One Artist, Many Channels: On Gnomes, Circles, and Creative Compartments

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have experienced a slightly schizophrenic December. One day, a serene video of me drawing endless, meditative circles. The next, a chaotic, joyful explosion of hundreds of hand-painted gnomes peeking out from every surface. It was a month that illustrated a conversation I’ve been having with myself for years: how, and why, do we separate our different creative streams?

For me, the circles are my fine art heart. They are slow, intentional, and born from a deep need to express connection and solace – each one a visual “hug”. The gnomes, on the other hand, are pure craft. They are whimsical, festive, and made for giving. They come from a place of playful generosity. Making them also brought me enormous joy. Every time one came to life it made me smile. They became known in my house as the tiny guardians of Christmas.

For a long time, I thought these streams had to stay separate. The “serious” artist here, the “fun” crafter there. But this year I challenged that stance by showcasing the gnomes on my fine art account. However, I have decided to move my gnome army over to my crafting account, where my bookbinding and printmaking live. I think they will be happier there.

This is not a demotion; it’s a curation. It’s about creating the right context for each part of my practice, so they can each be understood and appreciated on their own terms. I think they will be more comfortable there and, as I am planning to share how they are created with different themes for each month of the year, giving them space on my crafting page makes more sense to me.

Why Compartmentalise? The Case for Creative Channels

1. Clarity for Your Audience: People often come to us for a specific thing. By creating dedicated spaces (like separate Instagram accounts or distinct series of work), we make it easier for them to find and follow what they love without noise.
2. Freedom for You: When you have a designated “play” space, you grant yourself permission to experiment without it needing to align with your “serious” body of work. This freedom is essential for growth and joy.
3. Protecting Your Core Themes: My circles carry a specific, weighty message about mental health and worth. Placing my whimsical gnomes in the same feed can inadvertently dilute that message. Giving each a home protects its integrity.

The Common Thread: It’s All One Practice
 Here’s the most important part: the gnomes and the circles are not enemies. They are fed from the same well.

• The repetition in drawing hundreds of circles is the same patience needed to paint 100’s of gnomes.
• The care in selecting a colour for a painting is the same care in choosing a button for a gnome’s coat.
• The desire to connect and bring joy is the driving force behind both.

Separating them externally doesn’t mean divorcing them internally. They are different branches of the same creative tree.

Your Creative Inventory
 Do you have multiple creative passions? Do you knit and sculpt? Write poetry and paint landscapes? I encourage you to think about them not as a messy pile, but as a collection. Perhaps they need different shelves. Perhaps they inform each other more than you think.

As for me, you’ll find my circles here: https://www.instagram.com/alisongsaunders/  pursuing depth and connection. You’ll find my gnomes, books, and prints over on my crafting page: https://www.instagram.com/createartwithalison/ pursuing joy and making. Both are me. Both are true. Giving each its own space might just be the key to letting both flourish in the new year.

You can find links to my different creative spaces in my newsletter next week, or feel free to ask me directly.

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