Authentic Obsessions

Takeaways When it’s really overwhelming, go outside with the dogs. Be more flexible with yourself. “How you spend your days is how you spend your life.” Annie Dillard You don’t have to fit nicely into a box in order to be successful. Nature is essential for emotional health. Mentioned Follow Melissa on Instagram Follow Melissa on Pinterest Follow Melissa on Facebook Melissa’s website Melissa’s Blo...

Takeaways 1. It's looking in and finding out, “what is your special thing?” That's going to be your key to starting the thing you want to do. 2. We all think other people are doing it better and have it sorted and then when you're sharing with these people in groups you find out you're all doing exactly the same. When you know that something like procrastination or perfection is a natural part of...

Takeaways 1. Beauty matters. 2. Beauty is a whisper of our humanity. 3. If you’re going to use the wheel, break the rules. 4. Even extroverts need quiet spaces. 5. The reason art and beauty exist is to remind us that we matter. Feeling seen and heard shouldn't be based on a post code and it shouldn't be a luxury, it should be a birthright. Mentioned Follow Rachel on Instagram Rachel’s website Foll...

Takeaways 1. Creating fuels creating. 2. Be content with whatever that day holds. 3. “I’m not gonna let anything with self-talk get in the way.” 4. “Fight for joy in whatever that season holds. The joy that comes out of me comes from those hard seasons.” Mentioned Follow Sandi on Instagram Sandi’s YouTube channel - Bits of an Artist’s Life Sandi’s website Mary Fedden Lilias Trotter

Takeaways Don’t worry about how it’s perceived but what it feels like. Take the shoulds out of it. Eventually you'll get the right outcome and it's not an outcome until it’s right. This is totally about joy and freedom. Mentioned Follow Jo on Instagram Follow Jo on Facebook Jo Payne’s website Jo Payne’s Etsy shop Crow Point David Hockney

Takeaways Having a small easy project that you never struggle to do, is a way in to the work and lets you stop procrastinating. The best pieces come out of those bold gestures. Music alongside painting amplifies both. Choose to keep the canvas that’s not working and have a dogged determination not to let the canvas win. Mentioned Follow Sue on Instagram Sue’s website Asbury and Asbury website Quin...

Takeaways 1.     A proposal of study can focus the mind and maintain a rigor within your work. 2.     Everyone has different challenges - build on what you’ve got. 3.     Social media is a platform to talk about my obsessions. 4.     Question your own perspective about animals. Mentioned Follow Suzy on Instagram Suzy’s website Duncan Petrie's short film showcasing Suzy's work The Good Ship Illustr...

Takeaways Pay attention to the role of contemplation in your art practice. When you give your art time and space to breathe amazing things emerge. Taking better of your body could help your art practice. Why not you? Mentioned Follow Emma on Instagram Emma’s website Emma’s podcast, Reflections from My Art Table Yarrow Magdalena’s book - Rituals and podcast - Daydreaming Wolves   The DIY Small Busi...

Takeaways 1. Just ask. 2. On social media: Follow less, engage more. 3. Same but different. 4. Be here now. Let go. 5. When you want to see beauty somewhere, if you don’t already see it, you have to create it. Make it come about. Mentioned Follow Molly on Instagram Molly’s website The Traveling Postal Club Matthew Frederick French General workshops Jen Peterson’s Instagram - the pursuit of sunshin...

Takeaways 1.     Just keep going. Pursue an idea, learn what doesn’t work and don’t give up along the way. 2.     Ask “what if.” 3.     As long as you activate the creative mind, you'll learn what doesn't work. 4.     It’s ok to just absorb the chaos going on in the world. Witness it and learn from it. You might respond years later, in a way that’s no so immediate. 5.     Showing up to the studio...

Takeaways 1. We’re so complex and weird as human beings - we know what is good for us and what will give us satisfaction so why don't we just go do more of that? 2. If you listen very carefully each tree and each kind of a leaf makes a different sound. 3. Social media is like an unwanted guest in your house. They have just arrived, they have no plans of leaving, and we just don't know whether we'r...

Takeaways 1.     Just say yes to more things. Even if you’re scared. A little bit of fear feeds the soul. 2.     Cowboy boots, cinnamon tea and a boogie dance is a great way to start the day. 3.     Just try new material. No one is going to look at it it if you don't want them to. If it’s for you only what are you afraid of? 4.     Working on cradled plywood can be a game changer! 5.     The key t...

