Creative Thursday

How the Holidays can Inspire Your Creativity

How the Holidays can Inspire Your Creativity

Did it really start with a wedding invitation?

Cozy up, get comfy, grab a little cup of eggnog (too soon?) tea? wine? Today I have story to share with you.

Looking back, I see it so clearly now, I think this story may have been the moment Creative Thursday actually began.

It was definitely the moment I started to follow my creative calling and discover my voice as an Artist.

Can the bustle of the holidays really be a good time to connect with your creativity, especially if it's been dormant all year?

In today's episode I share with you some suggestions of how you can reconnect to your creativity and tap into new ideas now or any season.

The holiday shop is OPEN!

This is just a preview with more treats + festivities to come over the Small Studio weekend.

Be sure to join us for the virtual art event + pop-up gallery featuring 60 + Artists smallstudiosundayinvite.com

 

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256 What are your Planning Non-Negotiables?

256 What are your Planning Non-Negotiables?

Or rather, do you plan?

And if not, why not?

And if yes! tell me. Paper or Digital?

And if paper what are your non-negotiables when it comes to your favorite planners.

Do you habit track?

Do you do 90 day plans, yearly, monthly? or are you lucky if you just manage to chicken scratch a to do list?

Are you a bullet journaler?

Lined or Plain paper?

Maybe you heard, I'm cooking up a (creative) plan(ner)...and I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a dm @creativethursday on instagram

And enjoy this week's episode!

 

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Travel Tips with a Side of LOVE for Santa Fe + New Mexico

Travel Tips with a Side of LOVE for Santa Fe + New Mexico
This week kicked off a new season of reinvention, and peeling back a few layers of the onion that is me.
When I reintroduced myself over on social media. I also said that I'd be shaking + mixing + spicing things up around as we head into the holiday season, which will include bespoke cocktails, new food recipes and ART….plus a creative planner coming soon… 
And for you! my podcast listener, some fun + inspiring guests are on the books as well.
 
Which lead's me to today's new episode which I'm calling a monster (because you know Halloween is coming) mash-up of several topics from what it's like to travel during this time, tips to make your travel smoother, combined with thoughts I don't usually share and last but not least, my recommendations for two of my new favorite spots, Santa Fe + Taos New Mexico.
New Mexico Favorites for you!
  1. La Boca - ahhhh the food in Santa Fe is SO delicious. This was my favorite place we ate at, and it was hard to choose. Also after I recorded the podcast I remembered our wonderful waiter's name - Mario! ask for him when you go and don't forget to have the Blood Orange Sangria with your Tapas.
  2. Keshi - the CUTEST, cuteness you've ever seen. A store filled with fetishes, small animal carvings made from various materials by the Zuni tribe. This is truly one of the most delightful shops I've ever been in. The website gives you a mere glimpse into what's inside the shop. A visit in person is in order to find the one (or more) creature that calls to you the most. They invite you to hold them as well. I chose mine within 10 minutes, the tiny bear featured in the podcast photo below. Let's just say my inner child who used to collect miniatures was in HEAVEN.
  3. Raven Aesthetic - The reason we went to New Mexico 💖 An invitation to visit over many years + their overflowing passion for the place they still call home ~ our loveliest New Mexico tour guides and my almost sisters in-law (who lived in Galisteo NM for 8 years) have a BEAUTIFUL, carefully curated online shop filled with Art and Antiques for Modern Living. I also encourage you to sign up for their “Don't Buy this Mailing List” 😊 where they share their newest shop update favorites (that they secretly, not so secretly want to keep). They added some new pieces just this week and I'm eyeing a few things…
  4. Meow Wolf - want an EXTRAORDINARY creative experience? have you heard of this exhibition? a bowling alley bought by George R.R. Martin (creator of Game of Thrones) transformed by 200 “off the grid” Santa Fe artists. Words can't even begin to describe the 2 hours we spent going through fridges and climbing tree houses and playing music on fluorescent pink Mastadon elephant bones. There's also a documentary about the entire building of this amazing installation, haven't seen it yet! but it looks good.
  5. Manzanita Market - EVERYTHING is delicious and it's a beautiful little cafe filled with treasures by local Artists and Makers
  6. New Favorite Coffee Cup I found at the Manzanita Market by Hien Luu (I couldn't find her website or an online presence anywhere :(  but she makes classic, beautiful white and black hand sculpted latte cups. If you want to learn more reach out to the Manzanita Market)
  7. Cid's Food Market - local food market in Taos
  8. Jambo Cafe African Caribbean Fusion in Santa Fe DELICIOUS!
  9. The Cellar Taos - lovely local fine wine, beer + spirits
  10. Ten by 3 - I bought a handmade basket made by Derick, an Artist in Ghana, at Cid's Food Market. I adore this basket and the wonderful mission of this non profit supporting + helping Artisans break the cycle of poverty.
  11. Blair Stocker dear friend and talented Quilter + Stitcher + Founder of Wisecraft Handmade 

 

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Don't Hand in Your Resignation

Don't Hand in Your Resignation

Nope, not talking about your day job in this episode.

We're talking about the days when your dream "job" working for yourself, isn't working out the way you hoped.

