People Were Changed (literally)
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~Some housekeeping~
Join 30 Days of Self during April 2026! Read more below!
Get on the waitlist for The Art Lab for early dibs on registration for summer semester (which runs May 1-August 31. Registration opens in April!)
Keep up with our Art Lab artist of the month over at the Post-Processing podcast! Also encounter interviews, like my latest with Summer Murdock, the mastermind behind the epic Magic of Light class.
People Were Changed (literally)
“A work of art is not an end point in itself.
It’s a station on a journey.
A chapter in our lives.
We acknowledge these transitions
by documenting each of them.” -Rick Rubin, The Creative Act
I believe this quote to be true, because I feel it in my bones. It’s also why you can often find me saying “the process is the point.” Although art can deeply affect others, it’s the process of creating it that changes us. How powerful, then, to play a role on both sides of the camera when documenting a station on a journey. What gift do we give ourselves when we step out of our comfort zone and in front of the lens?
I often liken self-portraits to diary entries. They tell a story of a particular time by documenting who I am at that time. I look back on each of them fondly because, as hard as it is to look at an image of yourself that you just took, it’s very difficult to look at a past version of yourself and be as judgmental. I have compassion for past versions of myself, as I step into her shoes and remember her triumphs and struggles and how little she could have prepared for what was on the horizon.
These images remind me how far I’ve come, and that I can make it through infinitely more than I realize.
These images hold glimpses of panic attacks, divine femininity, body shame, efforts to rewild, what it is to be a: complex person in a high religious role, a mother, an artist mother, a lover, a friend, and so much more.
I peruse them like diary pages, knowing a picture is worth 1000 words and possibly more. (I assume a picture is also worth 100 emotions, and I’m lobbying hard to make it an adage.)
I believe in the power of self-portraits so much so that I created a free 30 day guide to walk people through the process of taking them. I launched this guide April 2024 and with it I invited people into a communal challenge: work through this 30 day guide with me and others all through April, and post your images to Instagram.
It was powerful. People were changed (literally). I knew I believed in self-portraits, but this project gave me data points that even blew me out of the water.
I look back on my own pictures during that 30 day project, and see how so much of my life has changed. I am thankful for each day I documented, and grateful that I continued to document even on days when it was a real struggle to do so.
Did I miss a few days? Yup. Does that make my set of images less meaningful and powerful? Nope. We don’t have to be perfect, we just have to show up as best we can.
I planned on running my 30 Days of Self guide as a communal project again, and two years later, it’s time. (More than time.)
This is your personal invite to join me and a whole community around the world in undertaking 30 days of seeing yourself more clearly, prioritizing your creativity, and creating a habit of doing a little each day. This doesn’t have to be a big undertaking, I (and many others) mainly just used my phone. We don’t need to overcomplicate things to reap the benefits of doing the task.
FAQ
Q: How do I participate?
A: Download the free guide here. Read through, do the daily prompts with Day 01 starting April 1, and post to Instagram (if you want!) by tagging me (@itsamyliz and #30days_itsamyliz. The problem with hashtags is they don’t work like they did even two years ago, so be sure to tag my account so I see it!)
Q: Will you be offering a group setting?
A: Yes! Last time I offered a group on Instagram, and after much consternation I have decided to do it on Facebook this time. I will post an inspiration image and a video every day along with other tidbits and encouragements. But on Facebook, we will have the ability to get in dialogue, share our images, and bond in a more communal way. If you just want to undertake the project on your own, the free guide will be great! If you know you want connection, accountability, inspiration, and guidance, the group is going to be a wonderful safe space for that.
BONUS: You’re on my email list, so using the code DOS10, you will get $10 off the price of group admittance! Get access by going here!
Q: What equipment do I need?
A: Just your phone and an open heart. A tripod isn’t a bad idea either. But seriously, don’t overcomplicate this. Just create daily with whatever you have on hand! All images in this post were taken during my last 30 Days of Self group project, and all of these were on an iphone.
Q: Do I have to be a photographer to participate?
A: NO!!!!!!!!!! Last time I literally had former roommates, math students, and school classmates participate. This project is literally for everybody. (So invite a friend)
Q: When does it start?
A: We will be working through the project starting April 1 and ending April 30, 2026. But opt into the group before then for some group intros and get access to an assignment about setting your intentions before the month begins.
Any other questions? Drop me an email.
I’m excited for April and know you won’t regret taking the leap to join in on the project. There’s so much to gain by pushing out of your comfort zone in this way. <3
Here’s what others had to say in April 2024:
Lemme Talk To Ya
It’s sort of a strange thing to think of my voice being pumped directly into people’s ears, but it’s also wonderful. I love that I get to talk to you through the mystery of a series of tubes via my Post-Processing Podcast!
Keep up-to-date on the artists we are studying in The Art Lab, listen in on Q+A, and enjoy conversations with artists! The latest episode features Summer Murdock, founder of Illuminate Classes, and the mastermind behind The Magic of Light class!
Tune into a little portion by watching this video :)
Self-Portraits For Growth!
My own three week workshop with Illuminate Classes has almost completed its second round. Although I don’t run this class again until fall, you can get on the waitlist now.
I believe in this class so hard and the art people are creating, the ways they are connecting with themselves and others, and the vulnerability people are leaning into is simply AMAZING.
Here are a couple examples from the final assignment in my class. If these don’t get you excited to create art and self-portraits, I don’t know what will.
Treat yourself to the gift of showing up and seeing yourself
xo,
Amy