Ever wonder why time flies when you're lost in art or how your artistic journey takes unexpected, yet gratifying turns? This is the magical state of FLOW. Join us as we explore the the concept of flow state and its PROFOUND influence on your creativity. While you can't force flow state, we'll share some practical techniques to create a conducive environment to induce flow state.  Press play to tune in now! Click here to watch the episode mentioned on creating rituals, routines, and an environment to confidently create more art.If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Have you ever sat down to create and the next thing you know you're folding laundry or watching Netflix? You're likely encountering RESISTANCE... an invisible force that every single person on earth experiences. Join us, this week, as we explore the subtle force of resistance that often crops up in an artist/creative's journey. Overcoming creative resistance is essential for artists, as it unlocks the pathway to uninhibited expression, allowing your authentic voice  and artistic vision to flourish.Mama Judy and I will draw parallels between resistance and impostor syndrome (as talked about in episode #6), offering practical techniques to overcome these challenges and liberate your creative expression.Tune in! Click here to tune into episode #6 on Imposter Syndrome.If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Wanda Katz creates the most magical miniature books. She's relatively new as an artist, exercising her creative aptitude daily in her wonderful studio in the UK, after an early retirement of translating for the United Nations (she's fluent in Italian!) at the age of 50. Wanda has always had an aesthetic eye, but to call herself an "artist" may have felt like a stretch until she began creating art in book form. Tune in to learn about Wanda's journey from a young girl who loved books to the artist that she is today. We also uncover how Wanda grew an adoring audience quite quickly on Instagram, and all that inspires her as an artist. Click here to check some of Wanda's beautiful work on Instagram. If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

This week, Mama Judy and I explore how stepping into the great outdoors not only fuels your creativity but also works wonders for your wellbeing. It's scientifically proven that the calming effects of nature can reduce anxiety, a perfect antidote when tackling new art projects or techniques. Whether it's the sea's soothing sounds or the quiet solitude under a tree, nature can help us feel more relaxed and focused, thereby enhancing our creativity.Join us as we chat about the benefits of being immersed in nature, from the mental wellbeing perspective to being able to observe the tiny nuances of plants to allowing the shapes and colors of nature to inspire your work. There's a certain depth and texture that pieces of nature – leaves, sticks, shells, even tree bark and acorn caps – can add to your artwork.Whether you're an artist seeking inspiration or simply a lover of nature, we hope you'll enjoy this episode.A few inspiring creatives mentioned in this episode: Alexandra on Instagram (uses shells and pebbles in her art) Megan on Instagram (uses eco dyeing/printing in her art) If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Creativity is often a deeply personal and transformative process, but many of us find ourselves held back by fear and self-doubt. In this week's episode, we dive into this critical intersection of creativity and fear with our special guest, Kimberly Mason. A busy wife, mother, and pathologist by profession, Kimberly shares her personal journey of longing for artistic expression and the roadblocks she's faced along the way.One of the biggest barriers to creative expression is fear. Fear of vulnerability, fear of judgment, and fear of disappointment often stop us from pursuing our creative dreams. Our conversation with Kimberly uncovers the importance of creating a safe space for creativity and the value of taking small, consistent steps towards our creative goals. Tune in to find out if the art "challenge" we propose to Kimberly helps get her creative juices flowing. If you're feeling stuck, this same challenge might be just the thing to get your own creative momentum going.   If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

