Paintbrush & Ivories

In this episode, Jennifer and Michelle talk about the big shifts they have each made in their creative lives since they recorded their last podcast episode. They share stories of growth and expansion in their practice and how they see themselves as creatives. Artists and resources mentioned in this episode: SWELL Sculpture Festival https://www.swellsculpture.com.au/ Brunswick Nature Sculpture Walk...

After a pause in their podcasting, Michelle and Jennifer get back together to talk about what creative life has been like over the last six months. One key idea that has emerged has been about letting go of the turmoil that sometimes surrounds us in our creative practice and how releasing this leaves more bandwidth for our artistry. Artists and resources mentioned in this episode: Creative Mullumb...

Mending & Tending: Art that works for Nature is a commissioned project by local artists Samantha Moss, Jess Poulsen and Shona Wilson currently happening in the Byron Shire. Each artist shares a deep connection and appreciation for the environment, as well as an established art practice working with nature and its precious resources. In today’s episode, Michelle speaks with Jess Poulsen and Sho...

After two months in the gallery, Michelle’s Ash, Mud & Tears exhibition has come down. In this episode, Michelle is joined by her exhibition collaborator, Jude White to discuss what’s emerged from the exhibition experience. They discuss the impact of the exhibition on their art practice and the learnings about how to mount a great show and make it a success. Artists and resources mentioned in...

Do you sometimes feel too tired to make art? Do you ever struggle with managing energy levels in the ebb and flow of your creative practice? If yes, then this episode is worth a listen. Michelle and Jennifer talk through the energy dips that can result from finally getting a big project across the line or just the life of a multi-hat wearing creative with many, many projects on the go. The concept...

After months of intense work, Michelle Walker and her creative collaborator, Jude White have finished their artwork for the 'Ash, Mud & Tears' exhibition. In this episode, Jude joins Michelle and Jennifer to talk about the making of the work, the ideas behind the show and some early learnings from how it all came together. In Ash, Mud & Tears, Michelle Walker & Jude White present an exhibition of...

On the equinox, Jennifer Ruth Russell released her 4th book, Opulence Infusion. In today episode, Michelle interviews Jennifer and finds out more about how the lessons and processes contained in the newest book serve artists in the practice of their craft. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Seven Sacred Flames book by Aurelia Louise Jones Opulence Infusion book by Jennifer - https://www.amaz...

Do you ever think about how your daily choice of activities affects your life and what you want to ultimately achieve? It’s the automatic (sometimes) unconscious behaviours that we do repeatedly that's in focus today. Jennifer and Michelle consider the things they do daily (or don’t do) to ensure they are strong, centered and able to give their greatest in the studio. What’s powerful about your da...

In this episode, Michelle and Jennifer welcome their dear friend and fellow ‘mastermind’ goddess, Lisa DePamphilis to the podcast. Through meeting (nearly) weekly for the past 7.5 years, the three women have grown an understanding about how to do this activity well. Masterminds can be hugely beneficial for your life and creative practice… and they can be an energy drain. In this episode you will h...

If you have you ever struggled to believe that you CAN make good money from art, then this episode will be of interest. Michelle and her guest, American born contemporary artist Michele Luminato talk about the importance of mindset in our journey as artists making an income from our art. Michele brings a depth of experience from “corporate creative” and discusses the knowledge that she brought acr...

Have you ever pondered your creative identity and style? As artists, this is a key question. Prompted by a quote from Cezanne:  ‘The most seductive thing about art is the personality of the artist himself’, Michelle and her guest, Liz Ackerley, a mixed media abstract artist from the UK, discuss the pursuit of our creative identity in our work. The questioning of our interests, focus and intent wit...

The old proverb from West African country of Burkina Faso: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together’ underlines the topic for today’s episode – creative collaborations. Jennifer and Michelle discuss the experiences they have had, why they believe them to offer value to artists and key areas to pay attention to, to ensure they are time well spent. Artists, links and...

