July 7, 2025 • 25 mins
Before diving into our artist retreats, we revisit a big topic from last week: the pressure to have the “perfect” space before you start creating. Spoiler alert—it’s not true.
From there, we share how our retreats unfolded (with a few surprises), the resistance that came up, and the unexpected creative detours that still held meaning. We talk about the messy, beautiful reality of making space for yourself—physically, emotionally, and creatively—and how art can help regulate, reconnect, and ground us, even in the midst of chaos.
Thank you so much for listening.
If you know someone who needs this kind of gentle nudge, send it their way. The more kind, creative hearts in this space, the better.
And if something in this episode resonates or makes you smile, come say hi on Instagram @theartpeaceexperiment 🤍
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 00 (00:00):
Thank you.
Welcome to the Art PeaceExperiment.
We're your hosts, two artistsand friends.
I'm Tasha.
And I'm Brianna.
At the end of 2024, we decidedwe wanted to cultivate more
safety, peace, love, alignment,and excitement through our art
(00:22):
and our art practices.
Speaker 01 (00:24):
So here we are sharing our journey with you.
And we're so excited you'rehere.
We hope you enjoy ourconversations.
They're honest, raw, just Justtwo friends talking to each
other about the realities oflife and creativity.
We're so excited for you tojoin us and be along with us for
the journey.
Speaker 00 (00:46):
Week five.
Here we are.
Yay.
So we had our artist retreats.
We did.
Last week or I mean this pastweek.
And we're going to talk aboutthat today.
But first.
There's something I actuallywant to address from what we
recorded last episode.
(01:07):
Go for it.
Okay.
So we talked about gettingready for our artist retreat.
Yes.
We talked about getting ourspaces all ready and all of
that, getting our studio officespaces all ready.
And I feel like it'd be kind ofirresponsible if we don't
address the fact that Having aperfect studio space is not a
(01:29):
requirement for actuallycreating.
Yes.
And I wanted to bring that upbecause I feel like if you're
listening to this, to the lastepisode and you're like, well, I
don't have a studio.
I don't have this space, so Ican't create.
A lot of my creative friendsand a lot of creatives that I've
talked to when they go throughthis process of, oh, I want to
(01:54):
create and I don't know, likethey go through those first
steps of starting to createagain and like talking
themselves into it basically.
And then a lot of them or a lotof us get to that point of, oh,
I don't need my art or mycreativity to be perfect.
(02:15):
Like I can just get it.
I'm like, I'm going to go forit.
I'm just going to do it.
And then we put up these otherblocks of, I don't have the
perfect space.
I don't have the perfectequipment.
Like this situation is not aperfect situation.
And so we put up this new blockfor ourselves of, okay, well, I
can't create because thingsaren't perfectly lined up and
ready.
Speaker 01 (02:34):
You're speaking about me, aren't you?
Speaker 00 (02:38):
Guilty.
Well, totally.
Yeah.
Me too.
Yeah.
Me too.
And so I just...
We will get, we will talkabout, we will talk about our
retreats, but I feel like thisis just, it's been bugging me
since we recorded the lastepisode and I just, it's like,
okay, I need, I need to addressthis.
Otherwise I can't live withmyself.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
No, I, I'm
Speaker 01 (02:57):
so glad you brought this up because I, As you very
well know, that was my block forso many years, so long, was
like, well, I don't really havea space, and I don't have a
studio, and I don't have, youknow, I need this, I need that,
I need this before I can reallystart.
(03:19):
Right.
Yeah.
There were a lot ofconversations about that.
Speaker 00 (03:25):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, I mean, I, I went throughthis too, or it's like, I don't
have what I need.
And, and I mean, it's reallymore just wants.
Yes.
Yeah.
Then needs.
Well,
Speaker 01 (03:36):
I feel like we, I feel like when you decide, you
know, that you kind of want tostart getting back into creative
things and you, you start byyou looking at the people around
Right.
Right.
They don't, I mean, it'sstarting now more, I feel like
(04:04):
in social media, but oftentimespeople don't show you the
messes.
They show you the perfectlycurated, you know, the little
pockets of where they have,where you can, you know, it
looks amazing and beautiful.
And then, but behind them is ahuge mess of their like living
room or whatever, you know, youjust, you don't see the rest of
it.
But when you're in thatbeginning, you know, to dip your
(04:27):
toes back into it and lookingat all of the people doing it, I
think that's really the waymost people start getting back
into it, you know?
And then you see it just beingso beautiful and so perfect and
everybody.
And so you think, oh, well,that's how I have to do it.
If I'm going to do it, then Ihave to have it that way because
(04:49):
that's how you do it, right?
Because that's what you'reseeing.
Speaker 00 (04:52):
Right.
Yeah.
Because I mean, I think lasttime I mentioned like getting
back into creating again and Idon't know if this was last
episode or before, but it waslike I had my daughter and
that's when I was like, oh, Ineed to start taking myself
seriously and believing in mydreams and stuff again.
And I, at the time, was livingat my parents'.
(05:12):
I just had a baby.
I was living at my parents'house.
And I didn't have a studiospace or an office space or
really any space that was myown.
It was my husband and I were...
We had one bedroom that weshared with our new baby in my
parents' house.
