Creativity Talks

In this week’s episode I talk to artist, teacher and author Alison C Board. We discussed things like ‘not putting your paintings on a pedestal’, about creating a ‘stubborn club,’ our thoughts on the art police and the importance of collaboration. We also delve deep into Alison’s experiences as an artist and teacher and her general thoughts on creativity. It’s a great listen and I hope you enjoy.

About Alison

Alison’s expressive mixed media works capture Dorset’s flora and fauna with energy and finesse. She specialises in mixed media with watercolour techniques, a combination that creates textural and ethereal paintings with rich and vibrant colour.
Alison also draws inspiration from dance, theatre, music and literature, often in the form of text which is collaged and worked into her paintings.

Alison’s ever-growing portfolio includes regular demonstrations and workshops for the SAA, a company who has produced a number of DVD and television tutorials with her. Alongside her digital tuition, Alison runs a comprehensive range of workshops, courses and painting weekends from her home county of Dorset, and she regularly demonstrates for Art Societies.

2020 saw huge changes to Ali’s career, her first book was published for Search Press entitled ‘A Beginner’s guide to Watercolour with Mixed Media’ and the worldwide lockdown set her the task of delivering all of her tuition via virtual platforms. Her PGCert in Online & Distance Education and technical skills came into play and she has relished the challenge of continuing to share her subject and techniques.

www.alisoncboard-fineart.co.uk
@aliboardartist across all platforms
Learning to paint with Alison C. Board on Facebook (Community Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/585148905210520/

The book mentioned in the podcast episode was Keep Going by Austin Kleon

In this episode Susan discusses 7 of her top tips to help sustain a regular creative practice. These are things she does herself PLUS things recommended to people taking part in her annual 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge.

Show Notes:

The tips discussed in the episode include:

Tip 1 – Select a small amount of work to do e.g. use a small sketchbook or canvas
It is often quicker and easier to complete a small sketchbook page than a larger one so go small to start with. A small sketchbook is also portable so can travel around with you everywhere you go.

Tip 2 – Keep your materials simple (and use your favourites)
Have a simple pencil or pen and use this if you are sketching as your creative practice – it doesn’t have to be complicated. Oh and if you use materials you enjoy as well this will help too. Sometimes I find that cheap materials help me to get started and at other times I like to use beautiful materials that bring me joy. Use whatever works best for you. And have them readily available...

Tip 3 – Give yourself a time limit
Set yourself a small time limit each day to complete your creative work – this helps to make it short and sweet and achievable on a daily basis. e.g. 5-10 minutes per day.

Tip 4 – Make yourself accountable
Tell people you are doing this creative work and share it. Consider sharing with family and friends, on social media or join a community such as a Facebook Group or even a challenge such as the 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge or the 100 Day Project.

Tip 5 – Create before you consume
I always think it is good to carry out your own practice before you start to look at other people’s work. Instagram, for example, is full of beautiful work, but it can feel overwhelming if you view this first before starting your own creativity for the day. It is very hard to create freely when we are overwhelmed or intimidated. So, create before you consume (eating is fine!!)

Tip 6 – Use your intuition / instincts
Go with you first thoughts and instincts – draw/sketch/paint your very first idea rather than overthinking. If you are not sure on what to draw, just make some notes or doodles on a scrap of paper first to help your brain to come up with something you are happy with or even plan out a rough shape.

Tip 7 – Don’t take it too seriously
No-one is judging you and this isn’t a competition. So don’t take your creative practice too seriously, accept and laugh at your ‘mistakes’ and have a whole lot of fun. If it is fun and makes you happy you are likely to practice regularly.

For more information about this podcast please visit the Creativity Talks webpage here:

www.creativitytalkspodcast.co.uk

If you have enjoyed this podcast you can support me on KoFi here: https://ko-fi.com/susanyeates

In this week's episode I talk to a creative individual who works at Search Press, the leading art and craft publisher in the UK. I actually met up with Sophie a few weeks ago when visiting the Search Press offices in Kent to discuss my new book about sketching due due for release in 2022. We chatted then about creativity and thought it would be great to chat on the show here as well.

In our podcast interview Sophie talks about how creativity has helped her personally with mental wellness, about how art and crafts have been so poplar during lockdown and what she gets up to at Search Press and in her own creative activities. We had a great conversation and I can't wait for you to join us and listen in...

