May 16, 2018
It is always a joy to see creativity bloom where you least expect it. I am speaking with student physician Vidya Viswanathan today, the founder of Doctors Who Create. Vidya and her team are on a mission to change the culture of medicine by fostering creativity. It is such a delight to see colleagues in medicine with an interest in creativity.
Vidya had the chance not just to explore how creativity plays an important role in medicine but also how her experiences of travel and foreign language have shaped her career as well. There is so much beauty in hearing a story shared well, and that is what is in store for you with Vidya today! Her perspectives are very unlike any we have had on the show so far, but her stories still have a little something for everyone. I am excited for you to join us as we explore Vidya’s journey to creativity and culture.
More Creativity in this Episode:
- Vidya shares her roundabout path to medicine and her biggest cultural influences.
- Medicine needs the influence of creativity too!
- Vidya wants to highlight the profiles of medical professionals who use creativity.
- Vidya shares what gave her blog some focus.
- The broader appeal of Doctors Who Create.
- Vidya’s parents encouraged her to read and write and express herself through words.
- Taking Chinese played an important role in Vidya’s creativity.
- Dive into some of Vidya’s best experiences while traveling in China.
- Focus on the process, not the result.
Resources:
Doctors Who Create
Mar 21, 2018
Art is not just for the artist! My guest today, Jen Cushman, is an artist, a crafter, and a teacher who embraces that mentality wholeheartedly. Jen works best in multimedia. Any time she tries to stick to one medium, it never ends up well! From scrapbooking to mixed media collage to jewelry and so much more, Jen wants us all to push outside of our comfort zones and try something new and spectacular.
Today, Jen is going to share her amazing journeys in creativity. Along the way, she will share some of her brightest inspirations, favorite ways to create, and what it is like to develop a product. We will also get an inside look into her Deconstructed Reconstructed Retreats, which are fabulous and invaluable for someone interested in mixed media. Jen will also share with us why she loves working with power tools and blowtorches, and how jewelry making was opened up to her once she learned those skills.
Above all else, Jen makes art for anyone to enjoy that is also accessible to anyone. Because she loves teaching classes and writing books, Jen is ensuring that someone who might not consider themselves an artist in the strictest sense can still create something wonderful. Creativity is for everyone, and Jen and I are so excited to celebrate that with you today!
More in this episode:
- Jen shares all of her current projects and passions.
- Jen travels around the world to teach others how to do mixed media art.
- Teaching women how to use power tools was an accidental but powerful movement for Jen.
- Why Jen started crafting and expressing her creativity.
- Jen actually got her start in journalism!
- How Jen got kicked out of a Creative Memories crop but then got into teaching scrapbooking.
- The creative process involved with developing a project to sell.
- What it’s like to teach and develop a class.
- Advice for choosing a retreat.
- Why Jen is hosting her next retreat at home.
- Jen’s best thoughts on creativity.
Resources:
Jen Online
Making Metal Jewelry
American Woman’s Hospital Service
Jan 10, 2018
Creativity is allowed to grow and flourish in a community. We see it in just about every art or craft. Thanks to the internet, we are more connected to fellow crafters than ever before, and the results are stunning. Together, we can share stories, draw inspiration, and give perspective. The more connections we make, the deeper our wellspring of creativity seems to run. My guest today, Jill Sprott, knows that all too well. She is using her creativity to celebrate the diverse collection of artists that have joined together over scrapbooking and storytelling. Today, she is going to show us how the two go hand-in-hand.
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jill was encouraged by her mother and teachers to stretch her creative muscles. For a long time, Jill only expressed her creativity through writing. She found poetry and journaling to be the best medium to share her stories, but many times she found herself drawn to visual images as the best means of communication. After becoming an English teacher, Jill was introduced to Scrapbooking. Though at first she only thought of it as “pictures and stickers,” Jill realized that a scrapbook might be an excellent storytelling device.
Just like poetry can give form to our most personal stories, scrapbooks offer the same kind of form and structure. It is a blank canvas and a chance to make your mark. For Jill, taking part of the online scrapbooking community opened the door to the rest of the world. Now, she is giving back by teaching online classes and sharing her creative inspiration through writing. I know you will enjoy hearing how Jill has married writing and scrapbooking. She has made some incredible pieces, and I can’t wait for you to hear all about it. The creative community is a wonderful place to be, and I am so happy you are here with me.