I had nowhere to go that wasprivate or just for me.
(05:36):
My art time was I finally gother down to take a nap and I
would just lay on the bed nextto her little Yeah.
Bassinet.
Thank you.
I lost the word.
And, you know, as she took napsand sometimes it was, you know,
five minutes of just reallymessy doodling and that's how it
started.
Speaker 01 (05:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 00 (05:57):
There was no perfect office space.
Like, yes, now I am veryprivileged and very blessed to
have my home studio and officespace.
And it's not perfect.
It's not, it's not beautifullydesigned and like put together.
Yeah.
Um, but it, it works for whereI'm at right now.
Speaker 01 (06:16):
Hmm.
You know, I love that.
I mean, I was just, that mademe think about my, my experience
with that too.
Like in high school, I was inall the art classes, right.
And I like art was my life for,for those, you know, four
years.
And, and so I had, I had spaceand then I went off to college
and it, I didn't have space andI didn't know how to actually
(06:39):
create without like, Hmm.
time and space and, you know,like how to, how to create in
those little pockets instead oflike dedicating a huge amount of
time and then, you know,becoming a mom and getting
married and like all of thosethings.
And so getting, so I let go ofit.
Right.
And, and getting back into it,it was with coloring books.
(06:59):
Like that's what it was.
I didn't have a, I didn't havean office.
I didn't have a studio.
I didn't have anything.
all of my things set up andbeautiful.
You sat on the couch, youshared with me.
Yes, I did.
Didn't even have a couch.
I had my one little coloringbook and my colored pencils and
we just, you know, and a blanketlike on the couch.
(07:22):
And that was my, that was, thatwas my time, you know, that was
my art time and my creativetime like that.
And then, you know, eventuallyit led to into me wanting to do
it more and getting outsketchbooks and, you know,
actually making– my own art and,and dedicating a space and
(07:45):
creating that space, you know,but it was a gradual thing.
It was not like, Hmm, I want todo this.
And then boom, it was done.
You know, like it took years tobuild up that.
I have arrived.
Speaker 00 (07:57):
I'm an artist now.
It's official.
I decided one day to the nextbecause I have a beautiful, uh,
beautiful space.
I am now an artist.
That's not how it works.
You creating is what makes youa creative.
Having the perfect space,having every situation perfect
is not what makes you acreative.
Speaker 01 (08:18):
It's showing up in those little Little pockets
where you can and, and, andshowing your, your brain and
your, your nervous system andthat it's important, you know,
that you're, you're continuingto do those things.
So then, oh, that must meanit's, it's
Speaker 00 (08:35):
important.
Yeah.
You got to crawl before you canrun.
Exactly.
You know, and like giveyourself that grace and that
compassion to, to crawl, to, youknow, like have those
imperfect, moments and they canbe little and yeah that's and I
don't say little in like anykind of negative way like it's a
(08:57):
beautiful thing to
Speaker 01 (08:58):
yeah
Speaker 00 (08:58):
to have those moments for yourself and to let
yourself start that growth soanyways and another thing too is
I feel like when we startembracing the creative side of
us and wanting to start thisprocess and this journey it's
art and creativity is anexpression.
It's one way that we canexpress things.
(09:21):
We've talked about this before,but I feel like there's this
natural progression of us tryingto convince ourselves that
we're allowed to take up space.
And so it feels very naturaland real to me that A lot of the
creatives I've talked to havethat block of, oh, but I don't
have space for this.
Do you have it?
(09:42):
Right?
Like so many of us have thatand it's very real.
And so, you know, be gentlewith yourself.
Be gently curious and just diginto the like, okay, what is a
need?
What is a want?
What little step can I taketoday to get me towards where I
(10:04):
want to go?
And it doesn't have to looklike, like my life right now
doesn't have to look like whereI want to go.
Just what little moment can Ihave today that I can give
myself to go in the direction?
Yeah,
Speaker 01 (10:18):
to get...
That started in that direction.
I love that.
That was so good.
Thank you.
Thank
Speaker 00 (10:25):
you.
I mean, I told you it's beenbothering me all week.
I'm like, oh, I gotta talkabout that.
So it's been like, oh, I can't,I can't just leave that episode
alone.
We gotta, we gotta addressthis.
We gotta talk about that.
Speaker 01 (10:35):
Yeah.
Cause yeah, absolutely.
So true.
I, yeah, spent so much timewith that block and just
worrying about it and being likeI but I can't do it because I
don't have the space like yousaid that was such a good
connection um yeah but you youdon't have to take a lot of
space to show up
Speaker 00 (10:57):
that's right right and
Speaker 01 (10:58):
then at first you know like you you don't have to
you don't have to haveeverything in place just have to
start
Speaker 00 (11:05):
Yeah.
I love that.
Okay.
So you get a double, doublewhammy today.
That feels like a whole episodein and of itself.
So
Speaker 01 (11:11):
good.
We can
Speaker 00 (11:12):
just keep dying forever.
Now I know, but now, now we getto talk about the art retreat
and how that went.
And did you
Speaker 01 (11:20):
create this week?
You know, I love, I lovesegwaying off onto that, you
know, from, from what we justtalked about because the artist
retreat, I mean, we, we couldhave done so many things with
our time.
