Culmination isn't always celebration

Another turn of the novella

introduction [https://followthepaint.substack.com/p/episode-8-three-turns-of-the-novel] to this story: followthepaint.substack.com/p/episode-8-three-turns-of-the-novel [https://followthepaint.substack.com/p/episode-8-three-turns-of-the-novel] gallery [http://esthersharp.com/gallery] of selected art: esthersharp.com/gallery video [https://www.youtube.com/@inksmudgestudio] channel: youtube.com/@inksmudgestudio Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe [https://followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Culmination isn't always celebration

An audio log to mark the completion of my novella [https://followthepaint.substack.com/p/episode-8-three-turns-of-the-novel]. Visual version of this episode available at Ink Smudge Studio [http://youtube.com/@inksmudgestudio] Intro music: “Bright Waking Moon” by Ethan Sharp, full song and album available here [https://ethansharp.bandcamp.com/album/the-kith-a-lunar-calendar] You can subscribe to my written field notes [http://followthepaint.substack.com] on Substack and find more of my work at esthersharp.com [http://esthersharp.com] Three Turns of the River available Fall 2025 Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe [https://followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The second chorus of brood XIV

In this piece I share readings by and about Mary Oliver. Mary is one of the portraits in my personal pantheon, available now as part of the Art-chetype Series in my shop [http://esthersharp.com/shop]. The music at the beginning of this episode is Bright Waking Moon, written and composed by my brother, Ethan Sharp, and used with his permission. You can find the full song and buy the whole album (The Kith: A Lunar Calendar) inspired by my fantasy novel-in-progress here [https://ethansharp.bandcamp.com/album/the-kith-a-lunar-calendar]. The music at the end of this episode is by cicada brood XIV, recorded in May 2025. All rights reserved to them. Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe [https://followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 12: Re-Sourcing Our Selves

In this double dive, Emma and I swim through our usual wide range of waters, including the limiting effects of metrics, where our true resources are (accessible to all), and the medicine of basking in blessings (not just counting them). We also dissect my ongoing break from Instagram and how social media can affect our creative output and sense of self approval—AND how it doesn’t have to. This call was recorded while I was sitting in my backyard and Emma was camped by a river thousands of miles away—hurray for technology! That said, you may notice a soundtrack of birdsong, cicadas, an occasional breeze, and the return of some dog ASMR. Special guest appearances by hummingbirds. Intro music from the “The Body, The Sound” written, performed and recorded by Emma Liles (all rights reserved to her) Our writing on Substack: FOLLOW THE PAINT by Esther Sharp [http://followthepaint.substack.com] TRUE NATURE by Emma Liles [http://truenature.substack.com] Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe [https://followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Episode 11: Holding the Tone

The first double dive of this year was actually recorded last year—we trust it’s on wizard’s time, and is arriving precisely when it means to. Join us for what Emma calls, “An open-ended conversation on what it means to be a creator.” Hey Tony! We’re toning here! In this episode… + the one wrong thing + an economy of feeling tones + no gatekeepers, no gates + blessings of dissatisfaction + how we bring hierarchies with us + welcoming Gene Keys [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1780285426?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_8F9KK1XFYR0QTVND3Y1H]and the flies in our own eyes + vibrational families + allowing the mutation of the transmission + the inner plateau + what tone do we want to be toning? + a horse with no name (aka Instagram) and how it’s gotten us into and out of some deserts Emma on Instagram (solpothecary [https://www.instagram.com/solpothecary]) and Substack (True Nature [http://truenature.substack.com]) Esther on Instagram (followthepaint [http://instagram.com/followthepaint]), Substack (Follow the Paint [http://followthepaint.substack.com]), and her site [http://esthersharp.com] Podcast on Instagram (theinnerdive [http://instagram.com/theinnerdive]) Intro song from “The Body, The Sound” written, performed and recorded by Emma Liles (all rights reserved to her) Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe [https://followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]