Welcome to today's show! We have Patricia Wood, Karen's friend, and teacher, with us today. Pat is a professor of art at American River College, where she is currently teaching printmaking and drawing. She is also the director of the Kaneko Gallery, which is the campus art gallery. Today, Pat tells us about what she's doing at American River College- the fabulous art shows she's put together for the Kaneko Gallery, and the fun projects she's coordinated with her students. She also talks to us about her background and the kind of art that she creates. Listen in today, to hear all about Pat's creative approach to her life, her art, and her stimulating and multi-faceted job.

The Kaneko Gallery is situated at the American River College in Sacramento, California. Pat has been the Kaneko Gallery Director since 2016, and she coordinates and produces all the shows that are held there. Pat is also part of the Permanent Collection Committee for American River College, which oversees the college art collections for the 200 campuses in America that have part of the Andy Warhol estate. Tune in now, for more.

Show highlights:

• Pat discusses the various art shows she coordinates for the Kaneko Gallery every year. These are massive undertakings.
• This year, Barbara Range, the curator, and director of the Brickhouse Gallery will be the juror for the annual student art competition.
• Pat explains why her bookings run way into the future.
• Coordinating art shows has been a lot of fun!
• Building an entire room within the gallery.
• American River College now owns an Elizabeth Catlin linoleum cut print, a Jacob Lawrence silkscreen, and a Simela Lewis woodcut.
• American River College has some beautiful art.
• The Warhol Collection, consisting of photographs and silkscreens, was gifted to American River College.
• Finding the best way to create a map for the art collections.
• Teaching art appreciation and an introduction to art history.
• Making a public art piece was an interesting assignment.
• Pat talks to us about the art that she creates.
• Pat has been focused on drawing, with a bit of mixed media, for the past couple of years.
• Pat had some sketches in the recent SMD (Sacramento Municipal District) show.
• Pat got her MFA from the University of Arizona in 1997 and she later became a double major.
• Pat talks about the time at the University of Arizona.
• What Pat has noticed about children and art.
• Why everyone should create some kind of art.

Links:

Pat Wood link Patricia Wood Art

Pat Wood is correct, American River College is not the only community college that received grants from the Warhol Foundation, but most recipients are universities. For a complete list of recipients, you can go to Photographic Legacy.

Links to individuals and places mentioned by Pat Wood in the podcast:

Jodie Hooker

Mick Sheldon

Kaneko Gallery

ARC Kaneko Gallery

Student Show submissions

Barbara Range, Brickhouse Gallery

Shenny Cruces

Angela Casagrandes

Rachel Clarke

art new media link to photo at the Rachel Clarke show

Fan Lee Warren

Unity Lewis

Instagram

Unity and Samela Lewis

Samela Lewis

The History Makers: Samella Lewis 39

Black Arts Movement

Jacob Lawrence

Elizabeth Catlett

Betye Saar

Charles White

Charles White migration series

Crocker Art Museum

Sarah Mattson

Ken Magri

Linda Gelfman

Garr Ugalde

Figurative Angel Sculptures

Ruby Chacon

ARC campus painted mural

Randy Schuster

Wayfinder's map

Dolores White

SMUD Gallery

Craig Smith

Lorrie Kempf

Laura Parker

Joy Burtinuson

American River College (ARC)

University of Arizona, Tucson

Sacramento City College

University of California Davis

Haleh Niazmand

Stephanie Ryan

Pima Community College

Tucson Arts Foundation

Sierra Community College

San Joaquin Delta College

Rillito River

Mount Lemmon

Rose Canyon

Alan Short Center

Fairytale Town

Art Folsom prison

Rehabilitative Arts CA State Prisons

Davis Art Center

California Youth Authority Arts Programs

Are you bursting with creativity or are you perhaps feeling a little under the weather right now? Have you noticed how much your state of health impacts on your levels of creativity? Today, we're starting season three of the podcast with an interview with Dr. David Cornish. David is Karen's friend and he's the author of two terrific novels, 1918: The Great Pandemic, and 1980: The Emergence of HIV. With the current escalation of viral illnesses in the world, this is a really good time for reading these topical novels, so tune in, to learn more about David Cornish and his books.

