The Creative Condition podcast

In September 2006 began one of the toughest spells in my creative industry career. It was the big monstrous 'before' bit. Suddenly cut off from tutorial input, peers, and credible workspace after 7-years in full-time arts education, I lost all sight of the dream freelance illustration career while working a full-time job, completely demotivated. This is detailed in chapter 4 of 'Champagne and Wax...

The first of a new series of articles written for design week, brought to you in audio format by The Creative Condition, supported by Illustration X.We kick off this new series exploring creativity's capacity for catharsis in the face of seemingly constant bad news and its destructive impact on our moods. Read in full at https://designweek.co.ukhttps://bentallonwriter.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps...

Dotto founder, designer, and artist Dani Molyneux joins me to discuss the importance of visual communication's role in turbulent times. During the pandemic, while juggling work and homeschooling, Dani began to make her own work for personal reasons, in response to political and social triggers. The work sets a wonderful example of the power of the personal and offers a timely reminder that our rol...

Why personal passion projects are vital as a creative compass - stylistically, building identity, and stating intent. I have so many stories of unexpected doors opening, unlikely relationships, and even building my identity as an artist in the first place, so here they are, told through a career-to-date worth of personal projects that worked, or didn't work in the best way. If you liked this, epis...

I'm joined by firefighter Joe Brady to discuss the creative thinking required to succeed in a job action-packed with intensity, unpredictability and high emotions. While not traditionally considered a creative profession, there are many wonderful takeaways and stories that will make you laugh, cry and shudder.https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://twitter.com/bentallonhttps://instag...

Agency coach and marketing expert Oliver Duffy-Lee joins Ben Tallon to talk about promotion and marketing for freelancers, agencies, and why the latest government marketing advice is utterly ludicrous to anyone who understands economics and marketing, especially in the creative industry. Visit the Authority Agency website: https://www.authorityagency.co.uk/Oliver Duffy-Lee on Linkedin: https://www...

Why I'm donating 25 copies of my creative industry book to schools and public libraries, and why I believe the creative industry needs to try counter arts, youth services, and arts education cuts. The show is supported by Illustration X: https://illustrationx.comhttps://bentallonwriter.comhttps://bentallon.comhttps://twitter.com/bentallonhttps://instagram.com/bentallonhttps://instagram.com/bentall...

Working from home. In the office. In the studio. In the pub. Cafe dweller. Out of our minds. Happy days. The environment we put or find ourselves in is a defining variable in our creative flow. But do we really pay enough attention to the effect of our surroundings on our energy, feelings, thoughts, and productivity? I sit down and share some stories about the good, bad, and bizarre of past worksp...

I stole a child's drawing. Here's why. This is an episode about what we can unlearn with the help of children, about what their flippancy, naivety, passion, and curiosity represent. Creativity gets butchered by adults, by industries, by education systems, and our pride - our unwillingness to try and our aversion to mistakes. It holds us back and causes us to get lost in trends, repeats, and replic...

Creativity is humanity's defining asset. I've been observing, studying, and feeling it since my teens, subconsciously taking it in since I was a nipper. Finally, I'm writing it all down in a new book that will share its name with this show. I am also writing a blog over at bentallonwriter.com. Here is the introduction to the book and what you can expect from the podcast moving forward. Let's talk...

It's getting harder to cope. The pace, ferocity, and sadly, insanity of modern life are out of control. 24/7 we are exposed to terrifying news, and the subsequent arguments on social media, fear winning out every single time. That's why I write, that's why I draw, that's why I make these podcasts. Creativity is a fundamental pillar of human happiness and that's why I wanted to take the time to mar...

Creativity happens on a different timeline for each of us. Horror writer Susan Earlam takes us on a winding path from a childhood full of artistic encouragement and everyday creativity, to fine art and teaching art, onto lifestyle blogging, and eventually - though not by chance - onto her wonderful horror writing. Her debut eco-horror novel 'Earthly Bodies' and 'Dark is the Water' are two big, unn...

