How to be an Artist

I loved talking with Tania Ahmed. She has such a fantastic way of looking at our creative practice as a place to take risks and make mistakes. It was so inspiring hearing Tania explain how redefining what daily creating looks like can allow us to feel more successful in our creative practice. Tania is a Gelli plate whisperer and she has some exciting offerings that we chat about too.

I loved talking to Karen Liz about her love for Art Challenges. Karen shares how she uses challenges to build creative momentum, get herself out of a creative slump, or build creative confidence. There are some fabulous tips shared for those thinking about participating in upcoming challenges.

Talking to Nicole Warrington was so inspiring. Nicole shares the importance of using our own art as inspiration. Nicole also talks about the importance of limiting our supplies and choices, trying new techniques and styles, and being engaged in the creative process. There are so many nuggets of wisdom on growing your practice in this episode.

During this episode Jane and I talk about how she developed her business and how she balances being an artist and a successful business owner. We chat about developing art products and chasing inspiration through creating. Listening to Jane talk about her art practice is so inspiring. Her passion for creating is contagious. I know this episode is going to have you reaching for your journal and supplies.

In this episode Kristin Peterson talks to us about her journey as an artist. Saying yes to big scary things has led to amazing unexpected places, from creating online classes, to creating various stencil ranges, to starting an online art community. What an exciting example of what can happen if you jump before you feel ready to do so.Kristin shares why being deeply intentional and open to asking “What If” while you create and allowing space to respond to what's happening in front of you leads to creative growth and art that excites you.

In this episode Meg Frances shares her journey with journaling. Meg shares with us how she uses her art as inspiration - she puts this so beautifully, “A conversation with her art.” We also talk about the importance of having art that is just for you, that does not ever need to be shared, where you can experiment and go wild.

During this episode Amanda Domagala shares her love for both words and visual art. Amanda encourages us to show up and try those big scary things. Trusting that you will create art from the heart if you allow yourself to just start and be present as you experiment is a big part of Amanda's process. I think Amanda's art reflects this bold energy she carries into everything she does.

In this episode Brooke Henry shares with us the importance of staying engaged with your creativity and being inspired by your own art. Staying open to inspiration and building on our own art-making processes allows you to go deeper and find a style all of your own. Brooke shares how she keeps creative momentum and keeps showing up to her practice despite life's ups and downs.

Jennifer Wilken Penick has found a beautiful way to share her passion for art and the healing power of creativity with those around her. During this episode Jennifer and I talk about the importance of community and the profound impact this can have on your creative practice, as well as how sharing our art with others can help them heal and find relief from some of the heavy things we have to carry. Jennifer also shares ways that she likes to gather inspiration, stay open to ideas, and how she translates this into her work allowing her to stay excited about creating and maintaining a consistent art practice. This conversation is going to have you feeling inspired to share your love for art with those you love.

When I think of an artist that lives and breathes positively out into the world I immediately think of Kristi (@soul_positive). Kristi's passion for connection and community comes through in everything she does. During this episode Kristi and I talk about showing up imperfectly and redefining what creativity means within our lives.  Kristi talks about her Rolodex project in this episode. This is another project where Kristi thinks beyond her practice. She thinks globally. SHe thinks of connection. She thinks of spreading positivity. If you would like to participate in this project please contact Kristi. She would love to send you a card, wherever you are in the world. - Show up gently. We'll help you with a community of others showing up in the messy middle.

Gabrielle Heckenbucker (@gabrielle_heckenbucker) opens up and gets vulnerable about the struggles she faces every single day. She shares how her creative practice has helped her cope with these challenges and allowed her to reveal her true self, hidden behind a curtain of safety. Gabrielle and I talk about how your journal can be a place that comforts you and gives you strength to move through life's darker moments. As Gabrielle says, “Creativity feeds your soul.” Looking at her work her sense of a created cosy warmth is clear through her creative language. This episode is a deep pouring out from the heart. - Create your own inner world through art with Get Messy.

