Join me with Elora and just vibe! As we wish all artists could do all the time. But alas, there is capitalism to survive. But we can still be weird and thrive together. Elora Blessing (she/her) is a queer Tacoma artist with a background in graphic design and a BFA in the field with a minor in printmaking. Most of her work is digital illustration, and centers around themes of feminism, queer identity, and body acceptance. She shares her struggles with perfectionism and how she's working on letting go and putting herself out in the art community and all the beautiful surprises that has brought her.

You can see her three days after this episode comes out at the Brewery District Maker's Market on Thursday, December 18. And be sure to follow her on social media @hello.hysteria and reach out to her about commissions!

References
Cassandra Kuring @cassnackwichez
Phi Pottery
Arts at the Armory
Welcome to Slime Time

In this minisode, I share an update on my intuitive art class, my no-good-dirty-rotten acrylic painting I'm wrestling with, and the revelation that I identify a little too strongly with my own self-doubt.

May my ongoing, uncertain journey be a hand for you to hold along your own ongoing, uncertain journey. We've got this!

Content warning: discussion of death of pets

In this episode, I'm joined by my friends Fox and K, two fat white queer neurodivergent disabled witches, grief tenders, and death doulas, who focus on ritual, shadow work, magic and creativity for processing and integrating healing. This conversation gets directly to the point as we hold space for the grief of this moment in history. We discuss the power of witnessing each other and ourselves during hard moments, and the beauty to be found in processing grief and practicing acts of hope rather than waiting for hope to find you.

This conversation was so special, and I'm struggling to sum it up further. So just go have a listen.

Here's how you can connect with Fox and K:
Fox Welsh: foxwelsh.com or IG @foxwelshewriter
K: IG @ultranerky
Their future death doula work: IG @queergrieftenders

References
The Spirit Spa
24/7 manifestation: IG @latha_jay_

It's just me today! I'm trying out solo minisodes to be able to share what's going on in my own creative journey and be honest about my struggles with my creative practice. Instead of trying to be the expert, which my silly brain has been trying to convince me that's where I'll offer the most value, I'm going to lean in to my natural nature of being a seeker and just share with you what I'm playing around with and where I'm stuck. Right now, where I've been getting stuck is avoiding my bigger creative goals because I'm scared to be a beginner again or to suck as something that I've built up in my head. Sound familiar?

I hope that my journey makes you feel a little less alone when you too are stuck avoiding things and feel like you'll never move the needle.

Be sure to follow me on Substack (@lorealexander) where I'll be migrating my online presence to try to exit the Meta-verse and connect with others in a different way and more deeply with myself. And come hang out with me in person in Tacoma on the second Wednesday of each month at Crafty AF! Let's junk journal together.

Resources
Maria Bowler
Tacoma Night Market
Off the Grid Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by Jamie Madden (he/sé), author of Bittersweet Lane: Creating Home(s) in the American Affordable Housing Crisis. In his book, he talks about growing up in affordable housing and how that influenced his current life's work to make sure price restricted housing continues to be built for the next kid--with all the restrictions of our current system. Growing up in that environment, perfection is required for upward mobility. Jamie discusses some of the ways he experienced perfectionism and how he encourages himself out of perfectionism through music and making watercolor art with his daughter.

We also discuss themes of resistance and how art helps us remember our past and fight for the future. #FreePalestine

You can buy Jamie's book here or wherever books are sold!

References:
Blindboy Boat Club
The Mountain Goats
Row House Publishing

Content warning: there is mention of SA and death of a grandparent in this episode.

EJ Crocker grew up loving sounds, making noise, singing, and has been finding her way to music ever since. From childlike wonder through honing a craft and making a living with her music.

We talk about how being a "professional" can take the joy away from our art, and EJ is navigating that world beautifully and returning to childlike wonder and reckless abandon with her music. She has learned to rely on the people who inspire her and relish the small connections that keep her close to the music and to herself. I hope you enjoy this precious, vulnerable conversation that is graced with birdsong from EJ's rooftop.

EJ is a guitar teacher and teaches private students of all ages out of her home studio and at Ted Brown Music. Give her a listen at ejcrockermusic.com! Around Tacoma, keep an ear open for her bands Threocracy (a jazz organ trio) and Sweet Marilyn (an indie rock outfit).

References:
Andrea Gibson: "I Sing the Body Electric; Especially When My Power Is Out"

In this episode, I'm joined by Brigitte, a systems and self-care witch for neurodivergent creatives, to chat about how structure and process don't have to mean limitations on your creativity and can instead be "enabling constraints" to move you forward into creativity. We chat about Brigitte's path from not seeing herself as an artist to eventually seeing the real picture of becoming and inhabiting the life of an artist instead of wrestling with the picture she had in her head. Sound familiar?

If you're a neurodivergent creative with a million ideas you can't seem to organize, definitely check out Brigitte's coaching offerings! You can find her on her website as well as her YouTube channel.

References:
Yet another shout out to The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
"Enabling constraints" shout out to Christine Garvey with A Mighty Practice
Kyra Sutherland with Joyful Divergent

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