But we chose to do, to do ourartist retreat, to prioritize
ourselves and our art.
(11:40):
Love that for us, by the way.
I know.
I feel like that was such a bigstep for us.
I know it was for me.
That was a big step.
It was hard because I started–Right.
Yeah.
(12:14):
Yeah.
to take up space and it's okayto show up for yourself
Speaker 00 (12:47):
in that way.
Right.
So I had an interestingexperience because right before
starting my retreat is I hadthis very triggering thing
happen.
And I'm not going to get intowhat it was, but it was very
triggering for past abuse anddifferent things that had
happened.
And it's interesting becausewhen you start learning about
(13:09):
the nervous system and all ofthat, when you get triggered,
it's like you're You're put backin that time
Speaker 02 (13:14):
and
Speaker 00 (13:15):
that place.
And so this thing thathappened, it put me back to when
I was not free to create and itwasn't safe in my life to
create.
And it was like right before Iwas like, oh, I get a few days
to myself to just retreat, topaint and have this freedom.
And I haven't felt creativelyblocked like that in a really
(13:37):
long time.
Because I've kind of, you know,moved through it.
Yeah.
In a lot of ways.
But then this, you know, thisthing happened that was kind of
major and was very...
You know, yeah, it kind of putme back into that place.
And I was like, oh, what?
But, you know, coming back tothat again, once again, like
having grace and compassion foryourself.
(13:58):
Yeah.
And I almost was like, I justwant to like watch TV all day
and like not make anything.
And just, you know, I couldjust sit here and feel sorry for
myself.
And, you know, I had thesesketches that I had gotten done
and I had been really lookingforward to like finally having
the time to sit down and paintbecause it's been such a joyful
experience.
part of my life recently.
Speaker 02 (14:18):
And
Speaker 00 (14:20):
I procrastinated.
I ended up procrastinating bycreating a new embroidery
pattern instead of painting,which is a little bit a little
bit less intimidating.
Less intimidating to me.
It's a little bit less involvedwith my brain.
(14:43):
The way I think out paintingsand stuff.
It's a little bit lessinvolved.
It's a little more furry.
It's a little more just sketchydoodling kind of stuff.
It's interesting becauseembroidery for me is something
that my grandma taught me.
And You know, I think sometimesthings like embroidery is kind
(15:10):
of frowned upon as like this,you know, like, oh, it's the
only thing women were allowed todo for so long.
Yeah, kind of symbolizes likethe, now
Speaker 01 (15:23):
I can't think of the word,
Speaker 00 (15:24):
like the oppression of women.
Yes.
And now in today's world, likewe're actually get to like, own
our own our own power and ourown beings yeah um for like the
first some of the first times inhistory which is incredible um
and for me you know I I didn'tdo embroidery for a while
(15:48):
because I like went into thatlike I allowed that belief to um
I don't know.
Be a belief.
Right.
Right.
But, you know, recently I've,I've started picking it up again
and, and it's got like reallygreat mental health benefits and
(16:09):
all that and all of that.
But then also it's somethingthat was passed down from the
women in my family and there ispower in that.
There is beauty in that.
And so, you know, this pastweek it was like I
procrastinating, like,procrastinated painting by, um,
by this other craft that it justfelt like this generational
(16:33):
strength that I leaned intowithout, you know, I wasn't
thinking about it that way, butjust afterwards it was like, oh,
that was actually powerful.
Like it was fun and it helpedgive me some of that strength.
It was, it's funny that Iprocrastinated being creative by
being creative.
(16:54):
Yeah.
But that is so me too.
Yeah.
So me.
Yeah.
But I
Speaker 01 (17:02):
don't know.
I know.
I love that.
That's really cool.
I love the reframe on that.
And, and thinking of it, youknow, instead of thinking of it
as like, that was the only thingthey were allowed to do.
And that was, you know, becauseof whatever and getting all
upset, you know, or into, intothat mode.
But thinking of it like this,this was something that, took
(17:25):
time and love and was passeddown from mother to daughter,
grandmother to grandchild, youknow, granddaughter.
And thinking of it as thatstrength and that community,
right?
And
Speaker 00 (17:37):
what an act of rebellion it is now to be like,
yeah, I own myself and I canstill do this if I want to.
Like I can choose that.
So there.
I
Speaker 01 (17:48):
love that.
Yeah, that's great.
I love that.
And it's so funny,procrastinating painting by
doing something else.
Yeah,
Speaker 00 (17:57):
but it really did.
It helped build up myconfidence and getting me, you
know, when you sit down andyou're creative, it helps take
you out of that flight or fightzone.
Speaker 01 (18:08):
It
Speaker 00 (18:09):
helped get me back into my physical body and where
I'm at today.
rather than the past.
Yeah.
Which is really important for,you know, nervous system.
Speaker 01 (18:17):
Yeah.
I remember hearing too, thatsomething about how important it
is to have like multiplecreative outlets, not just, not
just one, but, but multiple dodifferent things and, you know,
kind of diversify that.
And I don't know, I wasthinking with, with certain,
(18:42):
creative things, like whetherit's, you know, painting or
whatever it was that, thatbrought up trauma or you felt
like in the past and, you know,like whoever, if, if you feel
like that certain creativeoutlet was frowned upon or you
got criticized for it orwhatever.
