CreativeMornings

November's Theme is DEVOTION

CreativeMornings — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 10:01:00 -0500

Our theme for November is DEVOTION. It was chosen by our Shenandoah Valley chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matthew Phelan.

Creativity is often portrayed as a lightning bolt of inspiration that strikes in a flash. But most creative work is toiled over and tended to. Page by page, rehearsal by rehearsal, brushstroke by brushstroke. We feel called to bring our vision to life.

For centuries, illuminated manuscripts, handwritten Qur'ans and Torahs, Buddhist sand mandalas, and Hindu temple carvings were made by people who didn’t separate making from praying.

But creating doesn’t always feel like a revelation. The drafts that go nowhere. Practices when nothing clicks. Every sketchbook page you want to tear out. Every version you save then start over. You must keep the faith during the dry spells and blocks.

Practicing your craft is a ritual. It is an act of love.

Our Shenandoah Valley chapter had this to say about the significance of this month’s theme:

“In a world constantly competing for our attention, “devotion” invites us to pause and ask: to what, or to whom, do we truly give ourselves? It is a return—a quiet, daily choosing. Devotion lives in what we tend to with care: creative practice, meaningful work, each other. Not loud, but steady. Not rigid, but rooted. It offers clarity amid distraction and asks: where do you place your attention, your love, your time? Whether in the calm of a morning ritual, the intention behind our art, or the care we offer our communities, devotion grounds us. As Mary Oliver’s Devotions reminds us, reverence lives in the everyday. Devotion is presence—a way of saying: this matters.”

Watch this video from our Shenandoah Valley chapter for more on what devotion means to them.

And remember, devotion is not blind loyalty. It opens your eyes to what is possible.

November Playlist: DEVOTION

CreativeMornings — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Our theme for November is DEVOTION. It was chosen by our Shenandoah Valley chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matthew Phelan.

This month’s playlist features songs that we feel called to enjoy again and again.

Listen to the tracks added by our global community and add your favorite song related to this month’s theme.

Here’s how to your favorite song to the playlist:

Go to the playlist using this link to YouTube Music.

Click “join” on the pop up that appears.
Search for the song that you want to add.
Click the three dots next to the song title.

Select “Save to playlist” from the menu that appears.

Select our DEVOTION playlist in the popup that appears.

Meet our DEVOTION illustrator: Matthew Phelan

CreativeMornings — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Each month, CreativeMornings has a different theme for the talks given at our local chapter events around the world. It is our tradition to work with an artist in our community to create an illustration for each monthly theme.

Our theme for November is DEVOTION. It was chosen by our Shenandoah Valley chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matthew Phelan.

Matthew Phelan is an illustrator and graphic designer living and working in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He specializes in creating beer labels for various breweries across the United States.

Inspired by old science fiction and fantasy paperback covers from the 1960s and 70s, Matt brings that same sense of storytelling through imagery to all of his illustrations and studio artwork. Pushing back against the craft beer industry’s embrace of generative ai art, many of his labels start as acrylic paintings or gel plate printmaking. These traditional analog techniques add the richness, warmth and happy accidents that computers are incapable of capturing.

Matthew shared the following reflection on his illustration for this month’s theme:

“Devotion to me boils down to putting in the work. Whether that means spiritual work, or dedication to your craft. If you sit around waiting for inspiration to strike, you just end up sitting around. The muse favors those who are already doing the work. Devotion is trusting the process, and being able to let go of any expectations about the outcome.”

Listen to how to pronounce Matthew’s name.

You can see more of Matthew’s work on his site and follow him on Instagram @fearandloading.

Selected Works

Sketch Notes on ALTITUDE

CreativeMornings — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:17:00 -0400

Each month, CreativeMornings chapters around the world host talks on a theme – and members of our local communities take sketchnotes (visual notes created with a mix of handwriting, drawings, hand-lettering, and other doodles.)

Our theme for October was ALTITUDE. It was chosen by our Toowoomba chapter in Australia, illustrated by Alex Hotchin, and is presented by Adobe.

Jes LaVecchia captured Willy Bo Richardson’s talk from our Santa Fe chapter.

Sketchnotes from Jeremy Tong’s talk from our Singapore chapter.

