Creativity Talks – Détails, épisodes et analyse

With my own creative challenge (The 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge) on the horizon in just a few week's time I wanted to dedicate the final episode of 2021 to talking about creative challenges such as this. 

In this episode I explain briefly what the 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge is BUT I delve deep into why creative challenges work, the benefits of undertaking a feat such as this and also provide some top tips for helping yourself to make it to the end of one. This is beneficial to all creatives, not just those taking part in my own challenge. 

Creative challenges are really unique beasts when it comes to creativity and for me are like a special boost that can provide so many more benefits that can be discussed in a single podcast episode... but I give it a good try. 

This is the last episode of 2021, so I will be having a few week's break before I join you again for more episodes in 2022. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the 30 Day Sketchbook Challenge please go to my website here:

www.susanyeates.co.uk/sketchbookchallenge

Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast in 2021.

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

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

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 speak to Gabriela Aguirrezabel from printherapy.com 

Gabriela Aguirrezabal is a social designer with experience in youth care innovation. She just founded Printherapy as a way to help busy heads to come into the here and now with lino printing. Mixing creativity with mindfulness to empower people to create imperfect pieces of art and feel good. Gabriela is originally from Mexico City where she studied industrial design, then moved to the Netherlands to study a Masters in Strategic Product Design.

In the podcast episode we speak about mindfulness and linocut, letting go of perfection, what her business and how it came about, the love of the process, PLUS she provides a simple trick to help you get past the fear of the blank page. 

The quote Gabriela refers to in the episode is by Albert Einstein - "Creativity is intelligence having fun."

You can find Gabriela at: www.printherapy.com or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/printherapy.studio/

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 of Creativity Talks I share a 'Tea With Susan' discussion that was originally filmed as a video in April 2021 as part of my Inspire Creative Membership. These 'Tea With Susan' discussions are creative mindset discussions and this one is perfect for all our listeners as it focusses on building confidence and courage in your creative work.  There are several really helpful tips I suggest in this episode to help with boosting confidence. Listen in to find out what they are... 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 special episode is an interview with creative business owner Joanne Hawker. 

Joanne is a designer and maker living and working in Somerset. She predominantly creates special occasion greeting cards for life’s special moments, colourful washi tape and project bags. She is perhaps best known for her Instagram challenge #MarchMeetTheMaker.

I asked Joanne about her creative process when creating new products, what creativity means to her and what inspires her. We also discussed exactly what the March Meet the Maker challenge is, what her favourite colour is and discussed jumping about in the rain!

We had a fabulous conversation, so hit play to join us! 

You can find Joanne online here:

www.joannehawker.co.uk
Instagram: @JoanneHawker

Show Notes:

https://www.noissue.co.uk - The company mentioned for sustainable packaging

Procreate - is the iPad app for digital drawing. 

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 of Creativity Talks, Susan discusses the importance of just doing something. 

This is all about creativity and that we need to fuel it regularly by small inputs or outputs. Sometimes simply reading, doodling or thinking about creativity is enough. The process and the practice are what are important, in any small little doses that we can fit into our daily lives. 

Curious? Then listen in...

Show Notes:

Books mentioned in the podcast include The Practice by Seth Godin and The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

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 special guest interview I talk to creative business owner and mum Sara Funduk. 

We had a fabulous discussion about the two sides to her creative work - her own art and also her e-course platform CourseCraft. I loved this conversation and we talked about the things that make her creatively tick, the importance of colour and also the impact of being a mother on your art and creative practice. 

Do have a listen to find out more...

About Sara

My name is Sara Funduk and I live in Ontario, Canada, with my husband Ryan, my son Stanley, and our three crazy cats. I am an art-supply hoarder; I use all the colours when I paint; and I am completely obsessed with patterns. I have been making art since I was old enough to hold a crayon.

When my son was born, I almost let my creativity dry up. I felt like I had no time to paint and I definitely didn’t have time for all the setup and cleanup work that went into it. One day, during nap time, I pulled out a barely used watercolour palette from my stash and it clicked.

After exploring watercolour for a bit, I was approached by a publisher to write a book about it! It was a massive surprise that anyone wanted me to write a book. It was an amazing project to work on and really pushed my creativity further than I thought possible. Since then, I’ve expanded my artwork to include my first love again: pattern.

Where you can find Sara

https://coursecraft.net
https://sarafunduk.com

Sara's book is called: Playing with Paints: Watercolour

The book recommended by Sara during the podcast is 'The Creative Licence' by Danny Gregory

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 discuss Creative Burnout. I discuss what it is and ways you can deal with it and get back to creating. This is an essential episode to listen to if you are feeling that feeling of tiredness, artist's block or general funk in your creative activities. I discuss all about filling your cup so the creativity can flow freely again! 

Show Notes

Points discussed throughout the episode include:

• creative burnout is totally normal
• don't be too hard on yourself
• Stop the creative work if you notice burnout
• Take a break (either from creative work or an actual physical break away)
• Go somewhere new
• Do something different
• Try healing techniques such as meditation or yoga
• Do things that make you happy
• If it is a deeper / true breakdown seek help (take a look at: https://www.mind.org.uk) 
• Get some sleep!
• When getting back to creative work start small
• Build some of these techniques into your routine to help to fill your cup! 

Quotes mentioned in the podcast:

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” —Banksy

“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life” –Christopher K. Germer

For assistance with Metal Health Issues take a look at https://www.mind.org.uk 

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