Creative Genius

In this episode, celebrated Author Martha Anne Toll shares her journey of persistence and creativity. Despite fairly constant rejection, Martha pursued her love of writing for 20 years. She emphatically shares with us the importance of tuning into our inner voice the one that urges us to keep going when things get tough. Martha intuitively knew how critical it would be to incorporate writing into all aspects of life - so that she could keep doing it even through the challenging dry times. She shares how she did this and how it kept her spirit alive as she navigated a long desert of rejection. She introduces her Gotham Award Nominated novel, The Three Muses and shares her writing process with listeners. The episode explores the significance of loneliness and yearning in creativity and the creative process as well as how Martha sees role as a writer. We touch on where she is with her second novel, her passion for mentoring other writers, and the value in "the rests" of creativity.Martha's wisdom and the learnings from her journey so far, provide valuable insights and uplifting inspiration for aspiring writers and creative individuals who are living their own ups and downs along the way as they preserve to find their own paths to success.What We Talk About:-Martha's journey of persistence and creativity.-The inner voice that motivates us to keep going.-Incorporating your creative passion into daily life.-Keeping creativity fresh during periods of rejection.-Martha's Three Muses and her writing process.-Techniques for effective writing.-The importance of loneliness and yearning in creativity.-The value of pauses in creativity.-The best place to start creative projects.Martha's wisdom and journey provide valuable insights for aspiring writers and creative individuals seeking to persevere and find their own paths to success.Embracing the Journey: Martha Anne Toll's Inspiring Story of Perseverance & The Creative SpiritIn the world of creativity, few stories are as inspiring as that of Martha Anne Toll. Her journey is a testament to the power of persistence, the magic of embracing one's inner voice, and the art of finding creative fulfillment even in the face of constant rejection. Join us as we delve into Martha's remarkable story and glean valuable lessons on how to keep your creative flame alive.About Martha Anne Toll: Martha Anne Toll is not an overnight success story. Her path to becoming a renowned writer was paved with two decades of rejection, but during that time, she never lost sight of her passion. After receiving her law degree from Boston University School of Law, she embarked on a journey that would ultimately lead her to the world of writing. Her essays and book reviews have graced prestigious publications such as NPR, the Washington Post, The Millions, and many more. Her writing reflects her deep insights, empathy, and her ability to connect with readers on a profound level.The Miracle of the Inner Voice: One of the most striking aspects of Martha's journey is the "miracle" that accompanies her every step of the way. She describes it as the little voice inside that whispers, "keep going." This inner voice is a constant companion that helps her navigate through adversity and rejection. Martha's story reminds us that inspiration is often found within ourselves, and we must listen carefully to that inner guidance.Incorporating Writing into Life: Martha's commitment to her craft is awe-inspiring. Even when her writing career faced countless rejections, she found ways to incorporate writing into all aspects of her life. This dedication allowed her to continue doing what she loved, purely for the love of it. Martha's story teaches us that creativity can flourish when it's woven into the fabric of our daily lives.Keeping Creativity Alive and Fresh: Creativity can wane during times of rejection and failure, but Martha found ways to keep it alive and flowing. She shares practical insights and ideas to help aspiring writers and artists keep their creative practices fresh, no matter how long it takes to achieve their big break.Martha's Three Muses: Music, Discipline, and Memory: In her novel "The Three Muses," Martha introduces us to her creative muses: Music, Discipline, and Memory. These muses inspire her and help her maintain her creative spirit. Learning about these muses can offer valuable guidance on nurturing your own creative loves.Starting in the Middle: One of Martha's unconventional yet liberating pieces of advice is to start in the middle of creative projects. Instead of obsessing over a perfect beginning, she encourages us to dive right into the heart of our creative endeavors. This approach allows for freedom and exploration, leading to unexpected and beautiful outcomes.Paying It Forward: Martha's journey has also inspired her to give back. She mentors other writers, sharing her experiences and insights with those following in her footsteps. Her willingness to support and encourage others underscores the importance of paying it forward in our creative communities.Embracing "The Rests": Martha's wisdom extends to recognizing the beauty in "the rests" of creativity. Just as music finds its magic in the pauses, our creative journeys can benefit from moments of reflection and rejuvenation. Her perspective encourages us to embrace these pauses as essential parts of our creative process.Martha Anne Toll's remarkable journey is a source of inspiration and valuable lessons for anyone pursuing their creative dreams. Her story reminds us that persistence, listening to our inner voices, and finding creative fulfillment in everyday life can lead to profound success. As Martha continues to celebrate the anniversary of her debut novel and works on her second, her story serves as a beacon of hope for all creatives on their own unique journeys.

