Your Creative Push

Scott Listfield is known for his paintings featuring a lone exploratory astronaut lost in a landscape cluttered with pop culture icons, corporate logos, and tongue-in-cheek science fiction references. Scott grew up in Boston, MA and studied art at Dartmouth College. After some time spent living abroad, Scott returned to America and, shortly before the real life, non-movie version of the year 2001, began painting astronauts and, sometimes, dinosaurs. Scott has been profiled in Juxtapoz, Wired Magazine, the Boston Globe, New American Paintings, and on at least one local television station. He has exhibited his work in Los Angeles, London, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Montreal, Boston, just to name a few. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/scottlistfield In this episode, Scott discusses: -How he wanted to be an astronaut as a child, and how that would later (greatly) influence his art. -High school art class, and how it took him some time to realize that college art classes could be s

Become a patron!  http://patreon.com/yourcreativepush Just a quick one today, asking you to please consider donating what you spend on one cup of coffee, once a month.  So much of my time, effort, and money is required to keep this show going, and it is starting to really add up.  And with sponsorship not yet panning out, I need your help in order to keep up the quality and quantity of episodes that you are used to. If the podcast has helped you to get to your creative passions, please consider becoming a Patron. It will go a long way to helping out the show, and it will make me love you more than I already do. Thank you so much for your support, and thank you even more for getting to your creative passion every single day and making the world a better place!

Glen Phillips is an American songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist, who is best known as the singer and songwriter of the alternative rock group, Toad the Wet Sprocket. This episode features songs from Glen's latest solo album, Swallowed by the New, which is available everywhere music is sold (and links below). Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/glenphillips In this episode, Glen discusses: -The story of how Toad the Wet Sprocket started. -How he originally wanted to be a teacher and didn’t think that he had the ego or the thick skin to be a professional performer. -His thoughts on religion, spirituality, and his desire to reclaim the word “God” for himself. -The importance of being grateful. -The singing circles that he is taking a part of and the sense of community that it has brought to his life. -His take on the purpose of music and how it is not about one person singing and everyone else listening. -His attempt to be vulnerable and share his pains so that it can act as a tool for other peo

Jake is an illustrator who has worked for 15 years on everything from animated films to comics to picture books.  He is the creator of the Missile Mouse graphic novel series published by Scholastic, and he has worked for Blue Sky Studios, creating sets and environments for feature films like Horton Hears a Who, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Rio, and Epic.  He now freelances out of his home studio in Utah. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jakeparkeragain In this episode, Jake discusses: -A bit about his personal life and what he is currently up to. -Why he started SVS School, who his target audience is, and what you can learn there. -Some of his earlier memories of drawing. -How his parents and teachers were very supportive as well as his friend's mom, who was a painter. -How doubt, comparing himself to others, time restraints, and over-committing to things are the main things that sometimes hold him back. -How sometimes he compares himself to other people who are doing other careers and making l

Shawny Sheldon is an artist who is inspired by nature and quirky whimsical stuff. She forged a path for herself as a high school art teacher, and she has been teaching for twenty five years.  She is also the creator of Lily the Hedgehog. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/shawny In this episode, Shawny discusses: -Her poor eyesight as a child and how it affected her as an artist. -Some of her other early influences like her father, water, New York City, and the great masters. -The experience of going to California. -The decision she made when faced with the choice between the commercial route and teaching. -Her decision to forge forward with her goals, even when people told her that she couldn’t find a job as an art teacher. -The influence that teachers and professors have and why they shouldn’t be discouraging. -The fears that she had in starting her Instagram account and participating in Inktober. -Creating Lily the Hedghog, and how she became a symbol of strength. -Learning to let go of perfect.

Noah Bradley is an American artist, known best for his work on Magic: The Gathering cards, as well as his The Sin of Man project. He is also well-known as the guy who told everyone "don't go to art school.  As a supplement to that advice, he founded Art Camp to help art students all over the world learn to make better art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/noahbradley In this episode, Noah discusses: -The list that he made of things he wanted to do with his life, and why he chose “artist.” -His experience at RISD and VCU. -How he decided to become a landscape and environment artist. -The confusion, disappointment, and excitement that he felt when people started responding to his landscape work. -Being plagued with the desire to move onto another piece as opposed to finishing the one he is working on. -His experience working for Wizards of the Coast and doing art for Magic: The Gathering. -Why he gave away free prints at Illuxcon and what that did for his art career. -The difficulty he has in schedu

Chrilz is a contemporary artist whose work focuses on human nature -- our experiences, our relationships, and our emotions. Everything Chrilz creates is in a Neo-Figurative Expressionist style that uses the human form as its vessel.  Through color, line, geometry, and realizm, he is constantly seeking to visually express this severely emotional, dynamic life.  Every pieces is both formal and conceptual in a very intentional way, all of which serving the ultimate goal of expression. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/chrilz In this episode, Chrilz discusses: -His experience at college and determining which path he wanted to devote his time and energy towards. -Getting together with Michelle Tanguay and what that did for his outlook on a creative life. -What to do when you don’t have a creative framework in your life. -His grandmother’s advice that you need to stop saying you want to become an artist and just say that you are an artist. -Being inspired by the talented artists in the Detroit area. -How

