A podcast about how to identify and overcome your creative roadblocks with artist and coach, Christine Garvey. Each episode will include concepts you can apply in your creative practice to move through "ruts" and get excited to make your work again. www.amightypractice.com www.christine-garvey.com info@amightypractice.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amightypractice/support
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Comparing yourself to others and feeling like trash? This episode is for you. We'll talk about WHY we look to other people to understand what we want. We'll talk about the difference between Fueling and Comparing, and behaviors that will help vs. hurt your creative practice. We'll also talk about how to get out of the toxic comparison-mindset cycle…
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If you're having one of those days where you feel like you're not getting anywhere or you're not making progress toward your goals, this episode is for you. We'll talk about what forward momentum looks like in your work, and ways to recognize it when it's happening (even if it feels like it's not!). In case you missed it: sign up for our next coach…
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"Your direction is more important than your speed." Today's episode is inspired by a quote from writer, RL Evans (with my own creative interpretation). Are you prioritizing speed or direction in your creative life? And how does that show up? We'll talk through some examples of how this can look, and where you might be getting stuck. Check out our 6…
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"Is this the right idea? Is this the right path? Should I change directions completely?" If you're asking these questions, you might be on the verge of what I call a PANIC PIVOT. This is super common for artists. We often think there is one golden project, one GOLDEN CHOICE, where there is no resistance, no stress, no troubleshooting, no self doubt…
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In this episode I'll talk about the 3 truths of ambition. I'll also talk about the difference between scarcity mindset and ambition. Listen in if you want to find a healthier relationship to your creative ambition and goals. Get on the waitlist for our next coaching group: https://www.amightypractice.com/6-month-coaching-program --- Support this po…
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63. Why you're not reaching your creative goals.
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When you try to reach a creative goal, what gets in the way? Is it your inner critic? A dip in confidence? A feeling of overwhelm or lack of a plan? In this episode, I will use the 5-stages of the creative process to identify 5 goal-setting pitfalls: obligation, focus, moving the "goal post," setting too many goals, and emphasizing motion vs. actio…
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In this first episode of our goal-setting series, we'll talk about how to set goals you actually want vs. goals you think you should want. We have a lot of competing priorities as artists - making work, showing work, selling work, paying bills etc. It can be hard to sort through what deserves our attention and what we actually want for our creative…
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Why do you make creative work? What motivates you? When I ask artists this question, I get a range of answers: "It feels good to get a sale" or "I love the feedback" or "I like being invited to participate in shows." In this episode I talk about the difference between results and motivation. It's super easy to confuse them, but results and motivati…
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Self-doubt is something all artists struggle with. In this episode, we'll talk about a helpful framework for thinking about self-doubt courtesy of Rick Rubin's book, The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Rubin notes there's a distinction between doubting yourself and doubting your work. One doubt is helpful, the other is not. I'll share an exercise to …
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When we're working on a large, ambitious project, it's easy to get overwhelmed with challenges. We have a million questions around HOW we're going to make the project happen. Seeing all our questions at once can make the project feel impossible. The secret is having a STRUCTURE for addressing our questions. We need to know what questions to address…
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58. Collaboration and the creative process.
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What's your relationship to collaboration? What makes collaborating with other creative individuals exciting? What makes it hard? In this episode I talk about some do's and dont's around collaboration. I'll share my own experiences with collaboration and common challenges artists face when it comes to collaborating with others on their creative vis…
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57. Two roadblocks from the AMP community.
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In today's episode we hear from two artists in the AMP Community. We'll talk about the roadblocks they shared with us through IG. The topics include: the challenges of new motherhood, finding the right balance, and getting help when you're juggling a lot. We'll also talk about being at a crossroads in your creative life, choosing a direction, and p…
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56. Playing to your creative strengths with coach NATALIE DAVIS.
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This week I talk to artist, entrepreneur, and business coach Natalie Davis. In this episode, we talk about the multi-faceted creative life Natalie's built for herself - from her creative practice in leather, to being a creative director and co-owner of several restaurants in Austin, to coaching creatives through the ups-and-downs of their businesse…
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In today's episode we'll talk about the feeling "time is running out." Many artists feel this way - like they're running out of time to do the work they want to do, or accomplish the things they set out to do earlier in their lives. In this episode, we'll look at the emotions behind this statement (the fear + the urgency) and understand how to proc…
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In this episode, we talk about the creative archetype of the STRIVER. Strivers are artists that over-invest in the generate stage of the creative process, and as a result, get stuck. They experience a feeling of scarcity - the idea that there will "never be enough" - around their creative production or output. This mindset can lead to burnout. In t…
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In this episode, we'll talk about how to take charge of your creative life (i.e. how to stop being a PASSENGER and start being the DRIVER of your life!). We'll talk about the concept of reacting vs. responding to the world around us, particularly when it comes to creative opportunities for our work. We'll talk about our baggage around asking for wh…
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In this episode we talk about VANITY GOALS. It's the start of a new year and you might be in a goal-setting mindset. While planning for the year ahead is important, there are many goal-setting pitfalls. One of these is setting vanity goals. A vanity goal is a goal that is led by a focus on surface level metrics. It is centered around status and app…
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In this episode, I talk with artist and coach STEPHANIE de COUTO COSTA about getting blocked in your 20's vs. getting blocked in your 30's. We talk about things that blocked us in our 20's (ex: doing it "right," other people's opinions, status symbols) and the things that block us in our 30's (time! energy! security!). We talk about what ENERGIZES …
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50. Having "too many" creative interests.
