Episodes

  • An Important Update

    An Important Update

    · Your Creative Push

    This is very difficult for me, but today I give a brief message for you all as to why I decided to slow down the pace of the podcast in a major way.

  • 367: Your Art and The Beholder's Share (w/ Yana Zorina)

    367: Your Art and The Beholder's Share (w/ Yana Zorina)

    · Your Creative Push

    Yana Zorina, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist with a lifelong passion for the arts. In her scientific career, Yana has always been attracted to microscopy as a means to take a closer look at the beautiful structures that compose the mammalian brain.

    In her microscopy-inspired artwork, she uses her neuroscientist training to accurately recreate scientific images into 3D-beaded renderings of cellular structures to bring the beauty of scientific research to a wider audience. In viewing beads as analogs of pixels observed on a screen, Yana turns microscopy on its head by transforming ultra-thin optical sections into 3D structures.

    Beyond being passionate about the breathtaking beauty of microscopy images, Yana uses them to serve a greater purpose of communicating science to a wider audience and initiating conversations on difficult topics, such as neurological conditions.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/367

    In this episode, Yana discusses:

    -How she got into both art and neuroscience.

    -Her realization that she needed to bring art back into her life after many years of pursuing neuroscience and raising a family.

    -Finding alone time both in art and science.

    -Some of the resistances she faced of turning her art into a business.

    -Having to be creative in terms of putting out content on social media when her projects take her several months to complete.

    -Letting go of the fear of not being 100% scientifically accurate in her art.

    -The Beholder’s Share.

    -How art can be a bridge to communicate what is going on within the scientific community to those outside of it.

    -Finding connection in the SciArt community.

    -How she schedules her day and how she chooses which idea to move forward with.

    Yana's Final Push will inspire you to go for your ideas no matter how “out there” they may seem!
    Quotes:

    “I’d rather be dealing with test tubes than with people.”

    “I became a wife, a mother, a scientist, and I had the sense that the true me was somehow missing.”

    “I’m not ready to give up the pipette.”

    “I enjoy the process of making my art. It is meditative and it is meticulous work that allows me to escape from daily life.”

    “No matter how crazy you think your idea is, no matter how crazy it may seem at first, just go for it.”

    Connect with Yana:

    Website / Etsy / Instagram / Patreon / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

  • Episodes manquant?

    Cliquez ici pour raffraichir la page manuellement.

  • 366: The Pyramid, The Pool & Artists (w/ Martha Beck)

    366: The Pyramid, The Pool & Artists (w/ Martha Beck)

    · Your Creative Push

    Martha Beck is an American sociologist, life coach, best-selling author, and speaker who specializes in helping individuals and groups achieve personal and professional goals.

    Her books include Expecting Adam, Leaving the Saints, Finding Your own North Star, The Joy Diet, and Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening. She has also been a columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine since its inception in 2001.

    Her newest project is a revolutionary writing workshop called Write into Light.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/366

    In this episode, Martha discusses:

    -The Pyramid and the Pool and how the change to the oppressive societal structure will begin at the bottom and absorb the top.

    -How the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement are catalysts for global change.

    -Looking at your own suffering as a starting point in your art.

    -Steering your life from nature rather than culture.

    -The way in which you are serving the monster when you “hustle.”

    -How we can trust our bodies to direct us towards our truth (not our minds).

    -What we can learn from baboons.

    -The power of relaxing.

    -How finding your path through life is exactly like tracking an animal.

    -How to get “The Secret” to actually work.

    -How Jurassic Park changed her life.

    Quotes:

    “Art is a power that spreads energy into the mass of the population.”

    “Artistic expression is the most powerful mover of society.”

    “The economy is the train track that society runs on. But art is the switchman. Art is the one that decides which track the train goes on.”

    “The only thing more intelligent than the culture in your life is your nature.”

    Links mentioned:

    The Pyramid and the Pool: Why things are better than they seem

    Bewildered – The Productivity Addict

    How to Plan Your Week [7 Scheduling Tips for Artists]

    Boyd Varty’s Track Your Life Podcast

    Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

    The Gathering Room

    Connect with Martha:

    Website / Facebook / Vimeo / Twitter / Books

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 365: Transparency and being true to your art (w/ Carla Grace)

    365: Transparency and being true to your art (w/ Carla Grace)

    · Your Creative Push

    Carla Grace is a self taught artist with a love for wildlife and beautiful, high quality art work. Born in South Africa, Carla has immigrated 5 times and currently lives in Australia. With a childhood that was dominantly based in Africa, she was able to experience wildlife in a way that has become the foundation of her vision: Where wildlife breathes through art.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/365

    In this episode, Carla discusses:

    -How she was drawn to wildlife art.

    -Her take on Tiger King and zoos in general.

    -How she attempts to make a communication between the animals she paints and the viewer.

    -Why she always starts with the eyes.

    -How she balances motherhood with creating art.

    -Why she doesn’t rely on “fixes” for energy or inspiration.