And so it brings up trauma andthen going to a, to a different
(19:05):
creative outlet and how helpfulthat is to, to to negate the
trauma and you know like calmthe nervous system because like
you just said creativity calmsthe nervous system and um you
can't be anxious when you'recreative right is that the thing
(19:27):
it's like anxiety andcreativity can't like be at the
same time
Speaker 02 (19:31):
and
Speaker 01 (19:32):
so um being creative, whether or not it's
the thing that you set out to becreative in.
And then you had to like pivotand do something else because it
was like too much, you know, atthe time that that's still
great too.
You know, that's still iswonderful.
And it's, and it's helping,helping your nervous system and
(19:56):
helping, you know, your, youcalm, calm down and regulate
self-regulation and that, um,Yeah.
And
Speaker 00 (20:07):
like, and like the whole, like being anxious versus
being creative or, you know,it's, it's once you get into
that creative flow state, youknow, it creates these really
healthy alpha waves in ourbrains.
Yeah.
that is that puts you in ameditative state and that's
because I know like sometimeswhen we sit down to create we
(20:28):
feel very anxious and so it'slike no that's not true I am I
am anxious and creative at thesame time but it's like once you
are really getting into it itswitches
Speaker 01 (20:37):
yeah
Speaker 00 (20:37):
and you go into that creative state which is a very
meditative state and it's veryhealthy and it's very good for
us and like that's what thatmeans.
Yes.
Yeah.
Speaker 01 (20:47):
No, I'm glad you clarified that because there is
that confusion.
It's like, well, I'm creating,I'm anxious.
But yeah, when you get into it,when you let go, right.
When you let go of the outcomeand the perfectionism and
yourself
Speaker 00 (21:01):
just be in
Speaker 01 (21:01):
that moment, anxiety.
Yeah.
And you're just solely focusedon what you're doing
Speaker 02 (21:06):
and
Speaker 01 (21:07):
the, and the, you know, senses of everything.
And you're just in that in thatzone I think that's really
helpful too if I actually talkedabout this with my art
therapist yesterday oh wow yeahbecause I was you know I was
like I'm feeling really anxiousand she was like oh Well, try,
(21:28):
you know, maybe try just doinglike some doodling, some
scribbling or something, youknow, like both hands at the
same time and focus on, focus onthe senses of it.
Like focus on, you know, theway that it sounds, the way that
it feels, like all of thethings.
Right.
And just
Speaker 00 (21:43):
like sensory.
Speaker 01 (21:44):
Yeah.
Focus on that.
And then it kind of gets youout of that.
Speaker 00 (21:48):
Yeah.
Because that puts you in yourbody, gets you out of your head
and puts you into your body,which is such a healthy thing.
Such a healthy thing we can dofor ourselves, especially in the
culture and the society that welive in.
So much of us are just in thatanxious headspace.
Right.
Because there is so much toworry about.
So much to think about and somuch to consider.
Especially for those...
Yeah.
(22:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 01 (22:30):
it is healing and it really is a gift because when,
when, like when I am anxious
Speaker 02 (22:37):
and
Speaker 01 (22:37):
in that anxious headspace and not feeling my
body and my, you know, then I'mnot as, um, you know, not as
sensitive to those around me andI'm not as, you know, uh, I
don't know.
It just, it really is a lotmore negative and easier to like
lash out exactly fly off thehandle, whatever.
Um, because it's not, I'm notin a regulated state.
(23:02):
Yeah.
Right.
And so when, when we are inour, you know, in our bodies,
like feeling our bodies andreally in our sensory, paying
attention to the sensory thingsaround us, and that helps ground
us, right.
We're grounded, feelinggrounded.
And then that helps us feelregulated.
(23:24):
And so we're able to like,we're able to, um, regulate our
emotions and handle things a lotbetter.
And so interact with the peoplearound us a lot better too.
So yes, it really is a gift.
Speaker 00 (23:41):
Yeah.
So to our fellow women outthere who have the guilt or the
mom guilt or whatever, it'slike, oh, I can't create.
I can't waste time doing that.
I have to take care of otherpeople.
Okay.
Again, that's your nervoussystem saying that you are only
worthy if you're taking care ofother people, which is not true,
by the way.
But yeah, it's that it reallyis a gift.
(24:04):
Taking care of yourself,putting beauty and good things
out into the world.
What a gift and what a blessingyou are that you are here, that
you are wanting to take thesesteps.
and putting good things intothe world.
We need that.
We need that so much.
(24:25):
We just need an army, an armyof people who are wanting to put
beauty and light and goodthings into the world.
And love.
Yes, and love.
It sums all of it up.
It's just love, lovingyourself, loving others, putting
love out.
Heal the world.
We need you.
Thank you for being here andfor being a part of that, being
(24:47):
a part of our creative army.
Yes.
Speaker 01 (24:50):
And we, yeah, we love, we love this and are so
grateful that you're here.
That's it for today, friend.
Thanks for spending this timewith us.
We hope you're leaving with alittle more light, a little more
peace, and maybe even a nudgeto go be creative just because
it brings a little more joy toyour life.