We’ve got something special to share with you in this podcast episode. It’s a bit different this time because Mama Judy and I (Jill) are together in the same room, and let us tell you, the joy of recording in person was incredible!But here’s the best part – it’s not just about us. This episode is a big shoutout to our amazing creative community. Your love and support mean the world to us, and we wanted to show our appreciation. So, we’re launching our Gratitude Giveaway! We’ve put together a beautiful journal and a handcrafted bag just for you and we share them with you on today’s episode.Click here for the details on how to enter and win the giveaway. (NOTE: Deadline for entry and winner announcement is on Saturday, November 4, 2023)We can’t thank you enough for being a part of our journey. Your enthusiasm keeps us going, and we can’t wait to share more with you in our upcoming episodes. Until then, keep that creative spirit alive!We hope you enjoy today’s chat!Click HERE to enter the giveaway.If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and wondered about the feelings that inspired the artist? Can you imagine how their happiness, sadness, anger, or love influenced every brushstroke and color choice?We’re going to explore how our emotions have a big impact on our creative output. We’ll share our own experiences and talk about how our inner and outer feelings not only guide our artwork but also affect how people see it. We’ll also ask a tough question: is it ever okay to stop working on a creative project if it’s making us feel bad? Plus, we’ll explore how art can change us and share some tips on using our emotions to boost our creativity.This journey has given us a better understanding of how emotions and creativity are connected, and we hope you’ll find it just as enlightening. Tune in and let’s celebrate the emotional side of art together!Also, we’re celebrating our 20th podcast episode today!It’s been so much fun and we so appreciate you joining us each week.Please take a listen today and celebrate with us by sharing our podcast with a friend or two.We hope you enjoy today’s chat!If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Ever wondered how embracing boredom can fuel your creativity? Join Mama Judy and myself as we redefine boredom. Instead of filling every moment of the day with busyness, we invite you to embrace those idle moments as golden opportunities to declutter your thoughts and let your imagination fuel your creativity. Instead of fearing boredom, let's repurpose it as a catalyst for personal and creative growth! We hope you enjoy!If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In this episode, we dive into an essential part of the artistic process – self-understanding. Mama Judy and I share our personal stories and lend insights on how traits like procrastination, laziness, a get-it-done mindset can greatly influence the creative process. We also chat about how the artistic medium you choose might be influenced by your personal preferences. You'll learn how comfort with certain mediums can guide your choice and influence the work you create.  We also explore how asking the right questions can help you understand your artistic practices better. For a list of the questions Mama Judy suggested you ponder, click here.We hope you enjoy! We mentioned a few episodes during our chat today. Here are the links: Watch episode 17 with artists Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle.  Listen here to episode 15 on the power of commitment to your art. Listen to episode 12 here and episode 13 here where we talk about the power of accountability to be able to create art consistently. If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In this episode, Mama Judy and I had the pleasure of chatting with Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle, mother-daughter duo who both happen to be successful professional artists in Asheville, NC. Bee and Molly each share their own stories of how they came to be the artists they are today. From where they draw from for inspiration in their art, to what it’s like working in adjoining studios in the River Arts District, to an “origin” story that will give you full body goosebumps! We hope you enjoy today’s chat! Click here to find Bee on Instagram.Bee’s website.Click here to find Molly on Instagram.Molly’s website.If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In this episode, Mama Judy and I (Jill) are diving deep into the challenges of perfectionism in the realm of creativity. If you’ve struggled with perfectionism, you know it can take serious hold of your creativity and imagination – acting like a brake – stripping away the joy, spontaneity, and natural flow that fuels the artistic spirit. We talk about the fact that true growth in any art form is a journey, and reaching a point of perceived perfection leaves no room for evolution.We also touch on the difference between the healthy pursuit of excellence and the stifling weight of setting impossibly high standards, and what that looks like.And for anyone really struggling with this mental block, Mama Judy and I offer a challenge to you… one we hope will set you free from the constraints of perfectionism. We hope you enjoy today’s chat! A few of our past episodes mentioned in this episode: #11: How to Enrich Your Imagination to Fuel Your Creativity#8: Art Can Heal Part 1 (Where Mama Judy and I share our stories)#9: Art Can Heal Part 2: An Interview with Val Vaganek#15: The Power of Commitment in Your Art Practice: Exploring Dedication, Balance, and FreedomIf you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Mama Judy read something about commitment to art recently that turned the lightbulb up in a way that gave her a renewed desire to be committed to the entire process of a creative journey, NOT just the easy and fun stuff! So this week we decided to explore some different angles of the word commitment – different ways that we hope might spark you to look at how you view commitment, in the general sense, and how you view your commitment to your art.We hope you enjoy today’s chat! Resources mentioned in this episode:Book: Creativity from the Inside Out by Cathy Wild Artists on Instagram mentioned in episode: Shawn Petite Katie Holmes If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

