Mastering the Art of Creative Balance: How to Juggle Client Work and Personal Projects

Tips and tricks to juggle client work and personal projects like a pro

Today, we’re diving into the fine art of balancing client work with personal creative projects. Imagine trying to keep a bunch of spinning plates from crashing to the ground—it’s pretty wild, right? Whether you’re a marketing guru by day and a fantasy writer by night like my freind Haley Walden, or just someone hustling to keep everything afloat without losing it, I've got some down-to-earth advice for you. So, let’s get rolling!

Mastering the Balancing Act

First off, balancing client work and personal creativity can feel like walking a tightrope. Haley once shared that she spent six whole months just proofreading and prepping the first three books of her fantasy series before she even thought about writing again.

Tip #1: Set Some Boundaries, Stat!

You gotta carve out specific times for client work and personal projects. Use a planner, set timers—heck, even put up a Do Not Disturb sign if you have to. Keep those worlds separate!

Building Your Fantasy Worlds

Haley’s fantasy series is jam-packed with romantic fantasy, conspiracy theories, and revisionist history. Her characters are historians inheriting magical memories that flip the script on established history. Pretty cool, huh?

Tip #2: Draw From Real Life

Use your family stories, heritage, or even that weird neighbor who insists they've seen Bigfoot. The world around you is just waiting to be mined for inspiration.

Progress Over Perfection: Your New Mantra

Haley has wrestled the perfection monster more times than she can count. But seriously, "progress over perfection" is the lifesaver we all need. Perfect is the enemy of done, folks.

Tip #3: Set Mini Goals

Instead of aiming to finish a novel in a weekend (yeah, right), go for writing a single chapter. Celebrate those little wins because they keep you motivated and moving forward.

Own Your Weirdness

Haley also talks a lot about embracing your own quirks. She’s learned to deal with shame and how owning her "weird" is actually her superpower.

Tip #4: Be Unapologetically You

The world needs your unique voice. Don’t try to blend in—stand out and let your quirks shine.

The Method Writing Approach

Haley’s a pro at nailing her clients' brand voices. Her “method writing” approach? Deep-diving into all of her clients' content like she's preparing for a starring role.

Tip #5: Get Immersive

Gather all the info you can from your clients. Recorded talks, written content, awkward voice memos—you name it. The more you get into their headspace, the better you can mimic their voice.

The DIY Brand Voice Workbook

Haley’s created this awesome DIY brand voice workbook that’s based on Jungian psychology. It's not just about finding your brand voice—it’s about steering clear of unwanted personas.

Tip #6: Walk in the Client's Shoes

Use guides that help you view the brand from the inside out. Understanding the “Shadow” side can keep you from making missteps.

Keep Reassessing: Stay Fluid

The secret sauce to keeping your creative mojo? Constant reassessment. Creativity isn't rigid, so your process shouldn't be either.

Tip #7: Reflect and Adapt

Regularly take a step back and check in with yourself. Are you happy with your balance? Does your process need some tweaks? Stay flexible and open to change.

Wrapping It All Up

So there you have it, friends—a no-nonsense guide to juggling client work and personal projects without going bonkers. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but these tips should make the chaos a bit more manageable. Now go out there, and keep creating without turning into a stress ball. Keep that creative spirit alive!

Cracking the Email Marketing Code with Liz Wilcox

Let's talk about unlocking the magic of email marketing, but with a sprinkle of fun and simplicity – just like Liz Wilcox does. Oh, and did we mention? Liz recently survived Survivor season 46, adding yet another feather to her cap!

Keep It Personal and Simple

Liz is all about staying top of mind. She emphasizes the importance of sending out regular, meaningful updates.

You might be wondering, “What exactly should I be sharing?” Liz’s go-to strategy? Personal updates. Yep, let your subscribers in on your journey, share little life moments or business insights. It's all about building that connection.

Ditch the Insecurities

It's easy to get tangled up in impostor syndrome and worry about whether your audience finds value in your emails. Liz and Mike Brennan, the host of the Creative Chats podcast, dove into this issue. Their advice? KISS – Keep It Simple and Sweet. Short, personal updates can be way more effective than lengthy sales pitches.

Simplicity Saves the Day

There’s no need to spend hours on your newsletters. Liz’s rule of thumb is to get it done in 20 minutes. This way, your creative energy stays intact and you don’t feel drained. Straightforwardness is not just effective – it’s liberating.

Have Fun with It

Business doesn’t have to be stuffy or boring. Liz’s playful 1990s-themed website is proof that you can have fun and still be professional. Infuse your unique style and have a blast while doing it.

Resources to the Rescue

Liz has got your back with some killer resources. Head over to lizwilcox.com and snag her free swipe file loaded with email templates, newsletter examples, subject lines – the whole shebang. It's a treasure trove for anyone looking to up their email marketing game.

Turn it into a Creative Outlet

Think of email marketing not as a chore, but as a creative outlet. It's your chance to connect directly with people who dig what you do. Share your stories, quirks, tips – anything that makes you, well, you.

Relationships Matter

Liz’s strategy is all about “relationship first, sales second.” Keep your content relatable and engaging, forming a bond with your audience. That way, when you finally pitch a product, they're more inclined to buy because they trust you. Her success in selling her first RV life book is a testament to this approach.

Be Excited, Be You

Let your excitement and passion shine through. Enthusiasm is infectious, and your audience will be drawn to your genuine energy. And remember, it’s completely fine if some folks unsubscribe. Focus on those who stay and appreciate your authentic self.

Wrap-Up

Email marketing doesn’t have to be a complicated beast. With tips from Liz Wilcox, you can keep things simple, stay authentic, and most importantly, have fun along the way. And if you’re looking for even more fantastic resources, like Liz’s email membership her site is your one-stop shop.

So, go on, hit that send button and start building those connections. Happy emailing!

How Do You Know If You Are Creatively Successful?

I had a conversation with some friends recently that’s been lingering.
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The gist? What does success look like for creativity? What if you get to the end of your life and you’ve never “made it”?

According to a 2012 Adobe study, 25% of people believe they are living up to their creative potential. No wonder that question stings a bit.

I remember that when I was younger, I just wanted to create, and get paid for it. That’s it. Enjoy the work I do and get paid for it.