You contain, inside of you, a small, quiet voice that has the answers to everything that you could ever need to know. It knows what direction you need to move in moment to momoen, it knows what activity you need to explore. It knows what friendships you need to cultivate and which ones it is time to walk away from, what town you need to live in and even what you need to have for dinner. In this Bonus Episode I share a story of how my dedication to cultivating an ability to hear and be led by my own soft quiet voice, allowed me to experience a profound moment right smack dab in the middle of an ordinary day this past week. The story involves a dead bird, school children and a lot of love. How to move your hand when there's a pencil in it, and you're sitting in front of a blank piece of paper or, or your paintbrush at a canvas or. What words right next, if you're writing a a poem or a memoir novel. There is this intelligence that lives inside of us. Quietly wordlessly and never leaves our side. And yet. We have become very accustomed to the experience of sort of shoving it down or allowing this other part of ourselves to be louder. . And it's, you know, the relationship between the rational mind and this ineffable intelligence that is available to us. helping as many people as I can to have access to that soft, quiet voice is what's behind. All of my work with the creative genius podcast and. And creative genius studios. All the meditations and workshops Worksheets and every conversation that I have with somebody for the podcast, it all comes down to wanting to point to that in you. That intelligence in you, because it does exist in you. It exists in every single person. Who is breathing today?When we don't have access to that part of ourselves, we do get glitchy. You know, we don't know how to make the right decision for ourselves when it comes to. You know what to have for dinner sometimes. To bigger decisions like.Leaving a job or pursuing a dream.And it's so important to have practices in our lives. Not just so that our lives run smoothly, but so that we can actually begin to access. A more magical realm that actually exists right here, hidden behind everything else. And I've dedicated so much of my life to cultivating a deep. relationship to this part of myself that I earnestly listened to and reverentially listened to. I'm constantly. Leaning in and trying to hear myself. And catch myself when I'm not doing that and not beat myself up and this week, I had a really powerful experience that I wanted to share with you. It was Wednesday afternoon and my kids get out of school early on Wednesday afternoons there's called early dismissal. I have no idea why. But every Wednesday, since they were in kindergarten, they get off at two o'clock. now they're older. My kids are 10 and eight and we only live. about. A block and half from the school. And what separates our house from the school is maybe two or three other houses and a little miniature forest. There's this really beautiful little wooded path that they walk through to get to school. even though there is an enormous bear in the area. I let my kids come and go, you know, they're at that age where they want to walk to school by themselves and they want to come home by themselves. So. I left them. I'm experimenting with letting go, right? Like letting them go.But on Wednesday. Was about 10 to three. And I'd heard most of the other kids passed by the house as on their way home from school. And I still hadn't seen my kids. Come in yet. And at one point I, I grabbed my sweater and I put it on because it's a little bit of a. Uh, brisk fall day. And I start walking down towards the school. And as I approached the path at the, at the entrance to the little forest. I hear a lot of sort of frantic energy kind of chaotic. not scared, but there was an energy that I, that I wasn't, that's not part of my everyday. And so I rounded the corner. And there was this group of kids. My son included. Poking at something on the ground with sticks and shrieking about how it was dead and. Their energy was really, really high.And so I walked over to see what, what was going on, what was dead? What was this? What was this thing that was happening? And it was a beautiful bird. I don't know the species of this bird. I'm sure we could look it up. I took a picture of it. It may have been a female Robyn. I'm not entirely sure. It had orange plumage and little speckles on it, and it was quite large. It was, you know, smaller than a Crow, but bigger than a chickadee. And it was very stiff. It was almost like, you know, those Christmas decorations that