Subtle shifts in following my heart

Gratitude & Reflection

On turning 50…

This January, I’ll be celebrating my 50th birthday, and along with it,

25 incredible years of teaching art.

I know I am an artist and not a mathematician but

WOW,
I have been teaching HALF my LIFE!

Hitting this milestone feels like pausing on a mountaintop—taking a deep breath to marvel at the path behind me and soak in the horizon ahead. Teaching has shaped me in ways I never could have imagined. It’s been more than just guiding others; it’s been a mutual exchange of lessons, creativity, and growth. It has allowed me to tap into my own process and build awareness, confidence and a career that I find endlessly rewarding. I started as a nervous, break-out into hives -young 25 year old teaching in the basement of a local art supply store and then renting a church room once a week. Now, I have taught thousands of lessons all over the world! It truly is remarkable!

Over the years, I’ve learned as much from my “students” as I’ve shared with all of you. You’ve reminded me of the importance of curiosity, resilience, and the bravery it takes to follow your passions. Every class, every conversation, every breakthrough moment has left a mark on my heart.

Reaching 50 and reflecting on a quarter-century of teaching fills me with immense gratitude—not only for the privilege of sharing knowledge but for the deep human connections along the way. To everyone who has been a part of this journey, thank you. Your stories, your growth, and your trust have been the most meaningful gifts. Here’s to the next chapter and all the learning, teaching, and creating still to come!

Winding Down Substack with Something New

This December marks a turning point for our Substack space. I’ll be transitioning it to a free model, making all content accessible to everyone. Content creation for you (not around you) has always been my goal, and this move feels like the perfect way to keep things open, while still prioritizing quality connections. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that the feeling of overwhelm is real! As such I turned off my paid subscriptions and for those of you who are paying monthly, this will be frozen for you as well so you will not longer be charged any fees to receive my publication. This will also free me up to post quality content when I feel I have something raw and important to share rather than it being an obligation. I would rather honour those feelings and share wholeheartedly with you.

A Glimpse Into 2025

2025 feels like a blank canvas full of promise.

I can’t wait to tell you more about it in the coming weeks.

My YouTube is going to remain a core gathering space. There I have 30,000 subscribers and things are going to really open up! If you haven’t yet subscribed, now is a great time to jump in.

By joining there, you’ll have access to all of my FREE videos and tips and tricks from my over 25 years of teaching experience.

I will be launching a new PAID MEMBERSHIP with monthly fees as low as $1.99

This will include exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, detailed walkthroughs of my creative process, and, most importantly, a chance to connect more closely with this community in the comment sections and livestreams.

Wherever you connect with me, whether here on SUBSTACK, on Youtube, Instagram or through my own website newsletter, I thank you for being part of this creative adventure.

With all my love and gratitude,
Crystal Beshara