Your Creative Push

This is very difficult for me, but today I give a brief message for you all as to why I decided to slow down the pace of the podcast in a major way.

Yana Zorina, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist with a lifelong passion for the arts.  In her scientific career, Yana has always been attracted to microscopy as a means to take a closer look at the beautiful structures that compose the mammalian brain.  In her microscopy-inspired artwork, she uses her neuroscientist training to accurately recreate scientific images into 3D-beaded renderings of cellular structures to bring the beauty of scientific research to a wider audience.  In viewing beads as analogs of pixels observed on a screen, Yana turns microscopy on its head by transforming ultra-thin optical sections into 3D structures.  Beyond being passionate about the breathtaking beauty of microscopy images, Yana uses them to serve a greater purpose of communicating science to a wider audience and initiating conversations on difficult topics, such as neurological conditions. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/367 In this episode, Yana discusses: -How she got into both art and neuroscience. -Her realization that she needed to bring art back into her life after many years of pursuing neuroscience and raising a family. -Finding alone time both in art and science. -Some of the resistances she faced of turning her art into a business. -Having to be creative in terms of putting out content on social media when her projects take her several months to complete. -Letting go of the fear of not being 100% scientifically accurate in her art. -The Beholder’s Share. -How art can be a bridge to communicate what is going on within the scientific community to those outside of it. -Finding connection in the SciArt community. -How she schedules her day and how she chooses which idea to move forward with. Yana's Final Push will inspire you to go for your ideas no matter how “out there” they may seem!   Quotes: “I’d rather be dealing with test tubes than with people.” “I became a wife, a mother, a scientist, and I had the sense that the true me was somehow missing.” “I’m not ready to give up the pipette.” “I enjoy the process of making my art.  It is meditative and it is meticulous work that allows me to escape from daily life.” “No matter how crazy you think your idea is, no matter how crazy it may seem at first, just go for it.” Connect with Yana: Website / Etsy / Instagram / Patreon / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Martha Beck is an American sociologist, life coach, best-selling author, and speaker who specializes in helping individuals and groups achieve personal and professional goals. Her books include Expecting Adam, Leaving the Saints, Finding Your own North Star, The Joy Diet, and Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening.  She has also been a columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine since its inception in 2001. Her newest project is a revolutionary writing workshop called Write into Light. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/366 In this episode, Martha discusses: -The Pyramid and the Pool and how the change to the oppressive societal structure will begin at the bottom and absorb the top. -How the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement are catalysts for global change. -Looking at your own suffering as a starting point in your art. -Steering your life from nature rather than culture. -The way in which you are serving the monster when you “hustle.” -How we can trust our bodies to direct us towards our truth (not our minds). -What we can learn from baboons. -The power of relaxing. -How finding your path through life is exactly like tracking an animal. -How to get “The Secret” to actually work. -How Jurassic Park changed her life. Quotes: “Art is a power that spreads energy into the mass of the population.” “Artistic expression is the most powerful mover of society.” “The economy is the train track that society runs on.  But art is the switchman.  Art is the one that decides which track the train goes on.” “The only thing more intelligent than the culture in your life is your nature.” Links mentioned: The Pyramid and the Pool: Why things are better than they seem Bewildered – The Productivity Addict How to Plan Your Week [7 Scheduling Tips for Artists] Boyd Varty’s Track Your Life Podcast Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Gathering Room Connect with Martha: Website / Facebook / Vimeo / Twitter / Books Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Carla Grace is a self taught artist with a love for wildlife and beautiful, high quality art work. Born in South Africa, Carla has immigrated 5 times and currently lives in Australia. With a childhood that was dominantly based in Africa, she was able to experience wildlife in a way that has become the foundation of her vision: Where wildlife breathes through art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/365 In this episode, Carla discusses: -How she was drawn to wildlife art. -Her take on Tiger King and zoos in general. -How she attempts to make a communication between the animals she paints and the viewer. -Why she always starts with the eyes. -How she balances motherhood with creating art. -Why she doesn’t rely on “fixes” for energy or inspiration. -Why she decided to create a tutorial on how to paint fur. -Where she got the idea for her new series, The Uninvited. -Including written narrative as an addition to each piece of her art. -How she plans her next painting while working on her current one. -Her top business tips for artists. -The importance of being transparent with people. -How commissions were detrimental to the direction she wanted to go in her art career. Carla's Final Push will inspire you to take the reins and just do it!   Quotes: “People will give back to you when you give to them.” “Be transparent because in today’s social world, people can see a fake straight away.” “If people stop asking you for help, then you’ve got a problem.” “I was burning out a lot faster because I wasn’t doing something that was true to who I was.” “Just take a little step every day and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.” Links mentioned: Carla's Guide to Painting Realistic Fur Xero Connect with Carla: Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube On the next episode: Martha Beck : Website / Facebook Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Jonny Bloozit is a post-apocalyptic landscape cartoonist who believes in the value of being a deliberate amateur so that you don’t lose the joy of making art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/364 In this episode, Jonny discusses: -How he lost his joy for music. -What brought him back to drawing. -His opinion that you don’t have to be a professional to be an artist. -How society equates successful art to money. -Why you shouldn’t put too much emotion in gaining followers. -Why you should try getting up early in the morning to do your art (and some tips on how to do it). -What he does when he lacks motivation. -Identifying himself by what he does for fun rather than what he does for money. -How he honed in on his style of “post-apocalyptic landscape cartooning.” -The beauty that exists in things that are deteriorating or falling apart. -Being analytical about his learning process. -Watercoloring his ink drawings. -The value of critique groups. -The importance of learning the rules of art. Jonny’s Final Push will encourage you to never let anyone else steal your joy for making art!   Quotes: “I went back to drawing again and it was like seeing an old friend.” “Being a deliberate amateur is also a noble path, so don’t let anybody make you feel bad for doing that.” “You never really look at something the way you look at it when you have to draw it.” “If the breadth of what I was trying to do was too broad, I wouldn’t get enough depth.” “Your own style is going to come out whether you like it or not.  Just concentrate on the fundamentals and the style will take care of itself.” Links mentioned: Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis Perspective! for Comic Book Artists by David Chelsea Connect with Jonny: Website On the next episode: Carla Grace : Website / Instagram

Stephen is a singer/songwriter who has just released his first album, “Sincerely.”  In his own words: “My album is a story of triumph, of letting go of all the uncertainty in my head and learning to walk the path of my own heart. “Sincerely” is about realizing how much better this world would be if we all loved ourselves, if we weren’t afraid of being vulnerable and honest. It doesn’t matter who’s president or what technology we invent or what extremists we destroy, the only thing I know is this: There will never be peace if we do not all love ourselves.” Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/bestof15 In this episode, Stephen discusses: -A bit about his background and how he came to find himself in Los Angeles. -How he was the first student of the music school at the University of Miami who also played a Division 1 sport. -The promise he made to himself at a young age that he would only pursue the things he was passionate about. -How it’s not like doing work, when you are spending time working on things that you love.  It’s like you get to play. -The journey that his song “Bullet Train” took him on and the fact that he almost didn’t release it. -How he only started singing three years before the release of this, his first album. -How you need to think with the heart more than the head, because the head will give you countless excuses why you shouldn’t do something for the sake of self-preservation. -A game he plays with his friend called “Fear Stretching.” -How we are so scared of offending people or not being accepted that we live in a shell, and the more we practice stretching out our fears, the more quickly we can advance to better versions of ourselves. -The fact that rejection is often times empowering because you can just be yourself without having to worry about other people’s approval. -The tremendous role that his management team at Th3rd Brain has played on his career so far. -The message of his album Sincerely — a call to action to make a difference as well as the self-discovery that happened in his life. -How we distract ourselves with things like The Kardashians because we are afraid of what we are going to find if we look in the mirror too long. -His music videos for “Crossfire” and “Start a Fire.” -How he has many resistances, but the main one is self-doubt. Stephen’s Final Push will inspire you to DANCE AROUND WITH THE TAMBOURINE!     Quotes: “Something that has really done a lot of good for me is a promise I made to myself when I was really young that I would really only try to do the things that I really wanted to do.” “Talent is just intense passion discovered at an early age.” “When you put a lot of time into something that you really love, it’s not work. It’s like you’re having fun. You’re playing with it.” “I think it was a massive amount of insecurity. I never imagined myself being a singer. I never even sang in the shower.” “If I would ever sing along to a song, I would put on a joking singing voice, because I was scared that people would laugh at my singing voice, like my true expression.” “You’ve just gotta put yourself out there. It’s less a confidence and moreso a carelessness.” “The worst that can happen is not nearly as bad as you think.” “It’s the “no’s” that help us grow because we realize that the consequence of being rejected is nothing. In fact, the consequence of being rejected a lot of the times is empowerment because you feel more free. You feel like you don’t need other people’s approval to be yourself.” “The things that we’re supposed to do that are going to help us the most are the things that we resist doing the most. Links mentioned: “Sincerely” on iTunes / Soundcloud “Crossfire” by Stephen Official Music Video “Bullet Train” by Stephen Connect with Stephen: Website / Spotify / Soundcloud / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Will Terry is a freelance illustrator and children’s book illustrator who shares his 23 years of experience on his YouTube channel and his blog.  He also co-owns SVS Learn and co-hosts the 3 Points Perspective Podcast with Jake Parker and Lee White. Will has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his new book, What They Don't Teach In Art School: An illustrator's guide to making money in the real world. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/363 In this episode, Will discusses: -How his students always resonated with his discussion about marketing. -Not being able to draw after his wife passed away. -How writing his book brought creativity, productivity and fulfillment back into his life. -How opportunities for artists are now everywhere, but they are just harder to see. -Why going down the “normal route” of life is actually the more frightening option. -How ideas like Little Heroes can come out of nowhere. -What creatives can learn from GoPro. -Why creative people need to embrace their problem-solving skills. -How to find the balance of making money and creating the art that you want to create. -How he needed to get sick of his own work in order to step up the quality of his art. -Identifying your motives for creating art. -Why he only takes on projects that he can fall in love with. -How to say no to family members or friends who want you to create art for them. -Seth Godin’s advice to create art that changes people emotionally. -Using your audience as a testing ground. Will's Final Push will inspire you to make as much art as you can so that your mind can be changed and you can create the art that you want to create!   Quotes: “I’ve always had an affinity for helping illustrators make money with their art.” “The hard thing for artists is to actually see the opportunities where they are.” “Create for yourself and be as selfish as possible.  Create the thing that you want and you can’t find in the world.  Create it because you want one.” “Don’t be satisfied with the world that is offered to you.” Links mentioned: What They Don't Teach In Art School: An illustrator's guide to making money in the real world by Will Terry Will Terry: Give yourself permission to MAKE YOUR OWN DREAM HAPPEN (YCP Episode 176) Piper Thibodeau: Something new, THOUSANDS of days in a row (YCP Episode 345) Inside The Business of Illustration by Steven Heller Exploding Kittens Card Game Brett Helquist Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin Connect with Will: Website / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Mike Janda and Tom Ross are successful creative entrepreneurs who have come together to create the Biz Buds Podcast. Biz Buds is value-packed weekly discussion where Tom and Mike share their journeys from struggling freelancers to both running multi 7-figure businesses, and the lessons picked up along the way. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/bizbuds In this episode, Mike & Tom discuss: -How Tom created Design Cuts, the most curated and most highly rated design marketplace in the world. -How to find your 1,000 true fans. -Why you need to share your authentic, real self. -The value of building your fanbase and community one person at a time (instead of shouting into the abyss). -Why you might be more scared when you have less followers. -Their best Instagram growth strategies. -Thinking about your audience’s audience. -How to get in front of a wider audience. -The thing that matters more than getting 10x the amount of likes. -Why you need to start building your e-mail list right now (and what you should be sharing). -How to overcome imposter syndrome as a creative. -The best way to overcome perfectionism. -The importance of deadlines. Mike & Tom’s Final Push will remind you to stop comparing your step 2 to someone else’s step 50 and enjoy the ride!   Quotes: “This is something that I wanted to do for years, but I wanted to ensure I had enough credibility to do it.” “Share your authentic, real self.” “Put out what you want to get back.” “The real connections happen in the DMs.” “People prefer the perception of making a purchase decision themselves and not being sold to make the purchase.” “You have to realize that almost every creative person in the world feels some imposter syndrome.” “Stop comparing your Step Two to someone else’s Step Fifty.” Links mentioned: Biz Buds Podcast Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk Biz Buds: Episode 11: Instagram Growth Strategies Connect with Mike & Tom: Mike Janda: Website / Instagram Tom Ross: Website / Instagram On the next episode: Will Terry: Website / Instagram

