Alex Cherry is an LA-based digital artist who blurs the lines between art and design. He draws his inspiration from film, music, and pop culture to make stunning images that will always make you think.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/alexcherryagain
In this episode, Alex discusses:
-The story behind his piece, "Starman" a tribute to David Bowie.
-Art versus design, and how we don't watch design the way we watch art.
-How to pursue your creativity by leaning on what you know, and for him that started with music.
-His first creative moments and his creative journey from there.
-How incredibly amazing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Nintendo are.
-How we are lucky to live in the time of the internet, and we should immerse ourselves in how easy it is to share and find new things.
-Kanye West and his polarizing character.
-Bret Easton Ellis's idea of "Post Empire."
-How many people have separate selves that they put forth on the internet.
-How having a character or a persona can give you a confidence you don't have with your actual identity.
-The issue of copying and how we have to get over it.
-The importance of thinking about new things every day.
-A recent negative experience he had and how it led to an "artistic PTSD."
-The story about how he met his fiance through his art.
-A rapper suggestion for Youngman Brown to help him with his insecurities about his own monotone voice.
-The last words his grandmother said to him, and the impact that it has on his life.
Alex's Final Push will grant you permission to create!
Quotes:
"It's always these pictures that take the least amount of effort that resonate the most with me, and other people."
"I love music, and for me it was an easy thing to do, to piece something together and to find a song to connect that to."
"We have the Internet and tumblr. Just immerse yourself in it and don't be afraid to take inspiration from it. Be ruthless about that."
"The creative world is the exact opposite of the real world."
"I heard that 90% of communication is non-verbal, and it's so true. We put too much value in words."
"It's not the what. It's the how."
"You never know in which ways you influence people or potentially change someones life. You may never find out about that."
"You have to be lovingly detached from the ego."
"The best way to not produce any work is to think about the identity of that work."
"Just create what you think the world needs."
"Celebrate the difference."
"So much of creativity is like capturing lightning in a bottle. You can't really control the lightning, so you have to create an environment to capture the lightning."
"You don't tell a tree how to grow. You just water it and then it grows. That's how creativity is."
Links mentioned:
Connect with Alex:
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Victor Mosquera is a concept artist working in the entertainment industry. He currently works at Ubisoft Toronto and his list of clients include companies such as Universal Music, Tor Books, Orbit Books, Volta and One pixel brush.
In this episode, Victor discusses:
-How he forged his own path, even though becoming an artist in Colombia is difficult.
-The experience of learning from Nicolás Uribe.
-The idea of building your own tribe, learning from the people around you, and finding new opportunities along the way.
-Working with Seven Lions for his album art.
-How his style developed.
-How important his personal work is for him to detox.
-Having a “fuck it” mentality when it comes to creating your own personal work and wondering what other people are going to think.
-How sometimes it is okay to be the “master of none,” and to just experiment with new things – you never know what doorways will open up to you.
-The difference between having a carefree attitude and an attitude without cares.
-Becoming obsessed with art and working all night long, but having to be careful with that the older that he gets.
-How he balances his time and how the limited amount of time that he has also influences his changing style.
-The difference between making art and posting it to social media just to stay relevant and making measurable goals for yourself.
-Making a physical product and giving it away as a gift if nobody buys it.
Victor's Final Push will inspire you to use the energy that you have right now – you won’t have it forever!
Quotes:
“The important thing is to start doing it. Once you’re doing it, you can learn from your mistakes and improve on top of that.”
“I don’t think you choose a style. I think it’s a reflection of how you see life and how you see your work, and it happens organically.”
“For me, my personal work is like a detox.”
Links mentioned:
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Connect with Victor:
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Tumblr / DeviantArt
Courtney Brooke is a photographer and conceptual artist who explores the ties of the feminine to nature and spirituality through the lens of nostalgia. Her works focus on the concrete questions that grapple with our existence and by emphasizing aesthetics, she creates work through the labor-intensive processes as a personal exorcism ritual.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/courtneybrooke
In this episode, Courtney discusses:
-What she means when she says that her art and photography is like a personal exorcism.
-How she ended up sharing her photographic work and building an audience accidentally.
-How her Instagram started as a personal account, and then eventually she started sharing her work on there.
-The importance of having your own website or your own “domain” where you make the rules.
-The notion of separate identities as an artist and as a person.
-Having an “elevator pitch” prepared so that you can describe to people what it is that you do.
-The importance of being selfish and making sure to get back to personal work that you care about.
-Her view on what it is to be a human being.
-Dealing with negative feedback.
-Some of the Resistances that she has had to deal with in her creative career.
-The hesitancy to be a subject in her own photographs.
-Being a “copycat” of other artists and then also dealing with your own “copycats.”
Courtney's Final Push will inspire you to not hesitate and reevaluate the things that you are spending your time on every single day.
