art and fear Archives | Mindful Art Studio®

Roxanne Coble: Welcoming Fear with Open, Shaky Arms

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:23:53 +0000

[bctt tweet=”This is the crazytown, badass, bitchin’ interview with Roxanne Coble – @bybun.”]

Dear Wonderful, Creative You:

Can you tell I’m super excited to share this post with you? I always say I’m more excited about my current post than ever before, I know. But even though I say this every time, it’s true. Isn’t that the way it should be? Shouldn’t you be in love with each new creation you bring to life? Isn’t that a great way to honor the creative energy flowing through you?

This blog is the coolest outlet for me. I get to inspire and empower other artists to make art, learn new creative skills, and share other artist’s insights about art making – and it’s my job. It’s pretty cool, right? Well today, I’m brining you a wonderfully inspiring interview with Roxanne Coble of http://bybun.com.

I’m not exactly sure when I became aware of Roxanne Coble and her amazing art, because the minute I did, it felt so familiar, like I’d known it all along. (You’ll see I referenced her in my post on artists who inspire me last year.) I think it’s Roxanne’s authentic, emotionally-open style that breeds that sense of familiarity. Invite you to listen in on our conversation about art, having the courage to create and express, and how she uses art to manage fear.

(If the Soundcloud app pops up asking you to download, you can just “X” out of it and continue playing the podcast here.)

[bctt tweet=”Will you welcome your fear with open, shaky arms? -@bybun”]

Let’s Make Some Art!

If you enjoyed my conversation with Roxanne, you will definitely enjoy her April Art Challenge, which you can find here @ByBun on Instagram. You’ll also find Roxanne’s new class, Creatures, and it will not disappoint!

You can also find me on Instagram @AmyMaricle, and join my mailing list and get your free Guide to Creative Self-Care.

Online Art Classes

You can find my art journaling classes and connect with me about how to bypass your art fears as well. Isn’t Roxanne amazing? Drop into the comments and tell us how you liked episode #2 of the You Are An Artist Podcast.

[bctt tweet=”So many people get in their own head. Get out man. Just make art. – @bybun”]

I hope you enjoyed our chat as much as we did. Painty hugs to you.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

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How to Push Past Fear in Your Art

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 02:20:47 +0000

(If the Soundcloud app pops up asking you to download, you can just “X” out of it and continue playing the podcast here.)

You can now access the replay from Art Journaling Freedom. I’ve created a classed called, Freeing the Muse. You can find out more here.

[bctt tweet=”The only difference between you and an artist, is that the artist knows they are creative, and you don’t know it yet. #couragetocreate”]

Please drop into the comments and let me know how you liked the podcast, and if there are topics you’d like to hear about here. You can find episode 2 of the You Are an Artist Podcast, my interview with mixed Media Artist, Roxanne Coble: Welcoming Fear with Open, Shaky Arms. She talks candidly about how she uses art to confront and explore her anxiety.

Creatively Yours,

Amy

[bctt tweet=”Take some chances for your art. Be willing to be a beginner again, and see the worlds that open up to you.”]

Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at http://incompetech.com for our theme music, “Carefree.”

The post How to Push Past Fear in Your Art appeared first on Mindful Art Studio®.

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Just Keep Creating

Thu, 12 Nov 2015 19:06:06 +0000

Create Because You Must

I want you to believe in your art. No matter what others might say, or how much self-doubt you might feel, you ARE an artist. If you are reading this blog, chances are, whether you indulge this feeling or not, you feel the need to create in your bones. Do you want to paint? Write novels? Create music? Dance? Don’t worry about the outcomes, every art form is a practice. The process matters. [bctt tweet=”Create because you need to. Create because you love it. Create because you must.”]

Fueling Your Creative Dreams

When I was in college, I discovered the books of Isabel Allende. I’ve been an enthusiast for years, reading her interviews, buying her cookbook, watching her TED talk on living passionately, and of course reading her novels. By the time I was studying abroad in Spain, I could read all her books in Spanish, which thrilled me.

Many of her books have changed my perspectives, made me laugh, and helped me creatively in one way or another, but no book moved me more than Paula,* an extended letter to her daughter who died. I was moved by her love for her daughter, and all of the candid and magical stories she was willing to share about her own life. I was inspired by the way she found hope and love over and over again despite adversity.

I wrote to Isabel Allende to share a bit of my own story and tell her why her book moved me. It felt important to give back somehow. One afternoon I got a letter from a California address with no name. When I opened it, I saw she had written back. Exhilarated, I jumped around my apartment like a lunatic. Ever since then, I’ve dreamed of meeting her.

Last night, I was lucky enough to see her speak in Cambridge, MA and cued up with about 15 others to ask questions. When it was my turn, I felt really choked up, almost 20 years later, this letter still moves me. I introduced myself, and told her how receiving her note was one of the most meaningful moments in my life. Being able to thank her personally was powerful, and I could see her expression, and I think it meant something to her as well.