^{Photos by Mandy Tay.}

Sebastian Wilkinson captured Kevin Slavin’s talk at our New York chapter.

Marco Pedersen captured Weldon McMillan’s talk from our Montclair chapter. See his sketching in action.

If you create your own sketch notes at a CreativeMornings event, share a photo of them with the hashtag #CMsketchnotes and tag us, so we can include them in our next roundup.

Chapter Highlights: From Tombstones to Airplanes

Kyle Baptista — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:19:00 -0400

Every CreativeMornings chapter is organized by a team of local volunteers who pour their hearts into creating fun and interesting events that foster meaningful connections. Check out these recent highlights from around the world.

Our Portland chapter wrote their goals and fears on paper tombstones.

Our San Diego chapter screen printed tote bags at their Sept event.

^{Photo by Gina Ribando.}

Our Santa Cruz chapter had a pancake station at their September event.

Our Indianapolis chapter makes a cool post to announce when their event videos are published on our site.

Our Miami chapter learned block printing.

Love these interviews with attendees from our Porto, Buenos Aires, and Vienna chapters.

Our Barcelona chapter celebrated their 14th anniversary with a colour festival outdoors in a garden with workshops, art making, ecstatic dance, and music.

^{Photo by Claudia Schmidt.}

Cool call for volunteers from our Spokane and Santa Fe chapters.

And a great call for partners from our Poulsbo chapter.

For October’s theme ALTITUDE, our Richmond, Shenandoah Valley, and Santa Fechapters made paper airplanes!

^{Photo by Toine Rob}

^{Photo by Kerry Kehoe and James Johnson.</}
Want in on the fun? Find a CreativeMornings chapter near you.

Featured Talk: What if it All Works Out?

CreativeMornings — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 22:16:00 -0400

“Dare to imagine positive futures. You have it in your power to make that difference you long for. There is a beautiful future for you.”

An air of negativity seems to hang over our collective feelings about the future. Lisa Jikeli believes that imagination is the answer. Not as an escapist fantasy, but a core practice for getting through uncertain times. By imagining an ideal future state, we create a path to work towards it. Watch her talk for our Berlin chapter and ask yourself, “what if it all works out?”

^{Photo by Olena Kosovych.}
Discover more inspiring CreativeMornings talks from our chapters around the world.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 19:20:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

The universe will reward you if you put yourself out there.

While they’re racing to the bottom, you can climb to the top.

Your art will change your life.

A curated graphic design archive.

How our free time got monetized.

Become a great conversationalist.

Beautiful bugs.

Not all efficiency is created equal. AI and beyond.

Charge what you’re worth with this freelance calculator. †

Don’t be afraid of looking stupid.

† Thank you to Christine McEntee for submitting this link.
You can submit a link too.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

LEVEL UP: Borrow Everything I Know About Growing a Newsletter

Kyle Baptista — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:40:00 -0400

Want to grow a successful income-generating newsletter? This session is for you!

In this Virtual FieldTrip on growing your newsletter with Author & Speaker, Lucy Werner, you’ll discover insider secrets behind creating content that enhances your personal brand, how you can visually bucket your work and tricks for promoting your newsletter to broaden your reach. Watch the recording and get valuable resources, easy-to-use takeaways, and helpful templates designed to elevate your newsletter game.

This FieldTrip is a part of Level Up, a series of workshops and resources designed to help you grow, gain confidence, and take meaningful next steps in your creative career. This series is made possible by CreativeMornings’ global partnership with Adobe .

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Make Friends Doing Something You Love

CreativeMornings — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:40:00 -0400

Introducing our new way to gather IRL!

CreativeMornings/Clubs are intentionally small, recurring gatherings where people come together around a shared passion. Whether it’s crafts, photography, journaling, or whatever you’re into, there’s a Club waiting for you.

Clubs carry the open-hearted spirit of CreativeMornings beyond our Friday morning talks, bringing kind people together in neighborhoods throughout the month.

After prototyping this new initiative in 12 cities, we’re excited to roll out CreativeMornings/Clubs around the world. Check out all of the amazing Clubs that have already launched!

Each Club is led by a member of our community. And anyone can host one. Yes, that means YOU! See how to apply to start a Club.

You can start a Club like these members of our community!

