Ep 33. Using Art to Convey a Message or Story
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In today’s episode, we talk about using art to convey a message. Art can be used to say something you want to express without having to actually say it. This could be anything from expressing your emotions to telling a story.
This is a special episode because it kicks off the start of a podcast relay. We have tagged two of our own favourite creative podcasts, which are the ‘Your Creative Push’ podcast, hosted by Youngman Brown and the ‘3 Point Perspective’ illustration podcast, hosted by Jake Parker, Will Terry and Lee White. They will then share their own thoughts on our topic on one of their future episodes. They, in turn, will tag another creative podcast to do the same… and so on.
But back to this episode. Today we talk about
- How you can use your own experiences in your work
- How you can put a twist on your own experiences and add humour
- How creating art from something that annoys you could make you feel better
- How choosing a well thought out title might add another dimension/extra interest to your work
- How you can subconsciously put a message in your work, but not realise until you are finished.
- How you can create art that has a meaning to you, but no one else has to know unless you want them to
Do you ever put a message or story in your work?
Somehow we also end up talking about family not putting dirty washing away and toilet roll tubes – sorry!
This week’s creative question
Q. What is the best piece of art advice you have ever received?
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
To see the podcast show outline click hereSANDRA:
Welcome to the show.
Thanks to everyone who’s been sharing their work with us on social media
This is a special episode, because we are starting a podcast relay where we will tag two of our favourite podcasts an ask them to share their views on “Using Art to Convey a Message”. We are tagging Youngman Brown from Your Creative Push and the Illustration podcast “3 Point Perspective” with Jake Parker, Will Terry and Lee White to share their views on the topic
Talk about the work that’s caught my eye
Ask Tara what’s caught hers
TARA:
Respond to above.
I just want to remind everyone that the prompts we provide are optional. We seem to get a lot of people apologising for going off prompt, but that really doesn’t matter at all. They are only there if you are running out of inspiration
Ask Sandra what’s new
SANDRA:
Respond to above.
Ask Tara what’s new
TARA
Respond to above
(mention the videos we have uploaded so far to Youtube)
SANDRA
In today’s episode, we talk about ways of conveying a message or a story through your art.
This can be anything from saying something you feel the need to say without having to actually say it; in other words a way of expressing a message or your feelings. To creating a piece that tells its own story. And everything in between.
We see it all the time don’t we; a painting of an object, maybe a still life or something and there is nothing more to it than that. It’s simply art that matches the decor.
And there is nothing more to it than that, but art can be so much more multi-layered than that, and a painting can have a much deeper meaning behind it, often something only the artist knows.
Or sometimes there is a more obvious story. And sometimes you’re just not sure and it leaves you asking questions. And I really like those ones in particular; the ones where you can almost create your own story.
Mention the painting I saw once of a woman embracing a man but looking elsewhere
Do you ever create a story in your own work Tara?
TARA
Not usually no. But I have drawn on my own experiences in the past and created fun things off the back of it.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be deep and meaningful…
For example…
Share your rabbit story (and any others)
Post-it cartoons
What about you Sandra? Do your paintings all have a meaning behind them?
SANDRA
I always find that when I paint something that has a story behind it, it turns out better than the ones that don’t and I think that’s because I’ve invested a little bit more of myself into the piece.
But not all of them have any meaning, no.
For example, I paint a lot of reflective things purely because I love capturing the play of light.
I once painted a raw egg and obviously, that was simply because I fancied painting a raw egg! But when I do paintings like that, I always try to give them their own story in the title. (Your Place or Mine).
TARA
Some stories are only clear at all when you see the title
Ask Sandra for some examples of titles she has come up with for those types of paintings
SANDRA
Apple – Not a Banana
Sweets – Toothache and Denture Venture
Cup with lipstick – Evidence
As obvious creative people as Artists are, I’m always really disappointed when I walk around a gallery and find paintings that are titled things like ‘Still life with apples’ or titles that are so literal. I can’t believe that they can’t come up with something more creative than that!
I find titling a painting to be as much fun as I do painting it!
The type of art you create Tara is more geared towards amusing stories, so I don’t suppose you need to title it do you?
TARA
No, but an idea for a series of drawings did pop in my head at the weekend which would have a message that would run through them, if it works.
Talk about the cartoon you made about running out of ideas so you’ve got to execute them
Talk about the cartoon strip you made of how we met on the Podcast
Other examples?
So what paintings have you done that have a deeper meaning behind them, Sandra?
SANDRA
I’ll talk a little bit about Light-fingered
I’ll talk a little bit about the lost bear story
Then…
I always say I have a light side and a dark side in my painting and I’m still trying to work out why that is. But I go through periods of both.
Whether that reflects my personality (I am a Gemini) I’m not sure… But maybe that’s just a pretentious way of looking at it!
So does your work change according to mood?
TARA
Respond to above
While I believe that some art is made to convey a message, sometimes I think that some artists have to come up with a message for their art in order for it to be more saleable, because that’s what is expected. I think art can be a bit pretentious like that sometimes
But it’s true that the way you feel can reflect in the work you produce.
SANDRA
But a lot of people stop creating when they feel depressed, but actually it can help to instead do more.
If you think about ‘Adele’ and the Album she wrote off of the back of her break up, she was literally splurging her own feelings out in words and out of that came some of her most popular songs.
And in the same way, other art forms can help you to document your thoughts and feelings when going through a darker period in your life.
TARA
Talk about art journaling and how it can almost be like self therapy. Mention that that is how Danny Gregory helped himself through his grief when his wife died.
SANDRA
Going back to Danny Gregory, mention the sketches he recently did during his cancer treatment. Mention that we know a few others who have done the same thing.
TARA
But you can use art journaling for the more usual things in your life. For example if you’ve had a crappy day, instead of letting yourself sink into a foul mood, why not create an illustrated page about it and put an amusing spin on it? Eventually you might be able to look back and laugh about it.
Give some of possible scenario examples
When I was at college I really didn’t like one lecturer we had. He would give us weird performance type projects to do. For example to sit with a friend and one had to meow and one had to bark like you were having a conversation. He decided that we should all give some sort of performance to the class. So I wrote and read a poem about all the ridiculous thing he had made us do
SANDRA
Add a couple of possible scenarios that can be turned into something fun
Talk about the guy who made the toilet roll tube teenage instructional video – Will Ried. Instead of allowing himself to get frustrated about it, he channelled his frustration into something that turned the whole thing into something really amusing.
TARA
Art of any kind can be used in the same way, whether it’s a funny poem, a short story… You can use any of it to lighten up something that might otherwise have you tearing your hair out.
If you are having a good time you can also use Art Journaling in that way too. Imagine capturing how you felt on holiday, or on a great day out. Unlike a photo, with sketches, you can capture your personal viewpoint with notes and images and tell a story of your day/moment.
SANDRA
Equally, you can put a deeper meaning in a piece of art and nobody ever has to know it’s not purely fictional. That’s the beauty of art… Only the artist has to know the whole story. They can choose to hold some of the story back And that’s true in the ones that leave the viewer asking questions… Example ‘Who is that person waiting for in the cafe’
TARA
Although your art may not necessarily have this great big meaning, sometimes the way you make your marks can say something about how you were feeling at the time. Was it engrossed in detail and delicate, whimsical or are your marks loose and energetic? It can take you back to how you felt when you made it.
SANDRA
And like Tara said, your art doesn’t have to have any meaning at all. If you want to paint something purely because you like the look of it then there’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it can be more fun to create something that has some relevance or meaning to you, even if the viewer doesn’t know.
Rose – petal example
TARA
The way you put together your composition, lighting and colour can also really completely change a mood or feeling that you put over to the viewer. You can make someone feel uneasy or comfortable all by changing your viewpoint and can change the story that you are telling. In general I am not a big Superhero series fan, but I loved the series Daredevil, not only because he is the worst Superhero ever, but also the amazing lighting and colours and compositions, that completely change how you feel.
SANDRA
Yes, it’s surprising how the exact same subject can convey a completely different feel just by changing the lighting.
It doesn’t need to be obvious at all… It could be something as simple as a look in someone’s eyes or an object that has some meaning to you or something like that.
TARA
You can twist stories in unusual ways to make something ordinary funny. I like to take ordinary situations and then try and twist bits into unexpected ways to make a cartoon.
I love the way cartoonist share how they feel, in interesting ways. Such as Maureen Marzi Wilson’s Introvert Doodles. She takes simple daily things that all introverts can relate to and makes a humorous story from them. And Gemma Correll completely puts her own spin on everyday things. For example she has a cartoon about being beach body ready where one of the suggestions is to stretch your belly button until it’s large enough to hold a beer can
SANDRA
It can even be completely fictional of course and not necessarily be directly related to the artist at all.
Think about the political cartoons you see. The story isn’t related to the artist, but may convey their own point of view on a political topic.
