Rebecca Crowell

Episode 166: Reinventing Yourself

February 20th, 2021  |  32 mins 52 secs

advice, art, change, creativity, personal development, rebecca crowell

Many of go through times in our lives when we make radical changes—either by choice or because of something imposed on us by circumstance. But even if the big change is something, we want to make mixed feelings are inevitable and stressful as we let go of the old and step into the new. Big changes challenge the very idea of who we are and how we operate in the world. How can an art practice help us through a time when we either need --or want--to reinvent ourselves?

Episode 165: Creating A Daily Series

February 13th, 2021  |  33 mins 26 secs

art, creativity, daily art practice, habits, personal development, rebecca crowell, series

Working in series is usually an involved process in terms of both time and focus. Artists are often known for series that explore ideas in a sustained, deep way. But the intriguing aspects working in series can also happen in a quicker, more spontaneous way, with a new piece each day. Today we’ll look at working in series with a sketchbook, or using other small or quick formats, and explore how this can be an important part of an artist’s practice.

Episode 164: Abstraction and Your Inner Child

February 7th, 2021  |  37 mins 42 secs

abstraction, art, children's art, creativity, mark making, rebecca crowell, symbols

We all drew, painted, and made things out of playdough and construction paper as little children, in spontaneous and unselfconscious ways. Some of us retain those memories, and we may also have children or grandchildren whose artwork we love. The art of children affords an intriguing view of a very different way of seeing and thinking than we have as adults, and many abstract artists have found it a source of inspiration. Today we look at some special qualities of child art and how it may feed our abstract ideas.

Episode 163: Abstracting With Symbols

January 31st, 2021  |  33 mins 12 secs

abstraction, art, creativity, fundamentals, rebecca crowell, symbolism, symbols

Abstract artists find many ways to bring meaning to their work. For some, this may be purely an investigation of color, line, or other elements. For others—it is the expression of emotion or evoking aspects of the visual world. Today we’re going to look at another powerful way that artists can bring meaning to abstraction—through the use of symbols, whether personal in origin or more universally recognized.

Episode 162: When Is It Finished?

January 23rd, 2021  |  35 mins 17 secs

art decisions, creative process, creativity, finishing, messy studio, rebecca crowell

Every time we make a piece of art, we reach the point of deciding if it’s finished --yet as common as this moment is in studio life, it is often one of doubt and second-guessing. What are some meaningful criteria for when something is done? Are there questions to ask ourselves in declaring something finished? Do we have to finish everything, or is it OK to abandon certain pieces? Today we will look at this ordinary but complex process of deciding a work of art is done.

Episode 161: Success

January 16th, 2021  |  43 mins 26 secs

Although most of us wish for success with our work and art careers, defining what that means is tricky, changeable, and very personal. Does success mean selling your work, recognition in the art world, or simply your own satisfaction with what you create? How do our ideas of success shift over time? Can we be satisfied with our current level of success or do we always want more? Today, as we look ahead to a new year, we’ll toss around some ideas about success and what it means for working artists.

Episode 160: Making Stone Soup - Interview with Phyllis Lasche

January 9th, 2021  |  43 mins 46 secs

art, collaborations, creativity, interview, phyllis lasche, rebecca crowell

Rebecca interviews Phyllis Lasche about her artist collaboration project, Stone Soup!

Episode 159: Lessons From 2020

January 3rd, 2021  |  38 mins 53 secs

2020, art, change, creativity, growth, learning, personal development, rebecca crowell, retrospective

At the end of 2020, we’re overloaded with reflections in the media about how society has navigated this strange and difficult pandemic year. On a personal level, we all have stories of struggles, loss, insights, and changes. Today we are especially interested in what this time has meant for us as artists. Last week, Rebecca posed the question to our listeners “How did 2020 impact your work?” and today on our first podcast of 2021, we’ll share some of the responses we received as well as our own thoughts.