Chatting to Jane Lee (@janethecrazy) very quickly has you growing itchy feet. Jane has fostered a life of travel, which allows her to stay open to adventure and collecting memories. We talk about her recent trip to Japan and the new energy this amazing place has given her. These trips and journals are the perfect combination for Jane's love of collecting and elevating “trash” to memories. Jane talks about how she was able to overcome the need for perfection in her journals by creating in little bursts throughout her day allowing pages and spreads space and time to develop naturally. Developing this creative habit has kept her curious, open and hungry to keep making. Jane shares with us that her mistakes taught her more than her “perfect” spreads ever did - so allowing yourself to make mistakes is essential for growth.  Warning: This one is going to have you looking up flights to Japan…

This episode with Jessica Swift (@jessicaswift) is so tender. Jessica chats to us about her creative journey and shares how her creative practice has developed into a practice of self-care. I loved Jessica's thoughts on getting out of your studio to generate ideas and clearing space for new ideas to come in. Develop your creative practice into a practice of self care. We'd love to welcome you into Get Messy - ⁠https://getmessyart.com

I loved chatting to Elina Lukas (@elinalukas) about her journey into abstract art. We talk about supplies, slowly growing into a practice that feels right and nurturing your creativity. Elina and I talk about making bad art and the importance of this within our art-making. We also talk about creating digital art and embracing different seasons of life. --- We'd love to welcome you into Get Messy - ⁠https://getmessyart.com

In this episode Susanne Müller (@susisjournaladventure) and I talk about visualizing yourself on a creative journey. We chat about building a Creative Tool Kit and the importance of switching off your thinking brain as you connect to your gut. This was such a fun discussion. I know you are going to enjoy Susanne's creative insights. --- Want to (re)start your own creative journey? Looking for friends along the way? We'd love to welcome you into Get Messy - ⁠https://getmessyart.com

Welcome to an exciting new chapter of the Get Messy podcast! In this episode, Caylee Grey officially hands over the mic to Claudette Hasenjager, introducing her as the new host of the podcast. Together, they share how art journaling, creativity, and community makes their hearts boom-boom. Claudette dives into her journey of becoming an artist and how art journaling transformed her life. They discuss the beauty of connecting with other artists, embracing the messy middle of life, and finding joy in creativity—whether your studio is spotless or delightfully chaotic. Get ready for a season packed with insightful conversations with artists from around the world, as Claudette takes the lead, exploring their creative practices and uncovering the shared threads that connect us all. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting your creative journey, this episode will inspire you to say "yes" to your art and embrace the messy, magical process. --- Looking for a creative community? Want to make 2025 the year you FINALLY art journal? We'd love to welcome you into Get Messy - https://getmessyart.com

Check out my art around this here: https://getmessyart.com/?p=240892&preview=true (https://getmessyart.com/the-mess-makes-for-the-best-art/) ---

You can find the free PDF sharing my favourite books for art journalers here: https://getmessyart.com/when-you-cant-create/ (https://getmessyart.com/when-you-cant-create/). ---

Telling your story is important. Telling your story of your life is what connects you to others, and helps them feel a little less lonely. By telling your story, you give others permission and remind them of their worth. The story-telling champion, Kristin Tweedale, and I talk about telling your story for yourself as well as for self-publishing. She shares absolutely everything about her self-publishing journeys - the one she took years ago, and the one she's currently on.  ---

When I started art journaling, I started because I wanted to be an artist. But, step one to being an artist is making art. It's the same for writing a book. Step one to writing a book is actually sitting down and writing. The absolute Queen of Process, The Queen of Doing the Thing, is Misty Granade. When I found out that she was writing a book I knew that I had to talk to her about the process of writing. Misty is someone who is comfortable in the messy middle in her art and her writing. She has really good insights into how to talk to yourself in the messy middle. This conversation is going to feed your soul. We talk about process, the book she's writing, why she's writing, her struggles, how she overcomes them, how she adapts everything to be what she needs it to be in order to maintain the fun. In the end, it's all about the fun. ---