Nelson loves taking photos and exploring neighborhoods, so he started a photo walk club.

Pam loves to knit, so she started a club to meet other knitters.

Carolyn gathers people to draw comics together.

Jennifer wanted to write more letters, so she started a snail mail writing club.

Katie loves writing, so she hosts an hour of side-by-side writing.

Ricardo loves old movies, so he invites people to watch them together. (He also has the best snacks.)

Brian wanted to read more, so he started a silent reading club.

Want to find out when Clubs launch in your city? Subscribe to your local Chapter’s newsletter to receive a list of upcoming Clubs in our Clubs Digest.

Curious about starting a Club? See how to apply.

The growth of CreativeMornings/Clubs is made possible by the generous support of our global patron the Harnisch Foundation.

LEVEL UP: Quietly Online - Navigating Social Media Presence as an Introvert

CreativeMornings — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 10:49:00 -0400

In this workshop, illustrator and self-described introvert Marcos opens up about their relationship with social media and their ongoing journey to get comfortable showing up on camera. It’s still a work in progress, and they’ll share the insights that helped them make peace with it.

In this Virtual FieldTrip on showing up online as an introvert with freelance Illustrator and Graphic Designer, Marcos Abdallah, you’ll explore how to build an online presence that fits your comfort level. Watch the recording and get a simple template for creating your own 15-day challenge. With these practical ideas, you’ll feel little more at ease showing up online.

This FieldTrip is a part of Level Up, a series of workshops and resources designed to help you grow, gain confidence, and take meaningful next steps in your creative career. This series is made possible by CreativeMornings’ global partnership with Adobe .

Want more helpful tips to level up your creative career? See all of our upcoming LEVEL UP Virtual FieldTrips.

Featured Talk: Make Bad Art

CreativeMornings — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:24:00 -0400

“We’re under this constant pressure to perform, produce, and be perfect. And it forces us to compete with one another, isolate ourselves, and also withhold our gifts until they’re fully formed and ready to be shared with the world. Spoiler alert, they’re never fully formed.”

What would happen if you tried to be bad at something on purpose? Jules Costa tried to get fired from a tech job she hated but got a $10,000 raise instead. She quit the next day. Today, she runs Bad Art Club, a community-based, sober, art-making collective. Watch her talk from our San Francisco chapter and see how a beginner’s mind is the key to unlocking greater creativity and resilience.

^{Photo by Tommaso Armstrong.}
Discover more inspiring CreativeMornings talks from our chapters around the world.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:33:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Happy birthday to us!

Who needs a time machine? Bring back the 8-bit era with Adobe’s fun, free Pixel Art Generator. §

Curiosity = career longevity

Boost your self-worth.

Spooky art based on phobias.

Your crew needs a navigator.

The history of cemeteries.

Here’s a nudge to execute your idea. †

A collection of design manifestos.

118 things to do instead of doomscrolling. (115 of these would make a great Club.)

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Sarah Longfield for submitting this link.
You can submit a link too.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

Featured Talk: Your Art Will Save Us

CreativeMornings — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:10:00 -0400

“Creating doesn’t belong to only the confident or the gifted or the trained. It belongs to those who are curious, to people willing to keep making before they even understand what they’re making.”

Acts of creative resistance speak the truth, even if it’s complex or painful. It builds community, embraces discomfort, and sparks joy. Alex Lippert felt called to learn tintype photography and then use it to challenge dominant narratives about race and aging. In her talk for our Cincinnati chapter, she shares the power of letting yourself be witnessed completely as you are.

^{Photo by Danielle Isbell.}
Discover more inspiring CreativeMornings talks from our chapters around the world.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:10:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

How to boost your stability in uncertain times.

A human-made movement is brewing.

Put the fullest expression of yourself into the world.

Insights on creating remarkable experiences. †

How a lean team makes big hits.

The new rules of work.

Why the world feels uglier and how to stop it.

Help test a booking platform for freelancers. †

Social media is over.

The funniest animal photos of the year.

§ Curated by CreativeMornings HQ and brought to you by our partners.
† Thank you to Laura Hess and Ryan Hoog for submitting these links.
You can submit a link too.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

How to Start a CreativeMornings Club

CreativeMornings — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:30:00 -0400

Are you Club curious?