(25:11):
If anything in this episodespoke to your heart, sparked a
thought, or made you smile, we'dlove it if you'd follow the
show, leave a quick five-starreview, or share it with someone
who might need a littlecreative encouragement too.
And remember, your creativitymatters.
Your voice matters.
You matter.
We're cheering you on Alwaysuntil next time, keep making,
(25:32):
keep softening and keep showingup as your whole beautiful self.
Thank you.
Welcome to the Art PeaceExperiment.
We're your hosts, two artistsand friends.
I'm Tasha.
And I'm Brianna.
At the end of 2024, we decidedwe wanted to cultivate more
safety, peace, love, alignment,and excitement through our art
(00:22):
and our art practices.
Speaker 01 (00:24):
So here we are sharing our journey with you.
And we're so excited you'rehere.
We hope you enjoy ourconversations.
They're honest, raw, just Justtwo friends talking to each
other about the realities oflife and creativity.
We're so excited for you tojoin us and be along with us for
the journey.
Speaker 00 (00:46):
Week five.
Here we are.
Yay.
So we had our artist retreats.
We did.
Last week or I mean this pastweek.
And we're going to talk aboutthat today.
But first.
There's something I actuallywant to address from what we
recorded last episode.
(01:07):
Go for it.
Okay.
So we talked about gettingready for our artist retreat.
Yes.
We talked about getting ourspaces all ready and all of
that, getting our studio officespaces all ready.
And I feel like it'd be kind ofirresponsible if we don't
address the fact that Having aperfect studio space is not a
(01:29):
requirement for actuallycreating.
Yes.
And I wanted to bring that upbecause I feel like if you're
listening to this, to the lastepisode and you're like, well, I
don't have a studio.
I don't have this space, so Ican't create.
A lot of my creative friendsand a lot of creatives that I've
talked to when they go throughthis process of, oh, I want to
(01:54):
create and I don't know, likethey go through those first
steps of starting to createagain and like talking
themselves into it basically.
And then a lot of them or a lotof us get to that point of, oh,
I don't need my art or mycreativity to be perfect.
(02:15):
Like I can just get it.
I'm like, I'm going to go forit.
I'm just going to do it.
And then we put up these otherblocks of, I don't have the
perfect space.
I don't have the perfectequipment.
Like this situation is not aperfect situation.
And so we put up this new blockfor ourselves of, okay, well, I
can't create because thingsaren't perfectly lined up and
ready.
Speaker 01 (02:34):
You're speaking about me, aren't you?
Speaker 00 (02:38):
Guilty.
Well, totally.
Yeah.
Me too.
Yeah.
Me too.
And so I just...
We will get, we will talkabout, we will talk about our
retreats, but I feel like thisis just, it's been bugging me
since we recorded the lastepisode and I just, it's like,
okay, I need, I need to addressthis.
Otherwise I can't live withmyself.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
No, I, I'm
Speaker 01 (02:57):
so glad you brought this up because I, As you very
well know, that was my block forso many years, so long, was
like, well, I don't really havea space, and I don't have a
studio, and I don't have, youknow, I need this, I need that,
I need this before I can reallystart.
(03:19):
Right.
Yeah.
There were a lot ofconversations about that.
Speaker 00 (03:25):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, I mean, I, I went throughthis too, or it's like, I don't
have what I need.
And, and I mean, it's reallymore just wants.
Yes.
Yeah.
Then needs.
Well,
Speaker 01 (03:36):
I feel like we, I feel like when you decide, you
know, that you kind of want tostart getting back into creative
things and you, you start byyou looking at the people around
Right.
Right.
They don't, I mean, it'sstarting now more, I feel like
(04:04):
in social media, but oftentimespeople don't show you the
messes.
They show you the perfectlycurated, you know, the little
pockets of where they have,where you can, you know, it
looks amazing and beautiful.
And then, but behind them is ahuge mess of their like living
room or whatever, you know, youjust, you don't see the rest of
it.
But when you're in thatbeginning, you know, to dip your
(04:27):
toes back into it and lookingat all of the people doing it, I
think that's really the waymost people start getting back
into it, you know?
And then you see it just beingso beautiful and so perfect and
everybody.
And so you think, oh, well,that's how I have to do it.
If I'm going to do it, then Ihave to have it that way because
(04:49):
that's how you do it, right?
Because that's what you'reseeing.
Speaker 00 (04:52):
Right.
Yeah.
Because I mean, I think lasttime I mentioned like getting
back into creating again and Idon't know if this was last
episode or before, but it waslike I had my daughter and
that's when I was like, oh, Ineed to start taking myself
seriously and believing in mydreams and stuff again.
And I, at the time, was livingat my parents'.
(05:12):
I just had a baby.
I was living at my parents'house.
And I didn't have a studiospace or an office space or
really any space that was myown.
It was my husband and I were...
We had one bedroom that weshared with our new baby in my
parents' house.
I had nowhere to go that wasprivate or just for me.
(05:36):
My art time was I finally gother down to take a nap and I
would just lay on the bed nextto her little Yeah.
Bassinet.
Thank you.
I lost the word.
And, you know, as she took napsand sometimes it was, you know,
five minutes of just reallymessy doodling and that's how it
started.
Speaker 01 (05:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 00 (05:57):
There was no perfect office space.