Sarah and I chat about the way she sees creativity - a place that has space for both structure and chaos. We talk about the harmony of her left and right brain sides of her brain. Creativity is impossible unless you're willing to embrace uncertainty. You have to widen the scope of possibility in order to create something new. Man, it's another good one. ---

Prepare yourself for a bucket load of fangirling. Jeannine is one of my favourite people in the world - my editor, my Fairy Bookmother, and all-around dream maker. She changed my life, and in this episode, we're sharing insight into the process of publishing a book from the perspective of an editor, and of the writer. We talk about starting with the art. About the relevancy of books in this day and age. Taking your sketchbook to coffee and finding a partner who accepts this. Authenticity, even when you give the reins to someone else. And Jeannine shares a link to submit your own book idea to my publisher. ---

The life of a creative can be lonely. And let's face it: whether we identify as creatives or not, we all know what this pretty rubbish state of being feels like. As humans, we're hard-wired for connection: we long to be understood by others, we long for relationships with people with whom we can go through our struggles and celebrate life's wins. This blog post presents 7 ways towards feeling less alone as a creative. And the best part is – perhaps counter-intuitively – many of these can be done without interacting with a single other human in real time. ---

Deborah is my business bestie. She runs a membership for handmade sellers called Tizzit. We send each other daily voice notes about the highs and lows of business and everything in between. In this podcast episode, which is essentially a one-hour voice note, we discuss work/life balance, Deb's French/Australian accent and whether it holds her back, running an imperfect business, and fear of success (yes, fear of success). This is what actually goes into a six-figure creative business. ---

I believe that anyone can make art but not everyone can be an artist. I know that the common narrative is that everyone can be an artist, however, I disagree with that. Well. Slightly. Let me explain... ---

You guys. This is an episode in which I share the wisdom and kindness of my life coach. This is the one single human who has changed my life the most in the past year - the beautiful Kelli Saginak. Kelli opens up about her history with control and anxiety, we talk about practical ways of dealing with lack of control, how to do things in a way that feels aligned to your beliefs, opportunities for exploration, a reframing of perfectionism, failure, and making mistakes. Kelli and my class, Unfold: The Art of Meditative Journaling, is now available for members. Click here to enroll: https://getmessyart.com/join ---

The proposal was the first official task of writing my book. It's also what ended up being my compass and my rock. It was a mammoth task, but it was also easy? Why? Because I had already done the work... the year before in a very deep way and also every single year for 5 years.  This is the second episode in my Bookcast series. Bookcast is a group of podcast episodes dedicated to sharing the behind-the-scenes of writing my first art book. In the series, you'll find tips for writing your own book, and insight into the messy middle of book writing. ---

I have a massive girlcrush on Laurel. If you've ever struggled to create art that looks like the art going on in your head, then you're going to discover your newest girlcrush too. If you're a food person, same thing. Hell, if you are a living, breathing, creative, then Laurel will find her way to the top of your list. ---

Whether you're exploring a new country or your own backyard, here are practical tips on how to travel like an artist rather than a tourist. --- View this on YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/cayleegrey

Last year, Kellee went through an intense creative burnout. I've been through many of those myself. This episode is about what's waiting on the other side.  Kellee and I have loads in common, including writing a book with the same publisher and even the same superhero editor. Going through a large-scale project like writing a book when the world is essentially crumbling down is an interesting experience.  Besides the book, we talk about running a creative business, being yourself in a world that tells you not to be, weaknesses as strengths, and dad jokes.  There's also a pretty exciting announcement...  https://amzn.to/3zCNzja (Kellee's book: Mixed Media Color Studio) My book! https://amzn.to/3zCNzja (Get Messy Art: The No-Rules, No-Judgment, and No-Pressure Approach to Making Art) ---

Life is experienced in moments. Some of these moments hold more weight. I don't know about you, but sometimes I can feel the weight of some moments. There are certain moments in my life that I knew while they were happening that they would change everything. This is the first episode in my Bookcast series. Bookcast is a group of podcast episodes dedicated to sharing the behind-the-scenes of writing my first art book. In the series, you'll find tips for writing your own book, and insight into the messy middle of book writing. ---