CreativeMornings/Clubs are intentionally small, recurring gatherings where people come together around something they love: crafts, photography, journaling, or whatever lights you up.

Clubs meet in between our monthly chapter events and always happen in person unlike our Virtual FieldTrips.

Clubs are hosted by members of our community like YOU!

You don’t need a polished idea, a huge social media following, or a big budget. You just need something you love doing, a bit of consistency, and the willingness to be brave and put yourself out there.

What makes a good Club

These gatherings are meant to be intimate. Usually 5 to 20 people. Small enough that everyone learns each other’s names.

Hosted face-to-face IRL. In a park, someone’s home, a cafe, or wherever feels right for your people.

Centered on belonging and joy. It is about presence, not performance. There is no audience, only participants.

Always free to attend. You can ask people to chip in for materials (for example for craft supplies or snacks), but most Clubs don’t have any operating costs at all. Please note that CreativeMornings/Clubs are never profit-generating. Think of them as a gift to yourself and your community.

Focused on a shared interest. A repeatable, simple format is easy for people to understand and easier for you to sustain.

What makes a good Club Host

You want to gather people around something you already love. The ideal Club starts with something the host already does or wishes they did more often.

You’re willing to try, even without knowing exactly how it’ll go. Hosting a Club is a much lighter lift than running a CreativeMornings chapter, but it still takes the willingness to figure it out as you go and keep showing up.

You lead by generous example. Our hosts want to give something to their community, not get something from it. You believe in the spirit of the CreativeMornings manifesto and want to create more connections for the creative people around you.

You’re willing to invite people to join you. We’ll help promote your Club and cheer you on, but the responsibility is yours.

Here’s how to get started

You can apply to host a Club on this page of our site. The application walks through everything you will need to launch your Club.

We prototyped CreativeMornings/Clubs in 12 cities and they are quickly rolling out in more cities around the world.

If you are located in a city where Clubs have already launched, your application will be reviewed and processed right away.

If Clubs have not launched in your city yet, we need a total of 10 Club hosts to submit an application in that city in order for Clubs to launch there. (We’ve learned that this is the optimal number to establish a sustainable ecosystem of thriving Clubs.) Plus, you’ll be part of the CreativeMornings/Clubs Founding Cohort in your city!

What You Will Need to Fill Out Your Application

The application is designed to help you create everything you will need to start your Club. And it will be editable as you go, so don’t let this list intimidate you.

Please prepare the following in advance:

Club description: what it is, in your own words.

Club agenda: the shape of one gathering, start to finish

About you: a few sentences introducing yourself as the host.

Event page banner: an image for your event page on the CreativeMorings site. (The application will have a link to a template.) A friendly and fun image beats polished perfection.

Language for your Pre- and Post-event emails. These are short to tell people what to expect and to say thanks afterwards.

Headcount: the capacity you’ll be comfortable hosting.

Venue type, address, and name: a TBD is fine for now if you don’t know your exact venue yet.

4 scheduled dates: when will your Club meetings take place?

After You’re Approved:

Once you’re approved and you’ve signed your Club Host Agreement, your Club page will be drafted by us and editable by you. When you’re ready to make it public, it will be listed on the Clubs page of our site.

Share it with your community. CreativeMornings HQ and your local chapter help promote Clubs. But getting the word out yourself is key to success.

Commit to at least 4 gatherings. Consistency allows your Club to develop a rhythm and gives real relationships space to blossom.

After your first four meetings, keep gathering for as long as it brings you and your community joy. When you’re ready to stop, that’s your call.

Hosting a Club is free, fulfilling, and a genuine chance to give back to your community. You’ll get a lot of good energy in return!
Want more inspiration? Check out these popular Club examples.
Ready? Start your Club application now. We’ll be cheering you on all the way!

The growth of CreativeMornings/Clubs is made possible by the generous support of our global patron the Harnisch Foundation.

Featured Talk: Find Your Path

CreativeMornings — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:11:00 -0400

“Don’t ask what will make you successful or feel validated or help you earn love, only ask what makes me feel alive right now.”

After years of relentless touring and recording as a professional singer, a rare neurological disorder took Greta Morgan’s voice. What happened next is a story of wandering and discovery that you don’t want to miss. Watch her talk from our Hudson Valley chapter, then find your voice and the fulfilling life you are meant to live.