Her note made me feel special because she took the time to write me. But it speaks to me for many reasons. It speaks to me about the importance of taking creative dreams seriously, and having the courage to reach out. I didn’t have to take the risk of writing a famous author, but I did. Isabel Allende didn’t have to write to me, but she did. Art can connect people who have never met in a very real and powerful way. That gives me a lot of hope about art and humanity.

Isabel Allende dreamed she could write a novel. She’s written 20. I dreamed I could share my art and help others believe in their art, and I’m living that dream through this blog. No, you won’t always succeed, you won’t reach everyone, but sometimes you WILL reach people, and that’s worth taking chances for. What’s your dream?

[bctt tweet=”You and your art are worth taking chances for. “]

What Happens When You Take Your Imagination Seriously

I’ve been wanting to share this TED talk with you for some time. The artist, internationally renowned sculptor, Janet Echelman, was rejected by every art school to which she applied. Her story is inspiring because she dared, and continues to dare, to take herself, her art, and her dreams seriously. I can’t wait for you to see the wonder that happens because of her creative courage. I’d love to hear your comments on creative courage, art’s power to connect us, and what happens when you believe in yourself.

Janet Echelman: Taking Imagination Seriously

*This is an affiliate link, if you click on it and purchase, I will receive a small commission. If you do, I hope you love this book as much as I do.

If you are moved by this post, please share it with someone you love with one of the social media buttons or by copying and pasting the link. I share all my latest art inspiration and projects on Instagram @AmyMaricle if you’d like to join me on an art journey. You can also be sure to find out about recent posts and special goodies for my mailing list here.

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What Is Creative Self-Care?

Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:37:22 +0000

Creative self-care is not just about regular exercise, eating right, and making time to relax.

Creative self-care is about feeding your soul.

It’s making sure that you have something to be excited about when you get up in the morning. For me, that’s family, art, and running. For you it might be something else. Or, perhaps you aren’t even sure what gets you going anymore.

If you are feeling, low, anxious, or generally “blah,” passion is an excellent way to combat these feelings. Taking risks and facing your fears shows anxiety and depression what you are made of.

This is what we are going to be all about in this year at Mindful Art Studio:

Take chances. Fail. Get creative. Get rejected. Meet someone new. Try a new sport or class. Pick up your paintbrushes. Take a dance class. Most of all, GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY. (Can someone remind me of that later?) If you like this idea, check out how to Use Art to Relax, Simple Drawing Techniques for Anxiety, and my podcast on How Even Non-Artists Can Use Art Journaling to Relieve Stress.

Getting Fear Out of the Way

This weekend I heard a great story about a man who was so afraid of being rejected that he rarely left his house and the company of his four cats. To conquer his fear, he decided to actively seek out rejection every day. He did this successfully, because he’d made it a game, every time he got rejected, he actually felt good.

The most amazing part of his “rejection therapy” was that he discovered that there were far more people willing to accept him and his random requests than he thought. The world is full of far more yeses, than no’s. Click here to hear the whole story on NPR.

This year I will be talking a lot more about the intersections between fear, creativity, and mental health. We’ll also be engaging in some fun, silly, creative challenges. I’m hoping you’ll see that you, and we, are stronger than you thought.

Let go of your expectations, your attachment to the outcomes, and join me in making space for a spark in your day. I am beyond excited to hear what you report back.

Will you join me?

Creativity Challenge #1: Paint with Your Non-Dominant Hand

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Just pick up the brush with the “wrong” hand and see what comes out. This exercise is about getting out of your own way. You don’t need to be an “artist” or “creative” to do the creativity challenges.

Think you have “no artistic talent?” Good. Paint something really ugly. That’s stretching your comfort zone, taking a chance, and facing a small fear to say, “In your face!”

To help get you started, you might try some of the following tricks:

1. Hold the brush like you are pointing at something, not like a pencil.

2. Embrace the wobbliness, and “mistakes,” they are exactly what you want.

3. Turn on some music to help you relax.

4. Do more than one painting to give yourself a chance to get into it. If you tend to do quick pieces with just a few strokes, do some more complex ones, or vice versa.

For More Inspiration:

Try one of the 5 minute art exercises in this post.
Make simple drawings for anxiety relief.
Take an online art journaling class to learn to use that wonderful blank journal to express and heal!

Join the Creative Self-Care Facebook Group!

I have set up a group on Facebook so that we can share our images. Click here and request to be added to the Creative Self-Care Facebook group. You can share what you create in the Creativity Challenges and see what others are doing too. It will be a fabulous, supportive, creative community.

What Sparks Your Creativity and Passion?

Tell us about it in the comments and share some of your own tricks for staying inspired and interested.

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