Like, yes, now I am veryprivileged and very blessed to
have my home studio and officespace.
And it's not perfect.
It's not, it's not beautifullydesigned and like put together.
Yeah.
Um, but it, it works for whereI'm at right now.
Speaker 01 (06:16):
Hmm.
You know, I love that.
I mean, I was just, that mademe think about my, my experience
with that too.
Like in high school, I was inall the art classes, right.
And I like art was my life for,for those, you know, four
years.
And, and so I had, I had spaceand then I went off to college
and it, I didn't have space andI didn't know how to actually
(06:39):
create without like, Hmm.
time and space and, you know,like how to, how to create in
those little pockets instead oflike dedicating a huge amount of
time and then, you know,becoming a mom and getting
married and like all of thosethings.
And so getting, so I let go ofit.
Right.
And, and getting back into it,it was with coloring books.
(06:59):
Like that's what it was.
I didn't have a, I didn't havean office.
I didn't have a studio.
I didn't have anything.
all of my things set up andbeautiful.
You sat on the couch, youshared with me.
Yes, I did.
Didn't even have a couch.
I had my one little coloringbook and my colored pencils and
we just, you know, and a blanketlike on the couch.
(07:22):
And that was my, that was, thatwas my time, you know, that was
my art time and my creativetime like that.
And then, you know, eventuallyit led to into me wanting to do
it more and getting outsketchbooks and, you know,
actually making– my own art and,and dedicating a space and
(07:45):
creating that space, you know,but it was a gradual thing.
It was not like, Hmm, I want todo this.
And then boom, it was done.
You know, like it took years tobuild up that.
I have arrived.
Speaker 00 (07:57):
I'm an artist now.
It's official.
I decided one day to the nextbecause I have a beautiful, uh,
beautiful space.
I am now an artist.
That's not how it works.
You creating is what makes youa creative.
Having the perfect space,having every situation perfect
is not what makes you acreative.
Speaker 01 (08:18):
It's showing up in those little Little pockets
where you can and, and, andshowing your, your brain and
your, your nervous system andthat it's important, you know,
that you're, you're continuingto do those things.
So then, oh, that must meanit's, it's
Speaker 00 (08:35):
important.
Yeah.
You got to crawl before you canrun.
Exactly.
You know, and like giveyourself that grace and that
compassion to, to crawl, to, youknow, like have those
imperfect, moments and they canbe little and yeah that's and I
don't say little in like anykind of negative way like it's a
(08:57):
beautiful thing to
Speaker 01 (08:58):
yeah
Speaker 00 (08:58):
to have those moments for yourself and to let
yourself start that growth soanyways and another thing too is
I feel like when we startembracing the creative side of
us and wanting to start thisprocess and this journey it's
art and creativity is anexpression.
It's one way that we canexpress things.
(09:21):
We've talked about this before,but I feel like there's this
natural progression of us tryingto convince ourselves that
we're allowed to take up space.
And so it feels very naturaland real to me that A lot of the
creatives I've talked to havethat block of, oh, but I don't
have space for this.
Do you have it?
(09:42):
Right?
Like so many of us have thatand it's very real.
And so, you know, be gentlewith yourself.
Be gently curious and just diginto the like, okay, what is a
need?
What is a want?
What little step can I taketoday to get me towards where I
(10:04):
want to go?
And it doesn't have to looklike, like my life right now
doesn't have to look like whereI want to go.
Just what little moment can Ihave today that I can give
myself to go in the direction?
Yeah,
Speaker 01 (10:18):
to get...
That started in that direction.
I love that.
That was so good.
Thank you.
Thank
Speaker 00 (10:25):
you.
I mean, I told you it's beenbothering me all week.
I'm like, oh, I gotta talkabout that.
So it's been like, oh, I can't,I can't just leave that episode
alone.
We gotta, we gotta addressthis.
We gotta talk about that.
Speaker 01 (10:35):
Yeah.
Cause yeah, absolutely.
So true.
I, yeah, spent so much timewith that block and just
worrying about it and being likeI but I can't do it because I
don't have the space like yousaid that was such a good
connection um yeah but you youdon't have to take a lot of
space to show up
Speaker 00 (10:57):
that's right right and
Speaker 01 (10:58):
then at first you know like you you don't have to
you don't have to haveeverything in place just have to
start
Speaker 00 (11:05):
Yeah.
I love that.
Okay.
So you get a double, doublewhammy today.
That feels like a whole episodein and of itself.
So
Speaker 01 (11:11):
good.
We can
Speaker 00 (11:12):
just keep dying forever.
Now I know, but now, now we getto talk about the art retreat
and how that went.
And did you
Speaker 01 (11:20):
create this week?
You know, I love, I lovesegwaying off onto that, you
know, from, from what we justtalked about because the artist
retreat, I mean, we, we couldhave done so many things with
our time.
But we chose to do, to do ourartist retreat, to prioritize
ourselves and our art.
(11:40):
Love that for us, by the way.
I know.
I feel like that was such a bigstep for us.
I know it was for me.
That was a big step.
It was hard because I started–Right.
Yeah.
(12:14):
Yeah.
to take up space and it's okayto show up for yourself
Speaker 00 (12:47):
in that way.