I went to art school and graduated with a degree in graphic design, and upon graduation hit the pavement seeking employment.
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I never stopped to think about what success looked like (beyond employment) or what I really wanted. The resulting years were one of seeking someone else to define those things for me, and a frustration that would rear its ugly head every few years resulting in a job change.

Creativity is a muscle, and a tool. But we still have to tie it to goals, desires and dreams.
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But here’s a hard truth…

Creative success will remain elusive as long as we’ve left what success looks like undefined. Or maybe worse, we’ll attain it to find out it was the wrong success.
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Do you know what creative success (beyond projects) looks like for you? ​
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• Maybe you’ve defined it as “making a living from your creativity”.

• Or having a regular creative practice just for yourself.

• Or developing a body of work in a certain creative discipline.

• Or becoming a famous artist. ​
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While there are no wrong answers, I would challenge you with this: be as specific as possible.

Want to make money from your creativity? Great. How much? Put a number to it so you can measure, and if need be, adjust or change tactics.

If things are vague or a constant moving target, we’ll never know if we’re on track. We might just get discouraged and quit, while an examination of our expectations is in order.

Both Seth Godin and James Clear have mentioned falling in love with the process more than the outcome. The process keeps us in the game. The process is easier to detach from our identity. That’s what “Daily Creative Habit” is, a process you apply to your own creative modalities.

James says:

“When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision.”​
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And under all the work, chasing opportunities and accolades, isn’t that what we really really want? To be …happy?

Creativity and success is a life long pursuit. The definition you have of success today may change tomorrow. And that’s ok. Just know what it is.

Know how to keep yourself in the game. And in such a way that you don’t attach and identify yourself with someone only the struggle.

That’s why I talk about celebrating your wins and making fun a habit. It’s creating new biases and neural pathways that reach for positivity rather than negativity.
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And while it’s cliche at this point, creative success is really about the journey, not the destination.
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So can I ask you?
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What does creative success look like for you? If there was one part of this I could help you with, what would it be?

The Monster Under Your Creativity Bed

We've all been there.

Staring at a blank page (or screen) that feels more like a judgmental abyss than a canvas for brilliance. That nagging voice whispers, "Who do you think you are, creating something amazing?" But fear not, because today we're slaying the monsters that lurk under the bed of creativity!

Let's get real actionable!
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Monster #1: The Perfectionist Posse

These guys wear ironed suits of self-doubt and wield pitchforks of "what ifs." They convince you your work needs to be a masterpiece before it even sees the light of day. Actionable Step: Ditch the all-or-nothing mentality. Create something messy, imperfect, and freaking awesome. Nobody wrote a novel on the first try, and Picasso didn't start with masterpieces (seriously, look up his early work, it's...interesting).

Monster #2: The Comparison Goblin

This green-eyed gremlin loves showing you other people's achievements and whispering, "You'll never be that good." Actionable Step: Unfollow the highlight reels! Focus on your own journey, your unique spark. There's room for all kinds of creativity in the world, and yours brings something special nobody else can replicate. You do you boo.

Monster #3: The Time Thief

This shadowy figure steals your hours with "just one more episode" (I feel exposed) and "I'll get to it tomorrow." Actionable Step: Schedule your creativity! Block out dedicated time, even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Treat it like an important appointment you wouldn't dare miss.

Monster #4: The "Someday" Dragon

This mythical beast hoards your ideas in a cave of "somedays" that never come. Actionable Step: Start small. Take one tiny step towards your creative dream today. Write a sentence, sketch a doodle, record a single voice memo. Momentum is magic, and tiny steps lead to big journeys. (Take some Abracadabra naysayers!)

Here's the thing: sometimes, the biggest monster is the one we create ourselves.

Remember the classic children's book, "There's a Monster at the End of This Book?" (It's my FAVORITE!) Grover spends the entire story freaking out because there's supposedly a monster at the end of the book. He keeps telling you NOT to turn the pages. But guess who the monster is? Grover himself!

We are often the monsters stopping ourselves from creating.

So grab your metaphorical flamethrower of self-belief and roast those creativity-sucking monsters! The world needs your unique spark. Now get out there and make something messy, magnificent, and entirely you!

Want to join a merry band of creative monster slayers? Become a Daily Creative Habit Member!

Lost your creative Mojo and feeling burned out?

Talent isn’t enough.

The first time I heard that statement, I don’t think I really agreed, until I took a closer look.

I had seen plenty of talented people have lots of opportunities that seemed to elude me. But I also have witnessed fellow art school students who were the top of the class talent-wise, crash and burn, leaving their art and creativity behind completely.

And all these years later, I have seen the same for many successful professional creative people.

It’s entirely possible to seem to have it all from an outward appearance, but to feel creatively bankrupt inside.

• You can have an impressive client list.

• You can have tons of awards and accolades.

• You can be postured publicly for success.

• And be utterly frustrated and dissatisfied.

I worked with fellow creatives in large advertising agencies with huge global corporate clients you would know. So much creative energy was leveraged for the clients that nothing was left for their personal expression. The clients were king, leaving them feeling like there was no room for self-expression or creative freedom in their life. Creating significant work seemed elusive.

It’s easy to build an empire that you can’t escape from. The never-ending cycle of creative pitches, client kiboshes, followed by frustration and discouragement. Rinse and repeat.

And it’s even more devastating when that empire is yanked away from you, because the powers that be decide on “creatively flushing the system” or the economy turns upside-down. I witnessed this up close in my first full-time creative position. Wide sweeping firing at all levels of the corporation in order to get "new blood." Talent couldn’t save anyone.

While not everything you create is meant for public consumption or has a place within client-driven projects, what I am saying is that we need our own creative space. No clients. No agendas. No financial pressures. A place where we are free to play, experiment and make mistakes without occupational repercussions.

While everyone is clamoring for the latest and greatest creative ideas, it’s easy to copy the culture around us while never diving deep enough to find something connected to what we uniquely have to offer. But here’s the honest truth: if you don’t take the time to cultivate your own voice, no one is going to do it for you.

This has all been part of my own creative journey. And as I talk with fellow creative people, I know I’m not alone. Does this resonate?

That’s a part of why I launched the Daily Creative Habit Membership. It's a place to invest in YOU and your creativity. To hone your voice, style, see results and creative transformation through consistent work. All in the context of a supportive creative community, and a live monthly call.

