Create-Today with Beth Buffington

Today, we explore how embracing the positive aspect of 'abandon' can supercharge your creativity and enhance your happiness. Let’s explore how simple acts of creativity can relieve stress and improve mental well-being. Discover how simply dancing in your kitchen or doodling with a “what the hell, no one is watching” attitude can strengthen your well being, and increase your creative process. Join...

Snack your way to Creative Genius? Yes you can! Learn how to keep your imagination vibrant and stay focused by incorporating small, enjoyable creative activities into your daily life. From artistic tapas to avoiding creative junk food—discover amazing—and very useful hacks and strategies to enhance your creativity and achieve a balanced and healthy creative routine. Perfect for anyone looking to b...

Lately…life has been loud with news…extreme weather…conflicts. In this episode of BDI Create Today, we look at the significance of creativity in our daily lives, discussing how it allows us to be stronger for life’s daily hurdles— by helping us power up our creativity—enabling us to see beauty in opposites, foster innovation, and build empathy. We will examine how to carve out time for creative pu...

This week Beth explores the creative power of combining tandem strengths. Building on last week's interview with Mary Jo Hoffman, author of 'Still, the Art of Noticing,' Beth explores how mixing your creative strengths (like riding a tandem bike) can amplify your creativity. This episode offers powerful but usable ideas about how YOU can strengthen your creative skills by using and perfecting your...

This week Beth chats with Mary Jo Hoffman about her transformative journey from aerospace engineering to professional artist and author. Mary Jo shares how her personal project, “Still”, born out of a challenge to photograph found nature, evolved into over a decade-long creative practice. Listen is to a delightful discussion about the importance of consistency, how focus on a daily commitment can...

Our Create Today guest, Lori Siebert shares her creative journey, from art lessons at a young age to becoming a successful designer, teacher, and mentor. Lori highlights the importance of passion and curiosity in her work, recounts stories of overcoming fear, and encourages others to explore and honor their creative instincts. She discusses the significance of travel, collaboration, and the ritual...

In this episode of BDI Create Today, we explore the fourth and final word of the “Going FourWords” creative process—and that word is…Release. 
We discuss the importance of putting down your tools… and releasing your project into the world—to do what it was created to do! 
We talk about the common struggles creatives face, such as perfection paralysis and fear of rejection. You’ll gather up valuabl...

In this episode of BDI Create Today, we explore 'Refine', the third word in the four-part series on the "Going FourWords" Creative Process. This week we discuss the importance of focusing on a chosen idea and carrying it through to completion amidst common challenges like distractions and imposter syndrome. This episode is packed with practical tips to help you refine your creative process and ach...

Prepare to rocket your creativity – by going "FourWords" with your Creativity In this episode of BDI Create, the focus shifts to the second stage of the "Going FourWords" Creative Process – the 'Realize' phase. Listen in and discover two key methods to enhance how you see and process your world...by turning off autopilot and nurturing your curiosity. You'll discover tips on how to integrate this R...

Revive Your Creative Energy:  The essential first word in the Going “FOUR-words” Creative Process In this insightful episode of BDI Create Today, we dive into the super important first stage of the four-word creative process: REVIVE. Discover why when you REVIVE your creative energy -  you can produce your best work. Learn the importance of rest, how to incorporate rejuven...

In this episode of BDI Create Today, we kick off a multi-part series exploring the often-overlooked but crucial creative process. Addressing common struggles like unfinished projects and creative burnout, the episode introduces Beth’s very own creative process to revitalize and refine your creativity. Join Beth as she discusses the four key phases: Revive, Realize, Refine, and Release – offering a...

In this episode of BDI Create Today, we explore the creative world of Mary Carroll Moore, an accomplished author, artist, and entrepreneur. Mary shares her multifaceted journey, from winning a painting contest at the age of 12, navigating through her passion for art and writing, to the transformative experience of battling breast cancer and rediscovering painting. She discusses how her creative pr...