TARA
I’ve heard some artists talk about their art not intentionally having a story, but when they finish, they realise that there are elements that relate to an aspect of their life. So subconsciously there was a message within their work even if they didn’t realise it at the time.
SANDRA
Yes, that’s happened to me. I think it’s important not to force it, but try to be open-minded and allow a painting to take you where it wants to and see what happens. Forcing it will only lead to something that looks over contrived and you really don’t want that.
TARA
Some famous artists have left secret messages within their art
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/04/21/ten-paintings-with-intriguing-hidden-symbols-and-messages/
For example Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa has a series of hidden letters and numbers hidden within it, and no one else knows what they mean
SANDRA
Mention the film as an example – The Da Vinci Code
TARA:
Finally read out the answers to our previous question…
The question was…
Q. What do you do to stay creatively motivated?
TARAJohn Munro The following helps
1. Getting old and dreading not doing something I love
2. Running a writing group
3. Challenging myself mentally, because physically I’m no longer the Olympian I always imagined I was ( I was going to say athlete, but if Break Dancing is being considered an Olympic sport then I’m an Olympian )
SANDRA
Angela Murphy Pink gin does the trick for me lol only kidding!! Well not really kidding!! Things pop into my head at all stupid times of the day and if I don’t sketch something from the nonsense my brain generates I become a nightmare to live with!! So I suppose keeping my sanity keeps me creative!!
TARA
Christi C Neff Following my quest for peace. Running from stress. Hiding in my blue room. My creativity comes from within and is essential to keeping my sanity. Vodka… occasionally only because I haven’t tried pink gin yet.
SANDRA
Otilia Heimat Sometimes I will draw without thinking, other times I read an article or a book about art. Mostly, I go to an exhibition/gallery and that’s enough to trigger ideas.
TARA
Teresa Jolliffe Cameron I start a new job tomorrow after a year off so I know that I will need to purposefully schedule time for me.
SANDRA
Gabriela Popp The challenges push me to draw every day…. and that is my start of the day.
Regularly I take part in a portrait-drawing-group without a teacher, only to spend relaxing time together and share the costs for the model…
And an upcoming exhibition makes me busy, too. In May there are three
TARA
Mary Flynn Nature always inspired me. This group inspires me. Having to wake up at 4:30 every morning to go to work is inspiring me to work harder so I can become a full time artist.
SANDRA
Anna Sellers Our family plays roleplaying games once a week which gives more art needs than I can keep up with. We play Dungeons and Dragons. Because I post some of my images for our game, I have had requests for commissions
TARA
Russila Moodley Have been creatively motivated for as long as I can remember. ..it has expressed itself in poetry,photography, painting and writing a book!!
The problem is always finding time to unleash my passion in these creative ventures😊
SANDRA
little.finnish.artist
Surround myself with art every day for example watching YouTube videos and keeping sketchbook. If I’m somehow blocked I think what I most love about art and draw something that is connected with that.
TARA
tony_ley
@kickinthecreatives – I don’t hesitate. Whether it’s a small action like jotting an idea down in my phone’s memo or scribbling on a piece of paper or just going for a walk or talking an idea out loud or using my phone to record and talk an idea out….I take ANY kind of action in the moment. Then immediately act on the idea when you get a moment. It might not work or be want you wanted and maybe you’ll come back to it later…but doing SOMETHING will always be better than doing nothing.
SANDRA
blessinks
I have a sketchbook for every idea, but sometimes I challenge myself to visually relate two random words to get my brain going. I like to letter and I follow these lovely German calligraphers. I decided to do their lettering challenge in March with a twist. I put everything into Google Translate and lettered the literal translation. That’s been a challenge. #letteringforoneyear.
TARA
inklets
Stay focused on projects already in the works and make sure to take two days off a week now from drawing. Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and frustrated.
SANDRA
And we have a brand new question for you, which is:
Q. What is the best piece of art advice you have ever received?
TARA:
As always you can Tweet us your answers at KickCreatives or let us know in the facebook group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course on our Instagram page, kick in the creatives.
Don’t forget we are tagging Youngman Brown from Your Creative Push and the Illustration podcast “3 Point Perspective”with Jake Parker, Will Terry and Lee White to share their views on the topic, so keep an ear out for their podcast episodes too – links to their podcast will be in our show notes.
