Words that impact our personal lives, both positively and negatively, play in role in our lives as artists. They can help us feel self-confident, which helps us to be focused and committed, or they can undermine these important aspects of our creativity.

Those of us engaged in teaching, writing, mentoring, and in other ways consciously directing others have a huge responsibility in choosing words carefully. That responsibility can feel heavy, since you cannot know how someone else may react to things you say. You may touch on someone's insecurities without any intention of upsetting the person. Young people or those new to art may be especially vulnerable and liable to misinterpret things you say.

Yet by worrying about responses and treading too lightly you can miss great opportunities for communication. Words spoken from experience, with good intentions, can be extremely helpful to other artists.

We all need to take responsibility for our own reactions to what others say that sound to us critical or negative and to realize that we can choose what to credit and what to brush off. We can also try harder to say the right things that will encourage rather than discourage other people and be more conscious of expressing empathy and appreciation. There is no way to always say the right thing at the right time, but we can treasure the positive words given to us and attempt to give more of those to others.

Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the show and donating, and special thanks to Mary J Kelly for her donation! If you would like to donate to the Messy Studio Podcast donate here.
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When you buy art supplies at Blick remember to use our affiliate link to support the podcast! Bookmark this link and then you don't even have to think about it again. This is one of the best ways to support the show. It takes a few seconds and costs you nothing! The Blick website works exactly the same way, but we earn 10% every time you buy art supplies.

www.messystudiopodcast.com/blick
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Rebecca and her partner at Cold Wax Academy, Jerry McLaughlin are wrapping up an exciting Spring Quarter and have announced their lineup of topics for Summer quarter which begins July 7. Their weekly live, interactive sessions will focus on Mark-making, Composition, and on Setting and Following Intentions to create strong, cohesive work.

But you don't have to wait for the new quarter to join the Academy--All sessions are recorded and fully accessible in the Member Library, and you can watch and rewatch at your own pace. In addition, joining at any time gives you access to all the perks of membership and the benefits of being part of a growing, knowledgable community of other artists.

Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

And just in --for a limited time, Jerry and Rebecca are offering a new membership level that provides access to their extensive video workshop only-- the cost is $249 for 6 weeks of streaming access, plenty of time to watch and rewatch all the in-depth content provided in this unique video.

Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
Email Ross at rticknor.core@gmail.com for current mid-roll advertising rates.
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For more from The Messy Studio:
www.messystudiopodcast.com
www.facebook.com/messystudiopodcast
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For more from Rebecca Crowell:
www.rebeccacrowell.com
www.coldwaxacademy.com
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The Messy Studio Podcast is a CORE Publication MGMT production.

How do you know if you have passion? It is something you feel deeply, because it is rooted in emotional intensity. It is a source of creative energy that provides consistent motivation, and a way into a flow state in your work. Passion also provides you with self-respect and confidence for ourselves as artists, and when we respect the role of art in our lives, we tend to demand that from others around us. Working from this kind of passion provides a loop of positive feedback for your work, which sustains you during times of struggle.

However, many artists may worry about a lack of passion for their work. But like many things, passion is something that can be nurtured and developed rather than something you either have or you don’t. It starts with commitment, practice, and building confidence. It also involves recognizing any inner issues that are holding back your full engagement with your art practice. Your medium and approach needs to be a good fit, and you need to be as free as you can from other people's expectations and pressures to perform. Negative self-talk can also block passion that is actually there for you under the surface. Another consideration is to seek out support and encouragement for your passion and avoid people who may want to tamp down your enthusiasm.

Passion can seem like something that you simply have, or you don’t, but even people that have it probably did not start out that way. Passion for your work can grow just like any other aspect of your character when given the right conditions and attention. If you do feel passion, never dismiss it, honor its role in your life and expect the same from the people around you.

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Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the show and donating! If you would like to donate to the Messy Studio Podcast donate here.
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Thank you also to everyone who has written testimonials for Ross's website! Have you enjoyed the audio production quality and hearing Ross's voice? Submit a testimonial by email at rticknor.core@gmail.com or by submitting the contact form at www.messystudiopodcast.com!
​
When you buy art supplies at Blick remember to use our affiliate link to support the podcast! Bookmark this link and then you don't even have to think about it again. This is one of the best ways to support the show. It takes a few seconds and costs you nothing! The Blick website works exactly the same way, but we earn 10% every time you buy art supplies.

www.messystudiopodcast.com/blick
​
What's new at Cold Wax Academy? Rebecca and Jerry are busy preparing new presentations for their Spring Quarter weekly live, interactive sessions. The topics for Spring are Shape, Scale and Proportion, and Self-Coaching to improve your work habits and productivity.