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In this episode we'll talk about a common fear: "I have too many creative interests!" When we say "I have too many interests" what are we worried is the problem? How does that thought become a block? In this episode we'll talk about 4 common fears behind that statement: 1. I'm not an expert at any one thing. 2. All my work is disconnected. 3. I'm s…
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In this episode, we talk about how to leverage John Cleese's concept of the Open Mode and the Closed Mode in our creative practices. The Open Mode is when you're experimenting, exploring, creating, and saying "yes" to possibilities. The Closed Mode is when you're being critical, strategic, time-sensitive, and outcomes-driven. We need both modes to …
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In this episode, we talk about the 6th stage of the creative process: sharing! After we've completed a body of work, we usually want to share it. It feels good to share! But how do we do more than just send an image into the instagram void? What's a meaningful way to connect with our audience? In this episode, we'll consider WHY you want to share a…
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47. Making money and making art w/ painter LESLEY ANDERSON.
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In this episode we talk about making money and making art with Canadian Painter, Lesley Anderson! Topics we cover in this conversation: The transition out of art school, using various creative skills to make a living, the possibility of satisfying day jobs, and why Lesley did not choose "the teaching path." Listen in to this episode to hear how Les…
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46. How to manifest your biggest ideas. (Part I)
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In this short and sweet episode, I talk about an important part of manifesting your most ambitious projects: sketching. Sketching is the process of gathering the raw material of your idea into its simplest most coherent form. The Sketch is the bridge between your play stage (experimentation) and your generate stage (making a bunch of stuff). Our sk…
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45. Hear from 3 artists in our coaching program.
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In this episode we'll talk to three very different artists that have taken our 12-week coaching program. You'll hear about their struggles, their backgrounds (some who went to art school, and some who didn't) and what brought them to this program. You'll hear what they got out of this work, and how it transformed their practices. Tune into this epi…
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In this episode, I'll talk about creative self-sabotage. Do you feel close to reaching a goal but something keeps getting in your way? Maybe you don't even realize it's happening. Self-sabotage looks different for everyone. I define creative self-sabotage as a habit or behavior that prevents you from creating the things you want to create. In this …
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Have you been thinking about joining A Mighty Practice School but not sure if it's for you? In this episode I'll talk more about the school - what kind of students join, what our coaching calls are like, and more. We're running a summer membership sale, so join the school by Sunday July 10th and you get a free 20 minute coaching call with Christine…
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It's a dark fucking time. I think many of us feel this way. And when you're making art during a dark period, it's easy to question why you're doing it. What is the value of this work? How is it having an impact? In this episode, I offer a different way to think about the importance of making art during times of darkness. --- Support this podcast: h…
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41. Making money and making art w/artist KATIE SHULMAN
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It's time to hear from some working artists in this Making Money + Making Art series! Today I chat with Detroit-based fibers artist, Katie Shulman. In our conversation we talk about Katie's trajectory as an artist and how she's dealt with the big questions of "How do I make a living? and how do I make my art?" She'll share the various ways she's an…
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40. Making money and making art. (Part II)
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In the second episode of our money series, we're talking about your RULES. For most artists, their creative lives and their financial lives are tangled in a very messy way. In this episode we're asking a different set of questions: What does your creative life need to thrive? What does your financial life need to thrive? We'll talk about how you ca…
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39. Making money and making art. (Part I)
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Making money and making art. These two things have become intertwined for contemporary artists in such a messy way. In this mini series on money, I'm going to talk about our relationship to money as artists, specifically looking at MONEY AS A BLOCK. How do our core-negative beliefs around money prevent us from building a meaningful and financially …
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Are you feeling bored with your creative work? Maybe you're not excited about what you're making. When we get bored with our creative work it's because we have lost the sense of MYSTERY in our process. In this episode, I'll talk about the role of mystery in the creative process and how, if you've lost it, you can get it back. Want to get some accou…
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In this episode I'll introduce the idea of your play strategy - the way you naturally like to explore new ideas. This is a key piece of our coaching program work. How do you like to investigate new ideas as an artist? What approaches can you use to get started that don't feel like WORK? I'll offer an exercise to help you uncover your play strategy.…
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In this episode, we'll talk about taking action in our creative lives. What is something you want to create? What is an outcome you want to work toward? I'll introduce James Clear's concept of MOTION vs. ACTION. Motion is about learning, preparing, and strategizing while action is an effort that directly produces a result. When we're stuck, we spen…
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35. Letting Go of Productivity Guilt with MADELEINE DORE
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In this episode, I talk with Madeleine Dore, a writer and interviewer based in Melbourne, Australia. Madeleine's work explores how we can broaden the definition of a day well spent. As a labour of love, Madeleine spent over five years asking creative thinkers how they navigate their days on her popular blog Extraordinary Routines and podcast Routin…
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What would happen if you had 50% more confidence in your creative work? What would you be doing differently? Sharing more? Applying to bigger, scarier opportunities? Trying new mediums? In this episode I'll talk about what confidence is, and give you an exercise you can practice to build more confidence in your creative work. ++++ Join our workshop…
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It's year 3 of a pandemic and most of us are not feeling motivated. What do we need to build resilience in our creative practices? How do we experience setbacks, rejection, or low energy and decide to keep going? In this episode, I'll talk about 3 things to do to help build your creative resilience. +++ ENROLL NOW in our 12-week coaching program fo…
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32. 5 Creative Types and Their Struggles.