are, that are styrofoam and they're, they're very, they're like star from balls and they're just very stiff. This bird felt like it was stuffed. Like it was very, very, very stiff. When you, when the kids were poking it with their sticks, nothing was really moving. So it was really, it was dead. It wasn't just stunned because sometimes that happens right there. Just stunned.They were kind of, they were big, pretty rough, the bird, they were rolling it over and they are. You know, pushing its feathers backwards with this stick and kind of poking at it and seeing if it's I would open and. And it was a little jarring actually for me, because I immediately felt like just this like sad, soft, like, oh my goodness. The poor thing, Energy towards it. I couldn't name it, And I didn't want to shame them. For, for their reaction to this. You know, it is, death is uncomfortable. Right. And it's, it is a little bit scary. And sometimes when we're scared, it comes out in weird ways, right? Like, Getting really hyper or. Being really loud or kind of being a little note. All these parts come out of us to sort of help us navigate. This uncomfortable new situation. So I didn't want to shame them for having that experience or that reaction to it. And this wasn't conscious. It wasn't like I sat there and I said, okay, what am I going to do? But something in me just began speaking to this bird. So I'm standing amongst all these really hyper children who are poking at this bird with sticks and rolling it over and seeing if its feathers will come out and. And I just began saying to it. How beautiful it is. And how, sorry I am, but it's never going to get to fly again. And how I hope it didn't suffer. Tears are coming to my eyes as I'm sharing the story, but I wasn't crying in that moment. Those words just came out of me spontaneously and.There was sort of a, uh, a calm that fell over the kids that were there as they began to hear me say these words to this bird. And one at a time and pretty soon all of them. Started to go around the forest and collect really beautiful little. Objects my daughter found some beautiful pink flowers that were growing on the forest floor. One of the other little girls found a gorgeous Fern frond, and another one found it. Giant yellow maple leaf. . They all started decorating the ground around this bird And asking if we could do a funeral for it. And so we did, we. went through my son's lunch bag.And found the fork that I had given him for lunch that day. And we dug a hole in the earth. That was deep enough for the bird and we laid it down on its beautiful giant maple leaf. And everybody. Put their offerings inside decorated this bird with the flowers and the little leaves and Fern fronds. And for sprigs that we found. And everybody went around in a little, very informal circle. Just saying something nice to the bird. And everybody said the thing and we, we covered it with dirt and then we decorated the graveside. We marked it with a little stone and everybody was off on, on their way. And for me, the whole thing was a really profound experience, as I reflected on it later that day and into the next day. Because.I think there's a version of me in the past that may have. Muscled in there. And. Maybe even shamed everybody for, Hey, stop poking at that bird. And that's not very nice. And we don't do that or imagine, you know, like somehow shaming them for their reaction, which is very natural, right? Their reaction was very natural and in some ways, very wise, right. To have this protective defensive kind of, this is what happens when I get scared of something unknown. Right. There is a past version of me that may have shamed them for that. And spontaneously. I was able to access another part of me. A much wiser part of me that knew. Too. Just be in the truth. Beat in the love of the situation. And that, that was the part that started speaking to the bird.Me speaking to that bird in that way, transformed their behavior far more than anything I could have ever said to try to correct them. From my rational mind. this is a very powerful example of why it's so important to cultivate our intuition. Because it's that soft, quiet part of ourselves that knows how to be. And when I was able to embody that,There was a transmission that happened from me to them just by the way I was being that reminded them of what they already knew about how to Revere this. This bird and life itself. Like they knew already. I didn't tell them, go get flowers and go get, like, they knew. That was in them. And I just felt like it was such an important reminder of why we need to work really