Substack vs. Patreon

That’s a brave heading to be on Substack, isn’t it!

Earlier this year I set up a Patreon account to share some of my painting journey. This included things like filming my greetings card designs, giving insight into client projects, and sharing all sorts of behind-the-scenes snippets, from digitising artwork to walking around my studio space (aka my house). It was a bit of everything, with no specific direction, except an intention to share and try things.

I was really honest when I started, that I didn’t know what it was going to be or what it would become. I just wanted to experiment. But for some reason, I’ve found myself a bit blocked when it comes to using it, and that’s how I ended up on Substack.

Sometimes if you’re not sure a platform is right for you, trying something new can be more helpful than sticking it out and hoping it eventually feels right.

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Why I Moved to Substack

Originally, I had a real toss-up between Substack and Patreon. I chose Patreon because I understood it to be more creative in the types of people on there and the way the platform is set up. But honestly, I’m not sure I agree anymore. Substack feels more vibrant and flexible, especially for the kind of long-form content I want to write. The sort of stuff that doesn’t slot neatly into my blog, email list, or social media posts. (I wrote about that here)

Substack has become the place I want to share those longer, more reflective pieces. And now I’m wondering…. would it make sense to bring everything together here?

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What Might This Space Become?

So with that in mind, I’m here wondering if I should bring my painting Patreon videos over to Substack. Maybe I could create a similar space here, hopefully an even better one, but I’ll be honest, I’m still not entirely sure what that looks like yet. And I wonder if that’s okay?

Do I need to decide on a specific direction, or is it alright to keep experimenting and let it evolve?

Here’s what I imagine sharing:

• Paint-alongs you can join, especially if you’ve been to one of my workshops before, you paint a little bit already or are just looking for some gentle creative inspiration

• Behind-the-scenes insights into running a small creative business. I get asked a lot about how I started and how I manage things, and while I’m still learning, I know my experience could help those just starting out who might be a few steps behind.

I’m not sure if I have to choose between the two, maybe I can sprinkle in a bit of everything, and people can take what resonates. But I’d really love to hear your thoughts. What would you like to see? What have you loved in other creative spaces?

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What Format Do You Prefer?

Something else I’d love to know is would you prefer:

• Videos

• Written posts like this

• Audio / voice notes (via Substack’s podcast feature)

• Live sessions

• Quick creative lessons

• A combination of the above

It might sound obvious, but I really want to make this work for you and that means it also has to work for me. I want to be able to do a good job of it, in a way that feels manageable with everything else I’m juggling.

This isn’t just about painting, it’s about connection, reflection, and figuring out creative business in a way that feels right. It’s about creating a warm community space where I can share the honest reality of self-employment, the relatable day-to-day stuff, and the big picture thinking too.

Painting is part of that. It’s the thread that runs through it all. And sharing it with others, whether through in-person workshops or this online space, brings me so much joy.

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Here’s What I Know

I spoke on a couple of podcasts recently, and those conversations reminded me of a few things:

• I really love talking about what I do.

• I’ve learned a lot in my business (and life) so far, and I still have SO much more to learn.

• Storytelling is the thread that’s always run through my work, from my previous interiors career, to all my illustration work and conversations now.

• Having impact through my work matters to me.

• Sharing what painting brings me is important, because I want others to feel it too.

• I love listening to other people’s journeys, and I’ve always found it helpful to hear stories from different people at different stages. So maybe by sharing my journey, I can help someone else too.

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A Final Thought

I used to think (and sometimes still do) why would anyone want to hear me talk about what I do?

But maybe that’s the point. I’m not pretending to be an expert with a winning formula. I’m a regular human, learning as I go, seeking connection, and doing my best to figure out how to make a creative, fulfilling, sustainable life.

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What do you think?

So if you have a moment I would love to hear from you, what would you like to see in this space?

• Creative pep talks?

• Paint-alongs?

• Business tips?

• Honest reflections?

You can reply or leave a comment below, I really would love to know.

Thanks for being here. It means a lot.