See Melissa and her work live and in person at her gallery opening "Requiem in Bloom" on January 10th from 2-6pm at Clemens Gallery, Hingham Public Library.

Work is on view from January 10th - February 5th

In Episode 24, I sit down with photographer Melissa Diane Clayton to discuss the unexpected path that led her to the lens. We talk about her early, powerful exposures to both visual arts and music, and how those influences eventually guided her toward photography.

It was an art form she took to almost immediately. We discuss how having access to a decent camera and a college level photography class with a darkroom changed everything for her. Melissa describes the "dance" of developing film and the magic of seeing an image come to life.

But her work goes much deeper than technique. We navigate the profound personal experiences that shape her vision, specifically the early loss of her mother. You can see this influence woven throughout her work. 

Her subject matter has evolved over the years, spanning from the stark landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park to the flowers she grows right now in her own backyard here in Massachusetts. Her melancholy portrayal of these blooms is haunting, familiar, and stunningly beautiful.

Whether you are listening or watching, you really need to see these images. Check out the links below to view her portfolio and, if you are looking for art to guide you through the year, pick up one of her 2026 calendars.

Melissa on Instagram: @_melissadiane

Shop Melissa's 13 month 2026 calendar:

https://shop.melissadiane.me/product/2026-still-life-calendar

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Support ⁠Creative Pathways Inc.⁠, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by donating bringing art programming to Brockton youth.

Follow on Instagram: ⁠@creativepathwaysproject⁠

 ⁠@bethbaileypottery

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Music by ⁠⁠Greg Loftus⁠⁠, find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠⁠ in Falmouth for live shows.

Intro/outro song “Dog Days" by Greg Loftus used with full permission of the artist.

Licensor name: Greg Loftus

Licensor organization: Independent artist (self-owned copyright)

Licensor email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music by ⁠ ⁨@gregloftusmusic⁩ , find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠ in Falmouth for live shows. @theloungeatthebrew

In this episode, I talk with musician and sound engineer Emily Smith Payton about the creative thread that has run through her life from childhood to her career today.

Emily and I grew up in the same community and shared many of the same early arts experiences, especially Mrs. Lewis’s school productions, which shaped so many of us. Although we were in different years and never on stage at the same time, those productions helped spark Emily’s love for the team aspect of music and theater.

Emily followed her older brother into drumming at a young age and carried that interest into her studies at Emerson College in Boston, where she took audio and sound very seriously. After graduating, she kickstarted her career at the legendary Avedis Zildjian Company, connecting her percussion background with one of the most iconic names in music.

Over time, Emily found her way back to her original goal of running sound in professional theater. It is a role that suits her well, blending technical skills, calm energy, and a genuine appreciation for helping performers feel supported.

In our conversation, she shares stories from behind the scenes, including memorable moments working with artists like Mick Fleetwood and Billie Joe Armstrong, as well as the everyday work of helping people feel comfortable on stage, whether they are seasoned performers or wearing a mic for the first time.

We also talk about her band Ali and the Biddies, which she performs in with longtime friends and her husband, keeping music in her life in a way that feels authentic and fun.

What stands out about Emily is her grounded, working class approach. She brings a steady presence to every room and treats everyone with the same level of respect, whether they are rock legends or first time actors.

Our conversation went so long that we did not even cover much of her more recent career and life updates, so I have already rebooked her to continue the conversation in a few months. There is much more to explore.

🎧 Listen now to hear Emily’s journey and the many paths a creative life can take.

Link to Emily's Interview with Mick Fleetwood

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Shout outs in the ep:

@emilybongos

@aliandthebiddies

@alihow611@enthusedkyle

@zildjiancompany

@emersoncollege

@mrslewis

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Support Creative Pathways Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing art programming to Brockton youth. Donate at creative-pathways.com/donate.

Follow on Instagram:
@creativepathwaysproject

 @bethbaileypottery

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Music by ⁠Greg Loftus⁠ — find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠ in Falmouth for live shows.

⁠Greg on Instagram⁠

Intro/outro music “Dog Days" by Greg Loftus used with full licensing permission of the artist.