What's your go to? How do you handle those days when you just aren't sure if this making a living as an artist is really right for you? In this episode, I share with you one of my go to's when those challenging moments come up.

Join me for the special live workshop (+ replay recording if you can't join us live) "How to Effectively Use Social Media to Market your Art" https://socialmediaforartists.shinepages.com/

 

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This Might Make You Angry

This Might Make You Angry

If you care about about INTEGRITY, the value of creative work, and rights for Artists, this should make you angry.

I have a documentary to recommend, along with a personal story about a collaboration that almost went very wrong.

If any of what I share is a shock to you, then we as Artists haven't been truthful about our experiences.

One of the reasons Artists continue to find themselves in these kind of predicaments is because we're not talking honestly, and making educated business decisions, especially when it comes to collaborating.

It's time for that to change.

Here's to empowering Independent Artists and helping you to build a Thriving Business Online.

Join me for the Sell A Piece of Art Challenge starting Monday sellmyartthisweek.com

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Let me tell you about our FIRST Small Studio Sunday (happening this Sunday, August 29!)

Let me tell you about our FIRST Small Studio Sunday (happening this Sunday, August 29!)

In November 2018 I had an idea around how to support + celebrate independent Artists more... and this Sunday, August 29 it's game on!

First things first! You're invited! Join us for our FIRST (what we hope to be the first of many) virtual art event + pop-up gallery; Small Studio Sunday.

It's free to attend, just be sure to register here for your invite so you'll be first to view the pop-up gallery as soon as it goes live on Sunday, August 29, along with the link to join us for our privately hosted LIVE events lead by our participating Artists, including creative demos, studio tours and art talks, including one over on Clubhouse with myself + our Artists!

In today's episode I share with you the full story of the inspiration behind Small Studio Sunday and the vision I have for supporting independent artists, and this event going forward.

If you're an Artist who would like the opportunity to apply for future events, at this time Small Studio Sunday is open exclusively for our Expansive Artists members, so be sure join the Waitlist here to be the first to know the next time we open the doors. 

 

Register for the invite to attend Small Studio Sunday, August 29

Join the Expansive Artists Waitlist for the opportunity to apply for future events

Cheers to an inspiring + creative weekend!  See you Sunday!

 

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Finding your Artistic Voice (from Italy 😊)

Finding your Artistic Voice (from Italy 😊)

Repeat after me: “I am an artist.”

In today’s episode we continue the conversation kicked off last week about what having your own art business will make possible for you, and  today I answer a question inspired one of our Expansive Artist members, Michelle about “How to find Your Artistic Voice?”

How do you find your signature style as an Artist, especially when you're just starting out. In this episode I share three approaches for helping you cultivate the artist within yourself.

Let's explore the answers to these questions:

How does allowing yourself to be influenced by the work others help you to let your unique style shine through? How can collaboration help you to grow as an artist?

How often should you focus on your art? How much time are you willing to invest in the practice of your art? Cultivating creativity will help you to piece together your own heart and your uniqueness to find what makes your work special.

Enjoy! and be sure to join us for Small Studio Sunday

 

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What would having your own Art business make possible for you?

What would having your own Art business make possible for you?

What did I hope having my own Art business would make possible for me?

I was recently reminded of the power in answering 1 simple question.

As I continue to explore new directions with my painting, I've been re-connected to that feeling of beginning, anticipation and enthusiasm for what's next with trepidation over all the uncertainty. 

I had NO idea, if I could actually create this career as an Artist, but I knew I had to try.

On today's podcast episode I share with you, what the beginning was like for me, why I really started my Art business and if it's lead to where I thought it would, while also sharing what I think having an Art business today could make possible for you!

 

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Healing Trauma for Artists with Dr. Don Wood

Healing Trauma for Artists with Dr. Don Wood

 

Do you sometimes wonder if you're sabotaging yourself? getting in your own way of success?

Has anyone ever called you emotional? Have you felt especially tender when exposed to certain experiences in your life. And have you ever wondered if it's just you, or are Artists really more sensitive than other people? 

If you aren't yet familiar with the work of Dr. Don Wood, you're in for a treat today, so many answers to questions that you may have been wondering about for a lifetime. 

This is an episode you'll want to save and listen to again. Find comfort in knowing that you're not alone.

Learn more about the life changing work of Dr. Wood, with a special limited offer exclusively for Creative Thursday listeners. Click here to learn more

 

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Amplify Your Superpower

Amplify Your Superpower

What's your superpower?

If you're maybe, oh I don't know rolling your eyes right now, or feeling discouraged (hug to you) and saying in your mind or out loud, “superpower, what superpower, I have no idea" - Stop that ok!You have it, likely more than one.

There are 2 questions I share in today's podcast episode to help you identify what it is.

Identifying and embracing your superpower is a discovery, and I believe we've been making all of this a bit more complicated than it needs to be.

Let's just say your superpower may be more obvious than you think.

Click here to join Zach and I for our Ads for Artists Workshop this Saturday May 22

 Enjoy the new episode!

On a side note painting above is from one of my early daily paintings in 2006 :)

 

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