    -Why she decided to create a tutorial on how to paint fur.

    -Where she got the idea for her new series, The Uninvited.

    -Including written narrative as an addition to each piece of her art.

    -How she plans her next painting while working on her current one.

    -Her top business tips for artists.

    -The importance of being transparent with people.

    -How commissions were detrimental to the direction she wanted to go in her art career.

    Carla's Final Push will inspire you to take the reins and just do it!
    Quotes:

    “People will give back to you when you give to them.”

    “Be transparent because in today’s social world, people can see a fake straight away.”

    “If people stop asking you for help, then you’ve got a problem.”

    “I was burning out a lot faster because I wasn’t doing something that was true to who I was.”

    “Just take a little step every day and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.”

    Links mentioned:

    Carla's Guide to Painting Realistic Fur

    Xero

    Connect with Carla:

    Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

    On the next episode:

    Martha Beck : Website / Facebook

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 364: Be a deliberate amateur artist (w/ Jonny Bloozit)

    364: Be a deliberate amateur artist (w/ Jonny Bloozit)

    · Your Creative Push

    Jonny Bloozit is a post-apocalyptic landscape cartoonist who believes in the value of being a deliberate amateur so that you don’t lose the joy of making art.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/364

    In this episode, Jonny discusses:

    -How he lost his joy for music.

    -What brought him back to drawing.

    -His opinion that you don’t have to be a professional to be an artist.

    -How society equates successful art to money.

    -Why you shouldn’t put too much emotion in gaining followers.

    -Why you should try getting up early in the morning to do your art (and some tips on how to do it).

    -What he does when he lacks motivation.

    -Identifying himself by what he does for fun rather than what he does for money.

    -How he honed in on his style of “post-apocalyptic landscape cartooning.”

    -The beauty that exists in things that are deteriorating or falling apart.

    -Being analytical about his learning process.

    -Watercoloring his ink drawings.

    -The value of critique groups.

    -The importance of learning the rules of art.

    Jonny’s Final Push will encourage you to never let anyone else steal your joy for making art!
    Quotes:

    “I went back to drawing again and it was like seeing an old friend.”

    “Being a deliberate amateur is also a noble path, so don’t let anybody make you feel bad for doing that.”

    “You never really look at something the way you look at it when you have to draw it.”

    “If the breadth of what I was trying to do was too broad, I wouldn’t get enough depth.”

    “Your own style is going to come out whether you like it or not. Just concentrate on the fundamentals and the style will take care of itself.”

    Links mentioned:

    Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney

    Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis

    Perspective! for Comic Book Artists by David Chelsea

    Connect with Jonny:

    Website

    On the next episode:

    Carla Grace : Website / Instagram

  • Fear Stretching (Best of YCP: Stephen)

    Fear Stretching (Best of YCP: Stephen)

    · Your Creative Push

    Stephen is a singer/songwriter who has just released his first album, “Sincerely.” In his own words: “My album is a story of triumph, of letting go of all the uncertainty in my head and learning to walk the path of my own heart. “Sincerely” is about realizing how much better this world would be if we all loved ourselves, if we weren’t afraid of being vulnerable and honest. It doesn’t matter who’s president or what technology we invent or what extremists we destroy, the only thing I know is this: There will never be peace if we do not all love ourselves.”

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/bestof15

    In this episode, Stephen discusses:

    -A bit about his background and how he came to find himself in Los Angeles.

    -How he was the first student of the music school at the University of Miami who also played a Division 1 sport.

    -The promise he made to himself at a young age that he would only pursue the things he was passionate about.

    -How it’s not like doing work, when you are spending time working on things that you love. It’s like you get to play.

    -The journey that his song “Bullet Train” took him on and the fact that he almost didn’t release it.

    -How he only started singing three years before the release of this, his first album.

    -How you need to think with the heart more than the head, because the head will give you countless excuses why you shouldn’t do something for the sake of self-preservation.

    -A game he plays with his friend called “Fear Stretching.”

    -How we are so scared of offending people or not being accepted that we live in a shell, and the more we practice stretching out our fears, the more quickly we can advance to better versions of ourselves.

    -The fact that rejection is often times empowering because you can just be yourself without having to worry about other people’s approval.

    -The tremendous role that his management team at Th3rd Brain has played on his career so far.

    -The message of his album Sincerely — a call to action to make a difference as well as the self-discovery that happened in his life.

    -How we distract ourselves with things like The Kardashians because we are afraid of what we are going to find if we look in the mirror too long.

    -His music videos for “Crossfire” and “Start a Fire.”

    -How he has many resistances, but the main one is self-doubt.

    Stephen’s Final Push will inspire you to DANCE AROUND WITH THE TAMBOURINE! Quotes:

    “Something that has really done a lot of good for me is a promise I made to myself when I was really young that I would really only try to do the things that I really wanted to do.”

    “Talent is just intense passion discovered at an early age.”

    “When you put a lot of time into something that you really love, it’s not work. It’s like you’re having fun. You’re playing with it.”