Shay is so full of wisdom and kindness, and she encourages that you create the same within yourself too. After hearing a testimonial about her class, that it was “like a spa for your creative soul”, I knew I had to pick her brain. Grab your supplies and listen mindfully while you work… Shay is the guest artist for the Season of Mindfulness at Get Messy. Join and receive instant access to her lessons (including the video version of this discussion). https://getmessyart.com/artist/shay-kent/ (Take a peek here): https://getmessyart.com/artist/shay-kent/ ---

Rachael is my friend in real life. Not only is this episode proof that I have friends, it's also an exploration into what creating art in the "in-between" looks like. Rach is someone who says things that are so profound that I have to whip out my notebook in real life to write it down. I knew that we had to record one of our discussions for the podcast. This particular chat centered around what living as an artist means, practically. Looking for space to grow, but still giving ourselves safety. Using all the different bits of life, taking what we need, and turning them (sometimes) into art that is true. ---

I had never thought of photography as art. I had always thought it was just for logical people following a very precise way of doing things. It felt like the opposite of creativity to me. Enter Pete. Pete sees creativity in a way not unlike my own - as a looping rollercoaster with no end goal and just the journey to go with. Turns out photography is something where you can achieve creative flow and freedom and turn something into your own. All the best bits of art. Photography is where you get to follow your curiosity. ---

Today I sat down with Tricia. Tricia is wise and someone that you wanna have in your corner because she's very zen about art making, very knowledgeable and plays between the right and left side of your brain so well. She's a great encourager and wise mentor. We talk about her creative routines and how they've changed over the course of her life. We also talk about teching online and in person, and the impact mentoring has on her own work. ---

Every guest I have on the podcast is my favourite, but this is my favourite favourite and most exciting. It's someone who excites me every day. My husband, T Grey. We're talking about what it's like being on the other side of someone who lives life creatively. We get into the way his logical, rock solid, INTJ brain sees art, and his evil plans for not allowing me to own all the dogs I want to own. ---

This is the story of what happens when a perfectionist decides to actively go against her own nature in lieu of making the art that her soul needs. Iris and I talk about her brave decision to deliberately choose wonkiness, ignore self-doubt, and go for process over product in order to live her true creative life. If you're a perfectionist, Iris will encourage you to give yourself permission for your recovery to start with art. ---

The Get Messy Season of Collaboration was in January. But community continues to be a Big Deal to us Messy Artists. If you've ever experienced a creative drought, you'll know the impact that your creative family can have on helping you through it, giving tips on finding the other side, and making you feel less alone in your struggle. If you've ever experienced a creative high, you'll know how much higher it feels when you share your wins and celebrate your creative flow with others. In this episode of the Get Messy podcast, I'm calling on the combined knowledge of a small group of Messians. Traci and Meghan, Jenna and Dawn, and Sarah and Melenia share what they learned and what they gained from their creative connection during Get Messy's Season of Collaboration. Our guests in this episode: Meghan: @happy.hands.create Traci: @thisistruleetraci Jenna: @ginnistonik Dawn: @shareyourjoy13 Sarah: @juicy.s.art Melenia: @agap_melenia ---

For the month of January, we focused on creative collaboration at Get Messy. Claudette Hasenjager and Char DeRouin led the way to nurture a safe space for artists to find their creative soul mate. For just the month, or for beyond. This excitement about creative collaboration stemmed from their own experiences collaborating with each other. In this episode, we discuss their fears, style mixing, and mutual fangirling while being each other's personal cheerleader. We discuss the best way to find someone to collaborate with, what working with another artist has done to their own work, and just generally get mushy about each other. It's a vrou-mance (an Afrikaans version of Bro-mance for women) and it's beautiful to listen to. By the end of the episode, you'll be rushing to your phone to invite one of your favourites to make some art with you. ---

In this Messy Conversations episode, Jenna chats with Gilly about her creative process and thinking around art journaling. They discuss how art journaling encormpasses everything and how you make it what you want it to be.  Gilly shares how she's able to be creative every single day due to the freedom given - no boundaries, and no rules.  We are all busy but when we put small bits together with pockets of time, it starts to make a huge difference. ---