The cliche is true. Failure is one of our greatest compasses. It is never as simple as a waste of time. Following on from UCLan design conference week 11's talk under the same title, I wanted to share the story of Quenched Music - why it never got going in the way Dirty Freud and I envisioned but proved a valuable gateway to projects, people, ideas, and skills we had no other way of accessing. Get...

Sarah Brown is an incredible vocalist with the likes of Simple Minds, Duran Duran, Roxy Music, Stevie Wonder, Simpl Red, Pink Floyd and many more. Sarah is letting us in on her adoration of Mahalia Jackson, and her upcoming tribute album to the queen of Gospel. It’s an immensely powerful, inspiring, uplifting conversation with an incredible person. We cover rebuilding after emotional trauma and da...

A free audiobook version of 'The Elf in the Delph' for listeners of The Creative Condition podcast. A thank you for staying with me despite the sporadic releases of late. This story is available as a limited edition, 100-run illustrated zine at https://bentallonwriter.com/shop now. For the whole story of the zine, see two episodes ago. Written and narrated by Ben TallonEdited by David Woods-Hale

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated or provided space to make a change to our creative professions. Whatever the motivations or reasons, change is a scary word, and something a lot of us struggle to control or understand the nature of. Laura Hope has worked as a wonderful illustrator for a number of years. It wasn't always so. She tells us her fascinating story and explains why she has made the...

Starting out in a whole new creative discipline can be a scary experience. When I started writing, it was a form of catharsis. A mental release that triggered a whole unexpected career path. Now as I release my first illustrated fiction zine, I thought it might be useful to share some of the hopes, fears, and learnings of building a new identity. The Elf in the Delph is a balance of my words and p...

It's been and continues to be a strange, surreal time of our lives. Creativity is a fundamental part of who we are as humans and moves hand in hand with the way we feel. I'm joined by self-described 'creative wander' brothers Brian and Michael Thibodeau to talk about their unique response to remotely remain close during lockdown/quarantine, which organically resulted in their 'Quarantined Portrait...

Matt Essam built a career he thought was the one for him. When he made it, it didn't feel too good. So he started again and focused on a different set of goals. He wanted well-paid and creatively, emotionally fulfilling work. Today he works with freelancers and small businesses to help them find and attract dream clients. Matt joins me to break down the reasons why so many people end up jaded with...

So often, we create great work, have fresh ideas and know our skill set. But can we express ourselves with confidence, in an effective way that does the work justice? It's an age-old conundrum; one strong skill set balanced out by shortcomings. But does it need to be this way? Sara Coggin, illustrator and language teacher joins me to talk about breaking down misconceptions about confidence and why...

With the rise in tuition fees proving a gateway for many people who want to study at degree level, there's a bigger question mark than ever before over whether formal education is essential for a career in the arts.'Where did you study?' is the most interrogation I've ever faced as a freelance illustrator. When it comes to the writing and podcasting side of my work, there was no study, just a pass...

Alan McGee is one of a kind. His tough start in 1970s Glasgow set him up for a tumultuous, glorious and legendary ride at the top of the 1990s and 2000s music scene as the head of Creation Records and the man behind the biggest band in the world at the time, Oasis. Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Teenage Fanclub and My Bloody Valentine, to name but a few, followed suit. I sit down with Al...

The times we live in are tumultuous and challenging. The world is changing. We all need a voice. Good design is not enough to provide one. So how do we make work that matters, which we can deliver with results? ThoughtMatter have built a reputation as a creative agency who not only make thought provoking, meaningful work, addressing issues they care about, but work hard and smart to ensure it hits...

When Ben Ryan, one of the most innovative coaches in world sport left his position as England rugby 7s coach, he was all set to take a comfortable role at a sports consultancy company. Then he saw a tweet advertising a vacancy for the national Fiji rugby 7s job. With twenty minutes to accept or decline the role, he listened to his raging instincts and set out on one of the all time great sporting...

The Creative Condition takes over Arrest All Mimics podcast. Here's why and what to expect! Supported by http://illustrationx.com and http://theaoi.com