Quotes:
“When I am creating an image, it is like I am exercising out of myself all of that toxic energy. Creating is therapeutic for me.”
“There’s a lot of work that I just don’t post online. It’s not for everyone, it’s just for me. I’m real selfish sometimes.”
“For me, being human is being in touch with nature. Being in touch with my own frailty and my own fragility. Being in touch then is empowering, knowing that death is on my shoulder, whispering in my ear, telling me to live at every second.”
“Do it because it’s going to make you feel better. Because I promise it’s going to make you sleep better at night.”
“Stop doing it for other people. Do it because you’re curious about it. Do it because you’re interested in it. Even if you don’t show it to anyone and stick it in a box underneath your bed. It’s still there, it still passed through you, and it was cathartic.”
Connect with Courtney:
One year after the launch of Your Creative Push, Youngman looks back to the very first Introduction Episode to see what he got right and what he got wrong.
Even though it embarrasses him. To the core.
He also looks towards the future and shares plans for the show's second year.
Take a short survey about your listening experience. It will only take five minutes and it will go a long way in helping to make the show more helpful to you in the future!
Kelly Killagain is a South Jersey-based tattoo and fine artist specializing in line and dotwork. Among the many things that Kelly draws, tattoos, and sculpts, she focuses closely on the various relationships between humans and animals and how they can be used to understand human psychology.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/kellykillagain
In this episode, Kelly discusses:
-Attempting to balance two different creative passions, and at the same time attempting to balance personal work and commissioned work.
-Her advice for pushing past the feelings of not wanting to get the work done in the limited time that you do have for your personal work.
-The importance of remembering that even a creative session in which you don’t produce something tangible is not a waste.
-The power of deadlines, even if it takes tricking yourself with “fake deadlines.”
-Setting a timer and going at your work for that full time, distraction free.
-Her fascination for the interaction that humans have with animals.
-The difference between dog people and cat people.
-How one of her doodles turned into her senior thesis.
-How sculpting something can make something “real.”
-Overcoming self-doubt and other insecurities.
-The role that society plays in keeping people away from a creative path.
-The difficulty that creative people sometimes have in defining themselves to others.
-How she balances her time, especially recently by giving herself a “day off.”
Kelly's Final Push to just do it, and to remember how much you will regret NOT doing the thing that you are most passionate about.
Quotes:
“Not only artists, but I think all human beings right now are struggling with not being motivated to do anything because we are attached to our devices. Everything is so instant. You want something, you get it.”
“That 48-hour grind before a deadline – I am so productive.”
“I think artists, designers, and creative people of all sorts are extremely important to society and to our own culture. We are keeping a record of our culture. We are recording history with everything we do and informing and enriching our lives.”
Links mentioned:
Neil Gaiman – Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon
Connect with Kelly:
Website / Instagram / Behance / Tumblr / 777Tattoos
Tom Harold is an Indiana artist who combines the precision of mechanics with the feel of a Dr. Suess book to create exciting, fascinating custom kinetic metal art that soothes even as it entertains. His rolling ball sculptures offer the viewer the sights and sounds that can mesmerize and entertain them for hours.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/tomharold
In this episode, Tom discusses:
-How he was inspired by a George Rhoads rolling ball sculpture.
-How he let his lack of knowledge in welding hold him back from starting to create rolling ball sculptures.
-The power that comes from talking about something you are passionate about.
-How marketing is nothing more than sharing your story with your people.
-His advice for people with full-time jobs who are still trying to pursue their creative endeavors.
-The importance of finding a job in which you can either learn things about your creative pursuit or have free time to pursue it on your own.
-His struggles with perfectionism.
-Christopher Moore and the idea of finishing your book.
-Gratitude lists and being thankful for your completed works.
-Children playing and not caring about the mess that they make.
-Feeling as if your artwork doesn’t address an issue or stand for something.
Tom's Final Push will inspire you to seek out people who have been successful at what you want to achieve!
Quotes:
“Sometimes we aren’t ready for something until we’re ready for it.”
“It was like this great translation machine for the joy of mechanics and motion.”
“Find a job that either enhances your opportunities for being creative or one that allows you to save up all of your creativity for the evening.”
“Creativity thrives on constraints.”
“Let go and just enjoy the moment that you’re in.”
“If you really believe in what you’re doing, don’t listen to anyone who tells you it’s not worth your time.”
Links mentioned:
Connect with Tom:
Andrew T. Kearns is a freelance photographer/videographer based out of Washington. His career is spent behind a camera whether that's filming or taking photos, and it seems his free time is spent the same way. His latest project has been traveling and living on the road out of his car all while documenting his experiences through photography, social media, and more recently his vlogs. With a crowd reach of 450,000 he has built a significant influence behind his name and continues to grow his audience rapidly, alongside working with well known and respected brands.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/andrewtkearns
In this episode, Andrew discusses:
-How he got started as a professional photographer and videographer.
-Meeting Samuel Elkins and the influence he had on him.