This is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode, where you're the one who asks me anything and I'm the one who answers. We cover a host of topics, mostly about supplies and where I'm at in my creative practice. I share my favourite tools, classes, and resources for making art.  I discuss themes I'm processing through art (now and always), coming back to art after a creative drought, and a new way I'm merging meditation with creation.  A host of miscellaneous questions and answers. And an in depth look at my love for white hair and #ff66cc. ---

Nope, Caylee didn't become an American for the new year. That smooth, calming radio voice you're listening to is Get Messy Guardian's @ginnistonik. She's interviewing the marvellous Guardians of the Community to bring even more inspir-action and encouragement to your ears. The best part of someone else hosting the podcast is that we get to wax lyrical about how wise BOTH of them are. Such great insights in this episode. My favourite bit is the part where art gets lyrics... create alongside them and let us know what your favourite bit is too. Since these are part of the new series of Messy Conversations, you get to watch it on YouTube if you'd like to see their gorgeous faces too - member or not. Full links + show notes

The best thing to come out of 2020 for me has been my studio. It's my one true love (sorry T). It's an old shipping container in an old slaughterhouse. It's gritty, and raw, it's hipster as hell, and its mine. This studio has enabled me to do that weird thing people talk about called "work-life-balance" and for that, I am truly grateful. I wanted to dedicate an episode of the podcast to it. It has a story. It's a love story. And to make it worth your while, I'm sharing what a studio space of your own might do for you... Full links + show notes

022 Take Time to Freaking Make with Anna Baer Why is it so difficult to just. make. art? We know how much we love it and how it feeds our soul. We know it makes us better in a multitude of ways, but sometimes even the thing we love the most can feel like a massive effort. I talk to Anna Baer, aka Olive Green Anna, about this. We talk about her mad skills – in creating art, in getting others to make art, and in pep talking directly to the heart. I wanted to get together to talk about her latest offering, the Take Time to Make at-home artist residency, mainly because I’m taking part in it. I also sneakily wanted to learn more about her as a human since she lives so close to me. Our conversation lit me on fire. I loved hearing about how her process and seeing art as wildness in control; a way to see what comes out of her. We speak about destroying your own art in order to make space, removing the preciousness of supplies, making shit art, and where we put our worth as artists. Grab your supplies and let us keep you company while you create… Full links + show notes

021 Using Art to Narrate Your Journey with Vanessa Oliver-Lloyd The podcast is back! And we're jumping right into the deep end. We're not talking about surface level art here, no no, you can't really do that with my guest. Vanessa Oliver-Lloyd and I are talking about a way to get around how damn hard it is to put your inner heart into your art. Not just putting your likes and dislikes onto the page, not just your paper ephemera, and not just what you did that day (although all of those are great). We're discussing V's favourite technique for telling your story without it being draining. Cause we all have issues. We all have a story that has led us to the point we're at. We're all still on a journey. It may be beautiful, it may be painful, it probably is raw. Art is very good at helping unload that weight. But it's not necessarily easy to do. We wanted to talk about the creative process of making an online class, but in true Vanessa fashion, we ended up talking about so much more than that. I'm glad you could join us. Full links and show notes

The focus of my life currently is this: PRODUCE MORE. CONSUME LESS. It’s a bold statement. With so much great stuff on the internet, and with it being so easy to be sucked into Pinterest, Instagram, blogs, and galleries, I’m needing to step back all the more. We consume so many things every day that actively trying to produce more than that is a big feat. There are two ways of doing it: either producing more than a hundred things per day, or drastically reducing how much you consume and making more than that number. I don’t want what I make to be influenced by someone else’s. I don’t want to be comparing how much I make. I don’t want to be making less because I’m too busy staring in awe at someone else’s stuff. I want my Ideas book to be a to do list and I want to get. shit. done. There are a million reasons why I want to consume less and the number one reason is to produce more. I want to make a lot of stuff. I want to make up for lost time. I want to record all my memories before I lose them. I want to make a whole bunch of rubbish stuff so that I can get to making the good stuff. And so I made an action plan. Here are the ways that I’m shifting my default to producing instead of consuming. Podcast show notes