    “I think it was a massive amount of insecurity. I never imagined myself being a singer. I never even sang in the shower.”

    “If I would ever sing along to a song, I would put on a joking singing voice, because I was scared that people would laugh at my singing voice, like my true expression.”

    “You’ve just gotta put yourself out there. It’s less a confidence and moreso a carelessness.”

    “The worst that can happen is not nearly as bad as you think.”

    “It’s the “no’s” that help us grow because we realize that the consequence of being rejected is nothing. In fact, the consequence of being rejected a lot of the times is empowerment because you feel more free. You feel like you don’t need other people’s approval to be yourself.”

    “The things that we’re supposed to do that are going to help us the most are the things that we resist doing the most.

    Links mentioned:

    “Sincerely” on iTunes / Soundcloud

    “Crossfire” by Stephen Official Music Video

    “Bullet Train” by Stephen

    Connect with Stephen:

    Website / Spotify / Soundcloud / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 363: Don't be satisfied with the world that's offered to you (w/ Will Terry)

    363: Don't be satisfied with the world that's offered to you (w/ Will Terry)

    · Your Creative Push

    Will Terry is a freelance illustrator and children’s book illustrator who shares his 23 years of experience on his YouTube channel and his blog. He also co-owns SVS Learn and co-hosts the 3 Points Perspective Podcast with Jake Parker and Lee White.

    Will has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his new book, What They Don't Teach In Art School: An illustrator's guide to making money in the real world.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/363

    In this episode, Will discusses:

    -How his students always resonated with his discussion about marketing.

    -Not being able to draw after his wife passed away.

    -How writing his book brought creativity, productivity and fulfillment back into his life.

    -How opportunities for artists are now everywhere, but they are just harder to see.

    -Why going down the “normal route” of life is actually the more frightening option.

    -How ideas like Little Heroes can come out of nowhere.

    -What creatives can learn from GoPro.

    -Why creative people need to embrace their problem-solving skills.

    -How to find the balance of making money and creating the art that you want to create.

    -How he needed to get sick of his own work in order to step up the quality of his art.

    -Identifying your motives for creating art.

    -Why he only takes on projects that he can fall in love with.

    -How to say no to family members or friends who want you to create art for them.

    -Seth Godin’s advice to create art that changes people emotionally.

    -Using your audience as a testing ground.

    Will's Final Push will inspire you to make as much art as you can so that your mind can be changed and you can create the art that you want to create!
    Quotes:

    “I’ve always had an affinity for helping illustrators make money with their art.”

    “The hard thing for artists is to actually see the opportunities where they are.”

    “Create for yourself and be as selfish as possible. Create the thing that you want and you can’t find in the world. Create it because you want one.”

    “Don’t be satisfied with the world that is offered to you.”

    Links mentioned:

    What They Don't Teach In Art School: An illustrator's guide to making money in the real world by Will Terry

    Will Terry: Give yourself permission to MAKE YOUR OWN DREAM HAPPEN (YCP Episode 176)

    Piper Thibodeau: Something new, THOUSANDS of days in a row (YCP Episode 345)

    Inside The Business of Illustration by Steven Heller

    Exploding Kittens Card Game

    Brett Helquist

    Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin

    Connect with Will:

    Website / Instagram / YouTube / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 362: Would YOU follow you? (w/ Mike Janda & Tom Ross)

    362: Would YOU follow you? (w/ Mike Janda & Tom Ross)

    · Your Creative Push

    Mike Janda and Tom Ross are successful creative entrepreneurs who have come together to create the Biz Buds Podcast.

    Biz Buds is value-packed weekly discussion where Tom and Mike share their journeys from struggling freelancers to both running multi 7-figure businesses, and the lessons picked up along the way.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/bizbuds

    In this episode, Mike & Tom discuss:

    -How Tom created Design Cuts, the most curated and most highly rated design marketplace in the world.

    -How to find your 1,000 true fans.

    -Why you need to share your authentic, real self.

    -The value of building your fanbase and community one person at a time (instead of shouting into the abyss).

    -Why you might be more scared when you have less followers.

    -Their best Instagram growth strategies.

    -Thinking about your audience’s audience.

    -How to get in front of a wider audience.

    -The thing that matters more than getting 10x the amount of likes.

    -Why you need to start building your e-mail list right now (and what you should be sharing).

    -How to overcome imposter syndrome as a creative.

    -The best way to overcome perfectionism.

    -The importance of deadlines.

    Mike & Tom’s Final Push will remind you to stop comparing your step 2 to someone else’s step 50 and enjoy the ride!
    Quotes:

    “This is something that I wanted to do for years, but I wanted to ensure I had enough credibility to do it.”

    “Share your authentic, real self.”

    “Put out what you want to get back.”

    “The real connections happen in the DMs.”

    “People prefer the perception of making a purchase decision themselves and not being sold to make the purchase.”

    “You have to realize that almost every creative person in the world feels some imposter syndrome.”

