Brooke Rothshank is a painter and illustrator working in watercolor, oil, acrylic, and egg tempera paint since 2002.
Her work as a miniature artist has been exhibited around the country and featured in both Miniature Collector and Dollhouse Miniatures magazines. Brooke has illustrated three children's books for Herald Press, and is currently working on a fourth illustration project that se is pursuing independently.
Brooke's panting work has been exhibited at the Penland Gallery, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Chicago International Miniature Show, and elsewhere.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/154
In this episode, Brooke discusses:
-How she got started with miniature drawings and paintings.
-The International Guild of Mini Artisens and what they do.
-The issues of perfectionism as well as allowing herself to follow what she’s interested in.
-How to battle perfectionism.
-The importance of a schedule, deadlines, and getting started right away when it is time to work.
-Making small amounts of consistent progress in the right direction every single day.
-One of her more difficult moments after college in trying to define herself as an artist and attempting to figure out the business.
-How having children made her more efficient with her limited time.
-How to get past the fear of putting your art out into the world, especially when it comes from a vulnerable place.
-How her best moments are any time she is invited to show her work, teach, or collaborate on a project.
-How her art makes her a more patient parent and partner, and makes her feel more energized.
-Her year of daily paintings and how it felt like a visual journal to her.
-Two of her greatest inspirations – Koo Shadler and her husband, Justin.
Brooke's Final Push will inspire you to figure out what it is you want out of your creative life and to pursue it every single day!
Quotes:
“If I just allow myself to follow what I’m interested in, the result is generally more creative and authentic.”
“The thing I found is that when I’m striving for that perfection, I can often ruining the freshness of a piece.”
“It may be hard to see the progress when you’re doing the slow and steady thing, but in the long run you really can see a difference.”
“The more you create and the more you share, the less you’re concerned about what other people are going to think or say.”
“It’s doing the consistent, boring stuff along the way that makes the little positive moments shine.”
Links mentioned:
IGMA – The International Guild of Mini Artisans
Connect with Brooke:
Dale Bigeni is a Sydney based artist whose passion is creating, whether it be digital or traditional art. Some of his clients have included Allday, Converse, Westfield, Sharpie, and Harley Davidson, just to name a few. Dale specializes in illustration and graphic design, but loves all mediums of art, especially if they involve skulls.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/dalebigeni
In this episode, Dale discusses:
-His fascination with skulls.
-How it took him five years to capture his unique style and make it his own.
-How he handles the naysayers.
-His advice for creative people who are being told to go down more of a mainstream path but who have very niche interests.
-One of his defining artistic moments.
-How nobody else knows what’s best for you in terms of what you should be creating.
-The importance of growing up and also having a strong support system around you.
-His best/worst creative moment when he won Australia’s Secret Walls
-How his wife helps to keep him level-headed and motivated.
-How art brings him a sense of peace and puts him in a better mind frame as a human being.
-How he is able to get into the “zone.”
-The fact that he doesn’t delve too deeply into any other artists or inspirations because if he does, he will start creating work that too closely resembles that art.
Dale's Final Push will inspire you to just be yourself and not let anyone else tell you what is best for you and your art!
Quotes:
“I’m a strong believer of not listening too much to what other people say and doing more of what makes you happy.”
“I don’t think I would be anywhere close to where I am without the support network around me.”
“Unless you give it a go, how are you going to know?”
“Just be yourself. Don’t let anybody tell you that you should do something that doesn’t make you happy. Money is not the most important thing in life. Happiness is.”
“Just be yourself and let the world love you for you.”
Connect with Dale:
Speo is an upcoming producer hailing from Austria, focusing on bass-heavy, funky, chill and melodic electronic music.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/speo
In this episode, Speo discusses:
-How he got started creating music.
-What it was like creating his first track and how your perception of good and bad changes and advances as you go along your creative journey.
-How his software crashed and he lost his first creative “masterpiece.”