In this very special episode I share the recording of my MAEA 2025 Community Arts Educator of the Year award presentation. Earlier this fall I missed the official ceremony that honored arts educators from across the state, including the Museum Educator of the Year from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and a Lifetime Achievement recipient from Marlborough Public Schools.

I am incredibly grateful to my friends at Levitate for opening their warm backyard space so I could gather with friends, family, and colleagues to celebrate and document this moment.

A huge thank you goes to Cari DiCicco, the president of the MAEA, for traveling to present my award in person. In the speech you will hear today I share the story of Creative Pathways, how it began, what drives the work, and how I hope it continues to grow through community collaboration.

I hope you feel inspired listening and consider this an open invitation to dream up future opportunities for art making in community. It is my passion, my niche, and the path I am excited to continue exploring.

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Support ⁠Creative Pathways Inc.⁠, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by donating bringing art programming to Brockton youth.

Follow on Instagram: ⁠@creativepathwaysproject⁠

 ⁠@bethbaileypottery

__________________________________________________________

Music by ⁠⁠Greg Loftus⁠⁠, find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠⁠ in Falmouth for live shows.

Intro/outro song “Dog Days" by Greg Loftus used with full permission of the artist.

Licensor name: Greg Loftus

Licensor organization: Independent artist (self-owned copyright)

Licensor email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

In this episode, I sit down with Tiff Nunes McCarthy, a key player of the creative team at ⁠Levitate⁠, a New England lifestyle brand celebrating all things outdoors, music, and arts.

Tiff and I trace her creative journey all the way back to her roots in Venezuela (after I initially botch that and then fully let her colleague Pat C take the fall for the misinformation. Sorry, Pat, pretty sure I messed that one up all on my own). Tiff shares stories of growing up surrounded by women with a natural aptitude for the arts, even as they pursued different careers.

With both BFA and MFA degrees from ⁠SCAD⁠ she’s built an impressive path through the art world, from time spent in New York City and at a boutique in Savannah, to now working across multiple creative roles at Levitate, with a strong focus on apparel.

We talk about how to stay creatively inspired off the clock when your day job is also creative, how to seek out both mentorship and job opportunities by putting yourself out there, and the power of overcoming social anxiety to connect with the people right around you for a richer, more fulfilling life in the arts.

And of course don't forget to head to levitatebrand.com and pick up some merch, likely designed by Tiff and her team!

Shout outs in the ep to find on Instagram:

@tiffanybnunes

@levitatebrand

@levitatemusicfestival

@jmhassett

@dannyhatchet

@oh_pleeze

@NorthRiverArtsSociety

@ginamarie_creative

@FrameCenter

@scaddotedu

@bergdorfs

@elizabeth_goodspeed

@kinsey.h.designs

@chadbruuce

______________________________________________________

Support Creative Pathways Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by donating bringing art programming to Brockton youth.

Follow on Instagram:
@creativepathwaysproject

 @bethbaileypottery

__________________________________________________________

Music by ⁠Greg Loftus⁠, find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠ in Falmouth for live shows.

Intro/outro song “Dog Days" by Greg Loftus used with full permission of the artist.

Licensor name: Greg Loftus

Licensor organization: Independent artist (self-owned copyright)

Licensor email: [email protected]

In this solo check-in, I share updates on what’s new with Creative Pathways, how my studio practice has been shifting and evolving, and some exciting upcoming events and collaborations.

I also take you behind the scenes of my current show at Clay Lounge in Somerville, which showcases ten years of artistic exploration in ceramics—a decade-long journey of learning how to translate the images in my mind onto clay. I reflect on what it feels like to see this body of work gathered in one space and how my creative process has grown over time.

Shout outs in the ep:

@clayloungeboston

@framecenter

@beachplumfloral

@sarahmennellceramics

@maggieboydceramics

@melissaweisspottery

@levitatebrand

@kailagilmorepottery

@bou.mouline

@analise.austin

@suemcleodceramics

@massarted

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Music by ⁠ ⁨@gregloftusmusic⁩ , find his work wherever you stream and visit ⁠The Lounge at the Brew⁠ in Falmouth for live shows. @theloungeatthebrew

Support ⁠Creative Pathways Inc.⁠, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by donating bringing art programming to Brockton youth. www.creative-pathways.com/donate

Follow on Instagram:

⁠@creativepathwaysproject⁠

@bethbaileypottery

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In this solo episode I share honest behind the scenes updates that give a look at how I run my creative small business day to day, from balancing studio work and community projects to keeping everything moving as a one woman operation.