If you're ready to reignite your passion, discover your unique voice, and build a wellspring of creative inspiration, head over to the Daily Creative Habit Membership to learn more about or join today:

JOIN NOW

Why Your Next Big Idea Might Just Be a Classic

How Jim Henson Turned Rejection into Creative Gold.

If you haven’t seen the Ron Howard documentary yet, do yourself a favor and watch “Jim Henson: Idea Man” on Disney Plus. (It’s a game-changer!) After watching I found myself swirling in thoughts and inspiration.

Let's take a dive into the genius of Jim Henson and discover some valuable lessons for our own creative journeys.

Jim Henson: The Ultimate Idea Machine

I've always felt a deep connection with Jim Henson’s work—way more than Disney, to be honest. Disney was an occasional trip to fantasyland - it was "out there." But Henson? He was in my living room every day, making me laugh and feel understood. (I mean Sesame Street, the Muppets, on and on). His humor, creativity, and relentless pursuit of ideas are something we can all learn from.

Lesson 1: Curiosity Fuels Creativity

Watching the Disney Plus documentary “Jim Henson: Idea Man” was a solid reminder of his relentless curiosity. Henson didn’t just stick to one thing; he followed his ideas wherever they led (Even when they never led to becoming a real thing, like the night club he envisioned). It’s this curiosity that drove him from project to project, making him a true creative powerhouse.

Takeaway: Don’t box yourself in. Let your curiosity guide you. Explore new mediums, experiment, and keep the creative flame alive.

Lesson 2: Embrace Failure

Let’s be real—most of what we create won’t be instant hits (cue sad horns). Henson’s Muppet Show faced rejection after rejection. "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth" were initially flops. Yet, they’re now classics.

Takeaway: Failure isn’t the end; it’s part of the journey (but it still stings in the moment). Every rejection is a step closer to your next success. Keep creating, no matter what.

Lesson 3: The Joy of Making

Henson’s life and work are a testament to the joy of making. The process of creating—drawing, painting, sculpting, designing, writing, performing—is fulfilling in itself.

Takeaway: Focus on the joy of creation. Whether it’s a masterpiece or a forgotten project, the act of creating is what truly matters.

Lesson 4: Creativity as a Calling

Being a creative is no easy feat. It’s full of hurdles, both internal and external. Someone once told me (in a former career life), “You go into ministry because you can’t not do it. But it’s not for the faint of heart.” The same goes for creativity. It’s a calling, something you can’t shake off.

Takeaway: Embrace your creative calling. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Keep making, keep dreaming, and keep pushing forward.

Like Jim Henson, I’m driven by the need to create. I’ve made everything from drawings and music to events and books. Not everything has been successful, but the process has shaped me into who I am today.

Be inspired by Henson’s legacy. Keep chasing your ideas and turning them into real things. We need those real things—both for ourselves and for the world.

Keep creating, keep dreaming, and keep being awesome!

Are You the Best Kept Secret?

Unlocking New Audiences and Building Your Credibility

In a world where the hum of creative voices seems to get lost in the noise (and algorithm) , finding a platform that enhances your reach can feel like striking gold.

That’s why as the host of Creative Chats, I created an episode that offers a treasure trove of practical advice for those looking to step into the spotlight as podcast guests. This insightful podcast episode, 227: How to Crush It as a Podcast Guest, democratizes the idea that anyone with value to share can indeed broaden their horizon by being featured on podcasts.

The Power of Podcasting for Creatives

Podcasts present a unique opportunity to narrate your story on a stage that's both intimate and widespread. I’m an advocate for creatives to conquering their initial resistance and throw down the challenge to dive into the sea of possibilities that podcast guesting offers. From extending your creative community to netting in potential collaborators and audiences, the podcast platform serves as a launchpad for visibility and networking.

Creating Your One-Sheet Passport

To embark on this journey, preparation is key. A podcast guest one-sheet is your passport to podcast appearances; it should encapsulate your expertise, accolades, and a dash of personality, enticing hosts and listeners alike. Including testimonials can reinforce your status as a thought leader, while a clear call to action ensures interested parties know how to connect with you.

Strategy and Storytelling

Readying yourself to take to the airwaves involves more than just an impressive body of work—it's about crafting a narrative. I stress the importance of aligning your story with the podcast's theme, resonating with its audience through relatability and value. As part of your pitch strategy, zero in on a few captivating topics.

Overcoming The Talk-Show Jitters

For many, the mere idea of being in the guest chair triggers fear. This episode is a rallying cry for creatives to challenge themselves, face uncertainties head-on, and honor their stories’ worth.

Connecting with Podcast Hosts

When you're ready to step into the podcast guest role, the approach is crucial. I recommend researching and listening to podcasts that speak to your work and audience, tailoring your communication to their needs. With a thoughtful approach, you become not just a guest but a partner in the podcast's journey.

Resource Toolkit

To sweeten the pot, I’m providing a Canva template for crafting your one-sheet at a nominal price (just $9), simplifying your preparation phase. Why? Because I want you to win!

What’s Next?

On Creative Chats episode 227, the value unfolded isn't just in being heard—it's in what comes next — connecting with kindred spirits, growing your community, and cementing your space in the creative cosmos.

So, what's your next chapter in your creative voyage?

Grab your Podcast Guest "One Sheet" Canva Template for $9

Capturing Priceless Moments in Time - The 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for me, like many, is a tradition that ushers in not only Thanksgiving day, but the Christmas season. I’ve been watching the iconic parade for as long as I remember. It’s both nostalgic and new, every year.

The parade means “family.” And in recent years with the holidays looking a lot different (due to Covid and personal circumstances) having the normalcy and dependability of the Macy’s parade has been all the more important and special.

I was even fortunate enough one year (in the 90’s) to join some friends to participate as balloon handlers in the parade. We were in charge of Harold the Firefighter. It’s much more difficult than it looks, especially on a windy day when walking through the cross streets. That year we got to be behind the scenes with the likes of Debbie Gibson, John Tesh, and Al Roker as they got into their positions. I was so thankful to have had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being in the parade!

So this year, I decided to employ my illustration skills (and live event sketching) to sketch my way through the 2022 parade. All while sitting on my couch (Thanks NBC & Peacock!)

