creative living

"Thy light alone - Gives grace and truth to life's unquiet dream'    -  Percy Bysshe Shelley

Welcome to Episode #25.......

Sometimes you just need to start in the middle, and somehow you find the beginning and the end.  That is how this episode came about.  There is always the attention to the inner calling to do the work, to make way, to make hay while the sun shines.  This episode is a soliloquy to the creative life, to getting back to writing and to some musing about life and art. 
'Eat, Pray, Love’ and the book ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert played a role in reminding me why it all matters.   And that sometimes you have to go out on a limb if you want to get the fruit.  Enjoy.  

© 2021 A Writer In Italy - travel, writing, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston, © 2021

See Show Notes for Books mentioned and a little share on podcasts I have enjoyed over the summer  if you are interested in the creative journey....

Please find all Show Notes and details mentioned at:

www.michellejohnston.life

Instagram:  @awriterinitaly and @theyellowhouse__

About A Writer in Italy Podcast:

Five years ago Michelle Johnston traveled to Italy to create space for herself and her writing.  Michelle traveled solo giving herself time to recalibrate after many years of parenting and life in general.  Leaving her husband to take care of the family she reconnected with her writing, her art and her love of travel.

The adventure turned into the book and travel memoir...............

In the Shadow of a Cypress: An Italian Adventure

How do the images of marketing and advertising connect to our imagination? Is it for better or for worse? And how does it affect what creative people create? This episode looks at the father of modern marketing, Edward Bernays, and considers how his tactics have moved from being used on us to being used by us. It asks us to consider how our imagination is often directed towards creating a parallel reality of what we could buy, have or be rather than being used to develop our own art.
Find more information and content including a recap of suggested practice and the Spotify playlist around this theme at THIS LINK 

What a powerful and meaningful session this was! I chatted with my friend Adrienne (@arthubldn) from across the pond in London, England, about her journey from the high-fashion PR world, into her special curated art hub in the back of her garden...

After having kids, she traded her high-powered glitzy life in PR for her passion for all things creative and artistic. Now teaches children and adults about life, confidence, self awareness and mental health through art 🙌

Listen up to learn how she rekindled her passion, and turned it into a thriving business - This is a remarkable story not to be missed!

For more about Liat, check out her website: https://www.liathorovitz.com/ and come hang out on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/liathorovitz/!

To schedule a free trial coaching call with Liat, click here: https://calendly.com/liathorovitz/discovery-call

I was inspired by this conversation with Salome Coker to nurture and embrace more of my creative side and I know you will be too. I know you might be thinking that being 'creative' only means picking up a paint brush, you're probably only applying that narrow traditional view - there's much more to it and Salome takes us through what Creative Living really means.

Salome is the wearer of many hats including a finance lawyer, photographer, artist and creative entrepreneur aka The Creative Lawyer.  Her goal is to build a lifestyle that encompasses all of these things as Salome recognises that she doesn't have to choose one to be successful, but that her success derives from the unique way that she combines the multi-faceted aspects of herself. Virtual hi-5 to that!

For many years she has navigated the world of law and finance whilst trying to develop her creative confidence and abilities. It was via a self-funded sabbatical in 2016 that enabled her to re-discover her creativity and creative confidence coupled with a strong conviction that she is more than a lawyer. 

Sit back, enjoy and be ready to receive your  permission slip towards Creative Living.

In this episode we cover:-

• Salome's path into law and transition from a 'Magical Circle' law firm;
• Salome's sabbatical and time out from law;
• Discovering and nurturing Salome's creative side and what 'Creative Living' means;
• How type A personalities  in fast paced careers can get creative;
• Return to law and how she works 'differently' in order to give time and energy to her creative passions and businesses;
• The meaning of 'success';
• Salome's candle making business and art prints;
• What Salome would tell a younger version of herself and why she's Legally Different. 

CONTACT INFO + LINKS

How you can connect with Salome and shop her creations:-

Website (blog + art prints): www.salomecoker.com 

Website (candles): Amakhi

Instagram: @salome.coker

LinkedIn: Salome Coker

Legally Different:-

• Instagram:@legallydifferent 
• Email: hello@legallydifferent.com

Thanks for tuning in!

