A friend of mine recently told me about the The Friendly Unknown podcast by Allison Filice. It’s another creative podcast to add to your rotation (though, she hasn’t added any new episodes in over a year). Allison describes her podcast as “demystifying the creative journey through conversations with creative professionals about their paths to becoming who they are today.” There are currently 18 episodes and each one is a gem.
I recently sat down to listen to Episode 18 with Lindsay Stripling. Lindsay is an artist, illustrator, teacher and Patreon-er. All things I am into! This episode was so inspiring, that I wrote 3 pages of notes in my sketchbook. Here are some of my highlights:
If you can teach something; you have to embody it, sort through it, learn it, and then you are able to teach it.
Lindsay talks about the ‘map’ she shares at the start of her classes. She goes into how they are about to start a journey together that is going to be fun, but it’s not going to be easy.
The map is like a creative cycle - you work through it together. It starts out easy and fun and that you’ll have a lot of ideas. Then you have to execute your ideas and you might hit the switchbacks. Next you are climbing the mountain and this is the hardest part, you have to put our ideas into action and you have to work through it. You have to commit to completing your project.
Give yourself the chance to complete each project and build trust with yourself.
Lindsay shares a great reminder “look away from Instagram, it’s such a comparison place, rather than a connection place.”
Even though Instagram can be a place for connection, she stressed to look in your actual physical community for connections.
“My job as an artist is to be uncomfortable. When I’m comfortable, I’m probably not challenging myself.” I love this.
Building a community around yourself can be scary, but when you put yourself out there, it can bloom into something amazing.
Start where you are.
You have everything you need.
There was a lot of talk about slowing down and doing this in your work and life.
Allow creativity and the process to take place.
Merge joy with your career and life.
It was a lovely listen and I recommend doing so for yourself.
Have you listened to a podcast recently that inspired you? Please share!
Best,
Denise
That diagram is really helpful. It’s often at stage 3 or 4 that I can get discouraged and give up on a project. Seeing the whole thing laid out is helpful for persevering through the frustration phases.