It was a fast and furious 3-hour (ish) sprint of sketching select participants. The programming is kept tight, so I didn’t have much time to spend on each sketch (maybe 10-15 minutes tops, and the app I was using on my iPad crashed a few times, leaving me to start over on about 5 of them!)

As I worked my way through, sketching helped me to freeze each moment in my mind. Capturing a drawing is a lot different than snapping a photo. Drawing forces you to not just look, but to really see. And when you see, the memories and images are stored deeper.

So please enjoy the following sketches that I created in real-time as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade aired on Peacock and NBC. Special thanks to all who were involved in a variety of ways (including Ram Trucks & Remo)! You made my 2022 Thanksgiving like a much-needed, warm hug from an old friend.

Hoda Kotb & Savannah Guthrie hosting this year’s parade.

Hoda Kotb & Jeff Gennette (Chief Executive Officer, Macy’s) cutting the ribbon at this year’s parade.

The Lion King is always a crowd-pleaser!

No NYC Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade is complete without the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes! I’ve seen them many times over the years and appreciate their hard work, dedication, and creativity!

My personal favorite, Grogu, from Star Wars / Disney Plus show, the Mandalorian.

There were so many talented marching bands in the parade. Captured here is University of Central Missouri marching band.

Ho, ho, ho.. Green Giant! A brand I have grown up with.

It’s always great to see the Sesame Street crew!

What’s not to like about BLUEY!

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy - all about the Disney Wish - a dream come true!

Only you can prevent forest fires! Smokey the Bear.

Geoffrey, I’m still a Toys“R”Us kid!

Ronald McDonald! I’m lovin’ it!

Jimmy Fallon & the Roots rocking the float!

There’s nothing Despicable about Minion Kevin!

Snoopy first debuted in 1968!

Besides Santa himself, nothing ushers in Christmas like Mariah Carey singing “All I want for Christmas is You!”

And to close out the parade every year - the big man himself - Santa Claus! ( I know him!)

Shout out to Carpenter Collective on their stellar design & branding job for this year.

Enjoy this wrap-up video too. See you next year Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Interested in hiring me to live sketch your event or conference? Check out more work here.

Turn Any Space at Home into Your Favorite Fandom

The following article is a guest post by Carlos Trejo.

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Work stress, relationship blues, household drama — life comes at us in all directions sometimes, leaving us feeling emotionally drained and thoroughly in need of a change of scenery. Before you confine your weekend to your sofa and binge-watch your shows to get the recharge you need, think about creating your own personal sanctuary — a fandom room that expresses your personal style and interests. Call it geek decor or nerdy home decor if you must, but a personal fandom retreat is apt to become your favorite place in your home — a space where you can chillax with friends, binge watch in comfort, read, or simply feature a collection of decorative items that makes you smile. 

First, assess your space.

When it comes to Fandom decor, you can draw inspiration from your favorite films, books, video games, or any other cultural sources that strike your fancy. You can transform a nook beneath your stairs into Harry Potter’s hidden chamber or your bedroom into Maleficent’s boudoir of enchantment. The key is to choose a theme that resonates with your interests so that it will delight you each time you visit the space. 

Of course, before you head out to shop for a Death Star-sized flat screen for your Star Wars-themed media room or a life-size Pikachu for your Pokemon personal den, you’ll need to assess your space carefully. Keep its measurements handy so that you don’t have to estimate sizing considerations while you’re shopping for items like draperies, carpets, furnishings, and decorative items. Be sure you note the dimensions of windows, walls, and the floor.

Make a Plan

Take time to develop a plan for your fandom renovation project. Research how others are transforming similar spaces into fantasy retreats that celebrate their favorite characters, video games, or films. Depending on the items you intend to showcase in your space (i.e. bobbleheads, models, posters, action figures, etc…) you may need to install shelving or custom displays for your new decor. Use apps to keep track of your ideas or create a board on Pinterest to ‘pin’ your ideas. Once you have a working plan, you can begin to transform your space.

Ideas for Your Fly Fandom Room or Nook

As you consider the design for your fandom space, always remember that this is YOUR domain. In it, Luke Skywalker and Mr. Spock can live in galactic peace and harmony. You can maintain a narrow interest — like classic Spiderman only — or you can combine elements of your favorite genre to reflect all of your fictional icons. The following are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing as you develop your fandom decorating plan.

Superhero Universe

Character examples: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Wolverine, Aqua Man, and assorted villains such as Lex Luther, Green Goblin, Joker, Cat Woman, and Poison Ivy.

Use the following tips: Paint or wallpaper, open shelving for action figures, poster frames, character-themed fabric, or vinyl wall decor.

How to Set It Up:

To create your superhero room, you’ll probably want to use a vibrant color scheme that’s indicative of your favorite heroes — green for The Hulk, blue and red for Spidey, or red and gold for The Flash. If you’re planning a hybrid space to honor multiple heroes, consider painting each wall a different color to coordinate with different characters. 

Fortunately, this is a dynamic theme so you’ll have lots of props, collectibles, and decorative items awaiting you in the marketplace. You can also replicate many commercially available items with DIY creations. Here are a few ideas to inspire your Gotham or Metropolis-themed space:

• Comic book ceiling fan blade covers

• Bat sign nightlight

• Captain America shield curtain tieback holders

• Gold lasso drapery tiebacks

• Pumpkin bomb fan pulls

• ‘Pow’ word bubble vinyl wall decor

• Marvel-themed slipcovers for sofa or chairs

Fantasy

Fantasy examples: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Narnia, Maze Runner, Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Alice in Wonderland, Neverland, and Arthurian legend.

Suggested Materials: Paint, wallpaper, tapestries, fabric, real and synthetic houseplants, custom built-ins, shelving, and picture frames.

How to Set It Up: 

The fantasy theme is richly imaginative. You might want to recreate a setting from your favorite fantasy genre, such as the Wonderland tea party, the Bilbo Baggins Shire home, the Mad Hatter’s workshop, or King Arthur’s round table chamber. Here are a few tips to inspire your fantasy decor plan:

• Oversized wardrobe (Narnia)

• Round green door (Lord of the Rings)

• Queen of Hearts draperies (Wonderland)

• Vases of white roses (Hunger Games)

• Narnia-themed chessboard

• Hogwarts-style artwork

• Shelving to display collectibles

Sci-Fi

Sci-fi examples: Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Dune, E.T., Back to the Future, The Matrix, Frankenstein, and Avatar.