Episode 158: Abstracting with Emotion

December 26th, 2020  |  39 mins 25 secs

abstraction, art, color, creativity, emotion, fundamentals, line, rebecca crowell

Abstract artists are sometimes stereotyped as uninhibited people who slap paint down in direct response to strong emotion. But this idea is far from true and accurate. While many abstract painters do aim to express emotion and mood, their approaches vary widely --from spontaneous to highly controlled. And even the most intuitive artists need to thoughtfully consider their use of the visual elements and design principles. Today we will look at painting abstractly as an expression of emotion, mood, remembrance, or other states of mind.

Episode 157: Well Being

December 19th, 2020  |  41 mins 49 secs

art, mindset, personal development, rebecca crowell, richard davidson, well being

Every so often, we like to address the ways that creativity and well-being intersect, and it seems appropriate to do so now as we come to the end of a very difficult and stressful year. In a recent seminar on Buddhist philosophy, neuroscientist Richard Davidson spoke about four pillars of well-being—awareness, connection, insight, and purpose—all of which are practiced every day in the studios of artists as part of the creative process. Today we’ll take a closer look at these ideas and consider how an art practice enhances a positive state of mind during stressful times.

Episode 156: Abstracting with Lines and Marks

December 12th, 2020  |  33 mins 8 secs

art, creativity, drawing, elements, fundamentals, line, mark making, rebecca crowell

Lines and marks in a work of art connect the viewer very directly with the hand of the artist. They can express individuality, add structure, and show evidence of the artist’s process. Perhaps because these visual elements can reveal so much, many artists are self-conscious about using them and when they do, the results can appear contrived, awkward, or random. How can we use lines and marks in purposeful ways that feel right to us? What might more intentional use of lines and marks bring to our work?

Episode 155: What Other Artists Teach Us

December 5th, 2020  |  41 mins 16 secs

appreciating art, art, art history, creativity, critique, other artists, rebecca crowell

As artists, we are also appreciators and often consumers of art. We not only buy and trade for art, we also study the art of others through art books, documentary films, exhibits, and lectures. What can we gain from looking deeply at the art of others?

Episode 154: The WOW Factor

November 28th, 2020  |  32 mins 9 secs

art, composition, creativity, fundamentals, practice, rebecca crowell, the wow factor

Words like “wow,” “stunning,” and “amazing” are music to the ears of many artists. We all create plenty of art that elicits no more than a passing glance or Instagram “like” and that’s fine—it’s part of the process. If we are making art constantly, what we make includes a range of qualities and ideas. But what is it about those special pieces that makes them stand out and really engage the viewer? What can we learn from them and what questions do they raise?

Episode 153: 2020 Thanksgiving Spectacular!

November 26th, 2020  |  33 mins 43 secs

art, creativity, gratitude, rebecca crowell, specials, thanksgiving

2020 has been a rough year so far for many of us. We don’t need to go into all the ways we’ve experienced anxiety, loss, and other struggles. But today, Thanksgiving Day in the US, is a good day to think about the things we are grateful for and have helped us make it through this difficult year. We’re going to share a few of our thoughts and also include some comments from listeners of the podcast.

Episode 152: Abstracting Our Visual Experience

November 21st, 2020  |  36 mins 45 secs

abstraction, art, creativity, rebecca crowell

Abstraction takes many forms for artists—from working with the visual elements for their own sakes to using emotion and mood as a starting point, to interpreting what they see in the world around them. Many artists combine these approaches to find their own personal voice in abstraction. Today we are going to examine the path favored by many artists who are inspired by the figure, the landscape, or other subjects in the visual world while avoiding literal depiction. What are some things to consider if this is your own direction, or intrigues you with its possibilities?

Episode 151: Breaking The Rules

November 13th, 2020  |  39 mins 52 secs

advice, art, boundaries, creativity, personal development, rebecca crowell, rules, tradition

The limitations and parameters we place for ourselves in the studio can have both positive and negative effects on our work. Like so many aspects of art practice, the challenge is to find a personal balance that suits us—in this case somewhere between being too rigid and too scattered. What rules do we set for ourselves and how well do they serve us? Are there rules that we accept from other people that don’t suit us, personally? Can our own helpful boundaries shift over time?