Xabio Arts aka Andrew Bosch is a drawing YouTuber that makes funny and helpful videos.  Along with his drawing tutorials and speed paintings, he also offers a candid look into the life of an artist and how he navigates resistance. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/xabioarts In this episode, Xabio Arts discusses: -His early influence by Mark Crilley, Jazza and Feng Zhu. -Why he puts his mistakes and first drafts into his videos. -His frustration when trying to follow the tutorial of a polished perfectionist. -How your eye for mistakes levels up as your actual skills level up. -How he battles procrastination (even in his dreams). -Taking breaks from creating YouTube videos (but thinking about videos the entire time). -How he deals with negative comments. -His relationship with likes. -The card game that he is creating, and how he is involving his audience in the process. -His “sneaky” hack for getting more engagement on YouTube. -The experience of drawing with his mouth. Xabio Art's Final Push will give you the inspiration to just keep going towards the things you want out of life.   Quotes: “I know how much it sucks for me to feel like I need to put out perfect art and I don’t want people to feel that same insecurity.” “I always feel like if I’m not completely miserable and suffering, I’m not working hard enough.” “There is magic in being able to make things.” Links mentioned: Figurosity Mark Crilley Scott Robertson Connect with Xabio Arts: YouTube / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Mike Janda : Website / Instagram Tom Ross: Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group! Music: Adventures by A Himitsu  Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0  Music released by Argofox  Music provided by Audio Library

Talia Jackson is an actress, model and singer.  She is a series regular on Netflix's Family Reunion (which won an NAACP Award for “Children’s Program”) and ABC's Station 19.  With productions all on hold, she's focusing on her music career and is producing / release music directly from home.  Her first two songs, "Complicated" and "5Five" are available on Spotify. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/360 In this episode, Talia discusses: -How she first got into modeling and acting. -How she originally turned down Family Reunion. -Why our biggest victories often come when we are about to give up. -The way that the less we care about the outcome, the better we often do. -Why she had to leave Instagram. -The advice that Tia Mowry gave her about being a mixed actress and not worrying about what other people think. -Her current relationship with social media. -What quarantine has been like for her creative endeavors. -The role that singing has played in her life. -How she defeats perfectionism. -How she honed in on her style of writing music. -How you are the only one who is going to be able to try your dreams, so just do what makes you happy. Talia's Final Push will encourage you that your opportunity will come, you just have to keep pushing!   Quotes: “It terrified me that maybe I had worked so hard for something that just never was going to work for me.” “For some reason life always wants to give me exactly what I need and what I want when I’m at my breaking point. “When you really don’t care about something, for some reason the universe is just like, “Here you go, you can have it.” “Singing had always been the little side character in my life.” “Do it for you.  It’s your life and the only person who is ever truly going to care about you and take care of you forever is you.  So do what makes you happy.” Links mentioned: Family Reunion 5Five by Talia Jackson Comfortable by Her Connect with Talia: Spotify / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Xabio Arts : YouTube / Instagram / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Kasey Golden is an illustrator and YouTuber with the dream of illustrating children's books. She shares her illustrations, challenges and process as an artist on her YouTube channel where she has over a million subscribers following her journey. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/kaseygolden In this episode, Kasey discusses: -How her YouTube channel and the schedule she made for it kept her accountable for creating art. -Why she initially started her 500 Drawing Prompts challenge (and why she decided to tone it back). -Incorporating her community in her own challenges. -Her advice for getting past art block. -Making a schedule and lists. -The experience of doing challenges such as “how small can you draw” and painting with her own blood. -What she has learned from her community. -How she honed in on her style. -How to get past “same face syndrome.” -Why you shouldn’t wait until you’re “ready” to put your work out there. -Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. -Her take on nudity in art. -How to deal with negative comments and criticism. -Her passion for sewing. -How drawing and painting traditionally helps her to embrace her art, her mistakes and her confidence. -Where she finds inspiration. Kasey's Final Push will ask the question, if you don’t create your art in your own unique style, then who will?   Quotes: “I hate quitting and giving up on things.  I will torture myself mentally to finish any art project, it seems.” “I am not unfamiliar with art block, unfortunately.” “My art style is definitely a Frankenstein monster of all the influences and things I enjoy in life.” “If you wait until you’re ready, it’s probably never going to happen.” “Go for a hike.  Go out and see the world.  I think the biggest inspiration you can get for your art is having experiences.” “If you’re not going to do you, then who’s going to do you?” Links mentioned: 500 Drawing Prompts Notebook Nobody cares that you started.  They care that you finished Jake Parker on Your Creative Push Connect with Kasey: Website / YouTube / Instagram / Twitter / Storenvy / Patreon On the next episode: Talia Jackson : Spotify / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Mur Lafferty is the author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Hugo and Nebula nominated novel Six Wakes, The Shambling Guides series, and several self pubbed novels and novellas, including the award winning Afterlife series. She is also the host of the Hugo-winning podcast Ditch Diggers, and the long-running I Should Be Writing. She is the recipient of the John Campbell Award for best new writer, the Manly Wade Wellman Award, the Best Fancast Hugo Award, and joined the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2015, its inaugural year. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/358 In this episode, Mur discusses: -Why she started her podcast, I Should Be Writing. -Rejectomancy and over-analyzing what a rejection might mean. -Why she doesn’t read comments or reviews. -Dealing with the self-doubt bully. -Trusting yourself and trusting “the people in the basement.” -The way in which your creative resolutions never have an ultimate failure or success – they are ways of life. -Getting more “experience points” for failing than succeeding. -Not just setting one goal, but multiple specific goals. -“The Magic Spreadsheet” and gamifying daily word counts. -The experience of writing Solo: A Star Wars Story. -How she gets past difficult moments in writing. -How her creative life didn’t start until she started taking care of her mental health. -Dealing with depression as a writer. -Taking up the violin as a hobby. -How she uses a random number generator to help guide her on which task to do next. Mur’s Final Push will remind you of the only rule in writing or any other creative pursuit: DON’T QUIT!   Quotes: “We’re always ruder to ourselves than we are to anyone we love.” “What can you accomplish today? Don’t worry about tomorrow.  Don’t worry about yesterday.  You can’t fix either of those.  One is not broken and the other is unreachable.” “Often times if I try to force my brain to think up new story, it will flatly refuse.” “If you think you need to suffer to create art, I wonder why your art is more important than your wellbeing.” Links mentioned: I Should Be Writing Solo: A Star Wars Story by Mur Lafferty The Secrets: The podcast for serious writers! Better Than Yesterday Kameron Hurley Connect with Mur: Website / Twitter On the next episode: Kasey Golden : YouTube / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Michael Ray was one of the very first students to go through the Evolve Artist Program curriculum. Throughout his education and work with Evolve, Michael has been an inspiration for how to get work done and get it done well. Michael has a family, a full-time job and many other responsibilities but was still able to thrive with Evolve, and is now looking forward to selling his work at a professional level. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/357 In this episode, Michael discusses: -What his artistic life looked like before signing up for Evolve Artist. -The stark differences he has discovered between the Evolve program and other online schools and online courses that he has taken. -The red pill/blue bill moment. -How everyone starts at the same point in the Evolve Artist Program. -How the Evolve program teaches you to see first and then apply what you see on the canvas. -The extraction of variables by giving all students the same high-quality materials and Old Holland paints. -The freedom to be able to make mistakes. -The many directions that you can take your skills once you get the fundamentals down. -The commitment he made to himself to be present and focused on the assignments. -How he has witnessed the proven process of the Evolve Artist Program through all the students who keep creating art they never thought they’d be able to create. Quotes: “There’s this creative force and energy inside of me that has to be dealt with.” “The Evolve fundamentals are truly fundamentals.” “There is no shortcut around experience.” “It’s a proven process, over and over again.” Links mentioned: The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount) Evolve Webinar Mailing List Dorian Vallejo The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler) [YCP Ep. 354] Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay) [YCP Ep. 355] Don’t go to art school. Evolve instead (w/ Kevin Murphy) [YCP Ep. 356] Connect with Michael: Instagram On the next episode: Mur Lafferty : Website / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Kevin Murphy is an internationally recognized award-winning portrait painter and illustrator.  Since 1993, he’s delivered nearly 600 commissioned works within the fields of Illustration and Portraiture. Kevin is also the cofounder of The Evolve Artist Program, where he teaches all traditional classes.  The Art Academy, from which the Evolve program was born, was founded by Kevin in 2009. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/356 In this episode, Kevin discusses: -His early education and the mark that it left with him. -“Burning the ships” of his construction career to create science fiction fantasy book covers. -Working for LucasArts, National Geographic and The Rolling Stones. -How he got into portraiture. -Why he opened his school. -An overview of The Evolve Artist Program and where it got its name. -How Evolve Artist works and how you get all of the materials. -The way in which The Evolve Artist Program hones in on your fundamentals and shows you exactly what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. -“Midnight Tea” and other student groups that add to the community of  Evolve Artist. -A deeper look into the method of The Evolve Artist Program. -Why art schools might let their students down. -Why using quality paints like Old Holland’s are so helpful.   Quotes: “I basically burnt the ships and decided I was going to be a painter.” “I didn’t need explosions and dragons in the paintings anymore because I found the people so interesting.” “Art made it possible for me to have a very different life than I was born into.” “The number of things you need to know to be able to make extraordinary art is very small.  That information fits in the palm of your hand.” “We’re always trying to find ways to make the online program feel more like what it is to walk into the actual brick-and-mortar school where I teach.” “Every time you get a success it makes you bolder for the next one.” “Even the pros struggle.  How they deal with the struggle is different.” Links mentioned: The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount) Evolve Webinar Mailing List Dorian Vallejo The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler) [YCP Ep. 354] Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay) [YCP Ep. 355] On the next episode: Michael Ray : Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Piper Talladay is a contemporary realist painter currently residing in Tacoma, Washington, but working with clients across the United States. Her work is centered around equine portraiture, rendered in oil. In addition to her own work, Piper is head instructor at Evolve Artist, an online academy that trains students around the world in traditional oil painting. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/355 In this episode, Piper discusses: -The limiting belief that she could not grow up to be a working artist. -The differences between The Evolve Artist Program and traditional art schools. -How the technical mastery is missing from most art colleges and schools. -The foundational artistic skills (and portfolio) that you need to have before applying to an art school as opposed to needing no foundational skills to start The Evolve Artist Program. -Why she honed in on equine portraiture. -How her art business began to grow organically. -Her resistance of not making her personal work a priority. -What a typical day looks like for her. -The importance of early success and the instructor accessibility in The Evolve Artist Program. -How instructors are actually able to watch you work. -What she would say to anyone who is on the fence about Evolve Artist. Piper's Final Push will encourage you to find and surround yourself with a creative community!   Quotes: “Being an artist was something that I always wanted, but I didn’t think it was possible.” “I have a hard time painting if I know that I have unanswered e-mails.” “When you’re becoming an artist you need someone to commit to coming alongside you and walking with you until you’re where you want to be.” Links mentioned: The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount) Evolve Webinar Mailing List The Evolve Artist Program Review w/ Mitch Bowler (YCP Ep 354) Connect with Piper: Website / Facebook / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Mitch Bowler is the founder of Pencil Kings and cofounder of The Evolve Artist Program. He is an expert in remote art production, having spent a decade building AAA Art Studios in Shanghai, China. Through Evolve, he is realizing his dream to make serious art education accessible and affordable worldwide. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/354 In this episode, Mitch discusses: -What he’s been up to in the four years since he was last on the show. -Some of the log jams that he encountered in his creative journey. -Why he is so willing to help other people in their creative pursuits. -An introduction to the Evolve Artist Program. -How typical art schools cost too much money and take too much time, yet a “YouTube education” lacks direction, a roadmap, or guaranteed results. -How Evolve Artist guarantees that someone at any level of art ability will create professional work by the end of the program. -How long it takes the average student to finish the coursework. -The guarantee that each student will get professional results, but there is no ceiling to how far they can take their new skills. -The type of one-on-one feedback that students get from their instructor. -What Evolve students can expect in terms of turning in assignments and receiving the included materials and supplies. -The fast turnaround time of two or three hours for instructor feedback. Mitch’s Final Push will encourage you to look back at the progress that you made in the last year and weigh that against the place you want to be a year from now.   Quotes: “When you help other people, it creates new future possibilities.” “Everyone gets phenomenal results with Evolve, but there’s room for you to push things even higher.” “Our goal for each student is that they are improving about five percent with each assignment.” “As a student, you’re expected to make mistakes and it’s okay to make mistakes.  In fact, if you weren’t making mistakes, something is probably strange.” Links mentioned: The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount) Evolve Webinar Mailing List Youngman on the Pencil Kings Podcast Episode 200 Mitch’s 1st appearance on Your Creative Push On the next episode: Piper Talladay : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Mioree is a digital artist and illustrator who specializes in stylized character illustrations. She is also a partnered Twitch streamer who livestreams her art while explaining her methods and thought process to inspire and interact with her growing community. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/mioree In this episode, Mioree discusses: -How she started as an artist on Twitch. -The differences between Deviantart and Instagram. -Her advice for artists who want to start on Twitch and how to stream when there will be crickets at first. -Twitch in comparison to Instagram Live, Facebook Live or any other streaming platform. -How helpful it is to consolidate your ambiguous thoughts into words as you go through your process of making art. -Dealing with burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome and being too hard on herself. -How streaming can cure art block. -The value in spending time to create systems to better your mental health as an artist. -Setting ridiculously easy daily goals for yourself. -Using neuroplasticity to start new habits and wean off of your bad habits. -Using time tracking apps and devices such as Habitica and Timeular. -Being deliberate about what entertainment she consumes. -How she deals with perfectionism and negative inner dialogue. -Flipping her canvas and looking at her art in a different way when she gets stuck. -Where she goes for inspiration. Mioree's Final Push will remind you to not be too eager to label yourself.   Quotes: “I try to dispel my doubts and think about a younger version of me.” “I never understood my process.  I almost felt like it was instinctual before.  Now I feel as if it has some reason and I can detect patterns, which is always helpful for improvement.” “I don’t want to wake up later in life, not having had a choice in where my life went.” Links mentioned: Habitica Timeular YCP Ep 342: If it exists, then you've done it right (w/ Dan Berry) Connect with Mioree: Twitch / Instagram / DeviantArt / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Dan Ekis is an American comic artist and writer best known for creating the series Odyssey, Inc. and Soul of the World on Webtoons. He frequently interviews other artists and creators on his YouTube Channel and he currently works as a freelance illustrator doing commissions for various clients from his studio in Pittsburgh. His Kickstarter, Odyssey Inc: The Twin Bengals is an adventure graphic novel and is live now. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/danekis In this episode, Dan discusses: -How the “party was over” when he graduated college. -How he used Craigslist to find animation jobs. -His advice for artists who are first realizing that they have to be the ones in control of their own careers. -His battle with depression. -The importance of gaining momentum in the creative pursuit that you love the most. -How even the masters were once disasters and every great artist has put out a large amount of bad work to get to the good work. -His take on art school. -How to build an audience while your art still sucks by educating, entertaining and inspiring. -Using the words that are going through your audience’s brains. -How to get past self-doubt. -Standing on the shoulders of giants (and also realize that at the end of the day, they were just people). -His Kickstarter campaign for his new graphic novel, Odyssey, Inc: The Twin Bengals and the fortuitous timing of Tiger King on Netflix. -Doing multiple variations in order to get past art block. Dan's Final Push will inspire you to go back to the masters to learn how they achieved greatness!   Quotes: “Ask yourself the question: If you could do one thing all day, everyday, if money and the opinions of other people didn’t matter, and if anything were possible… what would you do with your time?” “If it feels right, do it.” “It’s going to take you years to get good at art, and it’s going to take you years to build your audience, so you might as well build them side by side.” “If you’re in a dark place right now, that doesn’t have to be the end of your story.  You don’t have to stay there forever.” Links mentioned: Dan's Kickstarter: Odyssey, Inc: The Twin Bengals Get Clients Now by C.J. Hayden The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan S. Kennedy Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson Ross Draws How to Overcome Artist Block (INSTANTLY) - Dan's YouTube Video Connect with Dan: Website / Kickstarter / YouTube / Instagram On the next episode: Mioree : Twitch / Instagram / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Ashleigh Izienicki aka Miss Upacey is a Colorado born illustrator and tattoo artist who works in both digital and traditional mediums. She graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design and now resides in Califonia. Her work often features dark and macabre themes with a cute and feminine touch. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/351 In this episode, Ashleigh discusses: -Early potential career paths as a paleontologist and an animator. -Her advice for getting over the fear of posting your art online. -Her biggest lessons and takeaways from teaching her course, “Artists as Entrepreneurs.” -Making a five-year plan and going absolutely crazy with it. -Neil Gaiman’s advice to imagine your goals as a mountain and to continue moving towards it. -Her advice for pricing original pieces, especially for artists who are just starting to sell their work. -How she developed her style. -Her love of the Golden Age of Illustration, Norman Rockwell and Charles Dana Gibson. -Her advice for getting past the fear of the blank page. -How she gets past resistances such as imposter syndrome, comparison and being your own worst critic. -How she schedules and keeps an eye on her time. -Her to-do lists and calendars. -Learning how to tattoo from Sara Fabel. -Running a Kickstarter campaign for her book, “Nightshade.” Ashleigh's Final Push will encourage you to splash around in your creative passion – it will be worth it in the end!   Quotes: “You’re going to be your worst critic and you’re going to hold yourself back more than anybody else is.” “To sell an original, it only takes one person to pay that price.” “As great as social media is, for artists it’s also horrible in the fact that you’re constantly comparing yourself to other people.” “I would like to have hobbies again, since I turned my main hobby into my career.” “Time management has been the struggle of my lifetime as a freelancer.” Links mentioned: Lyfe Illustration Neil Gaiman - Inspirational Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012 Gibson Girl Your Creative Push Episode 301 with Sara Fabel Nightshade: Artbook of Ashleigh Izienicki Connect with Ashleigh: Website / Patreon / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Dan Ekis : Website / YouTube / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

James Gurney is the artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia. He specializes in painting realistic images of scenes that can’t be photographed, from dinosaurs to ancient civilizations. He is also a dedicated plein air painter and sketcher, believing that making studies directly from observation fuels his imagination. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jamesgurney In this episode, James discusses: -How he started as an illustrator and working for National Geographic. -How the vast world of Dinotopia was created out of a few simple paintings. -The wide range of fields that young artists can enter. -His experience (and take on) art school. -The importance of artistically challenging yourself, trying new things and seeing how other people solve problems differently than you. -What he learned by throwing himself into the fire by painting backgrounds for the animated film, Fire and Ice. -His Department of Art shirt and painting in public. -Drawing the ordinary and how a sketchbook can be a time machine. -Why he tries to fail as much as possible (but also experiment). -The process of creating and maintaining his YouTube channel and blog, “Gurney Journey.” -The experience of seeking out and painting in the most dangerous neighborhood in New York. -How he gets past “shiny object syndrome.” -Using constraints by using a limited color palette in his painting as well as using a typewriter for his writing. James's Final Push will inspire you to use ten percent of your creative life as a testing ground and to DO THE ESKIMO LAUGH!   Quotes: “I simply started with these realistic paintings of scenes that didn’t exist, trying to make the impossible look inevitable.” “I realized that I could learn more by going to the zoo every day and going to the Natural History Museum.  So I just sort of enrolled in my own classes.” “Something that motivates me is to just paint ordinary stuff in my own world, within that fifteen mile radius of where I life, instead of going on this endless faraway tour looking for something exotic.” “I try to fail as much as possible.” Links mentioned: Dinotopia, A Land Apart from Time by James Gurney Gurney Journey Andrew Wyeth Connect with James: Website / Blog / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Ashleigh Izienicki : Website / Instagram / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Suzanne Santo is an American singer/songwriter and actress.  Before branching out on a solo musical career, she spent a decade as the fiddle-playing frontwoman of HoneyHoney. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/349 In this episode, Suzanne discusses: -The power of podcasts, especially Joe Rogan and Duncan Trussell. -Feeling like an imposter at the Grammys. -How it’s just as important to not write as it is to write. -Honoring the process when you are getting constant inspiration because it’s not always there. -Branching off from Honeyhoney to create her first solo album, “Ruby Red.” -Working with Butch Walker and having complete freedom. -How she knows what songs are ready to be brought to the table. -Working with John Spiker on her new album, “Yard Sale.” -Shedding catholic guilt. -Where she finds inspiration when it is lacking. Suzanne's Final Push will remind you to be kind to yourself (and to also be a badass)!   Quotes: “You truly get back what you put out there and when you put all this love, hard work and sweat into your passion, you have to sit back and let it come back to you.” “You have to be out in the world to find your inspiration.” “The departure from Honeyhoney was like leaving the womb.” “Get it out there.  The world needs you.  We need to be inspired.  We need to inspire each other.” “If you are called to be creative but you’re too scared to do something about it, you’re doing other people a disservice.” Links mentioned: Ruby Red by Suzanne Santo Duncan Trussell Family Hour David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing in the Street Harry Potter Series Connect with Suzanne: Website / iTunes / Spotify / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: James Gurney : Website / Instagram / Blog Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Alatar is a nonbinary artist and mystic weirdo from Nashville, Tennessee. They enjoy drawing figurative erotic art, and see their artistic practice as one facet of a spiritual practice which draws them ever closer to their authentic self. Their mission is to enchant and inspire the world with every breath. