In this episode, I'm joined by Ania Pilch (she/her) to discuss her journey toward a creative life through her platform, Not the Creative Kind. Ania grew up believing she wasn't a creative person; if art doesn't seem to come naturally to us, sometimes it's just easier to not go there, allowing stasis and status quo to run the show. There came a point when Ania realized she wanted to change up her lifestyle, and when she pictured her ideal life, there was always art involved--but why have a music studio if you're not playing music? She decided it was time to explore a what a "creative life" meant to her.

Thus began her quest to engage in a more creative life. She challenged herself to try one new hobby every month, and Not the Creative Kind was born. Check out the community she's building on IG and WhatsApp!

References:
CreativeMornings Field Trips

In this episode, I'm joined by Jade Monroe (she/her), a community builder and musical artist, for a special conversation about how creativity can be an avenue to a higher purpose. Today, we chat about how we can all find courage to act through fear by developing trusting connection with ourselves rather than chasing after the shiny things and flashy attention we're taught to want when thinking about putting our art out into the world. What can we find here on the grittier, messier interpersonal side of community when we focus wholeheartedly on reclaiming our power, standing together in solidarity, and creating art that speaks to our souls?

Jade is a container of multitudes. By day, she develops food waste reduction policies for a sustainable future. By night, Jade hosts a songwriter club, powerlifts with determination, and shares her soul through music with her ultra-talented bandmates. She has been actively involved in helping organize the local chapter of 50501 Protests and encourages us all to stand together and speak out, as is our right, to create the world we want to live in and stand up to authoritarianism. You can see her band, Sweet Marilyn, play at the Frontier Lounge on April 25 here in Tacoma! See more of their event dates and purchase their latest album at https://sweetmarilyn.art/

References:
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Porchfest: https://tacomaporchfest.org/

In this delightfully imperfect and serendipitous episode, I'm joined by Alyssa Ryann (she/they), local Tacoma artist with a passion for making art more accessible to the general public. We met at a holiday artist market and I was immediately drawn to her apparently limitless styles. Today, we ended up talking about our shared philosophy that saying yes to yourself is the most self-loving thing you can do--including saying yes to making terrible art--as well as how important art is for survival, resistance, and revolution. Alyssa even made a t-shirt specifically from our conversation today which you can purchase through this link: https://alyssaryannart.etsy.com/listing/1856937802 using the code UGLYART for 20% off!

You can follow along Alyssa's journey on IG @alyssaryannart. They'll even host a paint and sip for you if you'd like!