Substack has become one of the most popular tools for sharing opinions, stories and for building an engaged fan base. It's an online platform that allows writers and content creators to publish newsletters for free or for a (small) subscription, to create a membership community and to generate additional passive income. It is free to use, you own your data, including your subscriber list, and you have the option of monetising your work via paid subscriptions. If someone subscribes to your Substack, your newsletter will land in their inbox.
We love seeing so many creatives using Substack alongside their usual email marketing platforms or instead of. It's a really popular place to be. Here we have selected our favourite Substack newsletters for creatives.
Click on any of the headings to go straight to that Substack We have organised them in alphabetical order.
'ART DELIVERY' by the jealous curator
Contemporary art delivered daily to your inbox from Danielle Krysa, the founder of The Jealous Curator, and best-selling author of several books on art & creativity. Truly educational and inspiring!
Austin Kleon
Every Friday since 2013, Austin Kleon has sent out a list of 10 things he thinks are worth sharing. The emails feature an eclectic mix of both his own art and writing and books, music, movies, and other interesting links that have inspired him. The Atlantic called Austin “positively one of the most interesting people on the internet” and The Guardian named his newsletter one of the best newsletters on Substack.
'Brand Seasons' by Sarah Robertson
Sarah Robertson runs a beautiful branding agency and is also very generous with her knowledge and experience. Her Substack is a great follow not only for branding tips but also for lifestyle insights and creative interviews. She has also written a book called Shape Your Brand Story.
Brand Seasons by Sarah Robertson
Decorating Dissidence
This is perfect for craft fanatics; a beautiful smorgasbord of interviews, monthly what's on round ups, deep dives into craft practices and pieces from the archives. Wonderful!
Honesty box on jewels
This is a jewellery newsletter from jewellery industry experts Kate Matthams Spencer and Katie Manderson. Each month, they share jewellery news, trends and industry insight, their favourite new pieces and exclusive views from friends in the jewellery world.
'Illustration Matters' by Dave Bain
Dave Bain is freelance, commercial illustrator and mural artist living and working in Bristol, England. His Substack is a mix of personal musings and insights, with advice and recommendations on illustration and mural painting.
Jenny's Substack - Let's Art Together
Jenny Lawson shared a drawing a week for one year in an attempt to rekindle the joy of creating. She also writes about inspiration, motivation, and how to keep pouring from your creative cup even when it feels like there's a hole in it covering topics such as mental illness, leadership, writing, criticism, invisible disabilities, and above all joy!
'JOIE de VIVRE' by Lisa Dawson
Joie De Vivre is a home for all that brings the joy to life - interior finds, vintage shopping, easy recipes, and travel write ups all curated by Lisa Dawson.
Karin Celestine
Karin lets us into their magical world of felt creatures and beautiful heartfelt picture books with stories from their shed in Wales and helpful snippets about the realities of running your own business.
Karin Celestine
link in bio
Rachel Karten is a social media consultant based in Los Angeles. Link in Bio is one of the top business newsletters on Substack and features interviews with the social managers behind larger brands and insightful breakdowns of strategies. It’s a great tool for anyone interested in social media and the internet.
'Living Small' by Laura Fenton
A home and garden newsletter about small spaces, sustainable living, and living with less by Laura Fenton, the author of The Little Book of Living Small.
'Mad About The House' by Kate Watson-Smyth
Perfect for interior design lovers, Kate Watson-Smyth's Substack offers design insights, home inspiration and monthly round-ups of the things that have caught her eye.
Mad About the House by Kate Watson-Smyth. Italianate Wallpaper by Mini Moderns
michaela carpenter
Michaela calls her Substack ‘notes from the material world: culture, brand, environment, hospitality, craft.’ It’s a beautiful creative insight.
SALLY Edmundson-Bird Ceramics
This is an absolute treat for all ceramics lovers. Sally started an evening pottery class thirty odd years ago, which led to a love of clay and particularly throwing. She recently completed an MA to further her craft and she writes in depth about all things ceramics!
'SOULSTACK' by BETH KEmpton
Non fiction author Beth writes about life and writing, beauty and darkness, joy and sorrow, the grand juggle - reflections on doing what you love in a world that wants you to do what makes other people money - and the tiny miracles. All from her little thatched cottage in Devon, England.
'SPARKLE ON SUBSTACK' by CLARE VENUS
For those of you new to Substack or wanting tips and advice on how to make it work well for you and your business, Clare Venus shares excellent chats, podcasts, and tools to help you grow.
'The design release’
The Design Release was founded when Leo Lei and Julia Haney Montanez were working in New York, often traveling internationally to scout new designers for Leo’s store and exhibitors for the Architectural Digest Design Fair, where Julia was working at the time. Along with their third co-founder Zack Kollar, they created The Design Release as a calendar platform to track design shows and exhibitions around the world, with editorial to contextualise it all.
Their Substack focuses on their favourite exhibitions and design world news along with some commentary and a blind item or two.
'The Great Women Artists' by Katy Hessel
Katy Hessel is an art historian, broadcaster, and author of The Story of Art Without Men. Her Substack is a celebration of women artists with ideas for exhibitions, books, shows, and travel!
The Great Women Artists by Katy Hessel. Swimming Pool by Joana Vasconcelos
'The hyphen' by Emma Gannon
Emma Gannon is an award winning writer, novelist and author. In her Substack, The Hyphen, you’ll find reflections on creativity, behind-the-scenes diaries, notes from her writing life, book recommendations, and conversations about work, ambition, rest and creating on your own terms.
'The Travelling artist' by jo scott
Pet portrait artist Jo runs her business from her camper van travelling Europe. Her Substack is a lovely mix of travel stories, art, and insights in to running a creative business.
And there you go! Our favourite Substack newsletters for creatives! Have you got a Substack or do you subscribe to one that we haven't mentioned above? Please let us know your favourites and recommendations in the comments box below.