Persistent Bloom

It's October, so let's chat about art challenges and why SO MANY of us rarely finish them. Want to read the original post that inspired this episode? Do that -- and maybe subscribe to the newsletter -- here Join the Persistent Bloom Discord hereExplore the Patreon for bonus episodes and Emergent Classroom here!The only challenge I ever finished... plein air April and what I learned from itHere is my essay on getting to know your creative ancestors and strike up a conversation.How creative practice is shaped like a switchbackDemo on Emergent Classroom on how to study another artists' work, step by step. Ready to sign up for a tutoring session? Your first session is just $19Other Writers Work I mentioned:Death of the Follower by Jack Conte (the CEO of Patreon, who is also an artist sand musician)Enshittification by Cory Doctorow

this episode is all about making art while taking care of my mom after she had a major surgery. If you are an artist who feels like so much gets in the way of your practice, this episode and the gentle prompts in it will support you in persistence this fall. Join the Persistent Bloom Discord via Patreon here. One time and monthly options : )See the original article and sign up for the newsletter hereGet direct support with your art through Craft Tutoring. Want a low-risk way to try it out? Your first session is only $19! See the original painting I made in the hospital waiting room here. My friend Emily H. Cox's incredible article on studio spaces vanishing in Kansas City back in 2019. Cheap rent and studio spaces are rapidly vanishing from Kansas City’s arts landscape. What now?Want to support the show? Share it with a friend. Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts, or a comment if you listen on Spotify.

In this episode, I’m sharing some exercises and human creative prompts to build a centered and compassionate season ahead in your studio.Want to read the original post? Do that hereJoin the Persistent Bloom Discord & become a sustaining member to this podcast! Sign up for my Intro to Painting with Watercolor and Gouache from Intuition & Photo Reference and find out more about the class here Let me know what you think of the show, email me at [email protected] about the Week of the Archivist? Snag the self-guided version of the class hereSign up for the Persistent Bloom NewsletterResources from Labor Notes on unionizing your workplace

This week I’m feeling a little off from being sick, which means it’s time to check in around capacity. I’ll share a bit about how I use gentle energy level accommodations in my art practice, how the advice of our culture makes us push harder than we need to, and my advice for artists with day jobs.Sign up for the Persistent Bloom newsletterSupport the Pod on PatreonWhy I write intentions in my sketchbook to make it a teacher for my artRead my essays on creative cycles hereWant to learn the practice of writing a Did List?Creative practice is a group sport, join us in the Persistent Bloom DiscordRead my post about accommodations and my music practiceMy Doing the Hikers Way blog where I tracked my energy levels last fallExperience The Hikers Way pod-classReady to unionize your workplace? Check out the incredible resources from Labor Notes

Wes and I went on a hike to discuss an idea that comes up all the time for our artist friends -- being stuck. We eventually landed on the importance of returning to a sense of creative home, and that's the portion you'll get to listen to here today.I've been feeling into this frustration and analysis paralysis myself when it comes to music so we get into it, and the emotions behind it. The deep fear that can come up and the expectations we put between ourselves and the act of making.When we know our creative homes, we can find a place to make that reflects back our ideal version of our artistic selves. Listening to this will help you sense into how it feels to be there in your creative home.Want to get to know Wes' music? Listen to Wes' solo project Lentil Famine here or his band Farlowella here!This is an episode preview. Want to hear the full episode? Become a paid member and support our podcast on Patreon. You can do that here!If you choose to join as a member on Patreon, you'll get access to the Persistent Bloom discord server and more awesome exclusives like:- demos & mini class recordings from Mel- group tutoring sessions and feedback on your creative work from Mel & Wes- a book club exploring the works that have supported our persistence- & moresee what people are saying about the community and see some of their awesome work, here