Art Horse

Fiona manages to squeeze a little bit of painting and Artist’s Waying into a big transition week, while Jess takes a bite out of a few big projects and does some group art. Both have the sense that they’re still in fact, inside their comfort zones, and make a plan to get out. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Making Comics by Lynda Barry — Get fun extras on our Patreon! Check ou...

Jess reflects on a moment of self-deprecation from last week, and transforms some seemingly frivolous childhood memories by writing them down. Fiona has a delicious experience with posca paint markers, and watches in horror as she harshes the vibe during a drawing session with a friend. Both see first-hand how the experiences of teen girls are more legitimate than we’ve been conditioned to believe...

Fiona and Jess chat with Sarah about work, life, work life, and life work. This conversation leaves us with more questions than answers: How do you focus on your day job when you just want to be creating?... But then, how do you create when your work drains the life out of you? How do you chase your dreams when it seems like .01% of people succeed? Most importantly, how do you trust that the path...

Fiona discovers a new way to punctuate the passage of pandemic days through her daily diary practice and enlists Jess (and you) as a witness to her toilet painting breakthrough. Jess carries on with the daily diary, paints some stuff, and changes the course of her life. Both coincidentally paint each other. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Making Comics by Lynda Barry — Thanks...

On Thursday, September 10th, 9PM EST we're gonna have a zoom call and do a little drawing + writing exercise together (40 mins). Wanna come?? Sign up here to get the link: https://forms.gle/wt5treKCutF7k8D3A   You'll need: - a scrap paper, - a sheet of printer sized paper, - and a pen or a marker Can't wait to see you!

Fiona wards off discouragement when her bonsai project turns out to be more complicated than expected, tackles her perfectionist tendencies in acrylic painting, and admits to her fear that her life is too boring to record daily-diary-style. Jess thoroughly enjoys seeing improvements in her drawings this week, and finds a treasure in a thrift store that blows her mind. Both laugh about thinking “ho...

Jess recognizes some patterns of low self-worth, thrills herself with a daily diary, and paints some everyday beauty (read: nudies). Fiona looks forward to a fresh page in a new place, and follows up on her money fear deep dive from last week. Both reflect on the ways they self-sabotage in relationships and careers by unpacking some limiting beliefs and behaviours.  — We mention: The Artist's...

Jess makes art on the road in imperfect conditions and Fiona draws spontaneously --- the Artist’s Way is working! Both air their (not inconsiderable) baggage about money, abundance, and scarcity in art and life --- and come to a surprisingly rich conclusion. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Making Comics by Lynda Barry Untamed by Glennon Doyle (re: sobriety) Fran Meneses Youtub...

Fiona finds comfort in colouring books this week as she reels from a one-two punch that will change the course of her life ... for better? Jess makes it out of the bush, visits an art gallery, and sings to some cows. Both wonder: if art isn’t hard to make, is it good? If it’s ugly, is it art? River and a crick: what’s the difference? — We mention: The Ballad of Casey’s Billy-Goat by Robert Service...

Fiona and Jess chat with their friend Jackie about just doing the thing you love with a shrug and a smile. You’ll love this episode if productivity and self-worth for you means stress and pain and you’re looking for a way out --- or you just love to laugh! She’s a hoot n a half and seriously inspiring. — We mention: Underpants and Overbites Blankets by Craig Thompson — Thanks for listening to ART...

Jess’s zest for a creative project goes down the toilet. Fiona delivers a screed on her feelings about Amanda Palmer’s “the Art of Asking” feat. an embarrassing nugget from her past. Neither of them know whether sharing your sparkly new ideas is good or bad for creativity.  _ We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer — Thanks for listening to ART HORSE!...

Delving into the past brings frustration for Jess and inspiration for Fiona. Jess tackles a tiny fiber art project and explores possible reasons for her creative inhibitions, while Fiona takes herself on a kitschy artist’s date to refill her “image well”.  — We mention: The piano hammering video by Amanda Palmer Brené Brown on comparative suffering Judith Just and her juicy tapestries The Artist’s...

Fiona beads. A lot. Like, a LOT. Jess frantically bails out the sinking ship that is an ambitious pastry project. Both struggle to work on their creative projects in the presence of others. _ We mention: A workshop with Erika Lee Sears "Foolproof" macarons The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron — Thanks for listening to ART HORSE! If the pod is doing somethin for ya, please leave us an i...

Fiona sells the craft supplies that are guilt tripping her and takes a painting workshop with her Instagram art crush. Jess is stood up by creative flow, but still finds unexpected joy in an ordinary medium. A question from The Artist’s Way brings up some big thoughts on sacrifice and selfishness.  — We mention: Sofi Tukker - Batshit The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Making Comics by Lynda Ba...

Fiona copies a piece of modern art and Jess experiences life without Birdstrips. Both share some time tested strategies for avoiding difficult thoughts and feelings. — We mention: Untamed by Glennon Doyle The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron 3-Ingredient Fermented Ginger Beer (thanks Karli!) An interview: Lynda Barry talks about her style of comics and teaching non-artists to draw. “Blanche” by...

Fiona feels overwhelmed by creative possibility and Jess falls into the gap between the stories she wants to tell and the ones that come out. Both draw some unexpected comics. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Making Comics by Lynda Barry The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer - (“human delicacy”) — Thanks for listening to ART HORSE! Website: arthorsepod.com Find pictures from this...

Fiona’s first self-portrait in years suffers some proportion problems, but she recognizes an important connection between creative energy and eating disorder recovery. Jess (and Fiona) attend an online comics workshop. Jess is moved by the power of storytelling and Greg delivers her some juicy insights. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by...

Fiona experiences the growing pains that come with trying to orient her life in a new direction; this involves a frenzied 4-hour late-night job application panic spiral. Jess bravely hooches on and recalls a time when she paid a man $1000 to let her help him build his cob mansion. Both agree on the awkward, frustrating pain of starting out on a new path as a beginner, and relish in the feeling of...

This week, Fiona realizes the value of “good enough” while doing her makeup, and digs into her past to try to discover why she feels jealous of the disinhibition of others. Jess takes the first wobbly steps towards a new adventure with a milk-jug and a quarter-pound bag of “unique” balloons. — We mention: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer Mark Freeman, who w...

This week, Fiona spends a day without the internet to trick herself into doing art (and do, she does). r/PrisonHooch inspires Jess to take a creative leap. Both agree that moving forward from imperfect pieces is important, and Jess draws a big realization out of Fiona about jealousy and attention. We mention The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. — Thanks for listening to ART HORSE! If you want t...

This week, Fiona becomes a clay jewelry guru and goes down a slippery spending slope. Jess finally puts to rest some musical "Why Me's". We talk about our Five Unlived Lives, and how letting go of living in the past might change everything about the future. — We mention The Artist's Way : A Course in Discovering and Recovering Your Creative Self (Julia Cameron) . — Thanks for l...

Hi. We're Fiona and Jess, two regular every-day people in pursuit of a more creative life. This episode gives you a bit of a back story on who we are and what the hell is going on here. We talk about Jess’s 1000-day art project, Fiona’s desire to make something (anything), and how “art rules” can set you free. We're both currently working through The Artist's Way : A Course in Disco...