About Sophie

Sophie is a marketing assistant at Search Press, the leading art and craft publisher in the UK, which publishes up to 100 of its own titles each year as well as distributing books for other publishers. Sophie’s background is in Psychology with a BSc with honours in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. They have worked previously with adults and children with learning difficulties including in day service settings where art and craft were at the forefront of daily activities. They’ve also lead peer support programmes in higher education supporting students with mood disorders and eating difficulties. Sophie is a big advocate for the therapeutic benefits of engaging with creativity and in their spare time enjoys papercrafts and given folks the ol’ razzle dazzle by belting out the odd showtune.

You can find Search Press online here:

searchpress.com
twitter.com/SearchPress
instagram.com/searchpress
facebook.com/SearchPress
we're pretty much everywhere under @searchpress!

For more information about this podcast please visit the Creativity Talks webpage here:

www.creativitytalkspodcast.co.uk

If you have enjoyed this podcast you can support me on KoFi here: https://ko-fi.com/susanyeates

In this episode Susan discusses the importance of positive language on our creativity. Hint: It's super powerful!

She delves into the types of words we may hear ourselves say that are negative and why we may say it. Most importantly though is understanding why it is essential to use positive language, the benefits it has and how this can build our creative confidence and self-esteem. Oh and there are three simple exercises for you to explore the power of positive language yourself. Listen to the full episode for a super-positive dose of creative talking this week.

Show Notes / Exercises:
(listen to the episode for a full explanation):

List of negative words:
bad, wrong, can't, won't, haven't, shouldn't, no, not, not good, failure, sorry, never

List of positive words:
fantastic, good, right, can, do, will, worked, have, excellent, did, good, success, woohoo, always, abundance, succeed, experiment

Exercise 1: Replace Negative with Positive
Over the next week look for negative words that you use and write them down. Notice when, where and how you use them. What does it mean? Try to replace these words with positive ones instead. How has this changed your attitude to your creative practice?

Exercise 2: Reflect on Your Work
Study a piece of your own creative work. Spend 2-5 minutes making negative notes. Then spend double the time making positive notes. How does this make you feel about this piece of creative work.

Exercise 3: Create a Positive Affirmation

Write 1-3 of your own positive affirmations around creating. Use the ones below as examples or create your own. Get creative everyone! maybe you make this into a piece of art in itself. Repeat the affirmation(s) regularly.

Examples:

"I am an artist"

"My creativity flows freely"

"I am confident and skilled in my creative work"

"I am proud of my..."

"I enjoy..."

"My creativity makes me happy!"

Feel free to share your positive affirmations with me.

Listen to the episode to find out more.

For more information about this podcast please visit the Creativity Talks webpage here:

www.creativitytalkspodcast.co.uk

If you have enjoyed this podcast you can support me on KoFi here: https://ko-fi.com/susanyeates

This week in Creativity Talks I speak to writer and photographer Laura Pashby. We had a wonderful conversation about her recent book, her creative process and about the little details. Listen in as we discuss why those tiny details can be so important to the creative process and what she lines up on her stairs and why... and lighting, foggy mornings and lighting!

This is the final guest interview of 2021 on the shoe and I hope you enjoy listening. In the next episode I will speak about creative challenges such as the 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge and why they can be beneficial for kick-staring a creative practice.

See you next time.

About Laura

Laura Pashby is a writer and a photographer. She tells stories using words and photographs on her blog, to her Instagram audience, for brands, and in magazines. Laura spent three years as the deputy editor of 91 Magazine – an independent magazine that covers all aspects of creative living. Across social media, but particularly on Instagram, she has an established and engaged following with an interest in her atmospheric imagery and soulful storytelling.
Laura’s first book Little Stories of Your Life combines the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness, creativity and daily photography, showing you how to use words and photographs to capture moments, and how to share your stories in order to connect with others. Little Stories of Your Life is published by Quadrille and is available in bookshops now.

You can find Laura online here:

http://www.laurapashby.com
http://www.smarturl.it/littlestories
http://www.instagram.com/circleofpines
http://www.twitter.com/circleofpines

More Information

For more information about this podcast please visit the Creativity Talks webpage here:

www.creativitytalkspodcast.co.uk

If you have enjoyed this podcast you can support me on KoFi here: https://ko-fi.com/susanyeates

You can also find me online at www.susanyeates.co.uk or on Instagram @learninglinocut