Right.
So I had an interestingexperience because right before
starting my retreat is I hadthis very triggering thing
happen.
And I'm not going to get intowhat it was, but it was very
triggering for past abuse anddifferent things that had
happened.
And it's interesting becausewhen you start learning about
(13:09):
the nervous system and all ofthat, when you get triggered,
it's like you're You're put backin that time
Speaker 02 (13:14):
and
Speaker 00 (13:15):
that place.
And so this thing thathappened, it put me back to when
I was not free to create and itwasn't safe in my life to
create.
And it was like right before Iwas like, oh, I get a few days
to myself to just retreat, topaint and have this freedom.
And I haven't felt creativelyblocked like that in a really
(13:37):
long time.
Because I've kind of, you know,moved through it.
Yeah.
In a lot of ways.
But then this, you know, thisthing happened that was kind of
major and was very...
You know, yeah, it kind of putme back into that place.
And I was like, oh, what?
But, you know, coming back tothat again, once again, like
having grace and compassion foryourself.
(13:58):
Yeah.
And I almost was like, I justwant to like watch TV all day
and like not make anything.
And just, you know, I couldjust sit here and feel sorry for
myself.
And, you know, I had thesesketches that I had gotten done
and I had been really lookingforward to like finally having
the time to sit down and paintbecause it's been such a joyful
experience.
part of my life recently.
Speaker 02 (14:18):
And
Speaker 00 (14:20):
I procrastinated.
I ended up procrastinating bycreating a new embroidery
pattern instead of painting,which is a little bit a little
bit less intimidating.
Less intimidating to me.
It's a little bit less involvedwith my brain.
(14:43):
The way I think out paintingsand stuff.
It's a little bit lessinvolved.
It's a little more furry.
It's a little more just sketchydoodling kind of stuff.
It's interesting becauseembroidery for me is something
that my grandma taught me.
And You know, I think sometimesthings like embroidery is kind
(15:10):
of frowned upon as like this,you know, like, oh, it's the
only thing women were allowed todo for so long.
Yeah, kind of symbolizes likethe, now
Speaker 01 (15:23):
I can't think of the word,
Speaker 00 (15:24):
like the oppression of women.
Yes.
And now in today's world, likewe're actually get to like, own
our own our own power and ourown beings yeah um for like the
first some of the first times inhistory which is incredible um
and for me you know I I didn'tdo embroidery for a while
(15:48):
because I like went into thatlike I allowed that belief to um
I don't know.
Be a belief.
Right.
Right.
But, you know, recently I've,I've started picking it up again
and, and it's got like reallygreat mental health benefits and
(16:09):
all that and all of that.
But then also it's somethingthat was passed down from the
women in my family and there ispower in that.
There is beauty in that.
And so, you know, this pastweek it was like I
procrastinating, like,procrastinated painting by, um,
by this other craft that it justfelt like this generational
(16:33):
strength that I leaned intowithout, you know, I wasn't
thinking about it that way, butjust afterwards it was like, oh,
that was actually powerful.
Like it was fun and it helpedgive me some of that strength.
It was, it's funny that Iprocrastinated being creative by
being creative.
(16:54):
Yeah.
But that is so me too.
Yeah.
So me.
Yeah.
But I
Speaker 01 (17:02):
don't know.
I know.
I love that.
That's really cool.
I love the reframe on that.
And, and thinking of it, youknow, instead of thinking of it
as like, that was the only thingthey were allowed to do.
And that was, you know, becauseof whatever and getting all
upset, you know, or into, intothat mode.
But thinking of it like this,this was something that, took
(17:25):
time and love and was passeddown from mother to daughter,
grandmother to grandchild, youknow, granddaughter.
And thinking of it as thatstrength and that community,
right?
And
Speaker 00 (17:37):
what an act of rebellion it is now to be like,
yeah, I own myself and I canstill do this if I want to.
Like I can choose that.
So there.
I
Speaker 01 (17:48):
love that.
Yeah, that's great.
I love that.
And it's so funny,procrastinating painting by
doing something else.
Yeah,
Speaker 00 (17:57):
but it really did.
It helped build up myconfidence and getting me, you
know, when you sit down andyou're creative, it helps take
you out of that flight or fightzone.
Speaker 01 (18:08):
It
Speaker 00 (18:09):
helped get me back into my physical body and where
I'm at today.
rather than the past.
Yeah.
Which is really important for,you know, nervous system.
Speaker 01 (18:17):
Yeah.
I remember hearing too, thatsomething about how important it
is to have like multiplecreative outlets, not just, not
just one, but, but multiple dodifferent things and, you know,
kind of diversify that.
And I don't know, I wasthinking with, with certain,
(18:42):
creative things, like whetherit's, you know, painting or
whatever it was that, thatbrought up trauma or you felt
like in the past and, you know,like whoever, if, if you feel
like that certain creativeoutlet was frowned upon or you
got criticized for it orwhatever.
And so it brings up trauma andthen going to a, to a different
(19:05):
creative outlet and how helpfulthat is to, to to negate the
trauma and you know like calmthe nervous system because like
you just said creativity calmsthe nervous system and um you
can't be anxious when you'recreative right is that the thing
(19:27):
it's like anxiety andcreativity can't like be at the
same time
Speaker 02 (19:31):
and
Speaker 01 (19:32):
so um being creative, whether or not it's
the thing that you set out to becreative in.