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/348 In this episode, Alatar discusses: -How they are dealing with the initial Coronavirus quarantine. -The problems that Youngman has recently gone through. -The Rat Park Experiment and how it relates to addiction. -How easy it is to be negative and pessimistic in difficult times. -Working with Shamanic practitioner Chiron Armand in “soul retrieval.” -How their “shadow part” took the form of Anakin Skywalker. -The light side versus the dark side in everything. -The positive and negative aspects of the drive that we find in ourselves. -How we sometimes have to play out the narrative and hit our rock bottom. -Making compromises with your art. -How we as creative people need to decide what world we want to live in after the Coronavirus pandemic. -What made minimalism “bioavailable” to them. -Discovering what kinds of strophic cascade. -How this is the perfect time for experimentation in your art and to also hone your skills and touch up your “problem areas.” Alatar's Final Push will inspire you to dream a better world and show us what it looks like with your art!   Quotes: “You don’t have to try to be a negative piss baby.” “Healing and growing past the things that damaged us is incredibly hard.” “I felt like something was behind me, whipping me.” “The conditions of the world as they were before this outbreak – is that really what we want to get back to?  Or can we dare to start dreaming of a better world?” “If anything needs to die, it’s that veneer that we all put on, that perfectly curated self that we put on for the world.” Links mentioned: Alatar on YCP Episode 232 Alatar on YCP Episode 296 Alatar on YCP Episode 336 Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe by Dean Radin Science Set Free: 10 Paths to New Discovery by Rupert Sheldrake Talking Weitko and Mediumship with Chiron Armand - Rune Soup Talking The Dreamtime and Understanding Country with Munya Andrews - Rune Soup Jung, Toldein & the Imaginal - Becca Tarnas / Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio Talking Real Magic with Dean Radin - Rune Soup Dr. Rupert Sheldrake Sets Science Free from Dogma | Consciousness Science What Does "Rat Park Teach Us About Addiction? | Psychiatric Times Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor The Red Book: A Reader's Edition by C. G. Jung The Minimalists Podcast Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists Connect with Alatar: Newgrounds / Patreon / Twitter On the next episode: Suzanne Santo : Website / Spotify / iTunes Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Djamila Knopf is an independent artist and Schoolism instructor based in Leipzig, Germany. She creates illustrations that evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia, and primarily focuses on personal projects. She believes that art is a unique accumulation of experiences, beliefs and aesthetics. That's why, when you look at her work, you might catch a glimpse of the summers she spent strolling through the woods and fields around her grandparents' garden, and you might also see her love for Japanese animation. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/347 In this episode, Djamila discusses: -How she was given the feeling that her art was not “proper” and how that made her stop drawing for a long period of time. -Finding a balance when she first became a professional artist. -The moment she discovered the way in which she could sell her own work. -Her advice for people who are considering selling their own work online. -The mentality of using a “pay what you what” policy on Patreon. -Sharing the learning process on your Instagram feed, especially when you are just starting out. -How she curates her Instagram feed. -The case for visual artists to share their work on Twitter. -Where she finds inspiration. -How she curates her collection of inspiration. -The way in which she starts her drawings through writing. -What a typical day and week looks like for her (and the current week’s breakdown). -The accountability of timers. -Knowing when to stop working for the day. -What people can expect from her Schoolism course, “Catching Lightning.” Djamila's Final Push will inspire you to be yourself and pursue your creativity in your own way!   Quotes: “I always had the idea that what I was doing was not proper art and wrong, so I stopped drawing for a long time.” “Since I started getting into environments and landscapes a bit more, it feels like the whole world opened up to me.” “I think it is easier to form an idea before you start to draw it.” “My attention span is four hours long for painting and then I start to feel weird, my head gets mushy and I have to stop.” Links mentioned: One Fantastic Week Instagram for Artists: How to Get More Followers (Djamila's YouTube) Toggl Story-Driven Illustrations w/ Djamila Knopf (Schoolism course) Studying at Hogwarts Ambient Background Noise Bobby Chiu on YCP Ep. 138 Connect with Djamila: Website / Store / Patreon / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Alatar : Website / Newgrounds Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Adam Paquette is a painter from Australia, currently living in Berlin.  He has been creating artwork for Magic: the Gathering since 2009 and in that time has illustrated over 250 cards. He also works with Sterling Hundley for Legendeer, which aims to be the connection between a life well-lived and the creative process. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/346 In this episode, Adam discusses: -The literary and verbal emphasis from his childhood. -How he first got involved with Wizards of the Coast. -Why he is living in Berlin and how it brings out his artistic side. -His shifting frame of reference from the mind to the body. -The cyclic way in which our location informs our art and mindset and vice versa. -Breathing in and breathing out in terms of input and output. -The various disconnects that artists encounter and the concept of the “embedded artist.” -Legendeer and working with Sterling Hundley. -The idea of transparent studios. -What Antonio Lopez taught him about the pointlessness of art. -Dealing with perfectionism and overplanning. -Balancing personal and professional work and learning to say “no.” Adam's Final Push will encourage you to delete your inspiration folder and start following the questions that burn a fire inside of you!   Quotes: “What this city brings out in me creatively makes me trust that it’s where I’m meant to be.” “People ask, where do you get your ideas? and I say, where can I hide from my ideas?  Where can I get a break?” “Art is that thing that you do when you are wholeheartedly, innocently and earnestly investigating life.” Links mentioned: Fully Alive -- Being a Creative in uncertain times -- Your Creative Push [YouTube] Adam on One Fantastic Week -- Talking about his dissociated experience Legendeer Connect with Adam: Website / Magic Website / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Djamila Knopf : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Piper Thibodeau a former full-time character designer for DreamWorks TV and a freelance designer.  Her clients include DreamWorks TV, Nickelodeon, Intel, Sesame Street and GameLoft. In a self-imposed challenge, she has created a new painting every day before midnight since 2012. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/345 In this episode, Piper discusses: -How she started her daily painting challenge (which she has kept up with for seven years and counting). -Getting professional illustration work from Nickelodeon Jr and Dreamworks Television while still in school. -Some of the initial setbacks she encountered during her daily painting challenge. -Her attempt to not go “stale” by switching it up between illustrations, character designs and pun drawings. -Her advice for anyone wanting to start a daily challenge. -The value of having an “offline” reference library for yourself. -Her resistance of schedule conflict and how she gets past it. -Her advice for aspiring freelance illustrators. -The experience of creating Dragon Draw. Piper's Final Push will inspire you to surround yourself with a project!    Quotes: “I find that when I start to Google, it is very easy to get distracted.” “I think that ideally you just want to have a peaceful slot in the day for you to work so that it doesn’t become a burden in any way.” “I’m like a light switch.  I’m either all in on something or I’m a complete and utter mess.” “Learning skills is easier when you apply it to an actual project.” Links mentioned: Dragon Draw: Learn to Paint, Draw and Design Dragons by Piper Thibodeau Will Terry’s Channel Will Terry on Your Creative Push Episode 176 Toggl - Free TIme Tracking Software Connect with Piper: Website / Patreon / Tumblr / Instagram / Twitter / DeviantArt On the next episode: Adam Paquette : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Daniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle Grade historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, Star Wars: Last Shot, and the award winning Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read.  Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/344 In this episode, Daniel discusses: -What it was like to be a New York City paramedic. -What the Jedi can teach writers when it comes to finding their voice. -How the essence of being a writer is not what you’ve read in books but what you’ve experienced in your life. -The importance of listening in writing and other creative pursuits. -Making the transition from paramedic to full-time writer. -Persevering despite Shadowshaper getting rejected 40 times. -The support he received from Sheree Renée Thomas, Tananarive Due and Nathan Bransford. -Writing the Other. -Why we shouldn’t italicize other languages. -Using humor. -The advice that changed the entire trajectory of Shadowshaper. -Why everyone should write a book (but not everyone should publish one). -Why he spent the last year not writing. -Finding comfort in writing his Ambulance Stories. Daniel's Final Push will inspire you to go back to the stories that you had in your mind as a kid!   Quotes: “The idea of sitting down and writing a book seemed so free.  Because it was just me and the laptop.” “That’s why I write.  The world is destroyed and very much on fire.” “The bones and blood of being a writer is what you’ve lived, not what you’ve read.” “I feel like I’m writing to get the world to be what I know it to be.” “I just didn’t know if it was in me to write a good enough book to be worth writing a book.” Links mentioned: 12 Fundamentals of Writing The Other (And the Self) [Buzzfeed] Writing Begins With Forgiveness: Why One of the Most Common Pieces of Writing Advice is Wrong | Seven Scribes Ambulance stories Sierra Santiago and the Invisible City - Daniel José Older - Wattpad Connect with Daniel: Website / Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr On the next episode: Piper Thibodeau: Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Emilija Angelovska (born in Macedonia, living in the Netherlands) is an artist, educator, and change agent.  She is fascinated with the popularity of community art projects and does a deep dive into creative communities in her Back to the Drawing Board podcast. Emilija has shown her work in galleries in Amsterdam, Calgary and Edmonton, Alongside her artistic and research practice she holds professional experience from the Smithsonian Institution and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. In 2016 she was the recipient of the Kathleen & Russell Lane Canadian Art Award. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/343 In this episode, Emilija discusses: -How she started her podcast as a result of having lost her creative community and wanting to make a new one. -The ways that community informs the individual and the individual informs the community. -Her advice for anyone looking to build a creative community. -How art and life are so closely intertwined. -The importance of surrounding yourself with individuals who might challenge your worldviews and experiences. -The elitism of art galleries. -How to create for the sake of creating. -What she has learned from the people that she has interviewed on her podcast. -Seeing teachers and professors as peers with individual opinions and tastes. -Why it is crucial to have diverse individuals in your creative community. -The symptom of quantity over quality caused by social media. -Learning to not take what other people say about her work too seriously. -Why adults should always be learning and exploring. -The importance of sometimes doing absolutely nothing. -Her love of books and why it’s fun to wreck them. Emilija's Final Push will remind you to keep learning, exploring and creating!   Quotes: “Living a creative life is often times a lonely activity.” “It’s very difficult to learn anything or to go anywhere if you are only communicating with people that have the same types of beliefs as yourself.” “Whether you get bored and a new idea comes up or you are completely exhausted and your body simply needs time to settle, those moments of just doing nothing are really important.” Links mentioned: Back to the Drawing Board Podcast things that art school did not teach me Emilja's Bookshelf Connect with Emilija: Website / Podcast On the next episode: Daniel José Older : Website / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Dan Berry is a cartoonist, illustrator, podcaster and educator based in the town of Shrewsbury, UK. He is a frequent collaborator with the author David Gaffney and is currently working on the follow-up to The Three Rooms in Valerie’s Head; a book called Rivers. Since 2012 he has produced the podcast Make It Then Tell Everybody in which he has spoken to over a hundred and sixty other artists about what they do and how they do it. Between 2008 and 2019 he was the Programme Leader for the illustration, comics and children’s books degree courses at the School of Creative Arts, Wrexham Glyndwr University. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/danberry In this episode, Dan discusses: -His fascination with being able to create something that puts ideas and images in other people’s minds. -Being hospitalized from the extreme stress he experienced working as a designer for a marketing agency. -His decision to quit teaching. -How everyone has different responses to stress, and the value in being able to determine your own. -The large amount of work that you can get done in one hour. -The stress level of effort and “half-assing it” to aim for a B-grade instead of an A. -Why he called his podcast “Make it then Tell Everybody.” -Illuminating the “grubby underbelly” of the creative process. -The BMX story and the false belief that growth in your career has to come from the outside. -Telling people about your work, both old and new. -Some of the resistances that his guests have experienced. -How he gets past “page fright” – the fear of the blank page. -How he interacts with his ideas and why he is wary of the ones that come into his head fully formed. -Why he draws people as birds. -The experience of drawing an entire comic in 24 hours and other forms of “stunt drawing.” Dan's Final Push will inspire you to forget about making the thing perfect.  