David practiced gastro-neurology for thirty-three years before retiring last year. He still works part-time, though, to keep his hand in the craft. He has always loved writing and even took some writing courses while studying Medicine at the University of California. About ten years ago, David wrote two non-fiction books about service in medicine. (Evidence In-Service and The Essential 20.) Then, about three years later, he decided to try his hand at writing a novel, and this was followed by a sequel a few years later. In today's episode, David talks about his two novels. He discusses his process of writing and he explores the reasons for reading and writing stories. He also reflects on the seriousness of viral illness, and the emotion behind human stories that are associated with diseases like influenza and HIV. Listen in today, to hear about David's creative approach to writing.

Show highlights:

• David explains how he got into writing books and why he chose these specific topics to write about.
• The influenza pandemic in 1918 was the worst natural disaster in human history.
• The main characters in David's books are fictional, but the events are all accurate.
• David talks about some of the projects he's taken on since retiring.
• David explains why he likes writing historical fiction.
• The difference between writing fiction, and writing about something technical, related to medicine.
• David found fiction a lot harder to write than non-fiction.
• David's approach to writing historical fiction.
• David talks about why people read novels rather than non-fiction.
• The influence that David's mother had on his creativity and his writing.
• Writing from what you like, and about what you know.
• David talks about the teachers who inspired him to write.
• Why you need to keep re-reading and revising what you have written.
• David explains why you need to have someone edit your work.
• David shares some observations about the difficulties associated with publishing a book, currently.
• Why ebooks are here to stay.
• David shares his thoughts about creativity, and about where his writing comes from.

Links:

Karen's website: A Creative Approach Podcast

David's website: David Cornish Books. This is where you will find his bio and information about his books. All David's books, including the non-fiction ones, have links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

David's Facebook Page

The link to Ursula Le Guin: Wikipedia: Ursula K. Le Guin

Would you like to know what inspires an artist to create a meaningful piece of work? Today's guest is Catherine Rains. Catherine is an artist and she is an excellent example of how evolution works in collage, her chosen medium of art. Catherine has had a really intriguing art career. In today's episode, she talks to us about her skills, and about her certification in evaluating personalities. She also explains how she lets her art speak to her over time a period of time as she creates it, and how she brings a deep and meaningful spiritual connection to her pieces. Listen in today, to learn more about Catherine and her work.

Until age 33, Catherine often said that she didn't have an artistic bone in her body. Catherine discovered her life calling in the middle of an overwhelming day job, where she created her first collage just to relieve stress. This simple beginning eventually led to quitting her day gig to manage a thriving art business. Then her journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This led her back to a day job for the next 10 years, traveling across the US, creating almost no art. Three years ago she decided to integrate the day job she loved with the art she could not live without, by setting up an art studio in every hotel she visited and following a structured schedule to fit art back into her life. As a result of this self-commitment, she returned to her greatest passion – art – on January 1, 2018. Tune in, to find out about Catherine's creative approach to her life and her work.

Show Highlights:

• Catherine talks about what she does as a collage painter.
• Catherine's art is mixed media collage infused with spirituality, meaning, and inspiration.
• Finding relief from a job she did not enjoy with collage.
• Figuring out how to make a living from art.
• Quitting her job and focusing on expanding her skills.
• Coming to realizing that she really loved doing collage and that it gives her incredible joy.
• What Catherine has discovered about making money from art.
• What the business of art looks like for Catherine.
• How posting on Instagram teaches her to be real and authentic.
• Inspiring people with her art.
• Speaking to people on a deeper level with her art.
• The spiritual aspect of Catherine's art.
• Communicating with her art piece as if it is a living being.
• Looking for a title that will draw people in.
• The unique way that Catherine blesses her art.
• Catherine believes that there is an art to marketing art.
• Asking for guidance as she creates a piece. in order to allow the magic to happen.
• Certifying people with Myers-Briggs for the moment, in order to take the pressure off having to make money from art.
• How Catherine's creative process is set in motion.
• Catherine really loves teaching. She would like to teach Soul Collage in the next year or two.
• Catherine has been a breast cancer survivor since 2004. It has transformed her life and only produced good things for her and caused her to grow.