What happens to our creative practice when big changes occur in our lives? How does that affect how we see ourselves as artists? In this episode, Jennifer and Michelle reflect on the recent changes in their lives and how that’s affected their identities as artists and how this theme of change is part of the journey many artists experience in their lifetimes. Suleika Jaouad, a best selling author w...

Starting out the year with a focus on self-care is the topic of today’s episode. Jennifer and Michelle are joined by artist, yogi and Ayurvedic practitioner, Yolanda de Cuevas who takes listeners through an understanding of our natural rhythms as seen in the Ayurvedic practice. Managing our activities with the natural flow of energies throughout the day ( / year / our lives) can greatly help our h...

At this time of year, many artists do an end-of-year review. One of the issues that can arise is the feeling of frustration and impatience with the speed at which we are achieving our goals and seeing the results we want. In this episode, Michelle, flying solo shares her thoughts about this issue and how to work through it. One of the ways she recommends to switch focus from any impatience is by j...

When we are called to create, we are also called to believe that our creativity is supported in every way needed so we can bring it into the world. This is ‘the faith walk of an artist’. It means to walk ‘with a trusting heart’ in the world. This is the topic of today’s episode – Michelle and Jennifer talk about these concepts as well as what happens when we trust that we are called to do our crea...

What’s in a name? Inspired by a controversial quote from performance and visual artist, Yoko Ono about what defines an artist versus an artisan, Michelle and Jennifer talk through their views on these titles and how they have come to understand the context of controversy in art-making and the important process of finding one’s voice. Artists, resources and links mentioned in this episode: Money Mo...

It can be truly exciting when someone wants to commission us as artists to create an artwork. Navigating what comes next, takes some business savvy and belief in your artistic skills. Managing the contracting process as well as undertaking the work and delivering a well-received final piece can be tricky if you don’t know about the pitfalls. In this episode, Michelle talks you through the steps sh...

“Community hones us” is a quote from Jennifer that emerges as she and Michelle talk about how community plays important roles in each of creative lives. The formal and informal communities that support us in our growth artistically can take many forms, and it's up to each of us to find the balance between being in community and dancing out for quiet alone time in the studio. Resources and links me...

In this episode, Jennifer and Michelle talk about the concept of a creative's body of work and how they each go about it for their artistry – whether it’s for an exhibition or a new CD of music and songs – there are phases and tips for embarking, sustaining and finishing your project. Resources and artists mentioned in this episode: Whitney Freya's Creatively Fit Coach Training program Michelle’s...

Having covered the planning and preparation phases of running an online challenge in Part 1 (Episode #27), Michelle and Jennifer dive into the delivery and follow up phases in this episode. From tips on how to manage all the daily activities and communications with your participants and focus on helping your people get the results they want, to closing the challenge and the follow up and reflectio...

Online challenges can be a great way to grow your following and engage with folks who are interested in similar things and give back to your community. In this episode, Michelle and Jennifer step through what you need to think about if you are keen to run your own online challenge – what to cover as you are coming up with the idea and focus of your challenge and then what needs to happen in the pr...

Visiting art in the outdoors has become an experience many enjoy. Regional areas and cities have seen the potential and artists have embraced the concept as a way of reaching a wider audience. In today's episode, Michelle, flying solo, talks through her recent experience of being a part of her local art trail and open studios event. She talks through the things to think about when you are making t...

May is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day in the US and Australia. It also happens to be Mother Mary’s month and Jennifer celebrates her annual flight around the sun. In this episode, Michelle and Jennifer discuss the mother energy and its connection to creativity, how our relationships with our earthly mothers can affect our belief in ourselves and shape our path to creative expression. Michelle...

On discovering a beloved poem lost for more than 30 years, Michelle has been thinking again about the concept of simplicity. In this episode, Michelle shares the poem by William Carlos Williams and what follows is a conversation with Jennifer around simplicity in art and life that covers music triads, colour palette triads, do-ability and the zen spiritual practice known as hitsuzendo. Artists and...