Daily Paintings: Memories of Walks
Uncovering patterns in your creative work
Many of my mornings over the past few months have been spent in the studio, painting. I’ve been going back to the basics – making work for myself – because I feel more alive, balanced, and grounded when I am creating images. I am keeping things simple: a few brushes, smaller loose-leaf pages, my favourite tubes of colour... and painting what interests me, for me. This has helped me to remember why I began painting in the first place and reconnect with the process of making.
Daily Painting & the Power of Routine
Using the power of routine to get back on track
The beginning of the summer marked a low point for me, and over the past few months, I have edged my way back to creating by making a routine for my weeks. It’s not an understatement to say the simple act of painting each morning and knowing how I planned to spend the rest of my day helped me to get back on solid ground.
Affordable Ways to Refill Your Creative Well
20+ low-cost ideas to fuel your creativity and feel inspired
After many times pushing past the point of creative health and finding myself burnt out or with no ideas/inspiration, I have learned to listen better to the warning signs. These are things that can help you to slow down, restore your energy and focus, and find new inspiration.
Maker Interview: Fine Art Photographer Morgane CG
A conversation with professional photographer, Morgane CG
We talk about the need to create, making sense of uncommon life paths, overcoming imposter syndrome, and the meditation of creative flow
Playing with Paper: Exploring Chine-Collé
Paper collage made with a printing press and Japanese papers
It can be easy to forget to share the behind-the-scenes of what we are working on. These things can give a glimpse into the artistic process and into other ways of working that can be very enlightening and inspiring to others. So, I thought I'd share with you here a few recent explorations I made in chine-collé as well pictures of the shared studio space in which I often work
Free Ways to Refill Your Creative Well
20+ ways to get inspired in your creative life and work, without spending or buying a thing
After countless times of pushing past the point of creative health and finding myself burnt out or with no ideas/inspiration, I have learned to listen better to the warning signs. These are things that can help you to slow down, restore your energy and focus, and find new inspiration.
Maker Interview: Sound & Textile Artist Emma Aurelia
A conversation about staying engaged with your materials, putting yourself out there, and believing in the work that you do
The rewards of following your own path to a meaningful creative life are so rich but often seem small and far between. We each need encouragement, support, and a sense of community – of being a valued part of something, in order to move forward. This is part of a series of conversations with makers who I feel are living with courage, from the heart.
Where Do Your Creative Ideas Come From?
How the concept of a ‘Creative Well’ can be a useful tool
In my experience, it’s not only where your ideas come from that matters, but whether you are able to tap into them, make connections between them, and take action on them. In other words, you must have space, attention, AND ideas to draw from. To help navigate this, I’d like to look at the idea of a creative well. I have found this to be such a powerful and helpful visualization because it’s so tangible.
On the Need For Space in the Creative Process
How I navigated a recent need for space in my creative process
There is a time for taking action and creating work, and there is also a time for rest and seeking new ideas. It is so important that you learn to trust yourself to know which you need at any given time.
How to Stand Strong and Rise Above Criticism
A few words to help you keeping going as you grow into and learn to live your best life
As you begin to put yourself and your work out into the world, it is very likely that you will encounter criticism – some helpful, and some startling and crushing. I am here to tell you that you are strong, you are brave. You can find those who support you and your work. You can keep going. I hope this post will help you learn to manage the criticism in a way that keeps it separate from your sense of self-worth and allows you to become stronger and more sure-footed each time.
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