Links:

Catherine Rains

Instagram: Catrains Artist

Wikipedia: Myers Briggs Type Indicator

The Myers Briggs

Emily Jeffords

Kelly Raero Berts

Beth Kirby

Soul Collage

Art Of Karen Poirier Brode

Are you dedicated to creating wonderful art? If so you are really in for a treat! Today's guest is April Bey, an exciting visual artist, and teacher. April teaches art at a community college in California. She loves drawing and using her art to explore contemporary themes about current events. In today's episode, April talks to us about her life, her studies, her art, and her career. Tune in now to find out more.

April grew up in the Bahamas, and for all her life she's been passionately creating. Art is a very prominent subject in schools in the Bahamas, yet April realized during high school that there were no careers in art to be had there. So she moved to the United States. She did her undergrad in the Midwest, obtaining a BFA in drawing from Ball State University. She then went to LA, to do her master's in interdisciplinary painting at California State University in Northridge, Los Angeles. Listen in today, to find out about April's creative approach to her art and teaching.

Show highlights:

• At the moment, April is doing a lot of sewing that's acting as drawing.
• April explains how she got to where she is right now with her art.
• She is currently making art about West Africa and textiles, how women run the trade there, and how their labor is often exploited.
• The materials and techniques that she uses.
• Why April loved the freedom of teaching at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena so much.
• Having overbearing foreign parents is something that April has in common with many of the students at the community colleges.
• What led April to explore the textiles of Africa.
• A lot of the fabric in Ghana is imported.
• All the places in Africa that April went to on her research trip.
• April's textile works also act as portraits.
• You can go to April's website to take a look at her awesome art. Go to April Bey.
• What you can expect to find on April's website.
• She does a lot of work with feminist themes.
• Some of the advice that April gives to her art students.
• April had some really wonderful mentors.
• Some of the shows that are coming up for April.

Links:

April's website: April Bey.

Are you looking for some inspiration? If so, you will really enjoy listening to the interview with our guest for today, the very creative and naturally talented artist, Mou Saha. Mou was born and raised in India. She is an unassuming teacher with a bold spirit of exploration and she uses her mindful approach art to really inspire people to experiment with art media and color. Listen in today, to find out about what Mou, what she does, and how she got to do what she's doing.    

Mou, a mixed-media artist, and a storyteller is an intelligent and very courageous woman. Her passionate and straightforward manner is reflected in the easy and pleasurable expression of her work. Despite the number of setbacks and complications she's experienced in her life, she has produced some really meaningful work. Listen in to find out more about Mou's really creative approach to life.

Show Highlights:

• The way that Mou's art classes have evolved over time.
• Mou's work has been published in a number of different publications.
• What inspired Mou to start teaching.
• Faber Castell launched a new brand for the crafting community and they reached out to Mou to do some projects for their launch. After seeing her work, they asked her to join the design team they were putting together.
• Mou, as a child, really loved to draw- and she would draw everything!
• Mou was an only child and her really artful family treated as a small adult. This really inspired her!
• Although Mou was not very good at drawing accurately as a child, she used her drawing to express herself. She won a competition due to this.
• In sixth grade, Mou was awarded a national scholarship for drawing. And after receiving the scholarship, she began to take her art more seriously.
• Mou was already interested in doing counseling and psychology in the eighth grade, so she found out what she needed to do in order to do that.
• How Mou discovered that she could move beyond what her parents had taught her about what was safe, and about what she could and could not do.
• Everything came full circle for Mou when she moved to Tampa, Florida, after getting married.
• Mou almost lost everything about herself in the process of coming to America, and she felt really lost.
• How taking a course really helped her to gain a real perspective.
• How Mou discovered scrapbooking.
• How Mou coped with the devastating discovery of a lump in her breast.
• How winning the grand prize for a scrapbooking competition really helped Mou.
• Teaching people about what really matters with art.
• You will receive a free gift from Mou for signing up for her newsletter.
• Creating the time to do something for yourself that you really love to do.