SANDRA:
Don’t forget to pop over to our website at kickinthecreatives.com to find out how you can take part in some of our upcoming creative challenges! And of course there you can also subscribe to the Podcast, so you never miss an episode… And if you are enjoying the Podcast, we’d be so grateful if you would leave us a little review on iTunes, or even just a star rating if you don’t have much time.
Also, you can now subscribe to our Weekly Youtube video if you want to learn something creative every Sunday and see Tara and I making complete fools of ourselves at the same time!
Ep 32 Cory Huff on Marketing and Selling Your Art
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We recently asked on social media what topics you would like to cover and Nea Edmans was interested in advice on selling art. So this week our guest is Cory Huff from theabundantartist.com. Cory has a unique blend of expertise in the creative industry along with the experience of working in online marketing. He now helps artists to market and sell their art offering advice through his blog, podcast, courses book and coaching.
Some of the questions covered during the podcast
- How does an artist know when they are ready to start selling their art?
- How does an artist go about finding an audience for their work?
- When selling art through social media, how do you keep interest going?
- How important do you think it is to build an email list and do you think it works?
- What do you think is a good way to decide what to charge for your work?
You can find out more about Cory Huff, his book and courses at his website theabundantartist.com
Ep 31. Ways to Improve your Drawing Skills
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In today’s episode, we talk about ways that you can improve your drawing. And of course, as with everything, the key to improvement is practice. But there are things you can do to help speed up your progress. We share some of our ideas, and also some of your suggestions. Different things will also work for different people. For instance, I love doing timed drawings. I get a total buzz out of it and you can fit drawing practice into a short amount of time. But timed drawings bring Sandra out in a cold sweat.
Some of the things we discuss:
- How a few basic materials can get you off to a good start if you are a total newbie
- It’s better to practice little and often, rather than in sporadic larger chunks
- Why practising working on one subject can be a good idea
- Drawing hands attached to things is harder than on their own – ooo-er!
- Practice making marks
- How to measure angles and size of elements, and looking for things that line up.
- Our thoughts on tutorials
- Having discipline, but not so you get bored to death
Of course, as usual, we can’t promise we’ll stay on topic, but we’ll do our best.
This week’s creative question
Q. What do you do to stay creatively motivated?
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
Ep 30 Inspirational Chat with Artist Stewart Hill
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Today’s guest is Stewart Hill, an ex-army officer who in 2009 suffered a traumatic brain injury during a second tour in Afghanistan. Along with perforated eardrums, a loss of his sense of smell and taste, Stewart’s ability to process and organise information were also affected. Since then Stewart has found a new purpose in art, initially using it as a way to help him focus. He is now a professional award-winning artist and he is also an inspirational speaker. We apologise for a bit of noise interference from Stewart’s squeaky chair during the interview.
In this podcast, Stewart talks about his life before he became an artist and how his brain injury completely turned his life upside down. Not only did the brain injury have multiple challenges in itself, but it also meant that he was discharged from the army, which meant a massive life change.
Art in Aftermath exhibition featuring Stewart’s portraits of Nick Knowles, Ray Winstone, Piers Morgan and the Duke of Bedford
A few of the topics Stewart talks about in the podcast
- how he rediscovered his creative side
- the first painting he created after his injury and how it made him feel
- how painting has helped him with his rehabilitation alongside other creative pastimes
- how he went about learning painting techniques?
- the challenges he has faced in the process of becoming the artist you are today as a result of his injury
- why he paints a lot of portraits of soldiers who lost their lives in combat
- raising money for charity through his art
You can find out more about Stewart Hill, his art and work on his website www.stewarthill.co.uk
Ep 29 Sketching More Confidently in Public
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In today’s episode, we talk about sketching in public places and how to do that with more confidence.
After our sketching trip to London late last year, we thought now would be the perfect time to talk about the topic.
Obviously, our number one tip would be to get yourself an incognito disguise like a furry hat and moustache or horses head mask. Failing that, we do have a few other suggestions from ourselves and the advice you all shared on social media (thank you).
Some of the things we discuss:
- Most people won’t bother you, or if they do they’ll usually be kind
- Places to go when you first start sketching in public
- What materials to take
- Why simple is sometimes the best idea
- Ideas to deter people from approaching you
- Going out alone or in company. Sandra talks about how she was almost murdered twice (Note: Sandra has a vivid imagination)
- How to be discreet drawing people
Also, Sandra mentions a light tent that she got for Christmas. If you want to check out what she means you can get a similar one on Amazon.
This week’s creative question
Q. The Creativity Genie wants to grant you one creative wish? What would it be?
No cheating “more wishes” answers please!