Lauren 

Something to ponder on a quiet Sunday: When was the last time you felt joyous, excited, alive and creative? No matter how busy life gets, I hope we'll all find the time to do the things that we love and makes us feel alive. 

Stop by in my munimunispace as I share with you the lessons I learned from this 40-year-old woman from Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. 

Share your thoughts and let's have a chat at Instagram: @munimunispace. 

As 2021 starts, I feel it important to discuss how we cultivate our inner critic. After spending time with creative play we have to switch roles and see how our critical self helps the creative self become fully realized.The 4 step process of art criticism is a great guide to build a foundational understanding that can support our opinions, help us reevaluate our ideas and fully develop...not just the art we make, but who we are as individuals. In light of all that is happening in the world at this moment it is vital that we understand how to use our judgement in supportive and useful ways. Art can be a structural system to support our development as individuals in a society, and the critical understanding art provides us in evaluating art can help us evaluate so much more. 

Explore the curated content around this subject AT THIS LINK. There you will also find information about the classes and groups at Starling Art Studios that are currently enrolling for February, a recap of suggested practices, link to the Spotify playlist around the theme and how to connect. 

Buckle up because we're going out with a bang!  This week I am joined by baker and firecracker Lenore Johnson and I'm just holding on. haha 

Lenore Johnson owns Lenjo Bakes right here the pod's hometown, Kitchener Ontario.
(Check out the shop)

Lenore and I barely talk about creativity but we also actually talk pretty much only about creative living.  I love Lenore's perspective and her principles - she had some excellent things to share about what she has learned working in kitchens all over the world.  How she came to her own creativity and why she thinks baking isn't all that complicated.

Great one to end the season!

Thank you for supporting the pod this year, it has been an honour to make a podcast about creativity and I can't wait for what's next.  

www.creativepeople-podcast.com

Got a good one for you today!  Soli Stardust joins me on the podcast this week! 

Soli is a self-portrait artist who's Instagram is the actual coolest!  Her whole aesthetic is to die for and she was so great to talk to.  For two people without a bunch in common, I completely related to how she approaches her creativity, and the highs and lows of that.

Check Soli Stardust out on Instagram


If you get anything out of this episode, laugh or even feel a little less alone - please subscribe and give the podcast a review.

I'd love to hear what you thought of the episode, reach out on social media at https://www.instagram.com/creativepeople.podcast/

www.creativepeople-podcast.com

This week we sat down with Hannah Weis. Hannah is a London-born songwriter, who settled in the Tamar neighborhood with her husband Dovi and 3 mini-humans.  (You can sneak a peek of them all dancing around in this lyric video! https://youtu.be/ATYFKMC6yfA). It was great to hear from Hannah on  how she and her family finally found a home and got settled here in Efrat after living in Jerusalem for a period of time. 

We chat about:

•  Her journey making Aliyah solo at 18
• Creative living
• Efratian clouds
• finding fulfillment as a mommy creative
• Finding her Nirvana here in Efrat.

We have big dreams, but staying focused long enough to achieve them can be quite a challenge. In today’s episode of Self Discovery, I’m breaking down a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the last 6 years while working from home and now, on the road. ALL of these are totally doable and do not require a giant investment or for you to flip your life upside down. They focus on creating clarity, so when you get ready to work, you’ve got action items ready. to. go. I also include a few products that I’m LOVING that may make you a little more excited to get your booty to work, too!

Journal:

Rustico.com, discount code: JACLYN

Planners:

Danielle la Porte Desire Map Planner 

Savor Life 90 Day Planner

Laptop/Camera Equipment Bag:

The exact one I have has been discontinued, but these are almost exactly the same. 

My Little Strawberry Timer:

The cutest little nugget timer.

Ryze Superfood Mushroom Coffee:

https://www.ryzesuperfoods.com/, discount code: JACLYN


GET IN TOUCH!

+ Website: www.jaclynsteele.com/selfdiscoverypod

+ Instagram: @jaclynsteele

+ Youtube: youtube.com/officialjaclynsteele

+ High Vibe Thursday Newsletter Sign Up & Jaclyn's Free Ebook "Didn't Break Me" can be found here... SIGN ME UP

Monsters are so important to know, to create and to attempt to understand. In this episode I share a little about monsters in art and a lot about my favorite monster...The Monster that Mary Shelley created in Frankenstein. We discuss how he is the patron monster for artists and how Frankenstein is a cautionary tale for creatives. Discover curated content at THIS LINK, including images of the art I discussed, links to information about the topics discussed, how to join Starling groups and the Spotify playlist around "The Monster." 