Save that for the next one.   Quotes: “It was a good and fun job.  Up until the point it wasn’t.” “Creativity is not a muscle that you can just flex.  It’s also a gland and you’ve got to relax it.” “I managed to convince myself that everything else was stressful aside from the thing that actually was.” “You could be the best artist on the planet, but if you’re only drawing in your bedroom and never showing anybody, you basically don’t exist.” “I had this belief that any growth in my career had to come from outside.” “Trying to remain enthusiastic about something that isn’t representative of your current level of ability is difficult.” “If it exists, then you’ve done it right.” “Once you have something that exists, you have something that’s editable.” Links mentioned: Make It Then Tell Everybody | How artists do what they do Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud The Three Rooms in Valerie's Head by David Gaffney and Dan Berry Dick Rivets & Other Stories by Dan Berry Connect with Dan: Website / Podcast / Store / Twitter On the next episode: Emilija Angelovska : Podcast / Website Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Danielle Clough is a multi-disciplinary artist from Cape Town, South Africa who specializes in the mediums of embroidery, photography, graphic design and video art. She has been profiled by Instagram, Colossal, CNN, Vogue and The New York Times and had her work and in various exhibitions in South Africa, The USA and Russia. Her new Skillshare class shows the basics of how she creates so that you can give embroidery a try for the first time. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/danielleclough In this episode, Danielle discusses: -Her mindset when she made the decision to quit school and also to change career paths. -Learning to trust our heart and our instincts when they tell us that things aren’t right. -How we sometimes think too far into the future and put too much pressure on ourselves before, during and after the creation process. -Her biggest takeaways from Red & Yellow School of Logic & Magic. -Seeing herself as a brand instead of an artist and her work as a product as opposed to statements. -Keeping her personal life out of her social media presence. -Her perfect formula for defeating imposter syndrome (and also cultivating it). -Her mental state while creating pieces that take longer than a month. -How she often feels like she is the sum of the last thing that she created, for better or worse. -Why she doesn’t like the word, “inspiration.” -Her advice for anyone who wants to get started with embroidery. Danielle's Final Push will inspire you to find the part of the creative process that brings you joy and build your work and your life around that!   Quotes: “I stumbled into embroidery through a sequence of opportunities and mistakes.” “As soon as you say you’re going to ‘stick something out,’ that’s probably an indication that it’s not right for you.” “I always feel like I am the sum of the last thing I put together.” “That motivation to actually turn something into something tangible is so much more important to focus on than those neurons firing for three seconds.” “Trust yourself and trust what you love.” Links mentioned: Danielle Clough's Skillshare class Red & Yellow School of Logic & Magic “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert Connect with Danielle: Skillshare / Website / Facebook / Instagram On the next episode: Dan Berry : Website / Make it Then Tell Everybody Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Donald M. Rattner is an award-winning residential architect and educator.  As a consultant he draws on scientific research to help individuals and organizations maximize occupant creativity in workplace, residential, wellness, hospitality and retail environments. In his new book, My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation, Donald draws on the latest psychology and productivity research to offer a practical guide to designing your home to optimize your creative potential. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/340 In this episode, Donald discusses: -Why you should have a designated creative space. -The importance of nature in our creativity and in our mental and physical wellbeing. -Facing your space and setting up your surroundings to make yourself more open-minded. -How we feel more creative when we feel safe and comfortable. -How music and sound affects our creativity. -The best decibel level for boosting your creative process. -The surprising benefits of napping to our creativity (and why it works). -Idea seeding. -How working walls can help you externalize your ideas, work through your ideas, collaborate and think bigger than you normally could. -The debate on messiness and creativity. -Some free, cheap and simple tactics that people can use RIGHT NOW to optimize their creative spaces. Quotes: “Creativity, health and happiness all tend to operate on the same spectrum with regard to environment.” “Walls are for more than just separating spaces.  They can be active agents in the creative process.” “Ideas flow from the hand to the brain just as much they do from the brain to the hand.” Links mentioned: My Creative Space: How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation by Donald M. Rattner Raining.fm Coffitivity Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina Connect with Donald: Website / Facebook / Medium / LinkedIn Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

David is an internationally acclaimed and collected artist who continues to push the limits of contemporary realist oil painting. David and his family live in Olympia, WA. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/davidcheifetz In this episode, David discusses: -His early interest and later pursuit of architecture. -His experience at the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore, Maryland. -The unanticipated joy that he received from painting still life in oil, and the subsequent artistic career path that it took him on. -Finding a balance between work, art, school and family. -Imagining painting, and how it is almost as valuable as painting itself. -How he started pricing his work. -The inspiration he gets from David Goggins and Eckhart Tolle. -His method for approaching a still life. -Experimentation and how there has to be the possibility for failure in a piece of art, or else it is not going to be interesting. -His advice for honing in on a specific focus. -Realizing how important it is for his mental wellbeing to use small blocks of time to get to his art. David's Final Push will remind you to do the work that you would do in a vacuum anyway.    Quotes: “No matter how much time I have to create, I never feel like it’s enough.” “It’s better to err on the side of selling your art too quickly as opposed to keeping it forever.” “If you’re just stacking up old paintings in your studio – that’s like creative baggage.” “There has to be the possibility of failure, or else it’s not going to be interesting.” “Always keep the focus at a higher level of detail.” Links mentioned: David's NOH/WAVE Tutorials Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle Connect with David: Website / Book / Instagram / Workshops Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Tiffany Miller Russell is a wildlife artist and natural history illustrator.  She delights in the unique and unusual, and her goal is to communicate that excitement with her viewer. Her paper sculptures are created with found specialty papers.  After drawing is carefully made, she hand-cuts the papers and forms them by hand to create a three-dimensional collage.  With the exception of small 5x7s that she creates in limited editions, all of her pieces are one-of-a-kind works of art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/338 In this episode, Tiffany discusses: -Her initial exposure to paleo artist Gary Staab. -Discovering people who were combining art and natural science. -Picking dead animals apart in a zoology prep lab. -How some of her pieces take up to 300 hours to complete. -How listening to podcasts keeps her in her chair while doing her work. -Dealing with her time management difficulties by turning it into a game. -The psychological differences between rewards and costs in your creative tracking. -Some of the mental and physical resistances that she deals with on a daily basis. -Drawing without reference. -Battling perfectionism and comparing herself to others. -The inspiration she receives by subscribing to Sketchbox. Tiffany's Final Push will remind you to HAVE FUN with your creative passion!   Quotes: “I like the challenge of having a challenge.” “If you know that you can get addicted to something, why not apply that to your work?” Links mentioned: Gary Staab The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators Leo Monahan https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Sculpture-Step-Step-Guide/dp/1564963292 Level Up Your Life: How to Unlock Adventure and Happiness by Steve Kamb Sketchbox Connect with Tiffany: Website / Facebook / Etsy / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Nick Ulivieri is a photographer who likes his verticals parallel, his skies wild, his colors bold, and hanging above Chicago.  Shooting structures & architecture is his profession. He is a commercial photographer based in Chicago who specializes in shooting architecture, real estate, food & hospitality.  Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/337 In this episode, Nick discusses: -How a trip to Italy sparked his interest in photography. -His family friend asking him to take photographs and how that led to him starting his business. -What it was like in the early days of his photography career. -The importance of design, messaging and consistency of voice. -How he got clients when he first started out (and how he gets them now). -How he fell into taking photographs of architecture and how he finds ways to give the same structures and landscapes a new feel. -The experience of shooting aerial photographs in a helicopter. -The process of choosing which photographs he shares on his Instagram and Twitter feeds (and in what order). -His thoughts and advice for growing a following on Instagram. -How the business end of photography actually ends up being a resistance to his creative side. Nick's Final Push will make you realize that you can do anything that you have a passion for, so long as you put your mind to it.   Quotes: “Sometimes ignorance is bliss when you’re learning something new.” “I was indirectly promoting my services just by practicing my craft around the city and sharing the photos I took.” “You can do it.  You may be surprised with what you can do if you have a passion for something and you work hard at it and aren’t afraid to take that risk.” Connect with Nick: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Flickr / Twitter On the next episode: Tiffany Miller Russell: Website / Etsy / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Karan Bajaj is a #1 bestselling Indian novelist with more than 200,000 copies of his novels in print, both optioned into major films. Karan's first worldwide novel, The Yoga of Max's Discontent was inspired by Karan's one year sabbatical traveling from Europe to India by road and learning yoga and meditation in the Himalayas. Karan has also worked in senior executive roles at companies like Procter & Gamble and the Boston Consulting Group and was named among Ad Age's "Top 40 Under 40 executives" in the US. In this episode, Karan discusses: -The "4, 1, 4" rule and how it helped him to thrive, not only in his career, but in his life. -His "conscious goal-lessness" during his time off, especially when he is so driven during his working years. -His advice for someone who struggles to get to the point of realizing that they are already equipped for life and don't need to concentrate so hard on improvement. -The idea of taking mind- or self-dissolving vacations, where you actually try to change and better yourself as a person as opposed to simply going to a new location. -How he kick-started my meditation practice with a 10 day silent vipassana retreat and how a vipassana retreat is actually quite accessible for anyone who is interested in trying it (it's free!) -How his 10-day silent retreat helped him to see that he had been in a constant mode of wanting, or feeling as if he was lacking something instead of living in the moment. -His one year sabbatical and how he spent the time. -How living extremely simply for a long period of time helps you to realize that you really don't need much in your everyday life to survive and it helps to make you stronger when facing tough situations. -The benefits that his retreat gave to his creativity. -His suggestion to always start with concentration-based meditation approaches. -What to do when other thoughts begin to creep into your consciousness while you are meditating. -The joy and inspiration that comes from seeing yourself on a hero's journey. Even if you don't reach the goal, the act of trying is a success. -How art fixes the world for him. Karan's Final Push will inspire you to SHUN COMFORT for a period of time in order to be a happier and more creative person in the long term.   Quotes: "What I have learned through this period is that my sabbatical year has to be almost the complete antithesis of my working years." "I'm always shunning this idea that I have to constantly be better than who I am." "I just try to operate with this idea that I am complete and I have enough depth to tap into, versus wanting to be more than I am." "You can't help but to be different after those ten days." "It's not like some instant moment of enlightenment. You start understanding the endlessness of our thought waves." "I almost feel that every artist is creating out of a sense that this world is incomplete and they need to create a more complete and idealized version. Art fixes the world for me." Links mentioned: The Yoga of Max's Discontent by Karan Bajaj "My 4,1,4 rule, or why you shouldn't feel the pressure to become an entrepreneur" (From Karan's blog) Your Creative Push Ep. 2: Approach the first brush stroke with ENERGY (w/ Karl Mårtens) Connect with Karan: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Just a quick update as to why there hasn't been a new episode in the past month and plans for the future of the podcast!  