Suggested Materials: Open shelving, wall hooks, paint, wallpaper, vinyl wall decor, film posters, fabric, and commercial merchandise.

How to Set It Up:

Sci-Fi is a popular genre and ideally suited to nerdy room decor. You’ll find numerous products and film-themed merchandise to help you pull your outer-space-themed decor together. Again, you can recreate a scene or setting from your favorite Sci-Fi tale such as the Mos Eisley Cantina (Star Wars) or the control room of the Enterprise, complete with Captain Kirk’s chair. Here are some ideas to inspire your Sci-Fi setup:

• Galaxy-painted ceiling

• Display of Imperial masks (Darth Vader, stormtroopers, bounty hunters)

• X-Wing Fighter drawer pulls

• Glass case for spacecraft models and merchandise

• Han Solo carbonite door cover 

• Martian-themed curtains

• Dune-inspired beanbags

• Film posters for walls

Sitcoms and other TV Shows

TV examples: Friends, The Office, Big Bang Theory, Seinfeld, Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, The Munsters, Happy Days, Cheers, Charlie’s Angels, The Addams Family, Gilligan’s Island, and I Love Lucy.

Suggested Materials: Framed posters, life-size character cutouts, show props, display shelving, display cases, fabric, and commercial merchandise.

How to Set It Up:

If you’ve fallen in love with the cast of Friends or found that Lucille Ball is your celebrity soulmate, you can have loads of fun decorating a special room to celebrate your fandom. Some shows, like Cheers, lend themselves to certain spaces, like your bar area. Use the following ideas to inspire decor for any space you have in mind:

• Michael’s office (The Office)

• Central perk dining area (Friends)

• Big Bang-theory draperies for the TV room

• Al’s Diner from Happy Days

• Large posters of characters

• Quirky prop displays (The Addams Family)

Animation and video games

Examples: The Simpsons, Mulan, Snow White, Frozen, Super Mario Brothers, The Little Mermaid, He-Man, WarCraft, Minecraft, Toy Story,  Futurama, Terraria, Family Guy, Fortnite, Minions, Spongebob, Tom and Jerry, and Japanese anime.

Suggested Materials: Vinyl wall decor, wallpaper, commercial merchandise, branded fabric, shelving or shelving units, glass display cases, and cool animation artwork.

How to Set It Up: 

Create an insulated fictional world in any room of your home or an area of your house like a basement. Whether you’re a Disney fan or an avid gamer, you can adopt a theme that transports you to an animated world. Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Elsa’s frozen bedroom (Frozen)

• The seven dwarf’s cottage (Snow White)

• Ursula’s dressing room (The Little Mermaid)

• Ariel’s master bathroom and spa (The Little Mermaid)

• Simpson-themed draperies and wall coverings

• Super Mario Brothers game board for walls

• Vintage toy displays (Toy Story)

• Fortnite skins for wall decor

• Classic cartoon characters in frames

Other pop culture heroes, historic icons, and beloved characters

Other examples: Barbie, Ragnar (Vikings), Edgar Allan Poe, The Grateful Dead, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, horror movie villains, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Wizard of Oz, Moby Dick, Willy Wonka, Sherlock Holmes, Holly Golightly, Elle Woods (Legally Blonde), and Jane Austen.

Suggested Materials: Paint, wallpaper, commercial merchandise, picture frames, shelving, display units, historical document or prop reproductions, glass display cases.

How to Set It Up:

You can create a fandom room that offers you the ideal escape from the everyday world. You can transform your bedroom into the Raggedy Ann retreat or Barbie dream house you’ve always craved, or create a media room dedicated to your favorite musician in your attic — from Elvis to Eminem and Public Enemy to Dolly Parton — or character, like Bond, James Bond. It’s your personal retreat, and the only limit is your imagination (and maybe your budget.) Here are some ideas to inspire your renovation project: 

• Edgar Allan Poe-inspired library 

• Pequod-inspired bathroom (Moby Dick)

• Woodstock-themed recreation room

• Elvis in Las Vegas theme

• Dollywood-themed bedroom

• Austenite library or reading room

• Beatlemania family room

Transforming a spare room — or even one of your essential rooms — to celebrate the icons you love is an enjoyable project that never ends. You and your friends will love spending time in your weird and wonderful fandom room  You’ll surely add to your collection over the years, and ultimately, you may end up with a veritable museum or shrine to the object of your fandom.

How Can Visual Artists and Creatives Leverage Clubhouse App?

A quick disclaimer: I’m super new to this beta platform. Things are changing rapidly, but here’s my initial thoughts.

So what is Clubhouse?

There’s a new social media app called Clubhouse. Now, if you're not familiar with Clubhouse, you're not alone. It's very new, and still in beta mode, but essentially, Clubhouse is an audio only, invitation only (at the moment), social media app that's currently available for the iPhone only. So they've really narrowed things down to start with. I'm sure there'll be opening things up more as they roll things out. It took me a little while to get on. I kept seeing people posting about this app clubhouse and I started having, you know, serious case of FOMO, fear of missing out and was thinking to myself, I need to get on this thing. I want to find out what it is!

I tend to be a little bit more on the early adopter side. So for me, I really wanted to explore and be a part of some of the conversations that were happening there.

In Clubhouse there are “rooms” and people that you can follow like on all of the social media platforms. But unlike other social media platforms, there are no visuals other than your avatar profile icon . And there's no way of actually leaving or likes or comments. It's purely audio.

Upon entering the app, you see the “hallway”, which shows all the rooms with various themes that are happening. You might have themes that are around podcasting, making money, building your business, pop culture, art, faith, and just hang out rooms. Some of what you see depends on the people that you follow and their interests. You have to be a little more strategic as far as who you follow based on interest.

So in the hallway, you pick a room that you want to join. When you join in that room, there is someone who has created the room up, who is the main “speaker”, and typically the moderator as well. And then there's usually other people, who are “speakers” up on “stage.” You or other room members can be invited to come up on stage to share or ask a question. And the “listeners” (other people in the room) are hanging at the bottom of the room visually. They cannot speak unless they are invited to come on stage.