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you use the link to make a purchase we will receive a very small commission, without any extra cost to you. This will help to support our website and podcast.
Ep 28 Creative Chat with Children’s Illustrator Will Terry
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This week’s guest is Will Terry. Will has been a freelance illustrator for 23 years. After finishing his BFA project at BYU he began working for magazines and newspapers not far from where he grew up in Washington D.C. His early clients include publications such as Time, Money, Wall Street Journal and Mastercard. He has illustrated around 30 children’s books for many of the top publishers including Random House Scholastic and Penguin. He has created several indie ebooks that have sold tens of thousands of copies. He also co-owns www.svslearn.com – online illustration classes for children’s book illustrators selling in over 80 countries.
A few of the topics covered in the podcast
- How Will was first on probation for college in his first year as his work wasn’t up to standard, and how he turned that around and improved.
- How Will switched from doing his illustration with acrylic paints to digital work and what that transition involved.
- How and why Will switched from editorial design to children’s illustration
- Where Will gets his inspiration
- Will’s top tips for someone who wants to get into illustration
- Whether an illustrator needs an agent or not
- Will also shares a funny story about one of his past illustration mistakes
You can find out more about Will on his website www.willterry.com . Also at SVS Learn which he co-owns with Lee White and Jake Parker (Inktober) and at his podcast 3 Point Perspective.
Ep 27 Are You Ever Too Old to Start Making Art?
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In today’s podcast episode, we talk about whether you’re ever too old to start making art…
And the answer to that question is NO.
So that’s it for today, we’ll see you next time!!
No, but seriously It’s a question you hear from older people, wondering if they’ve left it too late to learn. And Sandra remembers wondering the same thing when she started because she didn’t start taking art seriously until she was in her early 30’s… and even then she wondered if she had missed out on too much learning time.
So get your reading glasses on (mine are on already), grab a cocoa, turn up the volume, and we will begin. How do young people today hear with all those background distractions? It’s like being in a disco!
Some of the things we discuss
- The different reasons you might start creating art
- The social aspect of art
- How art can help your mental and physical well being
- How art can be something you can leave behind for future generations
- How art doesn’t have to cost much and so can be a great hobby.
- How being older can make you a more confident artist
Plus we share some of the ideas you all suggested (thank you so much!)
This week’s creative question
This is a question suggested by Deb Saine who is an artist in our Facebook Group –
Q. If you could create with two famous creatives- one living; the other, dead, who would they be and why?
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
Ep 26 Get Creative in 2019
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Happy New Year (that sounds so weird when I’m writing this in December)
Today’s episode is a round-up of the arty things we’ve loved and what we learned in 2018, plus a look at what we’ve got coming up for 2019.
We want to start by saying that having great art materials does not make you a great artist. Any pencil or pen will do, but they are blooming lovely and collecting them is a hobby in itself.
Some of the art materials we mention
- Lamy Safari fountain pen
- Sailor Fude fountain pen
- Pentel brush pen (big kisses to this one from me, but not quite so much from Sandra)
- Ohuhu markers (what a weird name, as we discuss in the podcast)
- Bleed proof marker paper
- Stationery Island watercolour brush pens – read the post here
- Koh-i Noor watercolours
- Mixed Media Papers – Canson Imagine, Clairefontaine, we wrote a post about this here too
- Stillman & Birn Alpha Series sketchbook
- Lyra Aquacolour – Read the post about these here
Some of the apps we like
- Procreate
- Fun photo apps, such as googly eyes and speech bubbles
- Focus Keeper app (Pomodoro)
- Todoist
- Adobe’s creative apps for phone and tablets (many are free)
- Art Pose – digital mannequin
Free Photo Reference
- Pixabay
- Pexels
- Unsplash
- Dreamstime (selective photos)
- Everypixel – Free photo search
Life drawing Reference
Books and Courses
- It’s great to Create – Jon Burgerman (book)
- Photography Masterclass: The New Complete Guide to Photography Phil Ebiner
- Intro to Procreate: Illustrating on the iPad Pro Brooke Glaser
- Doodles to design by Jon Burgerman
- Urban Sketching – Ed J Brown, Illustrator, Typographer
- Any Adobe Courses by Daniel Scott
Things we learned
We also talk about the things we learned last year including:
Sandra realised the beauty of a cheap sketchbook – Not scared to spoil the pages. Plus, how some of the exercises like draw with your left hand and 5 Minute March allow people to be less critical of their own work.
