The Messy Studio with Rebecca Crowell
The podcast at the intersection of art, travel, business, philosophy, and life in general.
We found 10 episodes of The Messy Studio with Rebecca Crowell with the tag “creativity”.
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Episode 215: Being Vulnerable
August 7th, 2022 | 33 mins 19 secs
art, business, creativity, emotion, professionalism, rebecca crowell, vulnerability
Situations in which we feel unsure, insecure, and vulnerable are a common experience for many of us. As artists, that feeling of vulnerability may come with exhibiting our work, promoting ourselves, explaining what we do, and even when we’re alone in the studio making art. Today we will share some thoughts about what it means to be vulnerable as an artist. Is vulnerability something to avoid --or tolerate-- or even embrace? What can we learn from situations in which we feel vulnerable?
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Episode 214: Emotional Territory
July 31st, 2022 | 35 mins 43 secs
art, creativity, emotions, producing work, rebecca crowell, selling work
Creative work involves a myriad of emotions. In a single day in the studio, an artist can cycle through excitement, frustration, despair, relief, pleasure, and hope. Sending a finished piece into the world can bring on anxiety and feelings of vulnerability, along with more positive emotions like anticipation and satisfaction. Emotional involvement comes with the territory of our work-- but we do need to stay on track, focus, and show up in the studio. Today we’ll talk about coping with the tangle of emotions that can challenge artists and other creative people.
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Episode 213: Artists as Entrepreneurs, with Jerry McLaughlin
July 23rd, 2022 | 38 mins 17 secs
art, business, creativity, entrepreneurship, jerry mclaughlin, mexico, rebecca crowell
For many of us in the art world, making art is only part of what we do. The other big role most of us play, that of businessperson, can be one that comes less naturally. Many artists resist getting involved with art as a business, seeing it as something that dilutes creativity and true voice. At the same time, most of us get a lot of satisfaction from exhibiting our work and would like to be able to make a living doing what we really love, and it is gratifying to provide something that enriches the lives of fellow humans. Can we learn to see the business aspects of art in a more positive light, and bring to our art business the same skills we use in the studio?
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Episode 212: Imaginary Friends and Critics
July 16th, 2022 | 32 mins 50 secs
art, business, communication, creativity, marketing, outside influences, personal voice, rebecca crowell
When an artist creates, the people that the artist images viewing the work often are unseen presences in the studio. When we are deeply involved in our work these may fade away, but they tend to reappear when we are uncertain or involved in self-critique. A legitimate and important part of evaluating our work is trying to see the work through someone else’s eyes. But who are these viewers, exactly? Who are we creating art for, besides ourselves? Today we talk about those who view our work, how we imagine them and how much power to give them.
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Episode 211: Meaning in Abstraction
July 10th, 2022 | 35 mins 11 secs
abstraction, art, communication, creativity, meaning, rebecca crowell
Abstract art --especially the kind that has no identifiable imagery-- may appear to have little meaning to the viewer beyond its purely visual appeal. Certainly, we can admire and respond to abstraction without needing a story or an explanation, as long as our eyes are intrigued or delighted, and that is an important way it can be appreciated. But in fact, ideas, emotions, and other points of reference lie behind even the most purely abstract work. Today we will consider the ideas that compel abstract artists and guide them in their work.
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Episode 210: Interview with Jason Matias Part II
July 3rd, 2022 | 47 mins 10 secs
art, business, creativity, design, jason matias, photography, rebecca crowell
Today we are excited to welcome Seattle-based artist, author, and educator Jason Matias back to the Messy Studio. We published the first part of this interview back in January, which focused on Jason's approach to the business side of art. We recorded a second interview that same day so that he could tell us more about his own art, and what it takes to make his striking photographs of the natural world. We are excited to share this second interview with you today.
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Episode 209: Abstraction and Visual Ideas
June 25th, 2022 | 37 mins 58 secs
abstraction, art, creativity, rebecca crowell, visual ideas
Abstract artists are known for getting ideas for their work everywhere. If you notice someone taking a photo of a crack in the sidewalk or staring at a piece of rusted metal, chances are good that’s an abstract artist at work, collecting ideas for lines and colors and textures. Even if we don’t depict objects realistically in our work, we are constantly observing the world around us. Today we are talking about the process of gathering and using visual ideas in creating abstract art.
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Episode 208: Counterproductive Habits
June 19th, 2022 | 36 mins 59 secs
art, creativity, personal development, productivity, rebecca crowell, work habits
Being productive in the studio means different things to each artist--but wanting to grow and achieve new levels in our work is basic to the creative process. Yet there are many practices and attitudes that work against productivity, causing frustration and creative blocks, and wasting valuable studio time. Today we will talk about some of these counterproductive situations and how to challenge them in your own studio practice.
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Episode 207: Art and Aging
June 11th, 2022 | 32 mins 40 secs
aging, art, creativity, family, rebecca crowell, spirituality
Many of our listeners to this podcast are in their older years, and the rest of us can only hope to find ourselves there one day. Aging brings with it many challenges—these are as specific and diverse as our own personalities and yet as common as anything else shared by millions of people. While physical abilities and stamina may decline for older artists, aging can also contribute to creative work in positive ways.
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Episode 206: Dealing with Hard Times
June 4th, 2022 | 33 mins 9 secs
art, creativity, family, hard times, rebecca crowell
We are really happy to be bringing this podcast episode to you this week, the first one after a long hiatus due to a very difficult situation in Ross's personal life. Today we’ll be talking about how the past few months have gone for us and offering some thoughts about how reconnecting with your creative practice is a solid and healthy step toward getting your life back on track.