If you’ve ever stared at a piece of your own art and felt the sting of the word “ugly,” you’re about to hear a conversation that turns that feeling into a gentle invitation. You’ll explore how the moment you label a creation as ugly can be swapped for a simple act of love, and why that shift frees space for both acceptance and growth. You’ll discover how expectations can dim your joy, and how seeing your work as a living, evolving part of yourself lets you improve without harsh self‑judgment. Come on in, and let your creative heart find a cozy spot to settle.

• How to stop calling your art “ugly” and start seeing it as part of your creative process.
• What you can learn from imperfect art and why creative “failures” can be valuable.
• Why being content with your art doesn’t mean you have to stop growing.
• How to embrace the work-in-progress and give yourself permission to experiment, make mistakes, and try again.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever wondered whether designing a board game counts as art, you’re in for a lively, heartfelt discussion that challenges the old gatekeepers of creativity. You’ll walk through a spirited debate about the nature of art, from puzzles and AI to the joy of sharing games, and hear how personal passion can outshine any commercial pressure. You’ll also explore how everyday objects—from microphones to hand‑crafted brooms—can hold artistic value, and why the line between fine art and craft might not matter as much as you think. Come on in, take a seat, and let this warm conversation remind you that your creative voice already belongs in the space.

• How creative labels can become another form of gatekeeping.
• Who gets to decide what is and isn’t art?
• Exploring what art really means and why the question can be so complicated.
• A reminder that you don’t need anyone’s permission to create, make art, or call yourself a creative.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever wondered what it feels like to create without any rules or gallery expectations? You’ll hear a friendly conversation that traces the history of outsider art and explains how the internet is expanding what counts as work outside the traditional gallery system. The dialogue points out how the label can feel both empowering and a little confrontational, and it invites you to adopt an “outside the velvet rope” mindset for your own creative practice. Pull up a chair, stay awhile, and let the conversation warm you up as you step into your next artistic adventure.

• How approaching art as a mindset can make creativity feel more accessible.
• Why creating outside the traditional art world can feel freeing and empowering.
• How letting go of artistic gatekeeping can give you permission to make art.
• Finding your own way of creating beyond traditional expectations and artistic gatekeeping.

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.