Holding Your Nerve: How to Get Through the Not-so-Good Times [179]

Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Mentioned:

Jenny Fermor https://www.jennyfermorart.com/

Sara Breinlinger https://www.sarabreinlinger.com/

The Sensationalists on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001cbst/sensationalists-the-bad-girls-and-boys-of-british-art

Crossfire on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001c9gh/crossfire

Find Alice and Louise at:

Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Previous Episode

The Blank Canvas: Starting New Work [178]

This week, Louise is joined by best-selling novelist (and good friend) Jonathan Hall, who writes under the name JM Hall. Louise is making a start on a new series of abstract paintings and Jonathan is beginning his third novel. In this conversation, we explore the challenges of starting again, or perhaps it's more a case of building on what went before? After all, Jonathan is writing about the same characters and Louise is bringing in elements of previous work, so are we ever really starting with a blank canvas? As we chat, we uncover many similarities between writing and painting, share our thoughts on imposter syndrome, discuss the value of taking creative detours, and agree on the importance of an underlying message or theme to our work. Sometimes it helps to step back and see our situation in a whole new light and we hope this comparison with writing makes that possible for you.

Mentioned

Find Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jm_hall_writer/

Jonathan's first novel: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09F5N8FR8/

Jonathan's Radio 4 Play 'Trust:' https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mb2k

Find Alice and Louise at:

Credits: "Monkeys Spinning Monkeys" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Next Episode

What is Wrong with You? The Value of Self Acceptance [180]

Are you perfectly confident about yourself and your art? Do you sail through life with no self-criticism? In most cases, the answer to this question is a resounding no. As artists we are all alone - making things that just seemed like a good idea, even though no-one asked us to. There is no roadmap and there are no instructions. So it's natural to be filled with self-doubt. Am I doing this right? Is anyone going to like this? Is this even art? This week, Louise is musing about the importance of self-acceptance. This is more than making ourselves feel good - without self-acceptance, we can't make the work that lives inside us - the unique, compelling, personal work of which we are capable. And if we don't trust ourselves, how can we expect buyers to have faith in us?

Find Alice and Louise at: