The Artist Cooperative Podcast

It's an Art History talk! Let's explore some artists who've made art from unexpected materials, and how that can help enhance our own creative practice.

How do you define creative vision? What do you want out of your creative practice, and how can you give it to yourself? Let's chat about building intention and follow-through into your creative practice, in a shame-free way! 

Let's chat about the elusive CREATIVE FLOW and how we can incorporate into our creative practice!

Let's explore color and pigment in art history together!

Do you need to know everything there is to know about watercolor and creativity to call yourself an artist? Of course, the answer is NO, my friend! One thing you do need, though, is a healthy dose of self-trust. Any artist who is braving the creative wilderness must go into their adventure knowing that they will be able to handle whatever uncertainty comes their way -- not because they have all th...

Do you ever get caught in the comparison trap? Lost scrolling Instagram, wishing your paintings looked like everyone else's? Let's talk about where that mindset comes from, how to take care of yourself while you're stuck in the spiral, and what to do to help your inner critic feel a lot more secure!

Art has throughout history been a way for humans to rediscover and celebrate values and ideals for creating a beautiful life -- what better time than the busy holidays to explore how art has captured the beauty in stillness? How can we incorporate stillness more into our creativity in a way that feels empowering and nourishing? Let's talk about it!   Video Replay: https://vimeo.com/1146618264/4517...

What is your relationship with rest, and what role does it play in your creative practice? Let's chat about it!

Is your creative space (physically, mentally, emotionally) making it easier for you to create, or are there hidden barriers? Let's talk about ways you can intentionally curate spaces to help you find the magic in your creative practice! 

How have artists used creativity and creative platforms to advocate for a better world? Let's discuss!

What does "self-care" mean for you, especially in your creative practice? How do we dig deeper into self-compassion and care work so it's not just surface-level, but actual self-discovery and healing? And what does creativity have to do with that? Let's talk about it! 

How can we use creativity to help us hold grief? Life can get heavy, and creativity can absolutely be a tool to hold space for our humanity. Let's talk about it! 

It's an art history mindset chat! Let's explore some famous creatives (Emily Dickinson, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Frida Kahlo) who blazed trails while navigating tough life circumstances. 

Is your deepest fear that you are, in fact, decidedly... average? If so, you're not alone! Fearing "mediocrity" is one of the top reasons why so many people never pick up a paintbrush! Let's chat about what's so scary about mediocrity, why we've been taught to fear it... and how to reclaim our own value regardless of how we measure up to societal expectations. 

One of the challenges we're faced with as artists: How do we grow our skill but actually make it feel good? It's a tricky balance sometimes, trying to focus on self-compassion but also welcome the growth. Is "constructive criticism" a real thing? What kind of feedback do we really want -- and what kind of feedback does our community need from us? Let's chat about it! 

History is full of artists who had the courage to make revolutionary creative work -- only to be panned by the critics and wholly misunderstood. Let's talk about this interesting correlation and how it can help us have more courage in our creative practice! 

Is your inner critic a major perfectionist? Do you find yourself getting stuck in your creative progress because you just can't seem to stomach the "messy middle"? In this discussion, let's chat about why making a mess is just so difficult -- and how reclaiming its value can totally transform your creative practice! 

Do you feel like your battle with your inner critic is never-ending? Wondering if you'll ever get to a place where you actually like the things you create? Let's chat about how to build confidence in your creativity! 

How can we use creativity to connect with other people? What benefit does building a community have on your creativity? Whether you want to host your own paint parties and are looking for some thoughts on what to paint, or you're searching for connections without necessarily being the center of attention, let's chat about how creativity can help bring you closer to your fellow humans – and how str...

Is social media really just a pit of endless despair? Is it possible to use social media for our greater creative good, or is that just a lie meant to fund billionaires?? Let's talk about creativity and social media – the good, the bad, and everything in between! 

Want to know the fastest way to overwhelm your creativity to the point of freeze or burnout? Not having any boundaries! I know, I know – isn't creativity supposed to be limitless? Yes – AND – your energy level as a human is not, you know? Let's talk about boundaries, the role they play in helping you build a sustainable creative practice, and how they might actually help boost your creative ideas!

Is your brain on the neurospicy side? What is neurodivergence, and how does that affect your relationship with creativity? Let's chat about it!

What happens when you finally make time to paint… and all you see in your brain is white static? Creative block is a common barrier, especially when that initial zeal in the beginning starts to ebb and the reality of how scary creativity is really sets in. Let's chat about what causes creative block and how to navigate it so your creative practice can feel like a safe, inspiring place no matter wh...

Do you remember when your obsession with watercolor and creativity first began? (Maybe you are just beginning, and this is where you are now!) Exploring "the Beginner's Mind" is a long held technique within Zen Buddhism that is especially helpful for artists learning to cope with the ups and downs of a creative practice. In this discussion, we'll talk about what it looks like to cultivate a beginn...

What is your relationship with creativity like? Do you feel like you're constantly having to prove yourself? Maybe you feel as if nothing is ever good enough, so why bother trying? (Or maybe, a little of both?) This month, let's take a look at building a creative practice through the lens of attachment theory -- and more specifically, how to develop habits that will lead to a more stable, secure c...