Tag: Facing Challenges

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Finding Your Creative Voice

Welcome to the Rogue Artists podcast. In today’s episode, I want to discuss finding your creative voice. Many artists are doing this art career thing and are always curious about what’s involved in finding their own voice. When we start, we often need training wheels and look at other people’s art as a reference point, but we shouldn’t make the mistake of working in someone else’s style, or someone else’s creative voice. Instead, we should explore our own creative voice and find our own style.

When I started my art career, I wasn’t sure what having a creative style meant. But then I decided to start working on things I wanted to see, experimenting with different techniques and combining elements I liked from various sources of inspiration. I took things that inspired me, like colors, textures, or marks, and incorporated them into my art. This way, I found my voice, my unique style.

Finding your own creative voice is a personal journey. There is no secret formula for finding it. However, I’d like to share with you some of the things I did to help me find my voice. The first thing I did was explore the things that I was interested in, both in and out of art. I thought about the things that impacted me the most and how I could express them through my art.

The second thing I did was to look for inspiration. I surrounded myself with things that inspired me, such as art, books, music, or nature. I found that surrounding myself with inspiring things helped develop my creative voice and gave me new ideas to explore.

The third thing I did was to experiment with different techniques and mediums. I tried new things and didn’t shy away from making mistakes. I found that experimenting helped me find new ways of expressing myself and pushed me out of my comfort zone.

The fourth thing I did was to create several series in consistent bodies of work. Working on a consistent series helped me develop my creative voice and style in several mediums. Once I liked something, I created a series. It also helped me to see my growth as an artist over time.

The last thing I did was to trust my instincts. I didn’t try to please anyone but myself. I created art that spoke to me; if others liked it, that was a bonus. I found that trusting my instincts helped me stay true to my vision and find my creative voice.

In conclusion, finding your own creative voice is a personal journey that takes time, patience, and experimentation. You can find your unique style and creative voice by exploring the things that interest you, surrounding yourself with inspiration, experimenting with different techniques, creating a consistent body of work, and trusting your instincts. I hope this episode helps you on your own journey of finding your creative voice. Thank you for listening, and until next time, keep creating!

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How I Pull Myself Out Of A Downward Spiral

Hello, amazing artists! Today, I want to talk about something personal, something that’s fresh in my mind. I haven’t been feeling well for about two weeks now, and this week, I started to feel overwhelmed and went into a downward spiral.

Pursuing an art career and feeling like nothing is coming from it can lead to overwhelming roadblocks and obstacles. I want to talk about what I did in that place and share it with you, hoping it will help you out.

Emotions and feelings are the most important things to look at and face when pursuing an art career. Discouragement and going into a downward spiral can kill your art career because it causes you to decide to stop.

Let me share with you what happened to me. Everything was on track with the art business, and the studio was finally open, but a big storm hit on the day we were ready to go. A giant tree in our yard was swaying, and a big branch fell off that tree, just missing our house. Looking at the tree during the storm, I knew it had to come down, but our finances have been stretched thin after the move and the studio being shut down for so long. We’re still recovering. The idea of paying for the project was daunting because we have more debt than I’m comfortable with.

So, I devised a plan for taking the tree down that involves creating art from it. In the meantime, I ordered a printer and invested a fair amount of money that we didn’t have into it. I decided to rerelease my prints, something that’s easy for me to do, and it’s not very expensive as far as price goes, with a good profit margin. I released my prints, but nothing happened, which is typical. That’s how it works. However, I discovered that I was focused on the lack of money because of the tree, and other things I didn’t realize were brewing in my mind.

I immediately found myself in a downward spiral, feeling hopeless and not wanting to do anything. I knew I had to snap out of it, so I started to do something about it. I decided to focus on what I could control: creating art. I started planning the artwork with the tree and the fallen branch. I also decided to share my experience with you, hoping that it could help someone out there who is going through something similar.

The first step is to acknowledge your feelings and emotions. Don’t deny them, but don’t let them take over you. The second step is to focus on what you can control. Create art, write, read, or do something that makes you happy. The third step is to change your mindset. Don’t focus on the lack of money or the things you can’t do. Focus on what you can do and the opportunities that come your way.

It’s essential to surround yourself with a community of people who are supportive of your art and your journey. Join a group, attend art shows, or reach out to someone who inspires you. It’s also important to take care of yourself physically and mentally.

Pursuing an art career can be challenging, and it’s okay to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. But it’s essential to acknowledge your feelings, focus on what you can control, and change your mindset. Remember that you are not alone, and there is always a way forward. Keep creating and keep going.

In life, there are moments when things don’t go as planned, and it’s easy to fall into negative thinking patterns. You start to downward spiral, and before you know it, you’re consumed by worries and regrets.

Challenging negative thoughts is a powerful step to breaking free from the downward spiral.
These thoughts are often patterns we have developed over time, and it’s essential to identify them and challenge them by asking ourselves, “Is this really true?” Look for evidence that contradicts your negative thoughts. For example, if you think you will never succeed in something, look for examples of people who started from scratch and succeeded.

Another powerful technique is mindfulness. When we’re in the midst of a downward spiral, we’re often thinking about something that hasn’t even happened yet, and we’re worrying about things we can’t control. Mindfulness is about staying in the present and focusing on what’s happening right now. When we’re mindful, we’re not distracted by worries and regrets, and we’re better able to deal with the challenges we face.

Taking a break from everything is also essential. Sometimes, it may be necessary to take a day or two off to regain our balance and find our center. It’s crucial to remember that our emotions are important, and we need to take care of ourselves.

If you’re struggling with negative thoughts and finding it difficult to break free, seek help. Talk to someone who can offer you guidance and support. Sometimes, we need to lean on others to help us get through challenging times.

We all experience moments of negative thinking and downward spirals, but we have the power to break free from them. By challenging negative thoughts, practicing mindfulness, and seeking support when needed, we can overcome any obstacle and find our way back to a place of peace and happiness. Remember, your thoughts and emotions matter, and you have the power to shape your reality.