    “Stop comparing your Step Two to someone else’s Step Fifty.”

    Links mentioned:

    Biz Buds Podcast

    Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk

    Biz Buds: Episode 11: Instagram Growth Strategies

    Connect with Mike & Tom:

    Mike Janda: Website / Instagram

    Tom Ross: Website / Instagram

    On the next episode:

    Will Terry: Website / Instagram

  • 361: Sneaky Hacks to Get Engagement (w/ Xabio Arts)

    361: Sneaky Hacks to Get Engagement (w/ Xabio Arts)

    · Your Creative Push

    Xabio Arts aka Andrew Bosch is a drawing YouTuber that makes funny and helpful videos. Along with his drawing tutorials and speed paintings, he also offers a candid look into the life of an artist and how he navigates resistance.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/xabioarts

    In this episode, Xabio Arts discusses:

    -His early influence by Mark Crilley, Jazza and Feng Zhu.

    -Why he puts his mistakes and first drafts into his videos.

    -His frustration when trying to follow the tutorial of a polished perfectionist.

    -How your eye for mistakes levels up as your actual skills level up.

    -How he battles procrastination (even in his dreams).

    -Taking breaks from creating YouTube videos (but thinking about videos the entire time).

    -How he deals with negative comments.

    -His relationship with likes.

    -The card game that he is creating, and how he is involving his audience in the process.

    -His “sneaky” hack for getting more engagement on YouTube.

    -The experience of drawing with his mouth.

    Xabio Art's Final Push will give you the inspiration to just keep going towards the things you want out of life.
    Quotes:

    “I know how much it sucks for me to feel like I need to put out perfect art and I don’t want people to feel that same insecurity.”

    “I always feel like if I’m not completely miserable and suffering, I’m not working hard enough.”

    “There is magic in being able to make things.”

    Links mentioned:

    Figurosity

    Mark Crilley

    Scott Robertson

    Connect with Xabio Arts:

    YouTube / Instagram / Twitter

    On the next episode:

    Mike Janda : Website / Instagram
    Tom Ross: Website / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

    Music: Adventures by A Himitsu
    Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 Music released by Argofox Music provided by Audio Library
  • 360: Do it for YOU, not Tommy from Oklahoma (w/ Talia Jackson)

    360: Do it for YOU, not Tommy from Oklahoma (w/ Talia Jackson)

    · Your Creative Push

    Talia Jackson is an actress, model and singer. She is a series regular on Netflix's Family Reunion (which won an NAACP Award for “Children’s Program”) and ABC's Station 19. With productions all on hold, she's focusing on her music career and is producing / release music directly from home.

    Her first two songs, "Complicated" and "5Five" are available on Spotify.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/360

    In this episode, Talia discusses:

    -How she first got into modeling and acting.

    -How she originally turned down Family Reunion.

    -Why our biggest victories often come when we are about to give up.

    -The way that the less we care about the outcome, the better we often do.

    -Why she had to leave Instagram.

    -The advice that Tia Mowry gave her about being a mixed actress and not worrying about what other people think.

    -Her current relationship with social media.

    -What quarantine has been like for her creative endeavors.

    -The role that singing has played in her life.

    -How she defeats perfectionism.

    -How she honed in on her style of writing music.

    -How you are the only one who is going to be able to try your dreams, so just do what makes you happy.

    Talia's Final Push will encourage you that your opportunity will come, you just have to keep pushing!
    Quotes:

    “It terrified me that maybe I had worked so hard for something that just never was going to work for me.”

    “For some reason life always wants to give me exactly what I need and what I want when I’m at my breaking point.

    “When you really don’t care about something, for some reason the universe is just like, “Here you go, you can have it.”

    “Singing had always been the little side character in my life.”

    “Do it for you. It’s your life and the only person who is ever truly going to care about you and take care of you forever is you. So do what makes you happy.”

    Links mentioned:

    Family Reunion

    5Five by Talia Jackson

    Comfortable by Her

    Connect with Talia:

    Spotify / Instagram / Twitter

    On the next episode:

    Xabio Arts : YouTube / Instagram / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 359: If you don’t DO YOU, who will? (w/ Kasey Golden)

    359: If you don’t DO YOU, who will? (w/ Kasey Golden)

    · Your Creative Push

    Kasey Golden is an illustrator and YouTuber with the dream of illustrating children's books. She shares her illustrations, challenges and process as an artist on her YouTube channel where she has over a million subscribers following her journey.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/kaseygolden

    In this episode, Kasey discusses:

    -How her YouTube channel and the schedule she made for it kept her accountable for creating art.

    -Why she initially started her 500 Drawing Prompts challenge (and why she decided to tone it back).

    -Incorporating her community in her own challenges.

    -Her advice for getting past art block.

    -Making a schedule and lists.

    -The experience of doing challenges such as “how small can you draw” and painting with her own blood.

    -What she has learned from her community.

    -How she honed in on her style.

