The SneakyArt Post is becoming a MONTHLY (PLUS ONE).

I am doing it for selfish reasons. But I think this will be good for both you and me. Here’s why.

I started writing a weekly newsletter in the early days of the pandemic. I was looking for a way to break away from social media. I did not have a big IG account then, and had not read Byung-chul Han - two experiences that would help me better articulate the why of it. But I understood already that success was largely random, and that I did not want to play by the fickle rules of a predatory algorithm. A newsletter was freedom.

For over 5 years, I have hit the publish button every week. This practice has made me a better writer. And steadily it has grown my audience from 30-odd people to 20,000+ readers around the world. Best decision ever.

But a creative life is a marathon, and it is only smart to use different strategies for its different stages. The weekly cadence helped me build momentum, but it is not helpful with the long-form projects I am pursuing this year.

To honour the sanctity of our email relationship, I am updating how I run things.

All readers will now get -

• A monthly post, with the latest pages from my sketchbook, and the best ideas from my journey as an artist and writer.

• Plus one, an unscheduled bonus.

Also, there will be Sneaky Projects

With this pivot, I am also re-dedicating value and attention to SneakyArt Insiders. This is long overdue, and the busyness of last year prevented me from doing this properly, so I am excited to finally get on it!

I have several learning goals this year, and I want to bring paying subscribers into this loop. Sneaky Projects will include plans to learn specific skills, independent publishing projects, my next big book, and ideas for the SneakyArt Podcast. Last year’s big Sneaky Project was to make my own sketchbooks. After a couple of mixed results, I am starting to really enjoy this now. Check out my year-end vacation sketchbook below. This year’s first Sneaky Project is to teach myself Linocut Block Printing, starting in February. (More updates soon.)

To share project updates, coordinate our Zoom sessions, and offer a deeper look at my creative life, SneakyArt Insiders will receive another post every month.

Join me?

If our interests align, become a SneakyArt Insider. Per your financial situation, pick one of the following -

❤️ [Sneaky Patron of the Arts] Support my work at the annual rate of 50 USD per year,

❤️ [Sneaky Cheerleader] Take 50% off the annual rate

I offer two rates because I really do not like setting up paywalls. Think of this as an interest-wall? As part of respecting my space in your inbox, I do not want to flood you with everything I am doing. If you are interested in being an Insider to all my projects, and if the above options are still unaffordable, please email me to figure out a solution. Your enthusiasm matters so much more to me than the financial transaction.

But, at the same time, financial transactions are necessary to keep going as an independent creative. I am so grateful to all the wonderful readers who have stuck with me through the experiments of the last two years, even though I was unable to provide any exclusive value in return for their patronage. This is changing now. The short-term and long-term projects I want to pursue need me to lean on my super-readers. Your feedback will matter. Your enthusiastic presence will be integral. I am so excited to get started.

If this is confusing, if I can answer any questions, please reach out: nishant@sneakyartist.com.