Links:

Mou's website: Mou Saha

Mou's Youtube

Mou on Facebook

Mou's gift for signing up to her newsletter

Shingles

She is one of the bright and innovative people who is bringing new technologies to work for a sustainable planet, and I am intrigued to learn more. Join me now in my conversation with Molly Morse, to learn more about her passion for positive-impact plastics, the health of the environment and her creative approach.

Dr. Molly Morse is the CEO and co-founder of Mango Materials, a San Francisco Bay Area-based startup company, that uses wastewater treatment plant methane gas to manufacture biodegradable materials. Her vision of the future involves the proliferation of anaerobic digestion so that methane can be used to make electricity, fuels, and materials – creating local regions of economic resiliency.

Molly received her Ph.D. from Stanford University and her B.S. from Cornell University. Dr. Morse has contributed to multiple patents, publications, and presentations. Along with other Mango Materials team members, she is currently working to upscale the biomanufacturing technology of using methane gas to produce biodegradable materials. Their current focus is on the production of waste-derived biopolymers that can be used as fibers for the textile and fashion industry.

More in this episode

● Dr. Molly Morse discusses what Mango Materials does to create a new product that is a substitute for conventional plastics that can go into fibers to be made into clothing and other uses.

● The material that is produced can be used for cosmetic packaging, plastic bags, fibers for clothing and more, that can break down rather than remain in the environment.

● In the conversation, we discuss the various applications that the product can be used for and how the product could break down after use.

● We learn more about how Dr. Morse shares her passion for a better environment and bio-composites that would be able to be used within environmentally friendly construction applications through her processes.

● Dr. Morse shared her journey to becoming a business owner and how her educational path leads her to the present.

● She discussed how the company is transitioning out of R & D and into application development.

● Molly shares how she came up with the company name and creativity was significant in that process.

Molly Morse says, "How we encourage our children to solve problems, it isn't something that can't be undervalued. Those key moments can stick with kids for a really long time. Challenges can lead to lots of solutions. Fostering creativity from a very young age and encouraging it is important."

Molly identifies with this quote, "The creative adult is the child who has survived."– Julian F. Fleron

One of the quotes to add to that is Einstein when he said, "Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born."

Links

The Green Biz Conference: https://www.Greenbiz.com

https://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge-conference/oakland/2018

The Red Cross:

https://www.redcross.org

Other ways to help victims of Camp Fire:

https://www.nbcnews.com/better/news/how-help-victims-california-wildfires-ncna936911

Articles about forest fire management:

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060106627

https://climatecrocks.com/2018/11/19/forests-need-more-than-raking/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MangoMaterials/

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mango-materials/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MolMorse & https://twitter.com/MangoMaterials

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/mangomaterials/ & https://www.instagram.com/mollycmorse/

Website:

https://www.mangomaterials.com

Subscribe to Our Mailing List: www.acreativeapproachpodcast.com

Ginger Wiseman is one of the co-hosts (with her sister) Summer Reynolds, of The Outlander Podcast. She has a great story of how her love of the books and then the series, and a passion for Scotland, led them to create a podcast for fans. I always have a great deal of fun learning about how my guests found their creative niche. Today is no exception.

More in this episode

● We learn about Ginger's story and what got her and her sister, Summer into hosting two podcasts.

● How the two sisters connected over literature through the years and how that strengthened their love of the written word in multiple languages.

● She discusses her love of the Outlander series and the events that led to the creation of their fandom podcast.