^{Photo by Rana Faure.}
Discover more inspiring CreativeMornings talks from our chapters around the world.

Fun Stuff To Click On

CreativeMornings — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:05:00 -0400

Welcome to our joyful, little corner of the internet where we share our favorite links that we discover each week.

Creativity is a discipline in optimism.

What new heights are you meant to reach?

What if climbing higher up the corporate ladder isn't the best way to grow?

Does getting high make you more creative? No, really, does it? Wait, what about other drugs?

Why are we more likely to cry on airplanes?

Look over the Earth and pick a live video feed from different countries.

10 highest altitudes reached by aircraft.

Why you should take the high road. †

Beautiful aerial photography of fall forests.

Why it’s better to climb slowly.

† Thank you to Ivy Chan for submitting this link.
You can submit a link too.

Want even more fun stuff to click on? Subscribe to our Weekly Highlights newsletter and we’ll send cool links right to your inbox.

October's theme is ALTITUDE

CreativeMornings — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:00:00 -0400

Our theme for October is ALTITUDE. It was chosen by our Toowoomba chapter in Australia, illustrated by Alex Hotchin, and is presented by Adobe.

If you’re stuck, try going up.

Big ideas are often described as elevated. A flight of fancy. A lofty goal. A bird’s-eye view of the problem. Blue-sky thinking.

Turns out it’s not just a figure of speech. Psychologists have found that being higher up, like on a rooftop or a mountain trail, changes how the mind works. People asked to think while in physically elevated locations generated more abstract ideas. While subjects at ground level tended to think more literally.

We don’t just use height as a metaphor for creativity; altitude seems to switch it on. Your perspective changes looking out from a skyscraper or a window seat at thirty thousand feet. Chaos becomes a pattern. The altitude gives us clarity. Suddenly, you can see the big picture and your place in it.

So, gain some altitude. Then come back down and make something worthy of the climb.

Our Toowoomba chapter had this to say about the significance of this month’s theme:

“Toowoomba quite literally sits above; perched on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. ‘Altitude’ speaks to elevated views, both geographically and creatively. It reflects the fresh perspective our community brings and the headspace we make for big ideas.”

Watch this video from our Toowoomba chapter for more on what ALTITUDE means to them.

What new heights will your creativity reach this month?

Meet our ALTITUDE illustrator: Alex Hotchin

CreativeMornings — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 16:00:00 -0400

Each month, CreativeMornings has a different theme for the talks given at our local chapter events around the world. It is our tradition to work with an artist in our community to create an illustration for each monthly theme.

Our theme for October is ALTITUDE. It was chosen by our Toowoomba chapter in Australia, illustrated by Alex Hotchin, and is presented by Adobe.

Alex is a cartographer, illustrator and writer currently living and drawing on a small farm in Australia. She makes art and books to tell stories about the world around her, and is especially interested in the art of map making and the inherent subjectivity of experiencing a place.

Alex shared the following reflection on their/his/her illustration for this month’s theme:

“Altitude_Other side of the Moon was inspired by the recent moon circumnavigation and the first images we saw of “the other side”. It revealed to us exquisite colours and textures. Poking their heads up from the top of the moon are the rabbit and turtle - who have themselves never (until now) seen the other side of the moon. The moon is oversized in this illustration highlighting the pull it has on our imaginations.”

Listen to how to pronounce Alex’s name.

You can see more of Alex’s work on her site and follow her on Instagram @alex_hotchin.

Selected Works

October Playlist: ALTITUDE

CreativeMornings — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 14:01:00 -0400

Our theme for October is ALTITUDE. It was chosen by our Toowoomba chapter in Australia and is presented by Adobe.

This month’s playlist will get your ears soaring with songs about reaching greater heights.
Listen to the tracks added by our global community and add your favorite song related to this month’s theme.

Here’s how to your favorite song to the playlist:

Go to the playlist using this link to YouTube Music.

Click “join” on the pop up that appears.

Search for the song that you want to add.

Click the three dots next to the song title.

Select “Save to playlist” from the menu that appears.

Select our ALTITUDE playlist in the popup that appears.