As an artist myself I am interested in process, and the work behind the scenes that makes our creative visions come into being. For this Q&A, I talked to Jasmine about what steps she took to bring Earth Spirit 2024 to life.
Working on your own, I imagine you had to step into a variety of roles to create Earth Spirit 2024. Can you briefly list the stages involved from inception to creating the finished magazine?
Yes, I did! Every step of the way I had to take on a new role, I started with applications, creating the form itself and advertising on Instagram, then managing and sorting through to choose the final contributors. Then, throughout the working period of the project I managed, edited and collated everyone’s work, and provided regular check-ins to keep everyone on track. Once everyone’s work had been submitted, I began making the magazine, and introduced all of the projects through the Earth Spirit Instagram. I then created a dedicated website and an online shop, got in touch with a local printer and carried through the long process of creating a printed version. The final step was then, of course, to release the magazine!
Earth Spirit 2024 features 19 artists, working in a variety of disciplines. What steps did you have to take to find the creatives for this issue?
From the application post on Instagram, I received around 70 applications and then slowly narrowed it down to the final 19. This was an unexpectedly high volume of applicants and I had to turn down many wonderful applications so that the amount of creatives would be manageable for my one person team!
Once you had found the creatives do you guide or influence the creative process?
I provide a brief for the creatives, which is about connecting with their local natural spaces and responding to that experience with their chosen medium of artwork. How they respond is completely up to them but I do keep in touch over the project with scheduled check ins, and all contributors are aware I am available for support. As this project can produce quite vulnerable work, I don’t have any rules around what they create and the creative process is up to each individual – as long as it responds to the brief! I obviously have a role as editor to make sure all writing is well worded and imagery is cohesive with their ideas, but almost all the editing is done in communication with the artists themselves.
You have to lay out the entire magazine cover to cover. How do you go about this and how long does it take?
When I started the magazine last year this was a completely new process to me and I’m only 2 years in so I wouldn’t call myself an expert! I use InDesign to create the magazine, giving each artist 2-4 pages depending on the amount of work submitted. Each page can take me anywhere from a few hours to a day or two, depending on the content. The process this year took me longer than expected, as there was a lot more work than the previous year. For some contributors I had to choose what to present out of a large volume of submitted work. It took me just under 2 months to completely finish the magazine.
There is a comprehensive Instagram page dedicated to introducing the artists in the run up to publication. Why do you think this is valuable?
Have you had any feedback from the artists about new connections or networking opportunities as a result of this?
Have you had any feedback from the artists about new connections or networking opportunities as a result of this?
It’s extremely valuable as a form of community building, and as promotion for the magazine. Each contributor is given an Introducing post which gives them a chance to share their involvement in the magazine, and connect with the other contributors. By sharing only ‘work in progress’ or behind the scenes it gets people excited for the magazine - to see the final works of each creative! I have received great feedback about the Instagram and a few contributors have connected over social media and told me they are looking at collaborating together which I think is a beautiful example of what Earth Spirit is all about, creating community.
This year you have created a printed version of the magazine, that you are selling via a new online shop. How did you go about this? Did you have to learn something new?
Yes, this was a completely new process to me. I have never printed outside of a university setting before and especially for selling commercially so it was quite daunting to begin with. Working with a local printer was a priority to me so that I could go through the proofing process in person, and have conversations about how I wanted the magazine to be.
Making an online shop was much simpler than I expected. Due to a very limited budget I sold the magazine as pre-orders so that I could print only what was already paid for, this allowed me to print the magazine and also make sure that there wasn’t any excess copies. The ‘RISE’ funding from Artswork also supported me in the printing process because it’s allowed me to buy the proofs, and make sure the magazine was perfect before shipping it all across the country!
What has been the most challenging aspect of creating Earth Spirit Volume 2? How has this differed from creating Volume 1?
I would say the most challenging aspect was simply having to do it by myself. I had more contributors this year, and communications differed person to person. Then the printing, publishing and selling was also different to last year because it was all new to me, and again I didn’t have any support with that. So, the most challenging aspects were either the things that were new to me or the amount of new people, and building those relationships from scratch. Any challenges were definitely worth it, and I am so grateful for everyone who has contributed, supported or worked with me in the process of this year's magazine.
What is your vision for the future of Earth Spirit Magazine?
I am really inspired for the future of Earth Spirit because of all the wonderful feedback I’ve received these first two years. I hope that the magazine continues to grow, with new contributors every year. With funding and time, I would love to curate an Earth Spirit Exhibition, and potentially an artist residency for contributors to meet and work together.
However, I’ve realised that to carry on with Earth Spirit I am going to need some practical support, so I’m looking into getting a few volunteers to help with aspects of the work going forward. It goes without saying that the theme and premise of Earth Spirit is the most important part. To inspire everybody to connect more with their local natural spaces, and to be creative! I believe that once we all start to reconnect with nature the world can slowly shift back into balance, and I hope that Earth Spirit can be a way for people to do so.
Questions by Liz Cooke.