-The notion of just jumping right into a creative endeavor and having fun without any expectations.
-How he had so much fun when he first started out that he didn’t notice the lack of attention he was getting.
-What kept him motivated to continue posting to a blank Twitter feed.
-The differences in the creative process now that he has an audience.
-How if you try to emulate other artists, you will make something that is, at best, slightly worse than what they created.
-How a structured and efficient schedule can sometimes lead to a less-fun and unsuccessful creative process.
-His plans for the rest of college and post-graduation.
-One of his worst creative lulls when he got into an uncreative cycle.
-Being physically active and having a healthy diet and the role that it can play on your creativity.
-How creating every single day will turn you into a person who is creative!
-The notion of simply creating something with no expectations, even on busy evenings.
-Bob Ross and the inspiration that all you have to do is believe in yourself and then all you have to do is get familiar with the tools.
-More details about SpeoTV.
Speo's Final Push will inspire you to act on your creative impulse and make something!
Quotes:
“Get going. Get right into it. That’s where the best things happen in my experience.”
“I stumbled for a long while, but I didn’t really notice because it was so much fun making music and sharing it. It took two years until someone listened and I was writing to a blank Twitter feed. It took a while but then it was incredibly gratifying.”
“The gratification and validation that you get from an audience is great but it shouldn’t be the purpose of why you’re making things.”
“It’s a huge inspiration to know that there are people waiting for your next creative work. That can really push you. But at the same time, that can push you into a corner where you feel like you have to create a certain style.”
“I don’t plan on stopping music, basically ever.”
“Consistency beats intensity. If you do something for five minutes every day, then you’re a person who does something daily.”
Links mentioned:
Connect with Speo:
Website / Soundcloud / Bandcamp / Facebook / YouTube / Twitter
Martin Wittfooth is an illustrator and fine artist living in New York City. His surreal oil paintings are much more than simply depictions of animals – they are emotional self-portraits that demand to be seen as a timestamp of our place here on Earth – where we have come from and more importantly where we are going.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/151
In this episode, Martin discusses:
-The importance of remembering why you started doing this creative endeavor in the first place.
-How some artists and musicians have the curse of becoming too successful and then losing the initial passion that made them so good in the first place.
-His love for the surprises, or “Easter eggs” that come from his art.
-His next show, based off of Terrence McKenna and The Archaic Revival.
-How podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience and The Duncan Trussel Family Hour are evidence of a shift in the power of expression and information.
-More details about his upcoming show in October 2016.
-How mistakes can often end up not being mistakes at all.
-Trying new things just to see if you can get happy, unexpected results.
-Dismissing the inner critic while at the same time being able to absorb valuable criticisms from trusted peers.
Martin's Final Push will inspire you to enjoy the process, rather than the end result.
Quotes:
“If there is to be an audience member that you are creating for, let it just be yourself.”
“It’s not the outcome of what happens when the piece is done, it’s the process of making it itself that matters.”
Links mentioned:
The Archaic Revival by Terence McKenna
The Duncan Trussell Family Hour Podcast -- Episode 137 with Martin Wittfooth
Connect with Martin:
Martin Wittfooth is an illustrator and fine artist living in New York City. His surreal oil paintings are much more than simply depictions of animals – they are emotional self-portraits that demand to be seen as a timestamp of our place here on Earth – where we have come from and more importantly where we are going.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/150
In this episode, Martin discusses:
-What he attempts to accomplish with his paintings.
-How his style has developed over time and the experience of looking back at his old work.
-One of his earliest creative memories when he realized that his art could cause a reaction in people.
-How he sees his paintings as “emotional self-portraits.”
-His fascination with the way that the human species communicates with one another on many different levels.
-How young adults have to make decisions on what they want to do for the rest of their lives at too early of an age.
-The difficulty of trying to find a marriage between painting and the business of painting.
-How we live in a time where the knowledge and advice is out there on the internet… we just need to know where to look and how to ask for it.