    -How to get past “same face syndrome.”

    -Why you shouldn’t wait until you’re “ready” to put your work out there.

    -Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

    -Her take on nudity in art.

    -How to deal with negative comments and criticism.

    -Her passion for sewing.

    -How drawing and painting traditionally helps her to embrace her art, her mistakes and her confidence.

    -Where she finds inspiration.

    Kasey's Final Push will ask the question, if you don’t create your art in your own unique style, then who will?
    Quotes:

    “I hate quitting and giving up on things. I will torture myself mentally to finish any art project, it seems.”

    “I am not unfamiliar with art block, unfortunately.”

    “My art style is definitely a Frankenstein monster of all the influences and things I enjoy in life.”

    “If you wait until you’re ready, it’s probably never going to happen.”

    “Go for a hike. Go out and see the world. I think the biggest inspiration you can get for your art is having experiences.”

    “If you’re not going to do you, then who’s going to do you?”

    Links mentioned:

    500 Drawing Prompts Notebook

    Nobody cares that you started. They care that you finished

    Jake Parker on Your Creative Push

    Connect with Kasey:

    Website / YouTube / Instagram / Twitter / Storenvy / Patreon

    On the next episode:

    Talia Jackson : Spotify / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 358: Rejectomancy, Resolutions & Random Number Generators (w/ Mur Lafferty)

    358: Rejectomancy, Resolutions & Random Number Generators (w/ Mur Lafferty)

    · Your Creative Push

    Mur Lafferty is the author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Hugo and Nebula nominated novel Six Wakes, The Shambling Guides series, and several self pubbed novels and novellas, including the award winning Afterlife series.

    She is also the host of the Hugo-winning podcast Ditch Diggers, and the long-running I Should Be Writing. She is the recipient of the John Campbell Award for best new writer, the Manly Wade Wellman Award, the Best Fancast Hugo Award, and joined the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2015, its inaugural year.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/358

    In this episode, Mur discusses:

    -Why she started her podcast, I Should Be Writing.

    -Rejectomancy and over-analyzing what a rejection might mean.

    -Why she doesn’t read comments or reviews.

    -Dealing with the self-doubt bully.

    -Trusting yourself and trusting “the people in the basement.”

    -The way in which your creative resolutions never have an ultimate failure or success – they are ways of life.

    -Getting more “experience points” for failing than succeeding.

    -Not just setting one goal, but multiple specific goals.

    -“The Magic Spreadsheet” and gamifying daily word counts.

    -The experience of writing Solo: A Star Wars Story.

    -How she gets past difficult moments in writing.

    -How her creative life didn’t start until she started taking care of her mental health.

    -Dealing with depression as a writer.

    -Taking up the violin as a hobby.

    -How she uses a random number generator to help guide her on which task to do next.

    Mur’s Final Push will remind you of the only rule in writing or any other creative pursuit: DON’T QUIT!
    Quotes:

    “We’re always ruder to ourselves than we are to anyone we love.”

    “What can you accomplish today? Don’t worry about tomorrow. Don’t worry about yesterday. You can’t fix either of those. One is not broken and the other is unreachable.”

    “Often times if I try to force my brain to think up new story, it will flatly refuse.”

    “If you think you need to suffer to create art, I wonder why your art is more important than your wellbeing.”

    Links mentioned:

    I Should Be Writing

    Solo: A Star Wars Story by Mur Lafferty

    The Secrets: The podcast for serious writers!

    Better Than Yesterday

    Kameron Hurley

    Connect with Mur:

    Website / Twitter

    On the next episode:

    Kasey Golden : YouTube / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 357: A Student’s Take on Evolve Artist (w/ Michael Ray)

    357: A Student’s Take on Evolve Artist (w/ Michael Ray)

    · Your Creative Push

    Michael Ray was one of the very first students to go through the Evolve Artist Program curriculum. Throughout his education and work with Evolve, Michael has been an inspiration for how to get work done and get it done well.

    Michael has a family, a full-time job and many other responsibilities but was still able to thrive with Evolve, and is now looking forward to selling his work at a professional level.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/357

    In this episode, Michael discusses:

    -What his artistic life looked like before signing up for Evolve Artist.

    -The stark differences he has discovered between the Evolve program and other online schools and online courses that he has taken.

    -The red pill/blue bill moment.

    -How everyone starts at the same point in the Evolve Artist Program.

    -How the Evolve program teaches you to see first and then apply what you see on the canvas.

    -The extraction of variables by giving all students the same high-quality materials and Old Holland paints.

    -The freedom to be able to make mistakes.

    -The many directions that you can take your skills once you get the fundamentals down.

    -The commitment he made to himself to be present and focused on the assignments.

    -How he has witnessed the proven process of the Evolve Artist Program through all the students who keep creating art they never thought they’d be able to create.

    Quotes:

    “There’s this creative force and energy inside of me that has to be dealt with.”

    “The Evolve fundamentals are truly fundamentals.”

    “There is no shortcut around experience.”

