This is the Week Six check-in for The Artist’s Way, which means I’m officially halfway through the 12-week course.
This week focused on one of the biggest creative blocks most people carry: money—or more specifically, our relationship with luxury, spending, and what it means to deserve comfort or abundance as an artist.
The chapter felt short and a little underwhelming. Maybe that was the point, in some ironic way.
Morning Pages
I completed all seven days of Morning Pages this week.
The tone of my writing has changed substantially since starting the course. Some days are deeply introspective. Other days are just lists of tasks or content ideas.
They’ve started to become more liberating and less filtered as the weeks progress.
I hardly consumed any content this week—no YouTube, no big inputs. I’m still feeling the effects of Week Four’s “consumption deprivation,” which I think has allowed more space for new thoughts to surface.
Artist Date
After two slow weeks of staying home, I knew I had to shake things up and get out.
I took a day trip into Sydney to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales. I’ve been there a few times before, so I didn’t expect to be blown away, but I went anyway—just to immerse myself in a different environment.
I went in with the same attitude I had back in Week One: be open, be curious and pay attention.
I took a few photos and made a few notes. But honestly? I wasn’t emotionally drawn to anything. Nothing really struck or inspired me. I was in and out in about 30 minutes and left feeling a little disappointed.
On the short walk back to the city center—and later in my Morning Pages—I decided to reframe it.
Just showing up is the experience.
The Artist Date isn’t supposed to be profound every time. Some weeks it’s about immersion. Other times, it’s just about leaving the house. This one didn’t hit especially hard, but it still mattered and was worthwhile.
Redefining Luxury
This week invited me to look at my beliefs around money and luxury, and how they connect to creativity.
How often do we block ourselves from small pleasures because we don’t think we deserve them?
One quote that stuck with me was:
“When we do what we are meant to do, money comes to us. Doors open for us. We feel useful, and the work we do feels like play.”
When that happens, your energy changes. The work becomes lighter. Opportunities begin to show up—what Cameron calls synchronicity.
She gives examples of simple luxuries: fresh raspberries, a nice smell, a candle. These things remind us that joy doesn’t have to be expensive. They’re signals that we’re allowed to enjoy something just because.
Luxury doesn’t have to be extravagant, it can be:
time
space
silence
sunlight
a 10-minute break.
The point is to give yourself permission to feel nourished—not because you “earned it,” but because you're allowed to.
Weekly Tasks
Honestly, this week’s tasks didn’t fully connect with me. Some felt a little outdated or just not relevant.
Here are a few that I skipped:
Track every dollar spent
Press 5 flowers or leaves
Collect 5 interesting rocks
Send 5 postcards to friends
Clear or Change Something in Your Home
I cleared out and sold some camera gear that I have not been using, in order to swap out for something more practical and simple to create with. The physical space matters, but honestly, it was more about the mental clarity.
It also gave me funds to reinvest in some small luxuries that will make my creative process easier and my environment more inviting—things like a proper armchair, a floor lamp, and a plant to complete my room and make it feel more mine.
Reflect on Prosperity
My attitude toward spending has started to shift. I’m starting to see that luxury isn’t about cost—it’s about how something makes you feel.
What matters is being intentional. Choosing things that support the life and creativity I want to show up for.
I’ll be back next week with another update. You can also follow along with video updates on YouTube.
Thanks for reading! If you've worked through The Artist's Way yourself or are thinking about starting, I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
Keep going gang,
Drew Trott
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