How Important is Beauty in Art? [159]

Apple podcast

 

Do you feel your art needs to be beautiful? And if so, what do you mean by beauty? We dive into this topic because we are both thinking about this idea as our work morphs and changes. We discuss the role of beauty in art history and how much of the art that we love is NOT beautiful – and yet how we are still drawn to creating beauty in our own work. In the beginning, perhaps, we both aimed for beauty because it was a measure of our skill level – but once we attained those skills, we seem drawn to pushing the boundaries. But how much imperfection can we allow in? How much raw expression is too much? Of course these questions are personal to each one of us, and we hope this discussion helps you think about beauty in your own work. 

Mentioned:

Drew Steinbrecher on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drewhttps://www.instagram.com/drewsteinbrechersteinbrecher/

Dead Eyes podcast https://headgum.com/dead-eyes

Creative Pep Talk podcast https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/zdqvn-3717c/Creative-Pep-Talk-Podcast

Kate Cosgrove with two of her illustrated books

Get more involved…

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Artist Residencies with Kate Cosgrove [158]

Apple podcast

 

As an award winning illustrator, Kate Cosgrove is used to bringing visions to life, but post-pandemic she was feeling in need to spend time with her own creativity. In this conversation from the land’s end of the UK, Kate speaks with Alice about artist residencies. Perhaps this is something you’ve considered, or even been apprehensive about. In which case this conversation will give you ideas for where to go, an understanding of what to expect.

We talk about working on your own and what this could open up for you or re-set your practice. What would you be looking for? Hoping for? Is there even a way you can bring this into your life right now? Check the notes below for where to follow Kate, find out about Brisons Veor or search for other residency opportunities.

Mentioned:

Find Kate Cosgrove on Instagram @k8cosgrove

Brisons Veor Cornwall artist residencies https://brisonsveor.org.uk/

Artist Communities Alliance for residency listings https://artistcommunities.org/

illustrator Kate Cosgrove working at Brisons Veor, Cornwall artist residency

Kate Cosgrove with two of her illustrated books

Get more involved…

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Stuck in a desert of blah … what to do when you lose your mojo [157]

Apple podcast

 

Maybe there are artists who are always inspired, always energised and always making fantastic work… but if there are, we don’t know them. This week we’re talking about those times when inspiration seems to desert us. These are the times when we either can’t face making art, or can’t make anything we like. We discuss the frustration that comes with feeling lost, and we break down some of the reasons we might feel that way.

If we can understand what drags us down, perhaps we can lift ourselves out of it. This comes down to individual preferences and work patterns. Some people work best when they turn up every day regardless of how they feel; others need lots of time away from the studio to recharge their batteries. We believe all of us need to learn to accept ourselves just the way we are, and honour our own creative processes, no matter what they are.

Mentioned:

Rock til we Drop https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001516f

Medicine exhibition – The Science Museum: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/medicine-wellcome-galleries

Get more involved…

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

What does success mean to you [156]

Apple podcast

 

How do you define success for yourself as an artist? Often we follow other people’s versions of success and in this episode we share our journey – not OF success, but how we define it – and how that has changed over time.

In particular, we distinguish between external and internal yardsticks. External yardsticks are things like sales numbers, Instagram followers, or show acceptances, and we have both seen these measurements halt people in their tracks. These things are, to some extent, out of our control and they also continually shift and change because we will never be satisified.

We discuss our own experiences and suggest an alternative approach – setting your own internal benchmarks. These internal measures of success can keep you focused, motivated and excited about your work, allowing you to stay in control of your emotional wellbeing.

Rather than a fixed completed achievement and success as a reward we are aiming for sometime in the future I like to check back to where am I now? and ask “What does a sense of completion look like at this stage?”.

If success is really about continuity and development – being ON the journey, then this question could be great one to consider… “What do you do in the moments after you fail?”

We’d love to hear what you think. You can share the images below to Pinterest and come and find them on my Instagram @alicesheridanstudio

Mentioned:

Authentic Obsessions Podcast https://www.authenticobsessions.com/

Get more involved…

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

How to Talk About Your Art [155]

Apple podcast

 

Talking about our work can be challenging. You might not know what to say – how to find the words to describe the feelings – or you might feel self-conscious, thinking others don’t want to hear or that they may judge you. But, learning to talk about your art can open so many doors – doors to conversations, doors to sales, and doors to new realisations for yourself.

Once you can tell the story of your art, others can connect with it in new ways. In this episode, we share our own experiences and offer tips and strategies to help you find the words. So whether you are sharing with friends, exhibiting in a gallery, attending an art fair, or even just writing a social media post, we hope this episode will get you started.

Mentioned:

Words & Pictures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHrVw-cDmU

Beatles Abbey Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiRfv6LFXYE

Get more involved…

If you have a question you’d like us to discuss, click here to send it to us

If you are enjoying the podcast this is an easy and inexpensive way to help support it and ensure it continues. The demands of making it each week can be challenging. Your support is allowing us to hire some editing help. If you’d like to help out with a one-time or a monthly donation, you can “buy us a coffee” us at Ko-fi.com

Contribute to the podcast here:

Follow Alice on Instagram @alicesheridanstudio
or Louise @louisefletcher_art

Credits
“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License