This week Mama Judy and I are diving into the age-old question of why humans are drawn to create art. We discuss how art provides you with a way to express the inner part of your being –  a way that traditional forms of communication can’t express. Mama Judy shares how doing art can physiologically change your body, alleviating anxiety and pain. And we both share how creating art can bring you a sense of joy. We’d love to hear from you… why do YOU do art? Resources mentioned in episode: Book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick RubinArtists on Instagram mentioned: Alex Castro FerreiraCarinne Meyerink Instagram If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In this episode, Mama Judy and I talk about something we both love to participate in: what we call artist playdates! There is such connection and creative growth in coming together with other artistic souls, whether it's an intimate session with just one other person or a larger gathering. A playgroup is designed to be a nurturing space where you can express your creativity.Whether you're seeking collaboration, accountability, eager to learn from fellow artists or experiment with new techniques, or simply longing for a safe space to engage in what you love (be it knitting, stitching, painting, coloring, etc.), a playgroup offers a meaningful way to connect with your creativity and build lasting relationships with like-minded creatives.Mama Judy and I discuss how both introverts and extroverts can find a place in these creative gatherings. Mama Judy, as an introvert, reveals how these play dates have added depth to her life and turned creative collaboration into a precious gift.While I, Jill, the more extroverted of us two share the beauty of my larger neighborhood playdate groups. Our goal for this episode is to share our experiences and ideas so you might be inspired to start or join a creative playgroup of your own. We hope you enjoy!  Watch this episode on our YouTube channel here.If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In this episode, Mama Judy and I talk about the importance of carving out a personal space AND time for your art practice. By doing this, you lay the groundwork for creativity and help yourself build a consistent routine for engaging with your art.We share our own tried-and-true rituals and routines and hope that something you learn will inspire a more enjoyable and consistent time in your creative process. We hope you’ll tune in! Resources mentioned in this episode:Video on needle felting on fabric (I love Tracey’s videos!)My (Jill’s) felting tool mentioned in the episode. If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Remember how we used to make up amazing stories and worlds when we were little? It's easy to lose that magic as we grow up with so many other things going on.In Episode 11, we're going to talk about how to bring back that sense of wonder and excitement we had as kids. We'll share some fun exercises to help you be more creative, which can also make you feel more confident in your art.Mama Judy and I both think that a lot of people forget how to use their imagination. We believe it's important to spend time remembering how to dream and play. Like Mama Judy says, sometimes we need to "take the rational mind out of the picture." Our hope is to help you feel like that creative, playful child again when you're working on your art!Please help us shape upcoming episodes of The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast! What's something you'd like us to talk about?  Click here and let us know (it will take less than one minute). If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Our conversation this week is about creating authentic art. Authentic art feels genuine in its creation. It reflects your own, personal style. And it provides a small glimpse into your soul!In our previous talks on the pitfalls of imposter syndrome and comparison, we described how these stifle our creativity. Similarly, they shield us from our authentic self. We need this self, the truest version of ourselves, to be present in the creation of art that can be seen as genuinely meaningful.Mama Judy advises us to listen to our hearts to gain access to this self. She suggests authenticity is not a product of our thoughts, but of our feelings. We should pay attention to what we love and explore the areas uncovered by that spotlight. If you’re having fun with your artistic endeavors, you’re on the right track!Click here to check out the show notes page on our website to see the grungy journal Mama Judy referenced AND for a link to the Gelli Plate Printing tutorial.  If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

In part 2 of Art Can Heal, Mama Judy and I talk with Val Vaganek and look at ways art has helped her overcome trauma and how it continues to.Using objects from her life that previously triggered painful emotions, Val reshapes their significance with her art. The trauma these “artifacts” represent may not have been thoroughly verbalized, but art has provided the voice and empowered a sense of self in Val to confidently move forward in healing. This safe space is where she allows triggered emotions to surface for examination and where she repurposes them to her design.Val’s Instagram profile features the quote, “Our issues are in our tissues”, which touches on her understanding of how our traumas are stored in our bodies. She says one of the most powerful ways to experience relief from trauma is through somatic experience. By physically rearranging the items she views as representing pain, her body is engaged in the creative process of rewriting her narrative. So, body and mind are joined in this creativity, which she aptly describes as “cathartic”.This discussion really opened our eyes to the power of art to overcome. And, while we already appreciated art’s healing influence in our own experiences, that appreciation has been magnified by hearing Val’s story. (Click here to connect with Val on Instagram)If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Art can be a powerful force in overcoming pain - both emotional and physical. In Episode #8, Mama Judy and I share our experiences in practicing art as a way to heal from past traumas.When a person engages in the act of creation, we often shift our attention away from pain. Diversion is useful in this way and can lessen the severity of our suffering. But art can also help by taking the opposite approach - by sharpening our focus on our pain. In this episode, we talk about ways to encourage the expression of whatever it is that ails us and making artistic use of that expression. Not only do we benefit from bringing problems to the light where they can be more easily examined, but our art benefits from the dark and rich texture this beautiful layer provides!Our goal for this episode is to share our experiences using art as a form of healing from trauma in the hope that you might learn something that will bring you healing, too. Resources mentioned in this episode: EMDR TherapyIFS TherapyJournal SpeakSoul Collage If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram

Artists often find themselves caught in the grip of what is commonly known as "comparison syndrome," which bears striking similarities to the toxic mindset we discussed just last week - imposter syndrome.In episode #7, Mama Judy suggests that the reason for these debilitating conditions might be our need for validation from others. When we start feeling jealous, resentful, or doubting ourselves when we look at other artists' work, comparison syndrome may be to blame. Today’s podcast reminds us to look inward for an appreciation of our artistic offerings. Even if we can find gratitude for one small detail we like about our own work, it can make a positive impact on how we engage with our craft. When we concentrate on our chosen way of expressing ourselves and appreciate it, the negative effects of comparing ourselves to others become less prominent.  If you'd prefer to watch this podcast, you can find us over on our YouTube page (The Mama Judy & Jill Podcast).We'd LOVE to hear from you! Click here to send us your thoughts and ideas for a future episode.Send us a direct message on Instagram:>> Mama Judy on Instagram>>Jill on Instagram