One of the biggest things that art journalers struggle with in their creative practice is the journaling part of art journaling. It’s weird. I know. A while back, I invited a journaling expert to help the Get Messy community with how to find the words. Elaine Kiziah completely blew it out of the park with the workshop she created for us. Journaling is an amazing tool to dig deep into your core and to really connect with yourself. There is a stack of practical ways to get the most of your journaling strung around this episode, and Elaine is such a wonderful guide. Dig deep… connect with your true self and find joy… Podcast show notes

What is it about art journaling that makes it actual magic? Out of all the different ways to be creative, why do we choose art journaling? Why is this the one thing we have stuck with over time, and the one thing that we are constantly falling in love with? In order to answer this question with Wendy Solganik, we need to dissect her entire creative story. Show notes.

You are going to love this episode. I’m chatting with Tara and Sandra from Kick in the Creatives. And if you don’t know them yet, by the end of this episode, you’re going to fall just as in love with them as I have. And good news for you because they’ve got their own podcast and you can binge listen to them and just take in everything that they have. Kick in the creatives is a place where you can find creative challenges, and they’re all listed by month. They’re all there for you so you never get that FOMO for missing out on a creative challenge. It’s run by Sandra Busby and Tara Roskell. Sandra is a still life artist and she’s best known for her paintings which are incredible, like you should really check them out. I can’t understand how they are not photographs. But yeah, Sandra mainly does a lot of paintings of glass and other reflective objects. And she didn’t actually mean to get into fine art. It actually happened by accident. We’ll talk a little bit about her story in the episode. Sandra found a partner in crime with Tara Roskell who took the traditional art college route. She didn’t really know what to do with her art and so she moved into graphic design. She’s been in that industry for over 20 years, and it’s now freelancing. When Sandra’s not designing, she’s scribbling, doodling and taking part in these creative challenges and you should really look at her work too. It’ll give you a good idea of the type of person you’re listening to and the person that I’m chatting to today. You should see her portraits. They are so unique. And they are so inspiring, and they definitely encourage me to hone in on my own style rather than trying someone else’s. We had a wonderful chat, and I’m really excited for you to listen to it. Read the show notes.

Today I chatted with the incredible Barbara J Graham. She is the guest artist for Get Messy's Season of Less. We spoke a lot about how she creates, how she puts her emotions into her paintings, and how she is able to express the intangible in something tangible. Barbara has a beautiful story about how she came to art and how art was there all along. How art kept knocking at the door no matter how many times she tried to ignore it. I think that you'll find that the summary is this episode's title: don't compromise. Don't compromise on your art. Tell the stories of your soul, tell your life, tell your life through moments and moments with art and just show up to the page. Even if you think that it's not your time, I mean, Barbara was 37 when she went to art school, and that is incredible. That's an incredible story of resilience and strength and courage. Her art is beautiful and expressive and if Barbara can can do it, you can too. I hope that's what you take from this episode. Show notes

Oh, Messy artist, I have a treat for you this week on the podcast. Today I spoke with Hannah Fitzgibbon, and let me tell you… I feel like my whole world has changed. My creativity has been rocked, everything… You are going to love Hannah as much as I love her because she is amazing, articulate, and wise. The stuff that we spoke about today has revolutionised everything I know about creativity. All I’ve been doing for the past 6 years is creating, listening to people talk about creating, listening to people’s views on creating, helping others create, helping myself create more. And this is the first time that I’ve heard someone speak about creativity in this way. In our episode, we talk about joy and flow in our creativity. There’s just so much more to it, and so much more depth to this conversation. We speak about a lot, we cover a lot, and a lot of new ideas or different ways of thinking, but I hope you spend time meditating on each point. Play us, listen to us while you’re creating, but also write down Hannah’s words and spend some time reflecting on the way she sees things and the way she can help you things. I don’t know exactly what kind of creating you do but I know that Hannah is going to be great for it. Show notes