    “It’s a proven process, over and over again.”

    Links mentioned:

    The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount)

    Evolve Webinar Mailing List

    Dorian Vallejo

    The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler) [YCP Ep. 354]

    Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay) [YCP Ep. 355]

    Don’t go to art school. Evolve instead (w/ Kevin Murphy) [YCP Ep. 356]

    Connect with Michael:

    Instagram

    On the next episode:

    Mur Lafferty : Website / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 356: Don't go to art school. Evolve instead (w/ Kevin Murphy)

    356: Don't go to art school. Evolve instead (w/ Kevin Murphy)

    · Your Creative Push

    Kevin Murphy is an internationally recognized award-winning portrait painter and illustrator. Since 1993, he’s delivered nearly 600 commissioned works within the fields of Illustration and Portraiture.

    Kevin is also the cofounder of The Evolve Artist Program, where he teaches all traditional classes. The Art Academy, from which the Evolve program was born, was founded by Kevin in 2009.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/356

    In this episode, Kevin discusses:

    -His early education and the mark that it left with him.

    -“Burning the ships” of his construction career to create science fiction fantasy book covers.

    -Working for LucasArts, National Geographic and The Rolling Stones.

    -How he got into portraiture.

    -Why he opened his school.

    -An overview of The Evolve Artist Program and where it got its name.

    -How Evolve Artist works and how you get all of the materials.

    -The way in which The Evolve Artist Program hones in on your fundamentals and shows you exactly what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.

    -“Midnight Tea” and other student groups that add to the community of Evolve Artist.

    -A deeper look into the method of The Evolve Artist Program.

    -Why art schools might let their students down.

    -Why using quality paints like Old Holland’s are so helpful.

    Quotes:

    “I basically burnt the ships and decided I was going to be a painter.”

    “I didn’t need explosions and dragons in the paintings anymore because I found the people so interesting.”

    “Art made it possible for me to have a very different life than I was born into.”

    “The number of things you need to know to be able to make extraordinary art is very small. That information fits in the palm of your hand.”

    “We’re always trying to find ways to make the online program feel more like what it is to walk into the actual brick-and-mortar school where I teach.”

    “Every time you get a success it makes you bolder for the next one.”

    “Even the pros struggle. How they deal with the struggle is different.”

    Links mentioned:

    The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount)

    Evolve Webinar Mailing List

    Dorian Vallejo

    The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler) [YCP Ep. 354]

    Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay) [YCP Ep. 355]

    On the next episode:

    Michael Ray : Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 355: Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay)

    355: Let someone walk you to your artistic dreams (w/ Piper Talladay)

    · Your Creative Push

    Piper Talladay is a contemporary realist painter currently residing in Tacoma, Washington, but working with clients across the United States. Her work is centered around equine portraiture, rendered in oil.

    In addition to her own work, Piper is head instructor at Evolve Artist, an online academy that trains students around the world in traditional oil painting.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/355

    In this episode, Piper discusses:

    -The limiting belief that she could not grow up to be a working artist.

    -The differences between The Evolve Artist Program and traditional art schools.

    -How the technical mastery is missing from most art colleges and schools.

    -The foundational artistic skills (and portfolio) that you need to have before applying to an art school as opposed to needing no foundational skills to start The Evolve Artist Program.

    -Why she honed in on equine portraiture.

    -How her art business began to grow organically.

    -Her resistance of not making her personal work a priority.

    -What a typical day looks like for her.

    -The importance of early success and the instructor accessibility in The Evolve Artist Program.

    -How instructors are actually able to watch you work.

    -What she would say to anyone who is on the fence about Evolve Artist.

    Piper's Final Push will encourage you to find and surround yourself with a creative community!
    Quotes:

    “Being an artist was something that I always wanted, but I didn’t think it was possible.”

    “I have a hard time painting if I know that I have unanswered e-mails.”

    “When you’re becoming an artist you need someone to commit to coming alongside you and walking with you until you’re where you want to be.”

    Links mentioned:

    The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount)

    Evolve Webinar Mailing List

    The Evolve Artist Program Review w/ Mitch Bowler (YCP Ep 354)

    Connect with Piper:

    Website / Facebook / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 354: The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler)

    354: The Evolve Artist Program Review (w/ Mitch Bowler)

    · Your Creative Push

    Mitch Bowler is the founder of Pencil Kings and cofounder of The Evolve Artist Program.

    He is an expert in remote art production, having spent a decade building AAA Art Studios in Shanghai, China. Through Evolve, he is realizing his dream to make serious art education accessible and affordable worldwide.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/354

    In this episode, Mitch discusses:

    -What he’s been up to in the four years since he was last on the show.

    -Some of the log jams that he encountered in his creative journey.

    -Why he is so willing to help other people in their creative pursuits.

    -An introduction to the Evolve Artist Program.

    -How typical art schools cost too much money and take too much time, yet a “YouTube education” lacks direction, a roadmap, or guaranteed results.