-The importance of enjoying the act of your creative endeavor rather than the results of it.
Quotes:
“Through drawing, all the sudden people took interest in what I was doing.”
“I’m trying to get myself somehow trapped on the canvas but in a way that isn’t the predictable image of me.”
“If it stops feeling like play, then it’s probably not worth doing.”
Links mentioned:
The Archaic Revival by Terence McKenna
The Duncan Trussell Family Hour Podcast -- Episode 137 with Martin Wittfooth
Connect with Martin:
Jake Heilbrunn is a 19-year old writer who just published his first book, Off the Beaten Trail, a true story about his journey dropping out of college at eighteen and solo-backpacking through Central America with no phone or knowledge of Spanish.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/149
In this episode, Jake discusses:
-How a rare skin condition started him on his journey just three days after moving in to college.
-How his journey began with an Ex-Hostage Raid & Recovery Vet.
-The incredible experience of being able to trek through ancient Mayan ruins.
-How he started writing the book the day after he got home from his journey.
-His daily writing process and how he was able to finish the first draft of his book in just three months.
-The idea of starting your day in an uncomfortable way (like with a cold shower) to prepare you for the next thing that you might not want to do (like write).
-Detaching yourself from what you wrote that you thought was gold so that you can “kill your darlings.”
-How he used Quantum Leap to help him get through the editing and publishing phases of his book.
-How he stays consistent with his writing through his weekly blog.
-The uncomfortable feeling of putting yourself out there and fearing rejection (and how to get past it).
-How he took chances by trusting his gut and approaching Drew Brees and Chris Guillebeau to ask for their endorsement for his book.
-His best and worst creative moments.
Jake's Final Push will inspire you to follow your gut and trust that you know what’s best for yourself.
Quotes:
“It definitely shifted my perspective.”
“Allow yourself to write garbage.”
“Writing just always called out to me. Being able to articulate words and ideas into a story.”
“It’s like taking that first step when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
Links mentioned:
Off the Beaten Trail by Jake Heilbrunn
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
"PUKE IT OUT, then polish it!" -- YCP Episode 38 with Kent Gustavson
Connect with Jake:
John Dalton is a painter, podcaster, and writer from county Kerry in Ireland. He has been a therapist, a carpenter, a scriptwriter, a trainer, a cameraman, a TV presenter, a driver, a factory worker, a photographer, and a laborer. His podcast, "Gently Does It," is a must-listen for any fans of Your Creative Push.
In this episode, John discusses:
-How he got started as an artist and the many different careers he had before.
-The decision to go from a craniosacral therapy to become a full-time writer.
-Details about his new book, “The Gentle Snap."
-The great mystery surrounding sleep and how it is much like death in the fact that we disappear for a time.
-The role that sleep, dreams, and meditative states play in the world and in his art and writing.
-How he started his podcast, “Gently Does It.”
-What he attempts to accomplish with his podcast, and the ability for anyone else to accomplish similar results.
-The most important lesson that he has learned in his podcasting journey.
John's Final Push will inspire you to realize that your life is a work of art!
Quotes:
“It was that book that kept waking me up at night.”
"If you're feeling a bit stuck, there's a great power in using delusion to your advantage."
"Just kid yourself that you're going to do five minutes. Before you know it, you've done a lot."
Links mentioned:
Connect with John:
Debbie Chesebro is a creative producer with over 15 years of experience in production, post production, accounting & finance, feature films, commercials, and new media. She has worked on feature films such as Hurt Locker, Nacho Libre, Fever Pitch, and Pee-wee's Big Holiday, as well as many international productions. Most recently, she worked in Cambodia on Netflix's upcoming Angelina Jolie Pitt-directed feature.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/debbiechesebro
In this episode, Debbie discusses:
-Her role in the new Angelina Jolie Pitt-directed feature on Netflix and her travels to Cambodia.
-The various roles and jobs that she has had throughout her career on her journey to be a producer and writer.