More in this episode:
- Jill tells us all about the many things she is interested in.
- Learn where you can find Jill’s scrapbooking endeavors.
- The online scrapbooking community is somewhat of a lifeline.
- Creativity is a kind of sanctuary from fear.
- Writing and visual art can go hand-in-hand.
- Jill was more reluctant to start scrapbooking, but she quickly found her niche.
- We want to celebrate the diversity in the community.
- Jill shares what it is like to grow up in Hawaii.
- Mothers and teachers can be the most inspiring cultivators of creativity.
- The various challenges of online v. in-person classes.
Links and Resources
Jill’s blog: Word Play Word Work
Get It Scrapped: Debbie Hodge
Nov 29, 2017
Creativity rarely happens on an island by yourself. The crafting community is filled to bursting with strength, support, and heart, which is just what we need to celebrate during a season of gratitude. My guest today is Eileen Hall, and she has certainly discovered all of those things and more. Eileen is a Paper Trail traveling adventurer who crafts her way across the country. Through her digital media, Eileen also teaches and shares her inspiration with followers from all over the world. What makes Eileen’s teaching even better is that she considers her “followers” her friends. She has learned how to lean into the crafting community, and as a result, she has created wonderful work that inspires so many.
Eileen isn’t just rambling about in her vintage trailer, Scotty; she is also creating die products for Sizzyx. Each die is designed and crafted with a team Eileen loves working with. These dies came about as a brilliant solution to a real crafting puzzle. Using both creativity and critical thinking, Eileen is determined to give you creative solutions to all of your problems.
I am so thankful to have been able to sit down and chat with Eileen today. Our conversation is filled with so much heart and compassion. If you are in need of a little pick-me-up, give this episode a listen, and make sure to check out all the ways you can be a part of Eileen’s creative community.
More in this episode:
- Eileen shares all about the products she creates for crafters and artists like me.
- What exactly is a design team? How did it turn into a fan club?
- Scotty the Vintage trailer is full of adventures!
- How Eileen uses Facebook Live to connect with everyone on all her adventures.
- The other craft adventures that Eileen teaches to others.
- From health care to crafting! Eileen shares how crafting became such a huge part of her life.
- How Eileen got involved creating dies.
- Share designs, even though the sad truth is that people steal.
- Eileen is motivated by deadlines, but she is rarely short on ideas.
- Crafters are kindred spirits.
- How to get your hands on Eileen’s designs.
- Last little thoughts on creativity.
- The beauty of community with Facebook Live.
Resources:
Eileen Hull
Eileen Hull Designs on Facebook: Eileen Hull Designs
Dec 23, 2016
Would you love to be a creative person, but think that only certain people are born that way? Do you have a desire to express something creatively, yet feel that you’re not talented enough to do it? If so, break through your limiting ideas and become inspired by this week’s guest on “A Creative Approach Podcast”, Charr Crail, as she is interviewed by Karen Poirier-Brode.
Charr Crail is a photographer, artist, photojournalist, and teacher who has won countless awards. During her formative years, she often accompanied her Dad, a newspaper-man and photographer, on his assignments. This showed her some crazy things in life and gave her a sense of the journalistic point of view. She is wildly enthusiastic about creativity and teaches people about finding their passion and following it, using various apps and media. Listen in as she encourages us all to discover the creativity that “we all have within us”.
Listen to Karen’s interview with Charr as they discuss:
- How an inner revelation, spontaneously expressed, ended up forming her career.
- The “out of the box” first job that shaped her and taught her to ‘experience’ people around photography.
- How she followed her instincts and got to where she is today.
- How being open to possibilities and saying “yes” can unleash creativity.
- How she views Photoshop as having tremendous graphic design possibilities.
- That passion feeds creativity.
- The unexpected ways that she came about doing what she really loves.
- How an iPhone inspires her to teach people to do digital imaging with their photos as a canvas.
Links:
Charr’s website:
charrcrail.org (The “Learn” section has a list of workshops and tutorials.)
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