Alatar is a genderfluid digital artist who creates character-driven adult illustrations. Their work includes both fanart and original content, and attempts to explore a wide range of body types, ethnicities, gender identities and sexualities (with perhaps slightly more attention paid to abs). They are also the host of the podcast Blue Magic, where they interview other creatives in the erotic field. In this episode, Alatar discusses: -What their Miracle Morning has looked like recently. -Realizing that they might have ADHD and some of the methods and hacks they have been using in order to stay more focused. -How working on yourself is the greatest creative act you can embark upon. -The way in which the creative process has become a religious experience for them. -Writing your own Gospel and living your own Myth. -Their recent experience with magic mushrooms. -Taking the “Journey to the Imaginal Realm” course with Becca Tarnas. -Cultivating a relationship with our unconscious. -How SESTA/FOSTA changed the landscape for adult artists. -Dealing with the emotional despair of sites changing the landscape for adult artists. -Bugs Bunnying your way through any situation. Alatar's Final Push will inspire you to take that first step and just GO!   Quotes: “Working on yourself is just another creative act.  It might not be a pretty piece of art, but it’s YOU.  And you are your best work, when you come right down to it.” “To me, pursuing art has become the path that teaches me how to pursue life.” “Our unconscious is extraordinarily powerful.  What we think of as the self is the tip of the iceberg.  And it goes all the way down to the root.” “What are you waiting for?  This is your chance.  You don’t know if tomorrow is going to come.” “Take one step right now.  Your soul is on the line.  This is the most important thing you can do for your life.  So just do it, already.  You have permission.  Go.” Links mentioned: The Disorganized Mind by Nancy A. Ratey Organization Solutions for people with ADHD by Susan Pinsky Yoga With Adriene Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio Journey to the Imaginal Realm (Becca S. Tarnas) Becca Tarnas on Rune Soup [1] [2] Tolkein “On Fairy Stories” Stop SESTA/FOSTA Alatar on YCP Episode 232 Alatar on YCP Episode 296 Connect with Alatar: Website / Newgrounds / Podcast / Instagram / Tumblr / Patreon / Twitter On the next episode: Nick Ulivieri : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Nick Runge grew up in Colorado. Coming from a creative family of professional artists, he was always interested in drawing and imagining ideas visually. After working as an illustrator full time from 2004-2015 he shifted focus to more personal work using oils and watercolor. As a portrait/figurative painter, Nick works from life as well as photography, describing his art as something close to “abstracted realism”, with an objective of expressing as much of the realistic human element of life as possible through a limited and often simplified approach to his rendering or brushwork, giving an illusion of realism while, at the same time, breaking shapes and form down enough to have a close balance with abstraction. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/335 In this episode, Nick discusses: -Why he came back to drawing and painting. -Balancing personal work vs. client/commission work. -Finding a love for painting with oils and watercolor. -The experience of making the movie poster for “The Death of Superman Lives.” -His advice to become obsessed with things that you enjoy doing. -His advice for selling your work on social media without feeling slimey. -What a typical day looks like for him. -The fear of showing old work or failures. -Getting past ruts. -The power of secret sketchbooks. -Putting aside your five favorite pieces of art to open your mind to making new “favorites.” -Dealing with shyness. Nick's Final Push will inspire you to be impulsive and get moving this very second!   Quotes: “You have to hold that initial excitement for art like a fuel through all of the tough times.” “Drawing has felt like I’ve been cheating on normal life.  That’s why I love it.  It seems forbidden -- especially in America – to draw or create.  It’s seems great, but how do you make money at it?” “If you find a specific painting or a subject matter that you really do just enjoy, maybe just obsess over it a little bit more.” “I find that any time I think ‘I need money right now so I’m going to paint this thing,’ it almost never works.” “If you want to paint or draw, do just a little bit every day and it really will get to be more of an addiction.” Links mentioned: “Start” – Nick's piece that was unfinished Marie-Noelle Wurm on Your Creative Push Ep. 320 Watercolor Workshop in Seville Spain (May 16-19 2019) NOH/WAVE course Alatar on Your Creative Push Ep. 232 Alatar on Your Creative Push Ep. 296 Connect with Nick: Website / Shop / Instagram On the next episode: Alatar : Newgrounds / Podcast / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Jeff Wright is a storyteller and a podcaster.  He specializes in “edu-tainments”: storytelling with depth and message AND presentations enriched through entertaining story.  His podcasts, Odyssey: The Podcast and Trojan War: The Podcast are now available everywhere. Jeff's live show, "A Whack on the Side of the Head: A Concussion Story" tells the autobiographical story of his personal journey through concussion and invisible injury.  The one-hour show comes complete with Jeff’s amusing anecdotes, good humor, insightful take-aways, and inspirational messages. Contact Jeff personally at jeff@trojanwarpodcast.com, or Jeff’s agent info@perfectnotespeakers.com for show information and booking details. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/334 In this episode, Jeff discusses: -How he got interested in theater and public speaking. -Dealing with the unrelenting standards placed upon him by other people and eventually by himself. -How suffering from a concussion changed the trajectory of his life. -If some major life issue forces you to start from scratch, build on something that you are already good at. -How the Greek Epics were what “stuck” for his lectures. -Transitioning from a full-time teacher to a shorter-term guest speaker. -The changes that he had to make in his presentation when he took his “act” from small classrooms to large auditoriums. -Watching tapes of himself and evaluating, but not being too critical. -Gaining power over your demons or monsters by learning their names. -Using a damaged brain to try to figure out what was wrong with his brain. -The unfair feeling of wanting to justify his invisible injury to other people. -How we overly value the negative reviews and comments. -Not being able to see his audience due to bright lights (and having no physical audience during the podcast). Jeff's Final Push will inspire you to realize that shit happens.  Don’t deny it.  Don’t try to go it alone. Quotes: “I think an awful lot of creative people or high achievers get so much of their self-concept tied up in the work that they do.” “The thing about these stories is that they’re humanities original Game of Thrones.” “When some life event throws your life off of its nice intended tracks, if you can build on something that you know you already do well and you are passionate about, then at least you have a few aces in your hands as you start on the parts that are going to be new and difficult for you.” “The journey to success is paved with failures.” “When shit happens and your life is turned upside down, don’t deny it.  Don’t try to go it alone.” Links mentioned: Odyssey: The Podcast Trojan War: The Podcast How to Make Love in a Canoe Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Connect with Jeff: Website / E-mail / Facebook / Twitter On the next episode: Nick Runge : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

If there is one thing that Youngman has learned in the three years of creating this podcast, it is the fact that the best creative output comes when you share your own story. Often times, it takes time and effort to figure out what that story is. In today's episode we are going to explore the fact that your story doesn't have to reach a completion for you to start sharing it.  You simply have to share what’s inside of you.  The closer you can get to that message, the better it will be… not necessarily in quality, but in the weight that it carries for you and for others. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/tellyourstory Quotes: “That’s the glory of sharing your story.  It doesn’t have to be a story.  It simply has to be what’s going on inside of you.  As concrete or as confusing as it may be to you.” "There are a million ways that you can get off-track from telling your story.  And all of them are very quick derailments." "Sharing your message is THE THING.  That's the focal point and the guidepost that will put you on the right path." "When we're talking about using your art to tell a story, what better story is there than the story of your life?" Links mentioned: Creative Coping Podcast The Art Marketing Project Podcast Kick in the Creatives Ep. 33 Using Art to Convey a Message or Story 3 Point Perspective Podcast Amber Rae on YCP Ep. 289 Johnny Anomaly on YCP Ep. 329 Adonna Khare on YCP Ep. 46 Bobby Chiu on YCP Ep. 138 Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Daniel Robinson is a television writer for ABC’s hit drama How to Get Away With Murder. He’s self publishing his first novel, First They Ignore You, a deeply personal work of fiction that explores the decade it took for him to establish his career in Hollywood and the lifetime it continues to take for him to battle with his personal demons who mostly manifest as an intense desire to drown anxiety and self-loathing in a sea of fast food.  Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/danielrobinson In this episode, Daniel discusses: -How the skills of a basketball player translate to the creative realm. -Seeing things being done at a professional level, and what that did for his mindset. -Embracing failure. -Writing for a television series with a team versus writing for yourself. -Being a mercenary with your creative skills. -How everyone has their own story to tell. -Putting himself on the page via dialogue between his characters. -How his editor was able to bring out the best in him. -Pushing himself to “dig deeper.” -Calibrating his sensitivity to make it a tool. -Guarding your attention and dealing with distractions. Daniel's Final Push will inspire you to be a charged-up, thriving, vital person who is passionate about what you are doing.”   Quotes: “I was fortunate in that I was consumed by this almost pathological belief or vision that I could accomplish anything.” “Storytelling is such a powerful thing.  Once people feel like they’ve told their story, it can lift so much weight off of their soul.” “Those dopamine feedback loops are so addictive.” “As an artist, you have to guard your attention.  There are so many distractions nowadays that it’s hard to push those things aside, channel your inner voice and do that work that is so important. “You have to free yourself from any expectation of what this thing is supposed to be, where it’s supposed to take you, what it’s supposed to do.” “What the world needs is charged up, thriving, vital people who are passionate about what they are doing.” Links mentioned: First They Ignore You by Daniel Robinson Kick in the Creatives: Using Art to Convey a Message or Story How to Get Away With Murder Connect with Daniel: Book / IMDb Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Suzanne is an asexual woman with a great love for writing erotic romance and enjoys spending her time confusing people with that fact. She believes there is a need for heightened diversity in erotic fiction and strives to write enough stories so that everyone can see themselves mirrored in a protagonist. Her new book, Playing Around, is available April 15! Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/suzanneclay In this episode, Suzanne discusses: -Writing erotic romance as a way for her to investigate the wide range of sexualities and sexual behavior. -How she was able to see sexual interest and activity as a form of character motivation. -Why she felt it was important to start writing queer romance. -How and why she began sharing her work. -The experience of working with NineStar Press. -How she lets her characters explore and tell the story (and how that affects the editing process). -Being a “Plantser.” -The initial fear and guilt because of her religious upbringing. -Aphantasia and how that affects her writing. -Her strategies for dealing with depression and anxiety. -Using programs like Omnifocus and Habitica to help her manage her time and organize the tasks that she needs to get done. -The rewarding experience of writing commissions. Suzanne's Final Push is one that you have to hear for yourself!   Quotes: “Sometimes I’m waiting for a reader to stand up and say, ‘You know, it’s really not that serious and you’re putting way too much thought into all of this about your characters.’” “As I began to research into possibly publishing some of my material, I realized exactly how big the small press and independent queer author community was.” “I think if I had been exposed to more works like that when I was younger, then it wouldn’t have taken me until I was 25 years old to recognize my identity and my place in the queer community.” “It’s very hard sometimes to trust my characters and believe that they are telling me what I need to hear.” “You’re going to bring breathless, beautiful, boundless, bountiful life to your creation – the kind that brings people to tears when they realize they are not alone.” Links mentioned: Playing Around (Rough Play Book 1) by Suzanne Clay: NineStar / Amazon / Books2Read OmniFocus Habitica Connect with Suzanne: Website / Goodreads / Amazon / Facebook / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