Amanda Giacomini has dedicated her life to uplifting people and creating more beauty in the world through yoga and art. From teaching yoga at the White House to presenting at some of the biggest yoga festivals, conferences and Asian Art museums in the world, Amanda infuses the ancient teachings with creativity and joy. Her journey in yoga began in 1994, and she continues to study with many great Indian and Western masters. In 2001, along with her husband, MC YOGI, she founded Yoga Toes Studio in Point Reyes, CA. She has been featured in Yoga International, Origins, Marin Magazine, Happiness + Wellbeing as well as appearing the cover of Yoga Journal and Mantra Magazine. As an artist, she created an award winning series of children’s books, called Mo's Nose, that feature her beloved rescued pit bull, Mo, as the main character. She has a catalog of paintings inspired by her yoga and spiritual practice. Currently she is working on a project to paint 10,000 Buddhas.  Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/100

J.T. is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen critically acclaimed novels, including What Lies Behind, When Shadows Fall, and All the Pretty Girls, and is the coauthor of the Nicholas Drummond series with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. With over a million books in print, Ellison’s work has been published in twenty-five countries and thirteen languages. Her novel The Cold Room won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original and Where All The Dead Lie was a RITA® nominee for Best Romantic Suspense. She is also the author of multiple short stories. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jtellison In this episode, J.T. discusses: -Her time living and working in Washington D.C. and how she thought that was the path she was going to go down. -How reading John Sanford inspired her to get back to her own writing and to give it a shot. -The memory of sitting down to write after eight years of not writing. -Her advice for people who have had a long hiatus from their writ

Megan Auman is a designer, metalsmith, educator, and entrepreneur who has built a a multi-faceted business around her passion for art, commerce, and visual content creation. Megan splits her time between running her eponymous jewelry line and teaching the intersection of art and business on Designing an MBA. A best-selling CreativeLive instructor, her designs have been featured in Elle Decor, Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking Light and on top-rated blogs like Design*Sponge. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/meganauman In this episode, Megan discusses: -Her creative education in metalsmithing. -How platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are tailor-made for visual artists. -Some of the mistakes that people make on Instagram and Pinterest, like being overly promotional (or not promotional enough). -Her tactic of using professional images alongside conversational dialogue. -The ratio you should be sharing of personal pictures versus pictures of your work. -How you should feel free to repost old work

Martin Thomas Smyczek II is a sustainability advocate/entrepreneur, musician, and an all around creator of things who aims to positively change the world. He is a Reuse Artist who uses societies discarded, wasted, and over-consumed trash as his medium in an attempt to inspire others to RETHINK how we live. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/martins In this episode, Martin discusses: -How he became initially inspired to be a reuse artist. -Some of the struggles that he has to deal with as a reuse artist that other artists don’t have to worry about, such as sourcing materials. -What his living situation is like with all of his materials and current work. -How he is inspired by having his recycled materials around him, “staring at him.” -“Project Z” – the portrait that he is making of Zaria Forman using her discarded latex gloves. -The initial intimidation that he felt in reaching out to Zaria, and the slight panic he felt when she actually responded with an enthusiastic “yes.” -Some of the daily resis

Rob DiTeodoro is an artist who manages to find a way to balance his time between his art, his family, and his full-time job.  He bears his soul with his vibrant and psychedelic style, and his work ethic sets him apart from someone who is merely trying to make a hobby out of their art. Rob is soon turning his art into his full-time profession. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/robd In this episode, Rob discusses: -A signifying moment of painting a “D.” -The frustration that can come as a result of “The Gap.” -The fixed mindset versus the growth mindset. -AICT: Ass In Chair Time. -His family’s decision to get rid of the TV and all of the time that he found as a result. -How he makes time for himself in the morning by waking up at 4AM and working for three hours before work every single day. -The importance of a morning routine and also setting things up for yourself the night before. -How he balances his time between his art, his job, and his family. -Quitting drinking and anything else that wasn’t h

Tracey Fletcher King is an artist, illustrator, printmaker, and teacher from Brisbane, Australia.  She has been creating and selling her art for years, but after surviving advanced breast cancer, she decided to stop second-guessing the business side of her work. Tracey has two "main arms" to her creative practice, watercolors & painting and lino prints, both of which can be found on her website. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/traceyfletcherking In this episode, Tracey discusses: -Her experiences at school and how they shaped her as an artist. -How the decision-making part of your brain and the creative part of your brain are interconnected. -How the creative path is a U-shaped curve, and how it is never too late to start up the other side. -Being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and the deal she made with herself to say “yes” to everything. -How she has worked on her time management as a result of going through chemotherapy. -The way in which everyone is curating their lives on social me