hard to cultivate this part of ourselves because it's, you know, I've been working on it for years and I. I can remember a time when I, when I wasn't working on this and how my reactions were and how I was in the world. And it's just night and day. From now, when I do make a priority of the listening to this voice of distinguishing between my rational mind and the soft, quiet intelligence that lives inside of me. I wrote a little bit more about this. Uh it's on Instagram, you can see a picture of the bird and there'll be a blog post in the coming days on Kate Sheppard, creative.com with some more pictures and a little bit morebut I wanted to bring it to you because I have been offering these intuition workshops. And it's not just like a fun thing that you can do. This is something that can transform your entire life and the lives of the peoplearoundyou.The things that I'm teaching in this workshop are the reason that I'm able to catch myself and. That I'm able to have this really deep connection with my inner voice, even when I'm not quote unquote doing well in life. Right? Like even during the hard times, I can hear that part and I can be led by that part. And that wasn't always the case from that took time that took a lot of practice. And that's why I want to offer this workshop to as many people as possible, because it has been profoundly life-changing for me to have access to that. Inner knowing that wisdom, that intelligence, that compassion and love and knowing it's just like, When the answers come, it's like, you know, like there's no. There's nobody in the world that could debate you out of knowing that that was the answer. That you needed, which is not what happens when you get answers from the rational mind. Like rational mind is very black and white and, you can access an ultimate truth about yourself. and about how to navigate your reality when you practice this.If this part of yourself is something that you are curious about and want to learn more about and want to actually spend a little bit of time. Strengthening. Head over to Kate Sheppard, creative.com and read about my activating intuition and creativity online workshop. It's a once a month workshop It's included in the colorful community tier , if you're a creative genius patron. along with all of the other amazing content that I put into that every month. I continue to be amazed and odd. By how powerfully our lives can transform when we invest in. Strengthening a relationship with this intuitive side of ourselves, this soft, quiet, inner voice. that is the home and breeding ground. And birthplace. Of creativity.  

EPISODE SUMMARYIn this podcast conversation, we delve into the fascinating world of Maria Over, an artist, children's book illustrator, and creative spirit based in Munich, Germany. Maria shares her insights on managing her wild creative spirit while producing art commercially, building a supportive global community of like-minded artists, and nurturing her creativity through a daily morning routine. We'll also explore her impressive list of illustration clients (Random House, eeBoo, Ravensburger Puzzles, Joanne’s Stores, American Greetings, Calypso Cards, The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Deutsche Telekom, Comedy Central, MTV, Audubon Society, Giorgio Armani, Verizon, Weleda) her artistic journey, and much more.WHAT WE TALK ABOUTBalancing Wild Creativity and Commercial ArtMaria effectively manages the delicate balance between her untamed creative spirit and the demands of producing commercial art. She allows her creativity to explore freely but adapts it to meet client-specific requirements when needed.Building a Global Artistic CommunityMaria has cultivated a strong global community of like-minded artists through online platforms. This community provides mutual support, feedback, and inspiration, contributing significantly to her artistic growth.Daily Morning Routine for CreativityMaria's daily morning routine involves starting her day with a sketchbook and coffee. This ritual helps her stay connected to her creative spirit and sets a positive tone for her day.Embracing Unique Creative SpiritThroughout the conversation, Maria emphasizes the importance of embracing one's unique creative spirit. She encourages artists to recognize that art is not just about technique but also about letting their creativity roam freely.Inspiration for Aspiring ArtistsMaria's journey to artistic success serves as an inspiring example for aspiring artists. Her story reminds others to tap into their creative potential and approach art with playfulness and passion.Managing Creativity and