Anyone has the ability to enter any room, and either listen or participate. If someone wants to participate and they “raise their hand” (there's a little hand icon that you hit) to let the people in charge, know that you have a question or that you want to participate in some way. Then you wait to be invited up on “stage”, You unmute your mic on your phone and you ask your question and then mute it again. And everyone takes turns talking about whatever the various topics are.

That's kind of the general idea of Clubhouse. A lot of people think it's going to be a real game changer, as far as social media.

But I started wondering if there was any benefit to being on Clubhouse as a visual artist…

As I started to poke around, I searched to see if there were other visual artists and creative people. What I found was a variety of creative people on there (photographers, filmmakers, graphic designers, musicians, fine artists). So I ducked into some of their rooms. And I what I found was pretty fascinating.

It's a little bit like the Wild West right now in Clubhouse, because everyone is trying to figure out how to use it and what proper etiquette is. Everyone's a newbie.

No one needs something that's going to be another complete time-suck and waste of time. We have enough of those. So people are looking for what's the benefit, what's the value here? How can they show up and bring value? How can they create some things that are missing?

I ducked into a room that was for visual artists specifically, because this to me was the real test. If you can't see the art, what would this room look like? Was it going to be people just talking about their art? Or just a bunch of people sharing some art tips?

They opened the floor up for some questions. Some people asked questions about technique or about supplies, methods, things of that nature. Or they talked about what their subject matter was, or maybe process, or important themes within their artwork. Others talked about trying to market and sell their artwork, inquiring about connecting with clients and buyers.

At one point the room moderator said, “okay, we're going to reset the room a little bit here and just tell anybody new who's coming in, here's the expectation and purpose of the room” And then they announced taking a 10 minute break in the conversation for anyone who wanted to create something live while hanging out in the room. They played some music created by one of the people in the room, or a playlist from the person in charge.

I hung around to see what would happened, asking myself “how are people going to share what they're working on?” You can't share photos because it's not part of the platform, but you can temporarily change your avatar icon photo. People changed it from the photo of themselves to their work in progress. This allowed people right within the app to click on that little avatar and to see a larger photo of what the person was working on. They also shared some of the things that they were struggling with, ask for feedback in real time.

I wouldn’t have thought there would have been value in having a group of visual artists together on an audio only platform, but seeing people come together for community and connection in real time was pretty great.

Another room I entered had creatives sharing about what their biggest struggling in 2020 has been. Person after person shared stories of income loss, battling with anxiety and depression, as well as important business lessons they learned. When creative people are brave enough to share their stories and experiences, we start to see we’re not alone.

I had the opportunity to cohost a room about the Pixar movie Soul and the lessons about creativity is presented, alongside my friend Terry Weaver. We had a lively chat about what moved us in the film, and how the creative issues it brought to light effected us.

Terry Weaver and I co-hosted a room on Clubhouse talking about the Pixar movie Soul and the powerful themes presented for creatives.

I was pretty convinced that there's something special happening here on Clubhouse. And I think this is only getting continued to grow. Those who are on the platform early will have the opportunity to be a part of setting the tone and the pace and filling in some of those gaps that I mentioned before.

I also joined in a room that was talking about cryptocurrency and crypto art.

Now, if you have no idea what I'm talking about right now, don't worry because honestly, I really didn't know what this conversation was about other than the fact that it had “art” in the title. What I found out was there's a whole other world out there - a digital one (No, not The Matrix). Some people call it like “the metaverse” (Kind of like a Virtual Reality Minecraft word). I'm not going to get too deep into that. (And if you're somebody who's reading and you knew more about that kind of stuff I'd love to hear more about it from your side of things.)

Within this world, there are people who are creating art galleries, wanting to set up experiences. The end user would put on virtual reality glasses (Oculus or whatever technology) to enter and view this virtual reality world where they would be able to actually step into these visual paintings and experience things on a whole new level.

That's where this whole thing of crypto art and cryptocurrency comes in. There are artists who are creating digital artwork, digital art shows and galleries. There's exclusivity in some of the digital art where they authenticate pieces. That's how they know that that's the “original”, otherwise with digital work, you could be reproducing and I'm sharing it in multiple places. If somebody is paying for a piece of fine art at a high price, they want to know that this is the real deal, and that it’s authentic (and rare). All this that is happening I became aware of simply because I entered into this room.

Some people were talking about having all sorts of different resources available for digital galleries and virtual events around the arts. Other people were sharing resources (someone else in the room asked for pitch deck templates). Another person had one and was willing to send to them.

People are having these quick conversations where they have a need, and having it filled by someone else showing up in that room can help. Everyone was being free with resources and with insights and knowledge, and just generally being helpful to one another. Being a community, people who didn’t know each other moments ago, and from all over the globe.

Being on Clubhouse has me asking what’s possible in this space? What could be created or curated here? And I've, I've only been on this platform for maybe less than a week right at the time of writing this.

Some people may say it could be a flash in the pan, like several other social media platforms that have tried and disappeared. Other high level people think that this one is going to be a little more of a game changer because of the nature of the interactivity, that you have to show up as yourself. (You can't have some kind of alias.) You have to show up as you, with your voice.

“Being on Clubhouse has me asking what’s possible in this space? What could be created or curated here? ”

At this point, some other people were talking about using these rooms for mastermind groups and training or coaching, which is really interesting to think about. Still others are on there simply trying to just build their platform and grow their audience, which is easily done with the ability to connect your Instagram and your Twitter account to your profile as well. They're making changes to Clubhouse constantly, so some of these features may upgrade, like being able to connect more platforms.

When you're in a room you can go and click on anyone’s profiles and check out their bio for more about them. But the cool thing is that even if you're not in the clubhouse app, audio continues to play while you're in other apps. So you can still be a part of the room, and be listening to what's happening, but also checking out other social media platforms at the same time.

Maybe you're reading this and you're not a visual artist, but a musician. What would it look like for you to show up on this app (where it's an audio only), and you have the ability to share your music or clips of your music, or maybe have like a real time writing session with somebody or a group of people? That could be incredible. It's a means to connect with fellow creative people and also connect with people who might be your audience, collectors or clients.