And then you had to like pivotand do something else because it
was like too much, you know, atthe time that that's still
great too.
You know, that's still iswonderful.
And it's, and it's helping,helping your nervous system and
(19:56):
helping, you know, your, youcalm, calm down and regulate
self-regulation and that, um,Yeah.
And
Speaker 00 (20:07):
like, and like the whole, like being anxious versus
being creative or, you know,it's, it's once you get into
that creative flow state, youknow, it creates these really
healthy alpha waves in ourbrains.
Yeah.
that is that puts you in ameditative state and that's
because I know like sometimeswhen we sit down to create we
(20:28):
feel very anxious and so it'slike no that's not true I am I
am anxious and creative at thesame time but it's like once you
are really getting into it itswitches
Speaker 01 (20:37):
yeah
Speaker 00 (20:37):
and you go into that creative state which is a very
meditative state and it's veryhealthy and it's very good for
us and like that's what thatmeans.
Yes.
Yeah.
Speaker 01 (20:47):
No, I'm glad you clarified that because there is
that confusion.
It's like, well, I'm creating,I'm anxious.
But yeah, when you get into it,when you let go, right.
When you let go of the outcomeand the perfectionism and
yourself
Speaker 00 (21:01):
just be in
Speaker 01 (21:01):
that moment, anxiety.
Yeah.
And you're just solely focusedon what you're doing
Speaker 02 (21:06):
and
Speaker 01 (21:07):
the, and the, you know, senses of everything.
And you're just in that in thatzone I think that's really
helpful too if I actually talkedabout this with my art
therapist yesterday oh wow yeahbecause I was you know I was
like I'm feeling really anxiousand she was like oh Well, try,
(21:28):
you know, maybe try just doinglike some doodling, some
scribbling or something, youknow, like both hands at the
same time and focus on, focus onthe senses of it.
Like focus on, you know, theway that it sounds, the way that
it feels, like all of thethings.
Right.
And just
Speaker 00 (21:43):
like sensory.
Speaker 01 (21:44):
Yeah.
Focus on that.
And then it kind of gets youout of that.
Speaker 00 (21:48):
Yeah.
Because that puts you in yourbody, gets you out of your head
and puts you into your body,which is such a healthy thing.
Such a healthy thing we can dofor ourselves, especially in the
culture and the society that welive in.
So much of us are just in thatanxious headspace.
Right.
Because there is so much toworry about.
So much to think about and somuch to consider.
Especially for those...
Yeah.
(22:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 01 (22:30):
it is healing and it really is a gift because when,
when, like when I am anxious
Speaker 02 (22:37):
and
Speaker 01 (22:37):
in that anxious headspace and not feeling my
body and my, you know, then I'mnot as, um, you know, not as
sensitive to those around me andI'm not as, you know, uh, I
don't know.
It just, it really is a lotmore negative and easier to like
lash out exactly fly off thehandle, whatever.
Um, because it's not, I'm notin a regulated state.
(23:02):
Yeah.
Right.
And so when, when we are inour, you know, in our bodies,
like feeling our bodies andreally in our sensory, paying
attention to the sensory thingsaround us, and that helps ground
us, right.
We're grounded, feelinggrounded.
And then that helps us feelregulated.
(23:24):
And so we're able to like,we're able to, um, regulate our
emotions and handle things a lotbetter.
And so interact with the peoplearound us a lot better too.
So yes, it really is a gift.
Speaker 00 (23:41):
Yeah.
So to our fellow women outthere who have the guilt or the
mom guilt or whatever, it'slike, oh, I can't create.
I can't waste time doing that.
I have to take care of otherpeople.
Okay.
Again, that's your nervoussystem saying that you are only
worthy if you're taking care ofother people, which is not true,
by the way.
But yeah, it's that it reallyis a gift.
(24:04):
Taking care of yourself,putting beauty and good things
out into the world.
What a gift and what a blessingyou are that you are here, that
you are wanting to take thesesteps.
and putting good things intothe world.
We need that.
We need that so much.
(24:25):
We just need an army, an armyof people who are wanting to put
beauty and light and goodthings into the world.
And love.
Yes, and love.
It sums all of it up.
It's just love, lovingyourself, loving others, putting
love out.
Heal the world.
We need you.
Thank you for being here andfor being a part of that, being
(24:47):
a part of our creative army.
Yes.
Speaker 01 (24:50):
And we, yeah, we love, we love this and are so
grateful that you're here.
That's it for today, friend.
Thanks for spending this timewith us.
We hope you're leaving with alittle more light, a little more
peace, and maybe even a nudgeto go be creative just because
it brings a little more joy toyour life.
(25:11):
If anything in this episodespoke to your heart, sparked a
thought, or made you smile, we'dlove it if you'd follow the
show, leave a quick five-starreview, or share it with someone
who might need a littlecreative encouragement too.
And remember, your creativitymatters.
Your voice matters.
You matter.
We're cheering you on Alwaysuntil next time, keep making,
(25:32):
keep softening and keep showingup as your whole beautiful self.
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