Commercial ArtMaria has mastered the delicate balance between her wild creative spirit and the demands of producing commercial art. She recognizes that her creativity is like a wild horse that needs to be tamed, but not completely controlled. Maria's approach is to let her creativity roam freely, allowing it to explore new ideas and unconventional techniques. However, when it comes to producing art for clients, she knows how to rein in her creativity and adapt it to meet their specific needs.Building a Supportive Global CommunityOne of the keys to Maria's artistic success is her ability to build a supportive global community of like-minded artists. Through social media platforms and online forums, Maria has connected with artists from all over the world who share her passion for creativity. They provide each other with valuable feedback, support, and inspiration. Maria believes that having a strong community of fellow artists is essential for personal and artistic growth.Nurturing Creativity Through a Daily Morning RoutineAnother aspect of Maria's journey to artistic success is her commitment to nurturing her creativity through a daily morning routine. Every morning, Maria starts her day with a cup of coffee and a sketchbook. She spends a few minutes creating whatever comes to mind, allowing her creativity to flow freely. This morning ritual helps her set the tone for the rest of the day and ensures that she stays connected to her creative spirit.Throughout our conversation, Maria's passion for art and her playful approach to creativity shines through. She reminds us that art is not just about technique and skill, but also about embracing our unique creative spirit. Maria's journey to artistic success is an inspiration to all aspiring artists who want to unleash their own creative potential.

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, our guest Dr. Meredith Estevez, a renowned oboist, podcaster, coach, writer, and educator, shares her profound journey of creative recovery and the vital lessons she's learned about finding joy in the act of creation. Through her personal experiences, Merideth explores the effects of creative burnout, the harmful generational cycle of teaching through shame, and the pressure to balance creative impulse with marketability and success. She discusses how she rediscovered her true self using "The Artist's Way," navigated feelings of unworthiness despite achievements, and unveiled the power of surrendering to the creative process. Dr. Estevez also provides practical advice for reducing the stress of needing to know everything and embracing a sense of inner worthiness. Tune in to discover how to align with your calling, overcome self-doubt, and cultivate creativity from a place of joy.HIGHLIGHTSMerideth's journey of creative recoveryExploring the impact of creative burnout and the generational cycle of teaching through shame.Balancing creative impulse with marketability and success in the artistic world.Acknowledging feelings of unworthiness even amidst achievements and accolades.The transformative power of surrender in the creative process.Devotion vs discipline in creative workPractical steps to shift from shame-driven creation to joyful expression.

In this pre-season three episode, Host Kate Shepherd announces the official vision and theme for Season 3, Learning to See. Kate shares a heartfelt personal story about Bob The Foster dog, and how in the face of external pressures she was able to rely on her intuition to help her see what she needed to see in order for navigate a difficult decision. Kate shares some of her techniques for cultivating your own intuition and sets the stage for some of the new things you can expect from Creative Genius in Season three that promise it make it our most exciting and engaging season yet. Exciting announcement about the new monthly workshops - Interactive Creativity & Intuition Workshops she will be holding to support you as you explore Learning to See in terms of both your artistry and personal growth (including a taste of that they will include) Lovely practice for you to experiment with - Kate shares the simple yet powerful practice she committed to this summer that has had a profound impact on her life and how you can begin to cultivate this for yourself.  The episode will leave you listeners inspired to nurture their innate capacities and embark on a journey of learning to see life from a richer perspective, and ready for Season 3 of The Creative Genius Podcast! While you are waiting for season 3 to star in 2 short weeks, why not revisit past episodes and select ones that resonate with them.