Again, I don't know where it's going to go necessarily, but I just know every time that I'm on there and I jump into a room, I'm learning some new things. I'm getting access to some resources (people mentioned websites for further information). It's really incredible the speed at which you can have these conversations and the amount of people that can be in the room (and who you're in the room with.) You could be in a room with some people who are really well-established in their industry, having conversations and access to them.

You wouldn't have access to them or on other social media platforms if they have a million plus followers. They would never see you because of all the noise. With Clubhouse, you can be in a room alongside of them asking them questions or having them interact with you.

So it's pretty exciting. I can't wait to see what else comes of this platform. And if you are on Clubhouse, feel free to follow me - I'm @MikeBrennan. I’d love to connect with you there, and who knows, maybe there's even some things that we can create together!

For a more detailed breakdown check out this post from Social Media Examiner.

So what are your thoughts or questions about Clubhouse?

Be Loved

Don’t be so concerned with being loved, that you forget you are Beloved.

You are more than likes, followers, and social media metrics. Set them free and hug the people (the real live people) in front of you. Love and be loved.

What Eight Years of Consecutive Daily Art Can Teach You

It’s my eight year anniversary of creating art every single day. 

I never missed one. Not holidays. Not vacation. Not sickness.

Some of us can’t say we’ve even showered every day of the year. :)

So how did I get here?

The simple answer is one day at a time. I refer to them as marble moments.

I have a jar of 365 marbles on my desk that I use when speaking or teaching. It represents one piece of art for every day of the year.

A single a marble by itself doesn’t look like much. But what of you grouped seven of them together? Then add seven more? It’s by adding time increments on a daily basis that leads to a daily creative habit.

But instead of talking about principles and methods I’ve learned along this journey (like finding my style and voice as an artist, gaining confidence & momentum, refining my craft, unbelievable opportunities…) I’d rather tell you the story of WHY I began this journey. (If you’d like to read an older post check out my year five post.)

After all, you might be thinking, “that’s great that you have accomplished this, but what does your experience really have to do with me?” Perhaps, a lot.

But I need to bring you back to the beginning….

I found myself sobbing and broken on the side of this hiking trail in upstate New York during a retreat for ministry leaders. Life had unraveled and ironically, I felt emotionally like a knotted up and twisted ball of twine. I couldn’t determine what the issue was, and so couldn’t “fix it”. Which only made matters worse.

After some counseling, it was determined I had been suffering from a form of mild depression called Dysthymia. A full time ministry role where I held responsibilities outside my gifting and a misplaced identity in my work only compounded my problem.

I found myself needing to leave the church I helped plant. My wife and I had to sell our home. We didn’t know what would come next. Ultimately, it was a move out of state. What should have seemed like a fresh start, felt more like intense loss. We lost our house, left our friends and some family, left our faith community & jobs. It was during this transition that my father was also diagnosed with cancer, and quickly passed the second week into my new job.

I had often wondered to myself “is this it? is this what life looks like now?” It felt as rock bottom as I could imagine. And climbing out of depression seemed like a slippery slope, when circumstances threatened to weigh me down.

During this time I began to journal daily, intensely listening and praying. I didn’t know how to do much else other than dumping my emotions like modern day Psalms. Every day, I had just enough energy to keep showing up.

Through this process, I began to have this internal prompting that was calling me to return to art. Not the graphic design work that was part of my previous life’s employment, but rather a getting back to my roots, tactile experience of handling some art supplies that I hadn’t interacted with in since the days of art school. But how could I start creating art again when I had taken a 10 year absence and was battling depression?

My journey back started when, on a whim, I took a printmaking class at a local art center. While attending this 3 week course, I was turned onto a book called “The Creative License” by Danny Gregory. Little did I know this would stoke the internal creative fires within, that were dormant for far too long.

I decided to try my hand at 365 days of drawings and painting. Danny Gregory wrote “a five minute drawing is better than none”. Somehow these words were liberating. Surely I could manage five minutes, even if I had no clue how (or if) I could get to 365 days.

I was off and running, or more like stumbling. It was forced and awkward at first. My very first drawing was of a Starbucks coffee cup (pictured below). I both hate this drawing, and love it.

I hate it because it’s embarrassing. It’s a sucky drawing of a coffee cup. But I love this drawing because it signifies a rebirth. A phoenix moment. The moment I decided to push past my fear, those voices that told me I couldn’t draw because I couldn’t draw photorealistic renderings. The moment I choose to get back to my art because I needed it, for my soul.

Day one, year one of my 365 day daily art making practice.

I kept going. At first, filling pages and pages of my Moleskine sketchbooks, then branching out to individual pieces on canvas, paper, and even creating digitally as my confidence grew.

Early on, I decided to post my daily work on Instagram as a way of keeping accountable, and even posting the work, that in my opinion, was sub par. It wasn’t about creating “masterpieces”. I wouldn’t let that perfectionist voice discourage me from keeping on my journey.

The more I kept going, the more I felt life returning. Depression started to fade. Drive and passion filled its place.

Beyond the work itself, this journey has changed me. It has given me more confidence in creating and sharing my art. It has helped me identify my style and tools I like to work. It has connected me with new people and opportunities. It has challenged me in ways I’m not sure I can really express properly. As I kept taking the right next step, it evolved into steps of who I was created to be.

But it’s not all about me. It’s about you too. 

My experiences and journey is only really redeemed if it serves to help others. So it’s not just my story, but ours.

Through this journey I discovered my deeper why — to tell stories and connect through my art. While the expression and themes of my creating may vary, it’s always with the intent of making a connection with others.

All eight years of daily consecutive art making.

What is it for you? 

What have you wished you could accomplish? No matter how hopeless your circumstances may seem, keep showing up. Do that thing you need to because it’s life giving. It will give life to you, and then through you. Start where you are right now.

And to celebrate my eight years, I’m inviting you into an opportunity. I wanted to offer something practical, not just encouraging words.

So, i’m launching one-on-one hourly coaching, and a separate mastermind group for creative people (Artists, Makers, and Content Creators as I say on my podcast). Anyone who is ready to start taking action in their creative pursuits.

Perhaps it’s:

• Writing and self-publishing a book

• Launching a podcast

• Creating a body of work with painting, drawing or visual art

• Establishing your own daily creative habit

• Getting help with personal branding

Whatever it looks like for you, I can help you identify some next steps.

