20 Comments
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Emily Hoadley's avatar

Oh Malu! This is wonderful news!! Congratulations on this new path you’re starting on. The more i learn about you the more I am impressed with your strength, courage, and resiliency. You’ve taken a devastating health situation and instead of focusing on what you have lost you are focusing on what else you can accomplish. I look forward to following you on this next exciting chapter in your life!

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Oh Emily, you really are the kindest and most supportive person. My gosh, what a lovely message. I really try to focus on what I can still do , and even on the things I can do because of what happened. Of course, there’s still plenty of time for grieving everything I can no longer do. But somehow, I just can’t help trying to make the best of it. I feel too young to just give in to it, it feels like I don’t really have a choice. Anyway, it’s so lovely to have met you here, it truly means a lot!

Kate's avatar

Congrats on your acceptance!!! I’m so excited for you! …as someone who dropped out of art school for reasons that included her own imposter syndrome I really hope yours stays mostly quiet. I look back and mourn that I listened to it. BE BETTER THAN ME and ignore yours! Your work is beautiful. You deserve the space to keep developing it! Congrats again!!! 🫶🏻

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Thank you so much, Kate, such kind and thoughtful words! I’m definitely going to try to ignore that feeling, and I hope that spending more time in this world (aka getting older) will help me focus more on myself and my own goals. I’m truly sorry for what your past self went through, I can completely imagine how that must have felt and the impact it has had even now. But honestly, you’re an amazing artist and teacher, and you absolutely don’t need any formal education for where you are today

Alison Ellis's avatar

I am so excited for you Malu. A whole new world is going to open up for you. I can totally understand excited and nervous at the same time.

When I was nursing I continually felt like an imposter and really couldn’t believe that I was doing the job. I hope that you can fit in with your disabilities and find your way and I’m sure you will.

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

You are too kind Al, thanks for your supportive words, here and in our little group. They and you mean a lot! I felt like an imposter as well, when working my old job, maybe that’s just how it will always be, whatever we do 🫣😉

Teresa Barroso's avatar

Huge congratulations Malu ✨so exciting! Can’t wait to follow close your journey 😊

Ruth Fulknit's avatar

Congratulations. So happy for you. Looking forward to what you will create 🫶

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Thanks Ruth! Me too 😅

Hayley K :)'s avatar

This is amazing Malu!!! Gosh how exciting! I’m truly thrilled for you and cannot wait to hear all the details along the way 🧡

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Thanks Hayley, you are so sop supportive, thanks a lot! And I’m definitely going to share my process, the ups and the downs. So hold on 😉

Annelies's avatar

Wow! That is a great new adventure. :-) I can imagine that it’s scary. But it’s also so strong, that you take matters into your own hands. Now that your former career has ended, which is so sad because of the reason.

Take it one day at a time. Your work always makes me smile, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Cheering for you!

Annelies xx

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Oh Annelies, dankjewel, wát een lief bericht. Je slaat de spijker op z’n kop, zo voelt het inderdaad allemaal. Een stap voorwaarts ondanks en dankzij alle beperkingen en inclusief het verdriet wat er is door het verlies van mijn carrière. Soms denk ikzelf was ik maak klaar voor mijn pensioen. Maar goed, het zal wel ergens goed voor zijn of zo. En vind het ook heel leuk om jou ontmoet te hebben hier, das toch ook wat!

Annelies's avatar

Dat vind ik ook leuk! Ik volg je graag, zowel hier als op insta. (@blossom1975) 

Blijf dapper. En lief voor jezelf. 😊

Suzanne van Vlerken's avatar

Jaaaaaaaa, wat goed!!!! Oh, ik ben nu al zo benieuwd waar dit jou gaat brengen!

Malu - Artist & Disabled's avatar

Ohh zo spannend! Ik kijk altijd naar jouw werk en dan ben ik zo onder de indruk. En ook zo benieuwd hoe het voor jou is. Ik zal je nog wel eens bevragen 😉

Sharon B.'s avatar

Oh Malu, so sorry I missed all this exciting news! Yaayyy! The best time of my life was going to college for a Bachelor of Fine Arts many many years ago. I have most of that creativity up for a lot of years to work and have a family and to deal with what came after. This is so exciting and I am so happy for you!! You have such natural talent and I know you will keep growing and be more fabulous than you already are!! 🤗😘

Amy Oulton's avatar

Wow! Congratulations! What a big and exciting new beginning.

I’m so excited you now have a substack because I’m in awe of your artwork and look forward to learning from you! I would loooooove to see process videos to understand how you work.

Do you mean you are welcoming new people to join your accountability group for life drawing? How does it work? I wouldn’t call myself an artist, I don’t usually share anything I do online either. But I’m recovering from a very tough few years with my disability that has left my life quite empty and purposeless and am using art to rebuild a life of meaning. I’m still at the very early stages of both rebuilding and artistic skills (having dabbled in different things my whole life but not applied myself this much before). I’m very keen to find a community of artists (especially disabled ones) as part of this journey.

I really miss doing life drawing too. I’ve always felt like doing it online wouldn’t really be the same but I always see people raving about the Draw Brighton sessions!

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Mar 23, 2025
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