    -How Evolve Artist guarantees that someone at any level of art ability will create professional work by the end of the program.

    -How long it takes the average student to finish the coursework.

    -The guarantee that each student will get professional results, but there is no ceiling to how far they can take their new skills.

    -The type of one-on-one feedback that students get from their instructor.

    -What Evolve students can expect in terms of turning in assignments and receiving the included materials and supplies.

    -The fast turnaround time of two or three hours for instructor feedback.

    Mitch’s Final Push will encourage you to look back at the progress that you made in the last year and weigh that against the place you want to be a year from now.
    Quotes:

    “When you help other people, it creates new future possibilities.”

    “Everyone gets phenomenal results with Evolve, but there’s room for you to push things even higher.”

    “Our goal for each student is that they are improving about five percent with each assignment.”

    “As a student, you’re expected to make mistakes and it’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, if you weren’t making mistakes, something is probably strange.”

    Links mentioned:

    The Evolve Artist Program (Exclusive 10% Discount)

    Evolve Webinar Mailing List

    Youngman on the Pencil Kings Podcast Episode 200

    Mitch’s 1st appearance on Your Creative Push

    On the next episode:

    Piper Talladay : Website / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 353: How to stream your art on Twitch (w/ Mioree)

    353: How to stream your art on Twitch (w/ Mioree)

    · Your Creative Push

    Mioree is a digital artist and illustrator who specializes in stylized character illustrations.

    She is also a partnered Twitch streamer who livestreams her art while explaining her methods and thought process to inspire and interact with her growing community.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/mioree

    In this episode, Mioree discusses:

    -How she started as an artist on Twitch.

    -The differences between Deviantart and Instagram.

    -Her advice for artists who want to start on Twitch and how to stream when there will be crickets at first.

    -Twitch in comparison to Instagram Live, Facebook Live or any other streaming platform.

    -How helpful it is to consolidate your ambiguous thoughts into words as you go through your process of making art.

    -Dealing with burnout, perfectionism, imposter syndrome and being too hard on herself.

    -How streaming can cure art block.

    -The value in spending time to create systems to better your mental health as an artist.

    -Setting ridiculously easy daily goals for yourself.

    -Using neuroplasticity to start new habits and wean off of your bad habits.

    -Using time tracking apps and devices such as Habitica and Timeular.

    -Being deliberate about what entertainment she consumes.

    -How she deals with perfectionism and negative inner dialogue.

    -Flipping her canvas and looking at her art in a different way when she gets stuck.

    -Where she goes for inspiration.

    Mioree's Final Push will remind you to not be too eager to label yourself.
    Quotes:

    “I try to dispel my doubts and think about a younger version of me.”

    “I never understood my process. I almost felt like it was instinctual before. Now I feel as if it has some reason and I can detect patterns, which is always helpful for improvement.”

    “I don’t want to wake up later in life, not having had a choice in where my life went.”

    Links mentioned:

    Habitica

    Timeular

    YCP Ep 342: If it exists, then you've done it right (w/ Dan Berry)

    Connect with Mioree:

    Twitch / Instagram / DeviantArt / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 352: Gain momentum in your creative playground (w/ Dan Ekis)

    352: Gain momentum in your creative playground (w/ Dan Ekis)

    · Your Creative Push

    Dan Ekis is an American comic artist and writer best known for creating the series Odyssey, Inc. and Soul of the World on Webtoons.

    He frequently interviews other artists and creators on his YouTube Channel and he currently works as a freelance illustrator doing commissions for various clients from his studio in Pittsburgh.

    His Kickstarter, Odyssey Inc: The Twin Bengals is an adventure graphic novel and is live now.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/danekis

    In this episode, Dan discusses:

    -How the “party was over” when he graduated college.

    -How he used Craigslist to find animation jobs.

    -His advice for artists who are first realizing that they have to be the ones in control of their own careers.

    -His battle with depression.

    -The importance of gaining momentum in the creative pursuit that you love the most.

    -How even the masters were once disasters and every great artist has put out a large amount of bad work to get to the good work.

    -His take on art school.

    -How to build an audience while your art still sucks by educating, entertaining and inspiring.

    -Using the words that are going through your audience’s brains.

    -How to get past self-doubt.

    -Standing on the shoulders of giants (and also realize that at the end of the day, they were just people).

    -His Kickstarter campaign for his new graphic novel, Odyssey, Inc: The Twin Bengals and the fortuitous timing of Tiger King on Netflix.

    -Doing multiple variations in order to get past art block.

    Dan's Final Push will inspire you to go back to the masters to learn how they achieved greatness! Quotes:

    “Ask yourself the question: If you could do one thing all day, everyday, if money and the opinions of other people didn’t matter, and if anything were possible
 what would you do with your time?”

    “If it feels right, do it.”

    “It’s going to take you years to get good at art, and it’s going to take you years to build your audience, so you might as well build them side by side.”

    “If you’re in a dark place right now, that doesn’t have to be the end of your story. You don’t have to stay there forever.”