Episode Summary: In this episode, host Kate Shepherd interviews Wisconsin based Juliette Crane, a painter, writer, and creative educator, with international recognition and thousands of collectors, customers, and students.Juliette shares pivotal moments along her creative journey and the difficult circumstances that led her to rediscover and her passion for art.  They discuss Juliette's creative journey, her connection to creativity, the themes in her artwork, and the importance of embracing creativity to heal and thrive in life. Juliette shares her experiences, challenges, and insights that have shaped her artistic path and offers valuable advice for aspiring artists.Highlights - What We Talk About:-What she did when she was fired from her job via an email. And how it led her back to the true artist she always was. -The incredible, movie-like moment involving hundreds of butterflies that she took as a sign that she had to make a change in her life. -How the creative process helps Juliette process the world around her and tell stories through her art.-The connection between healing and creativity in Juliette's life.-How she overcame false beliefs and societal dysfunctions by reactivating and trusting her inner creative intelligence.-Juliette's inspiration, intuition, and how she communicates with creativity.Episode Notes: Juliette Crane, a renowned painter, writer, and creative educator from Wisconsin, shares her creative journey, themes in her artwork, and the connection between creativity and healing. She emphasizes the importance of embracing creativity to overcome false beliefs and societal dysfunctions. Juliette talks about her struggles and challenges on her artistic path and the role of intuition in her creative process.To learn more about Juliette Crane and her artwork, visit her Instagram (@juliettecrane) and her website. Juliette offers courses and workshops to help artists get unstuck and unlock their creativity. Take a step towards nurturing your creativity and explore the magic of art with Juliette Crane.Stay Connected: Follow me on Instagram (@kateshepherdcreative) or by subscribing to the newsletterMy sign off message for you from the edge of the end of Season 2 I am so grateful you are here and that we are doing this together - thank you for being here, making time for yourself and your creativity. Please take time to rest during the summer; experiment, play and make some time to re-listen to some episodes of the show, you will be amazed by what you catch the second time around. And join the Patreon community to access bonus episodes, activity prompts, and connect with fellow artists, I think you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner!If you long to express creativity freely but believe you are not good enough or lack the creativity within you, remember this: creativity is the intelligence that animates the entire universe, and it already lives and breathes within you. Embrace play, break the rules, and discover the magic already inside you. I'll be back in September with more inspiring interviews and stories of creativity. See you then!

What we talk aboutJames Miller's journey as a writer and the genesis of A Small FictionThe commitment to daily writing for nearly eight years and its transformative effectsHarnessing creativity as a tool for processing emotions and overcoming anxiety and depressionPractical prompts for accessing flow states in creative endeavoursIngenious solution for utilizing beloved but misfit creative piecesThe relationship between discipline and flow in a healthy creative practiceExploring the value of human creativity and ownership of creative worksJames's poetic vision for society's embrace of creativityOne of the most powerful moments in this episode was when Kate and James talked about James's commitment to daily writing for nearly eight years. The transformative power of a consistent creative practice is hard to ignore. Through his journey, James experienced significant shifts, gained a substantial readership, and secured a publishing deal. The conversation emphasizes the therapeutic nature of creativity, particularly in dealing with anxiety and depression. Listeners are encouraged to tap into their own creative potential and explore the ways in which creative expression can facilitate personal development and emotional well-being.Thank you for joining us on this marvellous conversation with James Miller.Remember to sign up for the 21-day Creative Ritual Challenge on the Creative Genius Patreon platform to experience transformative shifts in your own creative practice. Explore the wealth of bonus episodes, journal worksheets, painting workshops, guided meditations, and more available to Creative Genius Patrons. Visit Kate Shepherd Creative.com or go to Patreon.com/CreativeGeniusPodcast to activate your membership and unlock the creative genius within you.

