do. Everyone was kind, enthusiastic and considerate, even sitting occasionally for the older couple in the section. The 300 level may be the nosebleeds, but they are also true fans

• Encore - City and Colour

  I had a feeling all night since it was the last of three Toronto shows that there would be a guest artist - and Noah Kahan brought out Dallas Green for Stick Season! It was incredible to see an artist whose music has been meaningful to me for so long join the artist who is my current life soundtrack.

• retracing steps

  I found my way back to the bus terminal and got comfortable on a bench where I could charge my phone yet again, and wait for the hour and a half when my direct route bus would be leaving

• bus station vibes

  Even though the renovated bus terminal is actually really nice and looks like an airport, it’s still a downtown bus station. I had someone snoring beside me, and an older gentleman without a shirt on talking to himself across from me. Somehow, this made it feel more comfortable.

• Lingering emotions

  I put on my Spotify daylist when I got on the bus and had a tear run down my face as if it escaped. Of course, the playlist is filled with Noah Kahan and The View Between Villages came on.

• Stay awake

  Considering the bus ride was from 12:41 to 2:36am, it was hard to stay awake near the end. I had Uber open and had to keep reminding myself to look at the board with the stop list.

• most polite Uber driver

  I got picked up at the station and the Uber driver was super alert and friendly, offering water and asking for music requests. We had a nice chat and I was so happy to get home.

• Tulip greeting

  I felt so bad when I realized partway through the night that I didn’t leave any lights on, and wasn’t sure how she would react to being alone for 12 hours. She was just laying on her cat tree for most of the night (I have a camera) To my delight, she came right up to me and gladly started to lead me through her nighttime routine after we spent a few minutes together.