What if the biggest creative breakthroughs come from breaking your own rules? In this Black History Month mini-episode, we explore the remarkable artistic journey of 97-year-old sculptor and painter Lillian Thomas Burwell, whose creative evolution spans nearly a century of American history.

Episode Highlights:

• Growing up during the Great Depression, Burwell learned transformative creativity from watching her mother turn silk shipping sacks into elegant curtains

• Her artistic journey from realism to bold abstract expressionism during the Civil Rights era

• Her innovative techniques combining canvas, wood, and heated plexiglass

• Burwell's intuitive creative process: "I don't know what the second step is until the first step is completed"

Key Quote:

"I've always believed in taking chances and going into unexplored territory." - Lillian Thomas Burwell

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to Artistic Resilience

01:27 Lillian Thomas Burwell: A Journey Through Time

03:54 The Evolution of Artistic Expression

06:30 Transformation and Creative Courage

 

About the Artist:

Lillian Thomas Burwell's work represents a lifetime of artistic innovation, from her early influences during the Depression to her current sculptural pieces that seem to grow from walls "like living things." Her art demonstrates the power of transformation and creative courage.

Connect With Us:

• Website: Martine SeverinFollow on Instagram: Martine | This Is How We CreateSubscribe to the Newsletter: Martine’s Substack

• Watch the Youtube Version of this video

• This episode of This is How We Create is produced and edited by Martine Severin.

Production Credits:

Martine Severin produced and edited this episode of This is How We Create.

Previous Episodes in This Series:

• Episode 112: Roy de Carava

• Episode 114: Margaret Burroughs