I’ve been encouraging artists to write more for, ahem, decades. But sometimes, it helps to bring in reinforcements.
In this episode of The Art Biz, I’m joined by Samantha Clark, who believes writing and visual art can weave together beautifully to enhance clarity, confidence, and connection.
Together, we explore how writing serves not just as a way to reflect on your art but also as a tool for developing it, sharing it, and building a meaningful creative life.
Sam, as she is known, shares her journey—from keeping sketchbook notes and writing letters to publishing a memoir and crafting a weekly Substack newsletter, The Lifeboat. Her insights reveal how writing can help you make sense of your creative process while deepening your connection with a wider audience.
[ A different take on Substack from Tara McMullin ]
If you’ve ever wondered why I keep nudging (hounding?) you to write more—or felt intimidated by the blank page—this conversation will inspire you to give it another shot.
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Highlights You'll Love
- How writing alongside your art fosters deeper clarity and reflection.
- The value of consistency in building a writing habit.
- Balancing the demands of the studio and the page.
- Practical tips for building a sustainable writing practice.
- Why imperfection isn’t just okay—it’s necessary for progress.
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Samantha Clark Quotes
“Anybody who’s worked in education understands that writing is a tremendous tool for self reflection. It’s where we really learn.”
“Writing slows us down, and it really pins the thought down onto the page so you can then examine it, and you can really think about: ‘Is that the right word?’ ”
“You’re really opening up your work for someone else to come inside it with you.”
“If you can think about the words that you use—whether they’re spoken or written—as an invitation, as a conversation, as a way to build community around your work, then all the other kind of self-consciousness tends to fall away because it’s like a conversation between interested friends.”
“Creativity is what helps us stay buoyant when things are turbulent.”
“When you’re an artist you connect with people one to one, one by one, and it’s the quality of that connection that’s important.”
“You can take your stats and stick them where the sun don’t shine. I made someone cry today in a good way. Happy tears. So that to me is all about connecting with people because that’s what art is about.”
Related Episodes
Other episodes about writers and artists who write.
About My Guest
Samantha Clark is a visual artist, writer and artist’s writing coach based in the Orkney Islands and working internationally.
Originally trained as a tapestry weaver, Sam’s practice has evolved over thirty years through writing, drawing, installation, video and permanent works in the public realm, with painting as her primary current focus. Alongside this, she mentors artists who want to explore what writing can bring to their practice, and writers of memoir and creative nonfiction.
Sam’s first book, The Clearing, was published by Little, Brown in 2020. In 2023 she received the inaugural RSA MacRobert Trust Art Award for Painting.
Follow Samantha on Instagram: @samclarkartwrite
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