● Ginger shared what led her and her sister to create The All Souls Podcast and how that helped them broaden their horizons with fans, friends, and travel.

● She shares how she was able to get involved with ComicCon working in press and the benefits that have helped her grow her shows and gain more visibility.

● Ginger shared more about The All Souls Con event and that she follows the book releases and shows coming out with the international networks.

● The sisters planned for the long haul as the main character had not yet been cast.

● Ginger shares how she was able to plan out the podcast episodes in alignment with the books and episodes for content.

● She noticed early on that there was a random invitation to join for an after-show. She felt that guests found more value when they did a live video in their private FB group after-show right after the episode ends.

● Having a sponsor never changed their content, schedule or format.

● She felt empowered to have a podcast through her exploration of what other podcast hosts were offering and her love of the dramatic arts growing up.

● She shares her journey with her sister to Scotland and how they created a group experience trip they do yearly.

Ginger says, "While everyone has their own talents or abilities that they've honed, whatever it is that you feel, even if you're not doing it professionally, whatever it is that you feel is a great outlet for you creatively.[SIC] Being creative must be intentional. It's important if you are creative that you have to make time for those things. It is needed and a very important part of life."

Resources

https://www.outlanderpod.com

https://www.allsoulspod.com

https://www.podabroad.com

https://www.facebook.com/outlanderpod/

https://www.facebook.com/allsoulspod/

https://twitter.com/bookishginge?lang=en

Outlander Book Series

All Souls Book Series

https://www.amc.com

Today's podcast has a fascinating guest, Jonathan Fong. From plans for kid's projects to ideas for sophisticated weddings, Jonathan just shines! Home decorating, crafting, and entertainment are not the only things he knows about, but he also has a unique gift to teach us how to master his creative visions. I love that Jonathan always dresses impeccably and adds unique touches to his ensemble. His approach proves that men's fashions can be both original and very dapper.

In this conversation, you'll learn more about the innovative Jonathan Fong and his "creative approach."

More in this episode

• What Jonathan is doing on a daily basis and how he inspires others. ● Jonathan didn't really become a designer until later on in life and shares where he started out before he got to this point in his journey. ● He discusses his career beginnings and the struggles he had when he experienced "left brain, right brain conflict" where he was trying to be creative in a non-creative field. ● Jonathan was encouraged that if he "had huge creative tendencies to explore them!" ● How his creative exploration led him to greater opportunities such as being on HGTV, writing books, creating a business and his own show on YouTube ● The value of creating your own content on YouTube and what that can lead to.
• How working with Disney and teaching on kid's crafts helped him gain a wider audience to infuse creativity in the lives of millions. ● We discussed his exploration of infusing his creativity into his cooking as well.
• Who influenced Jonathan to embrace his creativity throughout his life.
• How his fun and playful attitude has helped people make their art more personal.
• Craft books on the horizon may include more Jewish Crafts and Dog and Cat Crafts.
• Jonathan feels that creativity is one of the most important things in this world. He says, "that for us creative folks, or for people that want to be creative, it's our duty to create because creativity is the opposite of destruction. There is so much destruction in the world and so much of the world is geared towards destruction, both physical and spiritual. However you create, whether it's through crafting or cooking or building or painting or singing - however you express yourself to create or make something - that counteracts the destruction. We can change the world by creating."

Resources:

Website

Jonathan on Facebook

Instagram

Youtube: Style with A Smile

Books on Amazon: Walls That Wow, Flowers That Wow, Parties That Wow

CHA (The Craft & Hobby Association, now known as The Association For Creative Industries)

E-how for more on creating a fun party, cooking, crafts, and more.