I learned you won’t know you are good at something (or you like it) until you try it and that your creativity can inspire creativity in others. We saw this in our Facebook group
Creative Podcasts we like
- Your Creative Push by Youngman Brown
- Art for All by By Danny Gregory and Sketchbook Skool
- Three Point Perspective (for illustrators)
- The Creative Pen (for Writers)
We also go through a few of the challenges coming up for next year and we have a brand new question.
This week’s creative question
Q. You are allowed to draw only one more thing in your lifetime… What would it be?
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you use the link to make a purchase we will receive a very small commission, without any extra cost to you. This will help to support our website and podcast. Thank you so much.
Ep 25 Why Creative New Year Resolutions are Not Always a Good Idea
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Today’s episode is all about Creative New Years Resolutions. Don’t you just love them?
Why is it that after chugging down a load of wine and eating too much chocolate we feel that we need to make a resolution? Oh yeah, maybe it’s just that we’ve chugged down a load of wine and eaten too much chocolate.
Anyway, allow yourself to breathe and let that top button pop open, as we don’t think you should be making resolutions. However, we do think there are better ways we can make positive changes and build those creative habits too. One of your resolutions was going to be to be more creative or draw more, wasn’t it? And to listen to more podcasts?
Some of the New Year’s Resolution ideas we discuss:
- Why you might make New Year’s resolutions in the heat of the moment (after wine) rather than thinking through what’s actually achievable.
- You’re not taking into account what is really doable, how much time you really have to dedicate to it
- How having goals rather than resolutions is more achievable
- How chunking down your goals can help
- How doing smaller challenges and reviewing them might be a better option
So get out that last chocolate you’ve been eyeing up (it’s bound to be a coffee cream – yuk) and savour it while you listen to the dulcet tones of Sandra and I nattering on about New Year’s resolutions.
This week’s creative question
What is the most creative thing you can think of doing with a pencil, other than to write or draw?
Now you may have trouble hearing the question on the podcast as I was practically crying as Sandra read it out, and she was too when she realised how funny it sounded. (Ahem… Let’s keep those answers clean shall we?)
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
Ep 24 Why Too Much Social Media Can Kill Your Creative Confidence
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Today’s episode is all about why too much social media can kill your creative confidence. Of course, social media can be a great place to share your work and meet like-minded people. However, along with the good side of social media, scrolling through too much of it can be a sure way of feeling inferior and it can even end up destroying your confidence.
We talk about how what you see on social media is not necessarily the whole truth. Images can be manipulated and filtered and you don’t often see the background struggle behind what’s going on. So you might see images of friends smiling and looking like they are having an amazing time at a barbecue. But what you don’t see is that all the food was burned (or maybe that’s just our barbecues) and the actual party was quite dull. It’s just that no-one is going to post an “I’m bored to death” photo online.
In general, it’s the same with art and creativity. We mostly share the work we like, not the pieces that look like you were using a wobbly jelly pencil (In case you were wondering, I don’t have a link where you can buy one of those). We only see a finished piece of art. We don’t see the bin full of scrunched up paper or the artist’s strop when arms were thrown into the air shouting “I’m crap at this!” prior to creating the finished piece. When I created a timelapse drawing of a 10-minute sketch of Danny Gregory, I drew him about 10 times. Plus I forgot to press record or set the timer once or twice. Only then did I think I had a reasonable version that we could use to promote our podcast interview with him. You didn’t see the previous 9 attempts – poor Sandra did!
Some of the social media creative confidence issues we discuss:
- How easy it is to feel intimidated by other artists on social media
- Why you shouldn’t take everything at face value (retouched eye bags)
- How we can use social media for inspiration and encouragement
- How timelapse can distort our view on the ease of creation
- How we can curb our social media addiction
- How we should compare our own work with our past work rather than anyone else’s
Apps we mention on the Show
- Focus – Social Media and Website Blocker for Mac.
- Cold Turkey If you are on PC
- Freedom (Mac, PC iOS) or Antisocial (Android). for phones and tablets
This week’s creative question
Your in a plain white, empty room with no windows. All you have is a pen and a sketchbook. What do you draw?
The best answers will be read out on the next joint podcast.
You can Tweet us your answers @KickCreatives or let us know in the Facebook Group, which by the way if you haven’t already joined, I highly recommend that you do! We will put the question up there and also on the facebook page… and of course, on our Instagram page @kickinthecreatives.
If you have any suggestions for the podcast or our challenges please feel free to get in touch.
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