As always, there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with Rebecca, Jerry, and other members, along with critique sessions, feedback about your paintings, and of course a deep dive into the three selected topics of the quarter. Cold Wax Academy has been receiving lots of rave reviews from its members; they know it is the best online learning for cold wax painting available and the only membership program dedicated to this medium. Find out more at www.coldwaxacademy.com
​
Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
Email Ross at rticknor.core@gmail.com for current mid-roll advertising rates.
​
For more from The Messy Studio:
www.messystudiopodcast.com
www.facebook.com/messystudiopodcast
​
For more from Rebecca Crowell:
www.rebeccacrowell.com
www.coldwaxacademy.com
​
The Messy Studio Podcast is a CORE Publication MGMT production.

Many artists would make their work even in complete isolation because creating is a compulsion, a psychological need. Most of us acknowledge that pure inner drive that helps us weather times when we are not getting attention or recognition—the times in between exhibits, sales, gallery contacts, and other opportunities. That drive is linked to a feeling of validation that comes from our own inner confidence and belief in ourselves, and that is the basis from which we can seek and emotionally accept outside validation.

But now, during the pandemic, many of the ways we are validated by the outside world are limited. We experience this as a loss and this loss creates anxiety about when the recognition will return. Art is communication and we long for outside validation to assure us our work is still important to others. And too, with a lack of sales, economic anxiety is compounded by the loss of validation we feel when someone buys our work.

The more personal forms of recognition are still available though. Our friends, family, and even social media contacts are sources of support that we can cultivate and appreciate now more than ever. Reaching out to other artists and taking other steps to nurture our work can be very valuable in getting us through these difficult times.

Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
Email Ross at rticknor.core@gmail.com for current mid-roll advertising rates.

For more from The Messy Studio:
www.messystudiopodcast.com
www.facebook.com/messystudiopodcast

For more from Rebecca Crowell:
www.rebeccacrowell.com
www.squeegeepress.com

Support The Messy Studio when you buy art supplies from Blick.com by using our affiliate link:
www.messystudiopodcast.com/blick

The Messy Studio Podcast is a CORE Publication MGMT production.

Notes:

PODCAST—Keeping it Going
Intro:
Several listeners have asked us to talk about how to stay motivated and on track
with work in the studio. Maybe it is a reflection of the winter doldrums (which we
talked about last week) but blocks and down times can happen any time of year.
How do you cope with feelings of boredom and frustration that make it hard to

keep working?

A big topic with no right or easy answers

What’s the main issue? Is it actually a problem or is it your attitude and belief that
it is a problem?

We think of blocks or times of low motivation as problems when holding up an
ideal of always being on track, motivated, productive but is that realistic?

Almost nothing in life is constantly rewarding and interesting

There really are no standards of how productive you need to be—the idea that
we need to paint every day can be an impediment to natural ebbs and flows

Give yourself a break--consider that you are creating your own path, making
something from nothing, a difficult challenge to always stay on track.

Part of the creative process is incubation; sometimes just recognize that
being stuck may mean you are on the threshold of something new, it’s not
a bad thing, you still need to push through but you are not on a timetable (unless
you have deadlines)

It still may help to just give yourself time off --you may be able to find clarity then
A few days or weeks apart from the studio does not mean you have failed

What else causes you to be blocked:

Resistance to some new idea that needs to come through

Being pushed in a direction that doesn’t feel right by something outside yourself--
major cause of being blocked

Recognize if you are feeling pressure from a deadline, something with a
gallery, some positive or negative feedback that is getting in the way—

Examine that, discuss it with someone

Trying to repeat yourself—a big one. A really good painting can shut you down.

Extract the ideas that interest you from the piece, it may help to put it away
and not focus on its visual aspects –example from my own work

Being afraid to totally change the painting—you don’t owe it to anyone to keep
anything less than what you want

Make a radical move

Don’t second guess the urge to make change, sometimes you really have to
wreck it first/creative destruction

A “pretty good painting” –the temptation to check it off the list for paintings
needed for a show or other commitment—but inside it does not satisfy you, may
be hard to acknowledge that….

Have several going at once so you can move from one to another.

Wrap-up –

Ross emphasises the importance of risk taking in overcoming creative blocks

Part of creative process, does not have to be a negative thing though it can feel
that way –deal with it in a way that supports your own path and not someone
else’s ideal of what “artists should do”