Jewish Film Festival in Sacramento

Joining me on the show today is a professor of ceramics at American River College in Sacramento, a founding member of The E Street Gallery and Studios, and one of my favorite art teachers, Linda Gelfman. She has recently been exploring soft-sculpture as well as her ceramic work. She used her textile pieces in a recent show at The Kaneko Gallery at American River College, titled "Cognitive Dissonance." The show examined the multilayers of life. "Linda's Lollies¨ the name she's given her anthropomorphic soft sculptures, have a mixture of cuteness and the bizarre. Her work has focused on finding beauty in the imperfections that working with clay can provide. Some of her earliest art-related memories include playing in her friend's wet sandbox. Her love of creativity led her through college, where she was surprised and elated she was able to major in art and could share that love with others. She continued to build an incredible career teaching, installing her work in galleries and continued her education at Sacramento State in graduate school. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to chat with Linda. Our conversation is full of passion for the creative process and the love she has for teaching others. If you need the inspiration to get back into the flow of creativity, listen to this episode, and make sure to check out the ways to connect further with Linda. More in this episode: ● Linda believes everyone has creativity within themselves. ● Linda found working with clay using the Wabi Sabi method in her early 20s Which helped her gain a deeper appreciation of finding beauty in the imperfect. ● She shares how students can feel empowered in their creativity and sense of expression. ● Linda shares her methods for creating dynamic pieces that go against the traditional "rules." ● She enjoys using upcycled materials to integrate new textures and elements into her work and recent gallery installations. ● Linda believes that following your passion is the best way to help and serve humanity. ● She was able to make art and make a living for years. ● Linda believes it's vital for artists to get back to the fluidity of their process to ignite their creative spark and to go "outside the lines of perfectionism." ● She feels art is important and encourages everyone to take an art class "because it will change your life." ● It's OK to be different because that makes us unique and marvelous. ● She shares her thought on what to do if you're feeling disconnected from life.

Resources:

Find Linda at The E Street Gallery

Linda Gelfman on Facebook: Gelfman Art

Become one of her students at American River College

Snow After Fire Art Piece

Meow Wolf

Article on Fire Retardant planes from McClelland

Link to map of fire situation in California this year

Fort McMurray, Alberta fire

Joining me on the show today is crafter, designer and author, Amy Tangerine. Amy has always had a creative outlook on life. Growing up in Chicago, she wallpapered her walls with pages from fashion magazines.

She has recently written a book titled Craft A Life You Love, a book that shows readers how to find their flow, maintain a positive mindset, and cultivate a rich and fulfilling life by focusing on what truly matters. The book was a passion project for Amy that was written to inspire others to live their creative lives. Amy self-published her book, and after it was on Amazon for a while, some publishers contacted her asking to publish her book. It was a great honor for Amy too have been contacted by publishers so she hired an agent to help her shop around for a publisher. It has been really great because it now has color pages and is now selling in bookstores all over the world.

Amy's life has been a winding journey but she has always used her creativity to ground herself. Some of her earliest craft memories include making friendship bracelets and tie-dyeing shirts. Her crafting progressed through the years and continues to bring her great joy.

More creativity in this episode:

• Amy believes everyone is creative in some way.
• Amy shares how she switched colleges because of her love of fashion.
• Amy's successfulness in crafting/fashion-fueled her entrepreneurship.
• Amy found scrapbooking to be a special experience/release during a very stressful time in her life.
• If you want to get creative on paper, just do what you feel.
• Scrapbooking can involve taking pictures with your phone and printing them out so you have something tangible to hold.
• Crafting the life you love means infusing creativity into your life every day.
• Amy collaborates with American Crafts and has many scrapbook collections.
• Finding your strengths in crafting can make you money
• Find a craft that makes you feel happy and fulfilled.
• Be intentional when selecting your crafts so that you have freedom, fulfillment or fun.
• Amy is involved with City Year and will design their invitations this year.
• Wearing "a lot of hats" is not a bad thing if you balance them effectively.
• Carve out time each day to enjoy your creative endeavors.
• When working on a project, don't focus on perfection. Give yourself grace and have fun!

Links:

Connect with Amy!

Amy's Website

Amy's Blog

Her Facebook

Her Twitter

Amy on Instagram

Amy on Pinterest

YouTube

Vimeo