Tara Roskell is The Idea Medic, providing first aid for your idea muscle. She lives in a world where ideas are cool and creativity is king. Tara is passionate in the belief that everybody has the ability to be creative. They just need to believe it and learn more about the idea generation process. Her mission is to make idea generation and development more accessible to everyone. Tara has worked in the Creative Industry as a graphic designer for over 20 years, for both national and international companies. She found that when she had to do similar jobs repeatedly she would lack inspiration. This led her to explore the world of creative thinking techniques which completely blew her mind.  When she’s not freelancing, Tara can be found blogging, scribbling ideas for products and cartoons, reading books on creative thinking, walking the dog or practicing her not-so-high kicks learnt in her karate lessons. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/tararoskell In this episode, Tara discusses: -The various paths

Dan Thompson is a painter and teacher who was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. He earned his M.F.A. from the Graduate School of Figurative Art of the New York Academy of Art, and supplemented his training with several years of private study and studio apprenticeships along the east coast of the United States. He has been awarded two grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation and has twice received the Ethel Lorraine Bernstein Memorial Award for Excellence in Painting from the Corcoran College of Art and Design. In 2001, he won Best of Show in the American Society of Portrait Artist’s International Portrait Competition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Since 2003, he has demonstrated portrait and figure drawing and served as a juror and board member for the Portrait Society of Canada’s International Portrait Conference in Toronto. He has also lectured at the Dahesh Museum of Art in New York and served as a speaker at Studio Inca

Joby Harris has worked for the past 20 years as a designer & artist in the film, television, music, print, theme park & aerospace industries.  He now works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Visual Strategist. All in all, he tends to operate more like a kitchen than a drive-thru.  He aims to create work that triggers peoples imaginations so what they imagine does most of the creating. His work has traveled to Comicon, the TED Conference, the Super Bowl & to space. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jobyharris In this episode, Joby discusses: -Some of his earliest creative moments, including his 21-book series, “What Ninjas Can Do.” -Being willing to wear many different creative hats along his journey and how that all added up to him being a well-rounded creative person. -The opportunity he created for himself to work with a local special effects artist. -The importance of teaching, mentorship, and surrounding yourself with likeminded creative peers. -The story of the exoplanet pos

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/investment What can we, as creative people, learn from millionaires? In this episode, Youngman Brown cherry picks five of the best investment tips given by millionaires and financial gurus, and applies them to the creative process and your creative journey. All of these tips are simple mindset shifts that will drastically affect the way that you see the time, pain, and daily effort that you put into your creative passion, and how it will exponentially benefit you in the future. The goal is to see that you are going along an exponential creative curve, and the more daily deposits you make to that account, the quicker your gains will be multiplied. Here are the five ways that you can exponentially increase your creativity: Invest in yourself FIRST. Utilize compound interest. Stop checking your accounts/stats. Make multiple income streams. Invest in your mind. Quotes: "What are those projects that you want to get to some day?  Ask yourself how many days have you been

Drew Brophy has been a professional artist for over 25 years.  He says of his profession, “It’s my job to make things look cool.”  A life-long surfer and world traveler, Drew’s career exploded in the late 1990’s when he began painting his edgy artwork onto surfboards.  Drew’s love of surfing has led him down a path of studying weather, its effect on waves, and how the sun influences earth.  This has all led to a deep interest in physics and how it all interconnects.  He has studied physics extensively and it has influenced his artwork.  As such, his distinctive art style has evolved to include sacred geometry in an effort to decode the knowledge that ancient civilizations left for us. Drew wants to share with the world the message that everything is energy and we are all connected.  He strives to create art images that help people understand the true meaning of life; that life is meant to be enjoyed. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/drewbrophy In this episode, Drew discusses: -How he felt as if he

Matthew Quick is a painter from Australia who has been named in Business Review Weekly as one of Australia’s top 50 artists. In the last 5 years he has either won, or been selected as a finalist for, more than 70 major national art awards, including the Sulman Art Prize, the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize, and the Mosman Art Prize, just to name a few. He’s painted since his teens but was distracted by other careers – working variously as a university lecturer, photographer, salesman, art director, copywriter & interior designer.  Matthew’s paintings have been used as CD covers in Australia, Greece and the US, and as book covers by Penguin Books & Era Publications. His work has been reproduced in many magazines, books and journals including Hi Fructose, Plastik, Juxtapoz, Empty, Colossal, Design Taxi, Communication Arts, Idea, Design World, Graphis & Novum. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/matthewquick In this episode, Matthew discusses: -The long amount of time that it takes him to

Andy J. Miller is an American full time freelance illustrator with a background in graphic design, currently living and working in Columbus, OH. Andy was born in Indiana, went to middle school in Western New York, to high school in Indiana, and to the University of Huddersfield in the United Kingdom. He teaches a self promotion for illustrators class to senior level students at the Columbus College of Art & Design. He is most known for his side projects and books; The Indie Rock Coloring Book, the collaborative Color Me _____ exhibit with Andrew Neyer, the daily drawing project NOD and his Creative Pep Talk Podcast. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/andyjpizza In this episode, Andy discusses: -Where the “pizza” part of his name came from and how he has embraced it as a part of his identity. -His history as an illustrator and how the Creative Pep Talk Podcast started. -The value of teaching and mentorship, no matter how much experience you have. -The importance of thinking! -Dealing with critics.