Trust. Mess. Rest. Repeat.In this fantastic episode, our gracious guest, Kim Myers Smith, reveals her four-part formula for cultivating a healthy, productive, and stress-free creative practice. Host Kate Shepherd emphasizes the profound significance of creativity as the life force behind the universe, urging listeners to reconnect with this potent energy. Together, they challenge toxic beliefs surrounding creativity, explore the societal conditioning that discourages embracing messiness and uncertainty, and unveil the transformative power of surrendering to these aspects. Engage in an enlightening activity and contemplation exercise to embrace the unknown in your own creative endeavors. Prepare to be inspired!Join the Creative Genius Community on the Creative Genius Family Facebook Page!  to share your experiences and insights. Dive into Kate's daily sketching practice, drawing inspiration from the natural world and embracing imperfections, to cultivate comfort with uncertainty and messiness in your creative expression. This thought-provoking conversation with Kim Smith touches on her journey in embracing the messy and uncertain aspects of her art practice, the role of intuition, the relationship between intuition and intention, creative rituals, and the significance of one's environment in the creative process. Discover why "The Pig" holds a special place in Kim's heart.Tune in to this enlightening episode, available on all major podcast platforms. Don't forget to leave a review to support the show. Thank you for joining us on this transformative creative journey!Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts.Remember to leave the show a review today!THANK YOU!

In this episode, host Kate Shepherd shares her lifelong journey with art and the recent discovery of her deep craving for oil painting. From her childhood fascination with art supplies to her experiences in a specialized art school, Kate's love for creating art has always been a part of her. However, societal pressure to choose one medium and her own aversion to oil painting prevented her from exploring this medium until now.Kate reflects on the conditioning she underwent as a child, where she learned to suppress her urge to try new things and focus on one discipline. But her inherent drive to create always remained. She discusses her resistance to oil painting and the misconceptions she held about it, associating it with darkness and messiness.The turning point came when Kate encountered the stunning oil paintings of guest Kim Meyers Smith and was deeply moved by their beauty. This sparked her curiosity and desire to finally give oil painting a chance. Kate shares her recent midnight craving for oil painting and the realization that it was time to embrace this medium. Instead of suppressing it, deciding to honor her craving as an act of self-love and healing. She describes her plan to visit the art supply store and purchase a small starter collection of oil paints and brushes, allowing herself to indulge in this long-awaited exploration.Through this personal journey, Kate encourages listeners to question societal norms and embrace their own artistic desires. She emphasizes the importance of following one's instincts and pursuing various creative avenues without feeling the need to limit oneself. Kate's experience with oil painting serves as a reminder that art is a diverse and boundless realm, offering endless opportunities for self-expression and growth.Join Kate and embark on a new journey embracing the unknown and unlocking new dimensions of our artistic spirit.

On this episode of Creative Genius, Kate is joined by the immensely talented Jodi Ohl. Jodi's artistic journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion. After leaving her secure day job, Jodi dedicated herself to building a successful artistic career. Her art, characterized by its unique texture, vibrant colors, and motivational themes, has gained recognition and has been featured in over 36 international mixed media magazines. Jodi's contributions to the art world extend beyond her own work, as she has also contributed to seven mixed media books.During the interview, Jodi opens up about her early experiences with creativity and how it shaped her perspective on art. She candidly shares the challenges she faced in choosing a different path instead of pursuing art as a full-time profession. Jodi reflects on the lessons she learned and the skills she gained from that experience.A significant turning point in Jodi's journey came when she rediscovered her creative side during a challenging period in her life. This transformative experience fuelled her passion and motivated her to pursue art as a full-time artist. Jodi discusses the fears she confronted and the regrets she didn't want to haunt her during the leap of faith she took.Throughout the conversation, Jodi emphasizes the importance of aligning with one's creative calling and offers valuable advice to listeners who aspire to become full-time artists. She shares insights on the role of discipline, finding one's voice, and the rewards of perseverance.In addition to her artistic pursuits, Jodi is a sought-after mixed media art teacher. She conducts workshops both online and in person, sharing her expertise with students across the United States. Her teaching style is approachable, and her recently released book, "Abstracts in Acrylic and Ink," allows readers to learn from her as if they were sitting beside her in a workshop.Allow yourself an hour to be captivated by Jodi's inspiring journey and her profound understanding of the creative process and your own life may never be the same!To find out more about Jodi's artwork and workshops, visit Jodi's websiteThis episode of Creative Genius is a must-listen for anyone seeking a little extra inspiration and guidance in their own artistic endeavours.