    Links mentioned:

    Dan's Kickstarter: Odyssey, Inc: The Twin Bengals

    Get Clients Now by C.J. Hayden

    The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan S. Kennedy

    Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson

    Ross Draws

    How to Overcome Artist Block (INSTANTLY) - Dan's YouTube Video

    Connect with Dan:

    Website / Kickstarter / YouTube / Instagram

    On the next episode:

    Mioree : Twitch / Instagram / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 351: Make your 5-year goal then GO CRAZY (w/ Ashleigh Izienicki)

    351: Make your 5-year goal then GO CRAZY (w/ Ashleigh Izienicki)

    · Your Creative Push

    Ashleigh Izienicki aka Miss Upacey is a Colorado born illustrator and tattoo artist who works in both digital and traditional mediums. She graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design and now resides in Califonia. Her work often features dark and macabre themes with a cute and feminine touch.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/351

    In this episode, Ashleigh discusses:

    -Early potential career paths as a paleontologist and an animator.

    -Her advice for getting over the fear of posting your art online.

    -Her biggest lessons and takeaways from teaching her course, “Artists as Entrepreneurs.”

    -Making a five-year plan and going absolutely crazy with it.

    -Neil Gaiman’s advice to imagine your goals as a mountain and to continue moving towards it.

    -Her advice for pricing original pieces, especially for artists who are just starting to sell their work.

    -How she developed her style.

    -Her love of the Golden Age of Illustration, Norman Rockwell and Charles Dana Gibson.

    -Her advice for getting past the fear of the blank page.

    -How she gets past resistances such as imposter syndrome, comparison and being your own worst critic.

    -How she schedules and keeps an eye on her time.

    -Her to-do lists and calendars.

    -Learning how to tattoo from Sara Fabel.

    -Running a Kickstarter campaign for her book, “Nightshade.”

    Ashleigh's Final Push will encourage you to splash around in your creative passion – it will be worth it in the end!
    Quotes:

    “You’re going to be your worst critic and you’re going to hold yourself back more than anybody else is.”

    “To sell an original, it only takes one person to pay that price.”

    “As great as social media is, for artists it’s also horrible in the fact that you’re constantly comparing yourself to other people.”

    “I would like to have hobbies again, since I turned my main hobby into my career.”

    “Time management has been the struggle of my lifetime as a freelancer.”

    Links mentioned:

    Lyfe Illustration

    Neil Gaiman - Inspirational Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012

    Gibson Girl

    Your Creative Push Episode 301 with Sara Fabel

    Nightshade: Artbook of Ashleigh Izienicki

    Connect with Ashleigh:

    Website / Patreon / Instagram / Twitter

    On the next episode:

    Dan Ekis : Website / YouTube / Instagram

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • 350: Make the impossible inevitable (w/ James Gurney)

    350: Make the impossible inevitable (w/ James Gurney)

    · Your Creative Push

    James Gurney is the artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia. He specializes in painting realistic images of scenes that can’t be photographed, from dinosaurs to ancient civilizations. He is also a dedicated plein air painter and sketcher, believing that making studies directly from observation fuels his imagination.

    Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/jamesgurney

    In this episode, James discusses:

    -How he started as an illustrator and working for National Geographic.

    -How the vast world of Dinotopia was created out of a few simple paintings.

    -The wide range of fields that young artists can enter.

    -His experience (and take on) art school.

    -The importance of artistically challenging yourself, trying new things and seeing how other people solve problems differently than you.

    -What he learned by throwing himself into the fire by painting backgrounds for the animated film, Fire and Ice.

    -His Department of Art shirt and painting in public.

    -Drawing the ordinary and how a sketchbook can be a time machine.

    -Why he tries to fail as much as possible (but also experiment).

    -The process of creating and maintaining his YouTube channel and blog, “Gurney Journey.”

    -The experience of seeking out and painting in the most dangerous neighborhood in New York.

    -How he gets past “shiny object syndrome.”

    -Using constraints by using a limited color palette in his painting as well as using a typewriter for his writing.

    James's Final Push will inspire you to use ten percent of your creative life as a testing ground and to DO THE ESKIMO LAUGH!
    Quotes:

    “I simply started with these realistic paintings of scenes that didn’t exist, trying to make the impossible look inevitable.”

    “I realized that I could learn more by going to the zoo every day and going to the Natural History Museum. So I just sort of enrolled in my own classes.”

    “Something that motivates me is to just paint ordinary stuff in my own world, within that fifteen mile radius of where I life, instead of going on this endless faraway tour looking for something exotic.”

    “I try to fail as much as possible.”

    Links mentioned:

    Dinotopia, A Land Apart from Time by James Gurney

    Gurney Journey

    Andrew Wyeth

    Connect with James:

    Website / Blog / YouTube / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

    On the next episode:

    Ashleigh Izienicki : Website / Instagram / Twitter

    Join the discussion in the Facebook group!
  • Montre plus