Unexpected life lessons from an ugly painting

What ugly pages have taught me about art…and life

We’re at the home stretch of the 100 day project, just a few more days to go! I’m torn between wanting to continue this streak, and feeling like I need to celebrate simply showing up ever day for over 80 days.

Most days, the art has flowed freely and beautifully. I quickly find myself in flow state, not knowing just how much time has passed since I started painting.

But there are days when I struggle — with the composition, the colors, the mess on the page. And I usually love the messy stage; that’s where the possibilities lie when you are painting intuitively! On the days when nothing seems to go right, though, I feel like just tearing the page out or turning it over and starting anew; to abandon the mess I’ve created on the page.

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Feeling resistance in your creative practice? Here’s what it might really mean

Understanding why resistance shows up in a daily art practice, and how to overcome creative resistance.

How to overcome creative resistance, make art even when you don't feel like it, and maintain a daily art journaling practice

It’s been a while since my last 100 day update, but as of this writing, I’m at an unbroken streak of 67 days of art journaling! This is a first for me, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t think I would manage such a long streak.

If you’ve been a part of my world for a while, you know that I’m a big advocate for an almost daily art practice. For me, that has meant showing up to the painty table 4-5 times per week; my longest art streak tops out at 15 days.

So 67 days — that’s huge!

There have been days when I haven’t felt like painting, when creative resistance shows up loud and clear, and I just want to take a break for a day. But the thought of that unbroken streak pulls me to back to the art table. That, and my curiosity to see if I can make it to a 100 day streak.

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The 100 day project days 21-30 plus how artists find {or reverse-engineer} inspiration

As I look over the monthly spread on my March planner, I see an unbroken streak of art sessions. This is the first time that I have ever had an unbroken streak spanning a month, and I am positively delighted!

Another little metric? In these 30 days of art journaling, I have 20 finished art journal pages! As a reminder, my aim with this 100 day project was to show up and work in my art journals for 100 days, not to complete a spread a day, though there have been multiple days when I have finished a page a day.

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Stuck in a rut? Here’s how to freshen up your art practice

On this episode of the Art with Soul Podcast, we talk about exploring new artistic territory. I share some of the projects I’ve been working on and the new skills I’ve been developing. And I explain how bringing in a beginner’s mindset to your work can help you to expand your artistic capabilities and bring a sense of freshness to your art. Tune in!

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Should you start an art business?

The real truth that all the #handsandhustle memes gloss over

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, I deconstruct a meme that hypes up starting a business versus working a regular job. We touch on what it really takes to run an art business, the fallacy of tying up meaning and life purpose with a career, and the validity of creating art for the love of it. This is a juicy episode, on a subject that is very close to my heart. Tune in!

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Here’s how a daily creative practice can support your wellbeing

Some thoughts on approaching your creative practice as an act of care and restoration

art as therapy with a daily creative practice

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, we talk about art as therapy, about how we can use a simple daily creative practice as an act of restoration and care. I share an expressive arts exercise from my own creative practice, plus many suggestions for creative practices that you can adapt, adopt, or tweak to suit your own preferences.

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Should you go deep or wide with your art practice?

On the final episode of this year and this season of the Art with Soul podcast, we talk about depth versus breadth when it comes to your art practice. I share some ideas on what going deep with your art practice can look like, and offer some suggestions on when and how to go wide with your art practice.

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Creative pep talk: Do what you love

Because everything else flows from there!

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, I offer you a short – and inspiring – creative pep talk to help you remember to do what you love. This is your reminder – and your permission slip – to follow your curiosity and create for yourself first. Everything else follows from there!

You’ll find the transcript {lightly edited for readability} below.

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On becoming your own patron

On hustle culture, the passion to profit myth and what it means to truly support your art

Image of an artist painting on the floor of her studio. Text reads Become your own patron

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, we talk about hustle culture, examine the current cultural narrative around the passion to profit myth, and discuss what it means to become your own patron.

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Wondering if your art is relevant? This is for you!

A creative pep talk for artists and creatives: we need your art!

Text reads wondering if your art is relevant? Here's a creative pep talk for you. Image shows a woman sitting on a sofa with her head resting on a guitar.

On this episode of the Art with Soul podcast, I offer you a short – and I hope inspiring – creative pep talk for the days when you’re feeling confused and low about your artist’s journey. If you’ve ever wondered if your art….your creativity…is relevant, this episode is for you. You’ll find the transcript {lightly edited for readability} below.

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