1. It’s through the details that we notice changes and transitions. 2. A change in your environment can cause a change in you and your art. 3. We can only love those things that we know and we only want to protect the things we love. We must understand nature so we can protect it. 4. It's possible to have this art life if your heart is set on it and if you really feel that this is what you want to...

Takeaways 1. At the end of the day you just have to really find yourself fully in the person that you are 2. The more time you give yourself in a creative space the more the art that you're making communicates to you what you need to be working on. 3. The happier we are with the person that we were meant to be, the more able we are to give to others. 4. Make the most of every opportunity you have....

Takeaways 1. There’s no screaming in art. And there’s no crying in troweling. 2. You can’t give up and give in to self-doubt. Of course there will be self-doubt and tears, but work it out in your head, and then move on. 3. “I put my passion in my suitcase when I travel – trowels and truffles.” 4. Several things teach patience: Italy, and children. 5. Just be good to each other. Mentioned Follow Ca...

Takeaways 1. It all starts with being curious about the world. 2. You can have multiple careers across different industries – all you need to do is take a chance on yourself. 3. It’s worth peeling back the layers when you meet someone. There is something wonderful to behold when you take the time to look a little closer. 4. Embracing failure means you are learning. 5. The person that's holding you...

Takeaways 1. In our busyness and urban-ness we’ve been taken away from the beauty and mystery and magic that exists around us. 2. You have to be able to live in that uncomfortable zone in order to get to new and magical things. 3. The job of the mentor is not to change your opinion or your work, or not to tell you what's not going right, but to bring your nose off of the mirror and allow you to se...

Takeaways 1. “I have a lot of tabs open in my browser.” 2. Creativity does not need to be artistic - the mere act of being alive is creative. 3. Engaging in process art with no intent, no direction and no meaning is a great way to PLAY! 4. Take a lesson from the kindergarten crowd and when you make art just react from your gut, from your soul, and from your intuition. Mentioned Follow Natalie Erga...

Takeaways 1. There’s a real strength in knowing your weakness. 2. What I learned in art school taught me to expand my vision and self-critique. 3. Fear no longer gets a vote. 4. So often our fear pushes us away from our internal voice and toward security and what might be an argument.  My greatest successes in life have been when I’ve faced the fear and listened to that voice.  5. “Get in the shor...

Takeaways 1. You begin to realize you’re limiting your options and every positive choice that you make to do something means there are other things you don’t get to do. 2. Do what you can to quiet the internal voices that tell you you’re not very good at this and say, “thank you for your opinion, we can have this discussion another time” and just go to work. 3. Make the thing you need to make and...

Takeaways 1. Stretching a canvas in the studio is like making a sauce in the kitchen. 2. It’s still challenging to realize there will be another painting after this one. 3. Not every painting is going to be a painting you’re happy with but there’s something in it that may challenge you and move you that gets resolved in the next one. 4. Short bursts of bouncing (on a trampoline!) are very good for...

Takeaways 1. Let your field go fallow for a while. Step away from it and allow things to percolate. 2. If you get to the point where you're not able to tap into that pure place where you’re “just making the work because you love it”  then the work suffers and the whole thing starts to fall down. 3. You’re the only one who can take your shower. 4. Having different stages of your artwork in your bac...

Takeaways 1. You show up, you commit, you don’t let people down, and you put something back into the community. 2. Don't give up when you get frustrated by your materials. 3. Don’t overcomplicate things. 4. Work hard, be generous and don’t take yourself too seriously. 5. Chiropractic and acupuncture treatments, wine, and a dog go a long way to self-care. 6. The technical aspects of art didn't come...

Takeaways 1. Just because you carry the load well doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. 2. You don’t have to be just one thing. 3. It IS a good day to have a good day! 4. No colors clash in nature. Mentioned in this episode Follow Jes Zange on Instagram Jes Zange’s website Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival Fiberwood Studio

Takeaways 1. Everything around you is touched by an artist. Artists are the ones who tell our story. 2. Self expressions is the key to storytelling. It’s about hearing everyone's individual stories and finding out what we have in common through those unique stories. 3. My community is a constellation, not a congregation. 4. Strive for fewer better things. 5. Talent is a real slippery term and it’s...