This is probably my last episode for 2020....as I have a lot to consider and cultivate in my own creative process. 

This week on the pod we are talking with artist Luke Swinson!  Luke was a treat to talk to and honestly we kind of hit on everything I want this show to be about.  We get into it about growing up in a creative family and how he is reclaiming his culture.  He tells me about how sometimes he just needs to crash and we nerd out about movies a little.  Great one, do it up!

https://www.instagram.com/lukeswinsonart/?hl=en


Music by Matt Large:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/107WzwlsOTR6Nxnw2kPHd3

www.creativepeople-podcast.com

How have the stories you interacted with influenced your life? Your art? Your creative development? What about the stories you wanted to avoid or ignore? How have those influenced you? Humans learn through narrative and artists have always been able to use story as inspiration in their work. In this episode, we discuss the power of "once upon a time" and delve into why we need the dark scary stories as much as the happily ever afters. I also share a little of my own personal mythology before sharing suggested practices around story as inspirational. Find curated content, the playlist around the theme of story, ways to connect on social media and more at THIS LINK 

Contact me at starlingcreativeliving@gmail.com or visit starlingcreativeliving.com to learn more 

How do artists make discoveries? It often means going deep into the cave we fear to enter....at least we are often afraid to enter it as an adult. Kids love to explore things adults find scary. We know too much and limit ourselves. "The creative adult is the child who survived" - I love this quote by Ursula K. LeGuin and the idea that my adult self has just been a vehicle for my child spirit to have an experience here. If we can bring that child along for the whole ride...without killing them off or losing them to trauma...you have a creative adult. Of course...I believe you can revive that child no matter what. In this episode we consider this idea, while learning about the art that started it all, cave art. Discover more at THIS LINK. There you will find a recap of suggested practices, curated content...including my playlist around this theme...where to RSVP for our Thursday meetup and how to get in touch. 

This weekend we're talking to Creative Director Ryan Antooa.  Ryan is a multitalented graphic designer, photographer, and poet.   We talk about his creative journey and some of the tough love that he got along the way.  He talks about the importance of rest and on the flip side, having to work twice as hard - while I reflect on my laziness.  Double Ryan's for ya this week, do it up!

https://www.ryanantooa.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ryananto

Music created by Pro Reese: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YX3WWFoX00xwib269oZ0P 

www.creativepeople-podcast.com

How is your relationship with your muse? This episode goes into the creative process and our relationship with creativity. Learn a little about the Process Art Movement and how process is seen in the music of William Basinski. Discover more about the topics and practices discussed at THIS LINK. 

#47: This week on the podcast I'm talking with leather maker Melissa Daw.  Melissa makes beautiful works with leather, she is also a podcast co-host and a homeschooler.  We talk all about her creative work, how she came to creativity, and how that affects how she's raising her own kids.  Great chat, do it up!

Check out Melissa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melcoleather/

Music for the podcast was created by Dusty Decks: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mWkhlLhHU9FKT8vU8lBIR

www.creativepeople-podcast.com

Being an artist means moving beyond subject matter and what we see with our eye and into themes of human experience. Learning to transform a simple subject into a way to discuss deeper personal connections and understandings allows for our own personal development and helps awaken connections within those who relate with our work. CLICK HERE for all the curated content, links and ways to connect. You will find a recap of the practices discussed, the playlist around theme and details on how to join us for our first Zoom meetup on Aug. 27th @7pm. 

This week on the podcast I'm chatting with musician Laura Sones -  Laura is part of the band 12 Mile Island and it was so nice to talk with her about her music and the bands that she plays in.  We get into it about her unexpected reaction to things slowing down because of covid, gardening, and watching things grow.  We had such a nice chat!

https://www.instagram.com/lorsones/
https://www.instagram.com/12mileislandband/
https://www.instagram.com/smackjive/
https://www.instagram.com/tnbskapunk/

Here's a great little article about 12 Mile Island:
https://communityedition.ca/not-just-roommates-12-mile-island/

Music for the podcast was created by Justnormal: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YCz7aHoRoAZ435UDLOKOs

www.creativepeople-podcast.com