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In this episode I'll talk about the 5 creative archetypes that I've discovered in my work as a coach. These types include the DREAMER, the SEEKER, the STRIVER, the ANALYST, and the GOOD STUDENT. I'll talk about the strengths and struggles for each of these artists. I'll break down the strategies that each type uses in their practice and how these s…
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Do you struggle with following through on your ideas? Perhaps you pivot from idea to idea in hopes of finding the "golden idea" that finally gets you to sit down and work? If this is your struggle, this episode is for you. I'll talk about common roadblocks around committing to a project and how you can overcome them. Want some accountability to hel…
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Why is talking about our art so hard? If our art was easy to "explain" it would likely take the form of a descriptive text or marketing statement vs. a work of art. Great art brings complexity to ideas vs. over-simplifies them. In this episode I'll talk about some do's and don't when talking about your work. I'll also give you an exercise that will…
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In this (re-released!) episode I'll talk about how to generate focus, or how to "build clarity and purpose in your day." We'll hear from three past workshop attendees about their current challenges with focus, and I'll offer some solutions. If you liked this episode or others, please consider giving me a review on iTunes! Thanks y'all. Also, come t…
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When we say "I don't have a medium I'm good at" what are we really saying? In this episode I'll talk about common blocks around technical mastery and getting started. The good news: you DO have a medium ... you just haven't discovered your technique yet. +++ Sign up for our Artist Speed Dating event! Sunday October 10th, 12-1pm Central. The artist …
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When is it time to get coaching? In this episode I'll talk about my experience with being coached and coaching others. I'll talk about when coaching has the greatest impact on creatives and how it can help you move past your most troublesome roadblocks. +++ My 12-week coaching program for artists is now enrolling for fall! Dates: Sept 29 - Dec 15th…
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How do you step away from a project you're really invested in? For many of us this can feel impossible. But when you're on the "production hamster-wheel" for too long you can lose sight of what you want FOR your work and FROM your work. What do you want your work to give the world? What do you want your work to give YOU? In this episode I'll talk a…
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Things are moving "back to normal"-- but what exactly does that mean? What do you want your post-pandemic creative life to look like? We'll look at the things that helped you thrive creatively this year and the things that taxed you through a concept called the "Creative Bank." How do you want to integrate these learnings to design your year ahead?…
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How do we take a pause in our creative practices and experience true creative rest? In this episode I'll talk about my definition of creative rest and how to integrate it into your life. I'll talk about 3 different creative modes (Synthesizing, Producing, and Solving) that we slip into that make resting/re-fueling difficult, and how we can take an …
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24. Should I Keep Going? with BETH PICKENS
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Today on the podcast we have BETH PICKENS, the author of Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles (Chronicle Books, 2021). Beth is a Los Angeles-based consultant for artists and arts organizations. She earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri. Since 2010, she has provided career consult…
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Where you work, whether it be in a studio or a sketchbook, is an important part of any creative practice. In this episode I'll talk about how to take the space available to you and create a work environment that enables your practice. I'll share all the WEIRD studio spaces I've had over the years, and how I've made these unconventional spaces (gara…
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What happens when we deny our creative impulses over and over again? When we don't let the work that wants to come through us, come through us? What are the consequences? In this episode I'll talk about what creative impulses are, what they can teach us, why we deny them, and how to start listening to them again. I reference this great episode of t…
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In this episode I'll share student stories around the inner critic through one of our school's live coaching calls! During our school-wide coaching calls members review workshop content and get help with their roadblocks. On this call we'll hear from a few students who are struggling with perfectionism. You'll hear my practical advice on how to ove…
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20. How to Start Making Things (How to Play)
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How do you start making things when you feel super blocked? How do you move from the idea phase (being in your head) to the action stage (expressing your ideas out in the world). The movement from ideas to action is what I call the "Play" stage. In this episode I'll talk about what the play stage is, what your play stage can look like, and how you …
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