The color wheel is a radiant spectrum encompassing every hue imaginable. That’s Full Color… a wheel where every single shade has its place... and every single color contributes to the brilliance of the whole. To live a life in full color, that means embracing the diversity of all the shades within in the human spectrum. It's about recognizing that each hue – each voice, adds depth and beauty to th...

Do you have a creative goal… a dream… an experience…that you really want to do or want to learn… but you're not sure how to get started…or how to learn the skills needed? Do not feel alone. Creativity is a magnificent force. It's the spark that ignites innovation and a beacon that illuminates new possibilities. But… when we approach our creative goals by alone… sometimes, even the most passionate...

Meet professional licensed artist Jan Shade Beach Jan is one of my Procreate students who went from from Procreate Novice to Ninja - and has taken her Procreate knowledge to make money in her creative business! One of Jan's creative super powers is SEEING a great idea... and DOING great things with the ideas she collects. In this episode she shares how creativity pulls her out into the world to ex...

Let's get personal today—as I share my story of transformation from a left handed kid with a love for new crayons…that led to a love for drawing... that led studying art in college... that led to a job as graphic designer… then licensed artist. product and surface pattern designer, and now... podcaster. I believe that when we share our stories of struggles and celebrations, we can inspire each oth...

There's something inherently magical about the ocean. It provides endless creative treasures for heart, mind, body and soul. Just like the Ocean, creativity is an endless resource… But figuring out how we can take advantage of this vast reservoir of treasures –that's the secret to staying inspired. We need to be able to see… and then use… what we’ve collected. Actually putting the grand ideas we’v...

Today we explore how doodling can make us smarter, more innovative... and even calmer! So run with abandon to your pencil and doodle with confidence! In this episode we review the book "The Doodle Revolution" by Dr. Sunni Brown. You'll realize that doodling is a natural and instinctive form of expression that can actually enhance cognitive abilities and boost creativity. By allowing our minds to w...

Today Jennifer Smelker shares how she figured out the twists and turns of building a successful creative business! Jennifer went from engineer... to an artist who Illustrates, designs, licenses, and manufactures products that are sold in boutiques and department stores across the US. Jennifer is the founder of the wildly successful Tandem For Two – a gift company selling products to celebrate wher...

Today we chat about how to create creative balance—so you can be resilient and strong as you travel through the journey of each day. From the moment we get up in the morning, to the moment we hit the pillow at night—Life is a journey traveled daily...and goodness knows the road is not always smooth! Like riding a bicycle... creating and maintaining balance— is important to keep us moving forward…...

My guest today is: Professional Illustrator, Lisa Haight Lisa is one of my past Create-Today Visionary students who has become a full time artist and illustrator! (Hurray Lisa!!) After a rewarding career as a K-8 art teacher, Lisa left teaching to pursue illustration full time. (Cue the LEAP!) Join in on a lively discussion as Lisa shares how she made the decision to take this daring creative leap...

Our guest today is healthy aging coach, Lisa Murphy She works with entrepreneurs and creatives to help them understand how to maintain their personal health and wellness. No matter how old you are, if you want to age like a fine wine (um, yes please!) TODAY is the perfect time to set yourself up for healthy aging. Lisa shares how you can become more calm, confident, and comfortable in your creativ...

Today we talk about letting yourself be bored...on purpose. When given a chance to be on its own without distractions, your brain has time to process what’s going on in your life. You have time to sift through your day…process information, and reflect on things. This is where you find answers to problems that seemed unsolvable. Let's talk about bringing back the lost art of boredom... Create with...

Today we welcome Margo Tantau to the Create-Today Podcast. Margo is an artist, art director, podcaster, and as she says “a seeker of imaginative finds." She has decades of creative experience and her curiosity has led her on adventures all around the globe to develop innovative gift lines; seek out product needs, forecast trends and envision new design concepts. As an artist Margo finds inspiratio...

Today are exploring the powerful realm of the creative mind. We are going to think about how we use our mind…and determine if we’ve set it to embrace growth…or fear failure… and then we’ll consider if we might want to re-consider things in our mind….just a little… to help us become a more curious and confident creative. Info you may want to check out! More about Carol Dweck: https://en.wikipedia.o...