-The role that writing has played throughout her life.
-The unfortunate events that happened after writing a screenplay with her writing partner.
-The story behind "Prom Queen."
-The strange phenomenon in Hollywood, how ideas are often met with similar ideas at the same time.
-The idea of regrouping to figure out why you fell in love with your creative passion in the first place and working from there.
-Her love for John Hughes films.
-How a writing partner that is willing to "play" and bounce ideas back and forth doesn't just make the process more fruitful, but also more fun.
Debbie's Final Push will inspire you to get back to your ORIGINS!
Quotes:
"The process itself can be so painful and torturous, but then when you have this story, this piece of paper that you filled up with words, it kind of seems like a magical thing."
"Just go back to the origins. Why are you doing this? What inspired you in the first place? What is it that you truly love?"
Another solo episode.
About magic.
Only, like, two episodes after the last episode about magic.
Yawn, right?
Except not! Something incredible happened after the last episode... Youngman goes as far as to describe it as "magical," believe it or not. This episode starts where the last episode left off, though it wasn't planned that way.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/moremagic
YCP Episode 111 with Brandyn Burnette
YCP Episode 136 with Lisa Congdon
YCP Episode 110 with Gabriel Picolo
POWERS is the dynamic duo comprised of Mike Del Rio and Christa Ru, two talented musicians moved from New York to Los Angeles, but made sure to maintain their collaborative orbit with one another on their journey. They have helped to create music for some of the biggest names in music, but have come together with POWERS to grasp timeless music out of the universe for the world to enjoy.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/powers
In this episode, Mike & Christa discuss:
-How they came together to create POWERS.
-The importance of collaboration, especially when you can find someone who “gets it.”
-The difficulty in being a solo artist and having to make so many big decisions on your own.
-How important it is to take notice of when you are having fun while creating, and doing whatever you can to stay in that zone.
-How Selena Gomez cut one of the songs they were working on
-Their advice for keeping that childlike inspiration and joy that we sometimes forget about as we become adults.
-The importance of surrounding yourself with “good coconuts” – people who support your mission and your creative goals.
-The difficulty in spending too much time on an idea or song and becoming numb to it.
-Making sure to be the captain of your own ship and to have the confidence to know that you are the one whose ideas are sought after.
-How some of their favorite songs come from an idea they had four years prior.
-Keeping a database of ideas that you can come back to at any time to continue to become inspired or see which idea is ready to be turned into something complete.
-The importance of becoming a “shipper” – someone who continues to put out content on time.
-The story behind their new song, “Sunshine.”
Quotes:
“The feeling of being creative, whether you’re five years old and playing with legos and drawing – that magic and sense of wonder where you just made something out of thin air -- that doesn’t really age. That feeling is eternal.”
“Making something and pulling it out of the universe is a very special, kind of birthing emotion.”
“As a band we always wanted to reach as many people and touch as many people as possible while still keeping a sense of integrity, intelligence, and sincerity with our music.”
“You have to keep a corner of it for yourself. Where you don’t care if you succeed, you don’t care if anybody pays attention to it. It’s purely for the enjoyment of what you’re doing.”
Connect with POWERS:
Website / Soundcloud / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/144
A magical solo episode. Oh my.
But seriously, this is about magic. Or at least Youngman tries to convince you so.
What you'll get from this episode is some amazing looks back to previous episodes and then Youngman trying to make sense of the awesomeness of them. Namely, he tries to bring it all back to the magic that happens when you decide to do something and you tell the Universe that you're going to do it.
Saying what you want is all you have to do. So do it.
Richard T Scott is a painter, writer, and coin designer for the United States Mint living in the Hudson Valley. His paintings are in museum collections in North America and Europe. One of his coin designs commemorating Fort Moultrie will be on the new quarter released into circulation this November. Richard is represented by Paul Booth Gallery in New York City and Galerie L'Oeil du Prince in Paris.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/richardtscott
In this episode, Richard discusses:
-How he got involved with the United States Mint and his first quarter that is going to be minted of Fort Moultrie.