-His New Year’s Resolutions.
-The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle with healthy food and exercise.
-Springing into action with your ideas instead of thinking and romanticizing about them.
-How everyone shows their highlights on social media, which is why he tries to be authentic and show the imperfections as well.
-The importance of creating for a goal.
-The idea of past, present, and future you, and treating each one with respect.
-How he developed his style and some of his inspirations, including Jared Chambers.
-Striking a balance between finding the perfect shot and also enjoying the moment.
-How he gets the work done when he really doesn’t feel like it.
-People who inspire and influence him, such as Casey Neistat, Gary Vaynerchuk, Ben Brown, Fun for Louie, and Sarah Dietchy.
Andrew's Final Push will inspire you to set a goal so that you are able to score!
Quotes:
“Going on that hike was probably one of the best decisions I ever made.”
“There’s a big lack of authenticity on social media today”
“It definitely holds you back if you put too much work before yourself and before play.”
"Set a goal. If you don't have a goal, you can't score."
"Go and work hard. No excuses anymore. Just get at it."
Links mentioned:
Simon Sinek on Millenials [YouTube]
Connect with Andrew:
Alex Hofeldt is a science teacher, podcaster, yoga & mobility instructor, fitness coach and nutrition enthusiast. In his podcast, Beautiful Dust Specks, Alex shows the world the wonder and motivation in Science.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/185
In this episode, Alex discusses:
-The process of starting his podcast after years of putting it off.
-How the beginning is always the toughest part, but once you start, you never know what can happen.
-Some of the fears that still creep into his thought processes and the way that he gets through them.
-The sometimes difficult-to-balance tightrope of being happy with the “tribe” that you already have and wanting to grow it exponentially.
-How he is attempting to stop using the word “failure.”
-His experience of running a marathon this year.
-How you know the outcome if you quit
-Neuroplasticity and how it relates to creativity.
-The idea of choosing to be in a more positive mindset and at the same time down-regulating negative emotions.
Quotes:
“My biggest fear in life is squandering gifts and wasting time.”
“Nothing is ever going to be perfect. Perfect is an unattainable thing.”
“Embrace the chaos.”
“Your first challenge is to start. Just start going down some road of the infinite possibilities that it is that’s you and see where it takes you.”
“Fitness, health, wellness, mind, body, creativity – they’re choices. You just have to open the book.”
Links mentioned:
Connect with Alex:
Brian Rutenberg is an internationally exhibited painter based in New York City. He received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the College of Charleston in 1987 and his master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 1989.
Among his many accolades, Brian is a Fulbright Scholar, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow, an Irish Museum of Modern Art Residency Programme participant, and has had over 200 exhibitions throughout North America. His popular YouTube series, “Brian Rutenberg Studio Visits,” is viewed daily by thousands of people all over the world and his brand new book Clear Seeing Place is an Amazon Number One Bestseller.
Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/brianrutenberg
In this episode, Brian discusses:
-How and why he started his YouTube channel, “Brian Rutenberg Studio Visits.”
-His attempt and the attempt of all creative people to “strip naked” and bear your soul in the most honest way possible.
-The fear that comes when starting a new creative pursuit, especially when you are sitting in front of a camera.
-Details about his new book, Clear Seeing Place and the process of creating it.
-How he was able to achieve the #1 spot on Amazon in two different categories.
-The idea of building a following of like-minded individuals and focusing less on the number of followers in terms of popularity.
-How he reads every single comment and e-mail, but never reads reviews.
-How the failures make up half of your creative career, and once you can embrace those bad things, you become stronger as a creative person.
-A defining moment with Clement Greenberg.
-The power that comes from letting go.”
-How to get past the blocks that still occur even when you are in a locked room with your creativity.
-The importance of finding your “postage stamp-sized niche.”
-How he balances his time.
-How boredom is jet fuel for creativity.
-How artists and creative people can free their minds by wandering and getting out in nature.
-His advice on how to know when a painting is done, even if that means it is time to throw it away.
Brian's Final Push will make you realize that there is a difference between looking and seeing
Quotes:
“I have the best job in the world. My worst day is still better than the best day in most other jobs.”
“Unfortunately success is too often confused with popularity.”
“Success, in my opinion, is curiosity and effort. Those are things that you control.”
“I would say the defining word of my entire career is ‘Resistance.’”
“There’s always going to be someone better than me and someone smarter than me, but there will never be anyone just like me.”
“The recipe is to just be yourself, and then the rest is just practice.”
“I’ve always believed that an artist is born the moment they give up, the moment you stop trying so hard.”
“Repetition is very valuable for a painter, because it allows you to get really good at stuff.”
“The narrower you are, the bigger the umbrella over you.”
“Artists are malleable. We are able to survive in almost any situation.”
Links mentioned:
Clear Seeing Place by Brian Rutenberg
Three Cornered World by Natsume Suseki