In the second half I dive into my social media “non plan,” a refreshingly unstructured approach where I simply share whatever I’m genuinely working on that day. I break down why this works, how it keeps my marketing authentic and sustainable, and how it helps me connect with both current and potential clients.

Whether you’re an artist or creative business owner, this episode is full of practical insight on staying true to your process while still growing your reach.

🎧 Listen in and get inspired to find your own rhythm for sharing your work without a content calendar.

I’d also love to hear from you. What social media strategies work for you, and how do you find your authentic voice when posting for a multi person team? Send me a DM at ⁠@bethbaileypottery ⁠or ⁠@creativepathwaysproject⁠ and share your thoughts.

In this solo episode I share honest behind the scenes updates that give a look at how I run my creative small business day to day, from balancing studio work and community projects to keeping everything moving as a one woman operation.

In the second half I dive into my social media “non plan,” a refreshingly unstructured approach where I simply share whatever I’m genuinely working on that day. I break down why this works, how it keeps my marketing authentic and sustainable, and how it helps me connect with both current and potential clients.

Whether you’re an artist or creative business owner, this episode is full of practical insight on staying true to your process while still growing your reach.

🎧 Listen in and get inspired to find your own rhythm for sharing your work without a content calendar.

I’d also love to hear from you. What social media strategies work for you, and how do you find your authentic voice when posting for a multi person team? Send me a DM at @bethbaileypottery or @creativepathwaysproject and share your thoughts.

Episode 18 of Let’s Chat: Creative Pathways is all about reconnecting and planning for the future.

I start by checking in on health — 3 weeks post-op — plus sharing updates on current client work and taking a look at my schedule a year out.

I’m also excited to introduce my Creative Pathways Corporate Art Residency, a new program bringing collaborative art experiences into workplaces.This episode also takes you a little bit behind the scenes of how “Tap Tap in Brockton” was made, with images from the process — so be sure to watch this one! The piece is making a stop to be displayed at the Levitate Flannel Jam gallery before heading to its place of permanent installation at The Douglas House in Brockton, where it was created.

This episode includes visual references of the art I discuss, so it’s a great one to watch on YouTube or Spotify for the full experience.

Whether you’re curious about integrating creativity at work, building community, or just love hearing the behind-the-scenes of running creative programs, this episode is for you!

💡 Learn more about Creative Pathways: www.creative-pathways.com

🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes about creativity, community, and building a creative life.

In Episode 17, I share personal challenges of finding balance, the forced slow downs I’m learning to embrace, and how I juggle my pottery business with running Creative Pathways, a nonprofit bringing art into communities. I dive into the grant cycle I’m in right now—and how you can tap into grants for your own creative work. I’m also putting out a call for artists and local creatives to join me as visiting artists in community programs—this is a compensated position, not volunteer work.

💡 Support Creative Pathways: Every $300 raised funds a full session of programming for the afterschool program at Downey Elementary School in Brockton, MA. As a new nonprofit, I’ve raised $25 so far—any contribution helps! Donate at ⁠www.creative-pathways.com/donate⁠.

Follow along: ⁠instagram⁠, ⁠facebook⁠, ⁠tiktok⁠, ⁠youtube

In Episode 17, I share personal challenges of finding balance, the forced slow downs I’m learning to embrace, and how I juggle my pottery business with running Creative Pathways, a nonprofit bringing art into communities. I dive into the grant cycle I’m in right now—and how you can tap into grants for your own creative work. I’m also putting out a call for artists and local creatives to join me as visiting artists in community programs—this is a compensated position, not volunteer work.

💡 Support Creative Pathways: Every $300 raised funds a full session of programming for the afterschool program at Downey Elementary School in Brockton, MA. As a new nonprofit, I’ve raised $25 so far—any contribution helps! Donate at www.creative-pathways.com/donate.

Follow along: instagram, facebook, tiktok, youtube