-How paintings do not stand the test of time, but coins and sculptures do.
-An important lesson he learned from his friend in high school about the difference between natural talent and hard work.
-How JMW Turner was inspired by Claude Lorrain.
-Things that have held him back during his art career, such as financial strain and crippling doubt.
-The cloud that hung over his head for a long time, where he didn’t believe he could actually be successful as a professional artist, despite his drive to be the best painter he could be.
-The powerful idea of collaborative competition, and the way that he uses it with Adam Miller.
-A powerful story about the chance he took in reaching out to Odd Nerdrum and the journey that it took him on.
-One of his best moments, happening at the moment, having a piece accepted into the Georgia Museum of Art.
-What art and creativity brings to his life.
-Why Rembrandt is one of his greatest influences.
-Some of the things he has coming up at this very exciting time in his career.
Richard's Final Push will inspire you to go for your dreams… all you need is persistence, passion, and honesty.
Quotes:
“2000 years from now, it might be the case that none of my paintings will be around, but these coins will.”
“This idea that you’re born with genius or talent and that’s what defines whether or not you succeed at something… I don’t think that’s true. I think it’s about your passion.”
“Even though I’ve always been driven to be the best painter I could be, I never believed that I could actually be successful at it.”
“What I keep telling myself is to be optimistic, to be realistic, and to be honest with myself about my strengths and especially my weaknesses.”
“I would rather win a silver medal knowing that I had reached my greatest potential instead of winning a gold medal when my competition hadn’t even reached theirs.”
“So I had gone from thinking I had cancer, my marriage is falling apart, feeding myself out of a garden, foraging, and having ten cents to my name… and suddenly I had sold eleven paintings within two weeks.”
“At any moment, anything can happen that might seem so incredibly small. And if you’re there and you’re ready and you’re prepared and you’re on your game, it could turn into something that you can’t even imagine.
“For me, art is the way that I understand the world. It’s the way that I digest life.”
Links mentioned:
"Fourth Wall" at Paul Booth Gallery
Connect with Richard:
Artist Chris Riddell is a prolific writer and illustrator whose work is familiar to both children and adults. He is known especially for his distinctive line drawings with their clever caricature, fascinating detail and often enchanting fantasy elements. In addition to his children’s books, Chris is a renowned political cartoonist whose work appears in The Observer, The Literary Review and The New Statesman. Chris is also the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate, which is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children’s books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/episode1again
In this episode, Chris discusses:
-Why he loves working for different age groups and how the contrast affects his creativity in a positive way.
-Why rushing to self-definition is unnecessary.
-What being the Children’s Laureate means.
-How the joy of drawing and art in general shouldn’t stop when you grow up.
-The idea of “the sketcher” versus “the non-sketcher.”
-How questioning things is a positive thing.
-The power of having a sketch book and taking notes.
-How everyone is an artist from childhood, but then self-doubt takes it away.
-How the community of sharing via social media leads to a golden age of visual art and cultural exchange.
-How his starting point is a very permissive one — drawing without an agenda.
-How putting off creativity until tomorrow leads to never getting anything done.
-You can develop good habits just as easily as bad habits.
-How a SINGLE line in a journal can bring back memories more clearly than a photograph.
-How the internet allows us to go on imaginative journeys.
-His formula for balancing his time.
-How commissioned work and leisure work sometimes become melded into one.
His final push is a simple, but powerful idea, that literally any human being can implement.
Quotes:
“Drawing is a meditation.”
“We are in a golden age of visual art and we should all be talking about it a lot, and carry on sharing the artwork we do.”
“Grab a coat, get out the front door and go. Walk into a creative journey.”
“Make a mark on the page. And then make another one. And another one. And another one. That’s the way you start.”
“Start with a lowly ambition. Start with making things look beautiful on a page and see where it takes you.”