John Wentz is a contemporary painter whose work is an exploration of process and technique. Working within the classical idiom of the human figure, his goal is to reduce and simplify the image to it’s core fundamentals: composition, color, and mark making. John was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has had 3 solo exhibitions in San Francisco and numerous group exhibitions both nationally and internationally. His works have appeared in many publications and have won multiple awards.  Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/johnwentz In this episode, John discusses: -How he landed in fine art after his foray in illustration. -How a Gerhard Richter exhibition changed his life and remapped his brain. -Art being about discovery and experimentation. -The power that comes from disconnecting in order to do some soul-searching. -Cave paintings and how we have always been creating art, and even risking our lives to do so. -How he has struck a balance from his former lifestyle of a donut a day and being disconnected from friends and family. -How he picks his subjects and how he paints them. -How he was taught that he should never paint anybody that he knows, and why he is rebelling. -Why he purposely doesn’t analyze certain aspects of his process in order to maintain some of the magic. -Why and how he started creating his assemblages of his art, photography and reclaimed items. -The story behind his series, “Navigation Unknown.” -How he chooses which ideas to move forward on. -The dark ways in which social media platforms are controlling your creative process. -Dealing with anxiety. -Turning your list of priorities upside down so that you get to your creative passion before all of your other “needs.” -His new course at the NOH/WAVE Academy. -The differences between living in Paris and the United States. John's Final Push will encourage you to do the thing that you need like oxygen… and remind you … DON’T BE A DICK!   Quotes: “For me, making art is about discovery and experimentation.” “Just unplug and take time for yourself.  It’s okay to not be connected.” “There are certain aspects of my process that I don’t analyze too much because I want to keep that unknown to it.” “Making it is only fifty percent.  The other fifty percent is getting it in front of an audience and creating a dialogue.” “On paper, being a painter is the worst business plan imaginable.” “The people that I end up working with and being friends with are great people to be around and they ignite something inside of me.” Links mentioned: John's course on NOH/WAVE/ACADEMY John Wentz on Artist Decoded Pale Blue Dot (Carl Sagan) Connect with John: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter On the next episode: Suzanne Clay : Website / Goodreads Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

In the ever-evolving landscape of today's music industry, Nashville-based independent artist Ron Pope has plotted his own course. Uncompromising and relentless, Pope has evolved into one of the top grossing independent acts in the business while garnering a legion of devoted fans the world over. Taking the industry-road-less-traveled and holding fiercely to his independence has proven fruitful for Pope; to date, he has sold out shows on three continents and in more than 20 countries, sold over 2 million digital tracks, had over 290 million streams on Spotify, 700 million plays on Pandora, 150 million views on Youtube, and has more generally crushed every metric used to measure what is possible for independent artists. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/bestof13 In this episode, Ron discusses: -His creative origins and how he got to the point he is today as a songwriter and musician. -His involvement at the inception of “The District.” -How he writes such a large quantity of songs because he knows that not all of them will be good enough to make a record. -The belief that if you want to be a songwriter, you just have to sit down, shut up, and write songs. -How he doesn’t really believe in writer’s block.  It is just accepting that some of the stuff you write will be garbage. -The importance of working harder than everyone else if you want to excel to the highest level of your creative field. -One of the times that he was having a very difficult time writing a song, and then all of the sudden he was struck with the song in its entirety. -How doing the hard work every day and getting used to what the work feels like puts you in a better position to capture inspiration and put it into its “physical” form, even in just one take. -The role that music played in his life when he was younger to make him feel more connected and less alone. -The profound connection that comes when people play his music during special events. -How his song “I Do Not Love You” played a special role in Youngman Brown’s life as his first dance at his wedding. -How art is subjective and it doesn’t matter what the artist thinks about it once the viewer or listener has given it his or her own meaning. -How hard it is to comprehend large numbers of listenership, and the power that comes from one-on-one connections. -What he has been up to creating and touring his new album Ron Pope & the Nighthawks. Ron's Final Push will inspire you to choose to do the thing you love! Quotes: “That songwriting circle was really the difference for me.  If I hadn’t joined that group, I don’t know if I would have been able to become a professional songwriter.” “I just feel like I’m not good enough to sit down and write ten songs and have all ten of those songs be bangers and have that be the record.” “For my last album, Ron Pope and the Nighthawks  I wrote 150 songs.  We recorded 40 of them or so to get to the 11 that we have on the record.” “Really almost everything is like this.  If you want to do it, and you want to do it at a high level, you’re going to have to work harder than everybody else.” “It was like I got hit by lightning.  It was into my brain immediately.  The song in my bones just existed.  The whole thing.  The melody, the lyrics, the chords, the whole thing.” “You put yourself in a much better position to have chance favor you if you do the right kind of work.” “It made me excited when I stumbled upon music that made me feel something.  It made me feel much less alone.” “I very rarely share the stories behind my songs because I want you to take them home and make them your stories.” “It’s still a really powerful feeling to know that whatever you’re creating is a part of people’s lives.” “For me it’s the singular achievement of my life as an artist.” “You’re going to have to work hard on something eventually whether it’s something you choose or something that people make you do, so if you have to pick, you might as well work hard at something that you love.” “It’s worth it to work hard on things that you love.” Links mentioned: Buy Ron Pope & The Nighthawks East Nashville Spice Company Connect with Ron: Website / iTunes / Spotify / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube On the next episode: John Wentz : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Johnny Anomaly is a spoken word poet, author and public speaker who has been entertaining audiences with the emotionally charged storytelling of his life for the past six years. He is also the creator and host of The Creative Coping Podcast, where he and his guests discuss the trauma that has acted as a catalyst for their creativity. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/329 In this episode, Johnny discusses: -How he turned to writing and spoken word poetry after the loss of his son. -How your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt. -The way in which his motive changed from wanting to be a rock star to wanting to help other people realize that they are not alone in their difficult situations. -Getting past the denial phase. -The importance of producing finished work with the tools that you have. -Dealing with procrastination. -His process of creating a spoken word poem. -How he used ten song titles as the basis for his first album, Inspired by Tragedy. -The art of sublimation. -Personifying pain. -Why he started the Creative Coping Podcast. -Having an alias. -The experience of interviewing his wife and daughter. -How easy Anchor makes it to podcast. Johnny's Final Push will encourage you to stop making excuses and remember to speak up, stand out and stay creative! Quotes: “There’s a lot of healing involved with being able to say what I want to say.” “I was saying things that probably shouldn’t be said in front of an audience, but I felt that was the way I had to grieve and get things out.” “You have to personify that pain.  Give that pain a face.” “I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t able to express myself in my writing or in my performance poetry.  Oh my gosh.  I’d probably kill someone, man.” “As insignificant or insecure as you may feel, just remember that you have a voice and you are worth being heard.” Links mentioned: Dare To Be Different with Nevaeh LeBoeuf Marriage & Mental Health with Jammie LaBoeuf YCP Ep. 326 w/ Teresa Coulter YCP Ep. 325 w/ Alisa Kennedy Jones YCP Ep. 241 w/ Andy J Pizza YCP Ep. 300 w/ Chrissy Moyer Anchor Connect with Johnny: Creative Coping Podcast / iTunes / Spotify / Soundcloud / Instagram On the next episode: John Wentz : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Andrew Tischler is an artist from New Zealand who has been a professional artist for the last fifteen years.  He was born in the United States and moved to Australia when he was 10 years old, where he studied his craft for more than twenty years. He also has a popular YouTube channel in which he shares his knowledge of painting with people around the world. In 2019, he and his wife Rachel will be opening their gallary, Tischler & Co Studio Gallery. In this episode, Andrew discusses: -How his father encouraged him to pursue art when he was young. -Growing up in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. -How there is beauty everywhere and it is just about having the eyes to see it. -Dealing with introversion. -How his father had time for only his art and his family. -How his wife has allowed him to accept himself and to also flourish into who he needs to be. -The way in which we distract ourselves from the things we are supposed to focused on. -How we are all here for a purpose or a calling. -The way in which we are being raised to be cogs in a machine (and why people feel like they don’t fit into that system). -The incredible power of the internet and social media for artists or anyone who wants to share a creative message. -The importance of writing down goals in all aspects of your life and referring to them every day. -His issues with anger in the past and how he has conquered it as of late. -The ways in which you can distract yourself with goals that aren’t aligned with the things you actually need. -Taking the life philosophies of the thought leaders you admire and plugging them into your own life where they fit. -How he flags certain aspects of life (like the news and negativity) as distractions that are trying to keep him off of his mission. Andrew's Final Push will inspire you to focus on who you really are and what you truly love.   Quotes: “People have more power than they give themselves credit for.” “Get on with it.  Do it now.  Don’t wait.  Stop the excuses.  You can do something small, now.” “We’re slowly being prepared to be these cogs in a machine, and I feel like that’s why people feel like they don’t fit with the current paradigm.  They’re punching in and punching out.” “I was already a professional artist for twelve years before I started my YouTube channel, and I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner.” “I think it’s time that we dispel that myth that we need to suffer.” Links mentioned: Why Beauty Matters? - Roger Scruton Painting Outdoors  in Paradixe - EPIC EN PLEIN AIR The Creative Endeavor - Ep. 3 - Dr. Demartini Connect with Andrew: Website / Shop / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram On the next episode: Johnny Anomaly : Podcast / Facebook / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Vanessa Vakharia is the Founder and CEO of The Math Guru, a boutique math and science tutoring studio in Toronto with a unique approach that works - like actually! She is also the co-founder of Goodnight, Sunrise, an indie-rock-and-roll-superfun-party band based in Toronto, Canada. Vanessa is also the author of Math Hacks, which is designed for kids (and their parents) struggling with math anxiety and looking for a new approach to homework, studying, tests and marks. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/327 In this episode, Vanessa discusses: -How her life started when she failed math twice. -The way in which we define ourselves as “good” or “bad” at something and then live that narrative. -How her tutoring organically grew into The Math Guru. -How the focus should be in doing something new, creative and enjoyable as opposed to profitable. -The power in outsourcing. -Her realization that taking the time to get to one of her pursuits must come from one of her other endeavors. -Taking a Time Inventory. -Her lifelong dream of becoming a singer and the stumbling blocks along the way. -How one man called her “the worst singer he had ever heard,” and how she took it as a positive. -Growing immune to rejection and how that allows her to try for crazier opportunities. -How anything is possible, but getting small examples of that for yourself as proof. -Her take on the experience of opening for Bon Jovi and all of the synchronicities involved. -The story behind her book, Math Hacks. Vanessa's Final Push will inspire you to hustle as hard as you can so that you can take full advantage of your lucky moments.   Quotes: “Where I am today started with this grand failure.” “It takes a lot for someone who is ambitious to realize that part of what needs to happen is slowing down a little, but also being creative and outsourcing.” “I’ve always liked being underestimated because it gives me the opportunity to surprise them later.” “It’s all about mindset.  Cultivate a mind that is a hotbed for creative magic because it’s so full of possibility.” “None of the things associated with failure are as bad and scary as never trying to achieve your dreams.  That’s the scariest thing.” “The hustle is in your control.  The luck isn’t.  