In our one-on-one hourly coaching, we can deep dive into your current creative struggle and formulate an action plan. We’ll meet via zoom and you’ll even get a video and audio recording of our call for easy reference.

For the Creative Action Takers mastermind (yes - CATs) we’ll meet weekly for 12 weeks to discuss each members creative problem, resulting in an action plan in the context of group think-tank and accountability.

And for those who want to dive even deeper, I’m offering an Elite package that combines the power of the mastermind and the personal one-on-one coaching.

You can apply for your coaching and mastermind spots by filling out the form. It’s first come, first served. Spots are limited. Application does not guarantee a spot.

Your Day One is waiting.

What could it look like for you?

Twisted Advice

“...Most of my songs were about believing in yourself, standing up for yourself and fighting for what you believe in. ”

— Dee Snider

Sometimes you find a voice speaking into your journey in the strangest of places. Even places where you're not looking for it.

The other night I watched a documentary on the band Twisted Sister on Netflix called “We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!” I was 14 years old when “Stay Hungry” was released including the hits “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock”. I vividly remember their videos being played on MTV (back when it really was MUSIC television). I haven’t thought about this band aside from the occasional 80’s station playing a song, and “meeting” lead singer Dee Snider at a stop light when I lived on Long Island (But that’s another story for another day…).

I flipped on the documentary because I was curious, perhaps a bit nostalgic and let’s face it, Netflix’s library can be seriously lacking at times. I have to admit though, I was pleasantly surprised. (I know, right?)

There were two ideas that really stood out to me through the telling of their story:

First, they didn't let the music system they were in block them from attaining their goals. Instead, they created a new system. When they couldn't get their music on the radio airwaves or get signed to a record deal, they bought advertising space where they played their own music. As a result, when people heard the snippets of their songs over and over again, they thought that they were hearing Twisted Sister being played on the radio. And It seemed that they were everywhere. It created a buzz.

Second. They didn't give up. The band was tenacious. They just kept going no matter how many closed doors they met with. All the failed attempts (and near misses) at getting signed. All the shows they played tirelessly and endlessly. They just kept going. And when they had exhausted all their resources and avenues, there was one last opportunity. Even though it seemed small and like one last ditch effort, they went for broke. It was a 25 minute spot on the British television show called The Tube. And they made the most that they could out of it to win over the audience. It was as a result of this appearance that they were eventually signed. Their dream they had became reality.

As it turns out, when the path you're on seems twisted, you just might receive some much needed insights from unexpected places. You just need to be listening.

What’s some insight you’ve received from an unconventional source?

Leave me a comment. I’d love to hear about it!

Dare To Be Stupid

(Image available here for purchase)

Last time, I introduced you to one of my "3 Rules for Creating" - Show Up and Work!

Today, let me introduce you to my next rule...

#2 Dare To Be Stupid

Yes my friends, Weird Al Yankovic had it correct back in 1985 when he released a song by this very title. He's been doing stupid for a really long time. With no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact he's in the height of his career with having nabbed the number one slot for a comedy album on the Billboard charts. Now before you click some other link to leave this page, hear me out...

This rule is about loosing you inhibitions. Every time you sit down to create something, you start hearing "those" voices. You know the ones.

"You can't do it that way. You'll look foolish".

"What on Earth are you thinking? No one is going to {buy, read, watch} that. You'll just prove to others that you really aren't that good and don't have a clue what you are doing."

By adopting Rule number 3, you kick those voices in the teeth and actually do something "stupid" just to spite them. It's not just for stupidity's sake. But it's in doing something stupid that we experience the sense of PLAY. And that my friends, is where the good stuff is.

Last week, I decided to try something stupid. Instead of using a paintbrush, I used a stick. Yes, from my backyard. And I made a video Instagram post of me using it. Stupid. But you know what? It was also freeing and playful. And I really like the results. Results, I might add, that I would never had come upon if I had not dared to be stupid.

What stupidity should you be chasing? Odds are you know. It's that thing that the "voice of reason" is trying to stifle right now.

What are you waiting for? Go for it. You never know what breakthrough might be just beyond stupid. Take Al's advice. Watch his video if you like, then muster up all the stupid you can find and have FUN!

...Get your mojo working now I'll show you how You can dare to be stupid...

...Come on and dare to be stupid It's so easy to do Dare to be stupid We're all waiting for you Let's go...

...You can be a coffee achiever You can sit around the house and watch Leave It To Beaver The future's up to you So what you gonna do...

Dare to be stupid

~ Weird Al Yankovic, "Dare To Be Stupid"

http://youtu.be/SMhwddNQSWQ

If the 80's style is a bit much for your sensibilities, try this one on for size.

Is this really necessary?

To be honest (and I aim to), I've had a love/hate relationship with blogs. I like the idea of starting them (mostly), but over time the love fades. And then it feels more like something I have to do, not want to do. But here's the problem: I really do want to have a forum to express my thoughts & ideas, and would really like to connect with people like you (like-minded artists). And do so in more than 140 characters.

So, I'm launching out again. But this time I'm sticking to what I know & where I live, so to speak. I love art. I love to CREATE. That's my passion. Not just the skills of executing an idea or design but the conceptual thinking - the creative process.

There was a time along the way on this journey where that got lost in the shuffle. Someone asked me what my passion was and at that point I couldn't answer. And it really messed me up. I allowed all these other roles and responsibilities to cloud even my faintest creative endeavors. But that's behind me now. I know who I am. I know what I am (and what I'm not). And I want to connect from that place of authenticity (and maybe even help some along the way through what i've been through).

So to answer my own question - "Is this (site) really necessary?" - yes. For me it is. It's a place to share what I see & how I see it. A place to SHARE. And I'm hoping it's not just me, but you as well. So if you have thoughts, ideas, questions, etc. - let me know. I'd like for this to be a conversation, not a soliloquy (Dost thou protest? Me thinks, not...).

If you're an artist (and I'm assuming if you're this far into things you are) I'd love to connect. Break through that wall of silence (AKA "Lurker mode") and introduce yourself. Who are you? What do you do? What would you like to see here?

Go on. I triple-dog-dare-ya.