You’re trying to get to that perfect pinnacle where the two meet and you’ve done everything you can to take advantage of the lucky moment.” Links mentioned: Math Hacks: Cool Tips + Less Stress = Better Marks by Vanessa Vakharia The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight Jia Jiang: What I learned from 100 days of rejection | TED Talk Connect with Vanessa: The Math Guru / Instagram / Spotify / iTunes On the next episode: Andrew Tischler : Website / YouTube / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Canadian emerging Artist, Teresa Coulter lives in Calgary Alberta Canada. She is known for her Abstract Expressionism. Her portrait series called “ Sock Drawer Stories”  forged a new pathway to address the social stigmas associated with Mental Health in the workplace. What started as a small artistic venture to heal herself, as well as Paramedic colleagues, has since grown into a narrative on a national stage. Teresa has been awarded several awards such as: The ATB financial Healing Through the Arts Award in 2017, Hometown Hero Award , and a Public Service Award through TEMA. Teresa’s art raised awareness of Mental Health well beyond her Art studio, and first-responder network. She is honored to have participated in and collaborated with: Calgary Police Services, Legacy Place Society,  The Other Side of the Hero documentary; the #nowimstronger 60 day campaign with Canadian Mental Health; White Coat, Black Art with Dr. Brian Goldman; and Uptalk podcast with Sean Conohan . Articles of her work have published and can been seen in:  Global News, Challenger Magazine, Link magazine, and  Live up Magazine. Since 2000 Teresa Coulter has been a Practicing Primary Care Paramedic and continues to work at building resilience in the First Responder community. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/teresacoulter In this episode, Teresa discusses: -How she got into emergency services but always had a desire towards creativity. -How she became a nude model because she wanted to see herself through somebody else’s eyes. -The vulnerability that holds us back from asking for help. -How she uses her art to help her interpret the world and to interpret PTSD. -The way in which she came up with the title for her Sock Drawer Stories series. -Her experience of opening up and cleaning her “sock drawer.” -How she appreciates when people have a reaction to her art, whether it be positive or negative. -The ways in which PTSD causes you to lack the words to describe what you are going through (and the way that art can help you to express yourself). -The value of long-form conversations, and how social media has taken that from us. -How creativity allows us to be present in the moment. -The idea of your mind being a garden. -The power of the story that we tell ourselves and the boxes we put ourselves in. -How Bob Ross changed the course of his life through art. -How people can have more comfortable and safe conversations about struggles with mental illness. -How to handle a situation in which someone is suicidal. Teresa's Final Push will motivate you to use your self-limiting beliefs as a direction for change!   Quotes: “I became a nude model and would sit for these incredible artists because I wanted to see myself through somebody else’s eyes.” “A photograph captures one second, but when you are sitting for an artist, there are multiple seconds that are passing and being captured into one final product.” “I don’t paint for people to love everything that I do.  I actually appreciate if somebody is strongly disgusted by my art.” “Art is this incredible thing that you can use for change.  We need it in our lives.” “People want to see your growth.  There’s something beautiful in the process of growing.  Why wait until you think that you’re good enough because that will never be achieved.” “We have the ability to change the course of our lives whenever we want.  It’s just about connecting to that internal compass and honoring it, feeling it within the depths of ourselves.” Links mentioned: Mental Health First Aid Courses Sock Drawer Stories Series Connect with Teresa: Website / Facebook / Instagram On the next episode: Vanessa Vakharia : The Math Guru / Goodnight, Sunrise Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Alisa Kennedy Jones is an American memoirist, blogger, novelist, and awkward public speaker. A regular contributor to NPR, her wildly popular blog Gotham Girl has amassed nearly 50K avid followers worldwide. She also writes for television and theater and lives with the absurdly titled "ecstatic epilepsy" which she's less than ecstatic about. In her new book, Gotham Girl Interrupted: My Misadventures in Motherhood, Love and Epilepsy, she shares a collection of comedic essays about life with epilepsy as a single mother in Manhattan. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/gothamgirl In this episode, Alisa discusses: -The story of her first seizure and being diagnosed with epilepsy. -Learning in television and film that “nothing is precious.” -The lesson that can be learned from improv acting: “Yes, and…” -When it is time to move past the denial stage. -How our brain’s function is to tell a story. -The way in which it felt like she had a blank slate after every seizure. -How she wanted to make her narrative different than the typical ones that involved suffering and alienation. -The differences between writing a book and writing for television. -How she had to push to express how she was feeling “right to her edge” in her writing. -Dealing with the ultimate imposter syndrome of not recognizing yourself in the mirror. -The importance making room for neurodiversity in our world, and why that was a major reason for her writing Gotham Girl Interrupted. -How she wrote the entire first draft stream-of-consciousness. -The experience of meeting the people who have read her book. -How neuroplasticity helped her to find her words again. -How boredom can actually be useful. Alisa's Final Push will encourage you to write and speak to the edge of yourself!   Quotes: “You can be doing things in the way that you think that you are most creative and then suddenly the world rushes in to tell you that you have some more thinking to do.” “What was happening around me wasn’t that I was dying.  For me, it was like being trapped in a Van Gogh painting.” “Denial works until your head is really hurting.” “It was the ultimate reboot, in a way.  It was like waking up with a new brain.” “I wanted to get at something more than just complaining about this thing that had happened.  I wanted more invention.  I wanted more imagination.  I wanted more.” “I think that our world is better for a space that allows for neurodiversity.  Everyone is very differently wired.  I want us to make room for all different kinds of brains.” “Don’t be afraid to write or speak to the edge of yourself, of your fears, of everything.” Links mentioned: Gotham Girl Interrupted: My Misadventures in Motherhood, Love and Epilepsy by Alisa Kennedy Jones Connect with Alisa: Website / Blog / Twitter On the next episode: Teresa Coulter : Website / Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Sada Crawford is an artist and athlete who has always struggled with the question, "Am I an artistic athlete or an athletic artist?" as she strove for balance between passions.   She moved from Pasadena to Teton Valley six years ago, healing from a divorce and personal issues as she buried herself in renovating a small horse farm in the wilderness completely alone, though she had wolves, bear, moose, elk, foxes, and huge barn owls in a standoff for dominance of the property. Sada now lives on the Jackson side of Teton Valley, where she is finally dialed in, thriving, figuring out the best way to market and launch her jewelry design business, and focusing less on racing ultra marathons and running more for fun and inspiration; finding creativity in everything.   Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/sadacrawford In this episode, Sada discusses: -Her history as an ultra-marathoner. -The similarities between ultra-running and creativity. -“Binging” in the studio. -How she first got interested in making jewelry. -Dealing with her own feeling the being a jeweler is less legitimate than other forms of art. -How calling herself a “maker” allows her the permission to try out other forms of art. -The importance of remembering that art is meant to make others feel happy. -How writing her artist statement gave her a backbone and motivation. -The story of getting through a major injury. -Her vow to find her true self after realizing that she didn’t know who she was. -The difference between her killer instincts in racing versus her shyness to “win” at art. -The need for creative individuals to find their tribe. -The various ways that she is attempting to get in the back door of the industry. Sada's Final Push offers you four unique and powerful ideas to help you in your creative life.   Quotes: “I cannot stop being creative.  It’s like this fountain that’s just overflowing.  And the cool thing about it is that I feel like it’s never going to run dry.” “I do not have to apologize for how I choose to thrive.” “I’m thinking of all these backdoors and creative ways to get into the industry that other artists aren’t thinking about.” “You cannot flourish if you are living with shame.” Connect with Sada: Website / Etsy / Instagram On the next episode: Alisa Kennedy Jones : Website / Twitter / Blog Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Jason Polins graduated from Boston University’s Visual Arts Program then attended Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. After graduating, he returned to Boston area to pursue direct studies with notable painters such as Nelson Shanks, Thomas Dunlay and Gary Hoffmann. All of whom Jason remain closely connected to as mentors and friends. Moved by the beauty of nature and our modern world. His genre of expertise include portraiture, figure, still life and landscape/cityscape. Jason works in graphite, charcoal and oil paint. Outside of Polins Atelier, he also teaches art classes in oil painting, drawing at Northeastern University and several local art centers. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jasonpollins In this episode, Jason discusses: -Studying in Florence using the sight-size method. -The “reset” that he got through working with Nelson Shanks. -The innate search for truth that art allows us to investigate. -His advice for people to stop stewing in their own angst and let go in order to get to their art. -His mantra of “Make a mark to adjust a mark.” -Just how much of an artist’s time is spent practicing. -The importance of separating yourself from your preconceptions of what you are painting (and how to do it). -How his mind works with straight lines and angles versus curves. -His attempt to keep his brain more engaged than the moment that just passed. -Looking at the world scientifically, through a series of theories and proofs. -Gathering, organizing and presenting. -Being mentally present in your decision-making. -The various ways that he makes money. -His friendship with Alexander Soukas. -The importance of not just seeking out mentors and teachers, but also gaining as much wisdom from them as possible. Jason's Final Push will remind you that you have 86,400 seconds every day, so use them to find out what is important to you!   Quotes: “Visual art is a conversation that I don’t think that I’ll ever figure wholly but always endeavor to understand better.” “It’s not about your skillset.  It’s about how you use it.” “The idea of, ‘Make a mark to adjust a mark,’ is just a fundamental starting point to clarify that you have to do in order to do better.” “People don’t practice enough.  We get pushed ahead to create masterpieces.” “What’s the measure of success?  I don’t like it to be money.  I don’t even like it to be that I finished something.  I’d like it to be that I showed up and put in time.  If I can do that I think that I’m moving forward somehow.” “It’s not ‘in it to win it’ with art.  Forget that.  It’s just being in it.” “It’s really important to be able to be impressed by a student that you might have and to also impress upon them.  Something excellent comes out of that.” “It’s too big for us to connect individually.  Life is short and art is long.  We don’t get to see the whole picture.” Links mentioned: Alexander Soukas on Your Creative Push Florence Academy of Art Nelson Shanks Dennis Miller Bunker Connect with Jason: Website / Polins Atelier / Instagram On the next episode: Sada Crawford : Instagram Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Ahmed Aldoori is a digital painter and illustrator who has worked on a range of projects from movies, theme parks and video games. He also has a popular YouTube channel where he shares tutorials, sketchbook tours, critiques and original artwork videos to his 200,000+ subscribers. Ahmed also has a bustling community on his Patreon page, where he not only shares his art, but also assignments for his patrons. In this episode, Ahmed discusses: -How he went to school for Computer Science and quickly realized that art was too big of an obsession. -Wishing that he hadn’t taken the “safe path” and researching the fact that there actually was a path for him to pursue art from the start. -Whether or not you should go to art school. -The moment that made him realize how he needed to structure his Patreon community. -The way that his Patreon supporters and Discord chat mimic the university scenario of going to war with your friends. -The camaraderie that he shares with his community when he lets his guard down and shares that he struggles with certain things as well. -How writing things down allows him to be a therapist to himself and address his resistances head-on. -His advice for those who are scared of writing their “inner-most secrets” in their sketchbooks, where others might eventually see it. -Gaining clarity from taking a break from his creative pursuits. -Being able to look back at his life as an outsider and the way that changed things when he came home. Ahmed's Final Push will show you that every artist got to where they are because of their obstacles, not because of their conveniences!   Quotes: “It works for some people to have something laid out for them.  But I think for creative people, we temperamentally tend not to like to be put into a box.” “That’s the case for any artist.  There’s always going to be that thing that you keep chasing.  It’s like a carrot on a stick, and it’s a different carrot every time.” “Look at your flaws head on.” “I looked at my life in America as a movie that I was editing, and when I came back I decided that I was going to let it play out the way I wanted it to, based on the things that I had overcome.” “Vulnerability is the one that shows that you’re human and will have that limbic resonance with other people.  It is the through-line.” “Every artist got to where they are because of their obstacles, not because of their conveniences.” “Find out where you want to be in ten years and reverse engineer how you’re going to get there.” Links mentioned: Brainstorm School Medcast41 - Art Envy Connect with Ahmed: Website / YouTube / Patreon / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest Join the discussion in the Facebook group!