The Exuberant Artist Podcast

The Exuberant Artist Podcast

By Emma FreemanArtsVisual Arts
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The Exuberant Artist Podcast episodes

  • Encouragement as Creative Catalyst

    In this episode, I talk about the power of encouragement in my art practice and how it opens up new possibilities and deeper creative energy within me.  

    Encouragement is such a powerful force that can energize and motivate us to keep exploring and discovering new creative ways of expressing ourselves. So many of us have had painful experiences of being criticized for what we create or we just feel unsure about our creative abilities and those tender places within us can be soothed and healed through encouraging words, through encouraging creative opportunities and spaces to be in. The encouragement can completely shift things inside, I have discovered, it can soften those hardened places where we have convinced ourselves that we can’t do something or are bad at something and suddenly new energy can flow there, like when a knot in a muscle gets massaged out. The creative energy that naturally wants to flow can move and inspire us and can feel incredibly powerful. We are all so much more powerful than we realize. 

    Creating art, attempting new mediums and materials that intimidate us but feel exciting too, is so good for the soul. And I find that the smallest amount of encouragement can have a huge impact-if someone says that they love what I created or that is beautiful, or wow, that is amazing! Even if I start to say, “well…I don’t know…” or doubt it, the magic is already happening inside of me, that energy of encouragement is working it’s way through my body and finding those stuck and hardened places of creative fear and doubt and is starting to massage them to get them unstuck. 

    I love encouraging people in my life to do the creative things they want to do.  I take time to say kind things about what they are creating or encourage them to do something they mentioned wanting to explore. I seek out spaces where I can receive some encouragement - in art classes, by sharing what I am creating with friends and online. It isn’t about focusing on getting constant validation-that is different. That is a compulsive need to be held up by others because we haven’t discovered our own powerful foundation to stand on yet. Encouragement is more expansive than validation. Validation feels to me like the insecure version and encouragement is the secure version. Encourage yourself. Start to talk to yourself in encouraging ways. 

    I use quotes around me in my art space to encourage me all of the time, to give me that boost of encouraging energy to keep me going when I get stuck. A few of my favorites are: “Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” -Carl Jung “I simply do not distinguish between work and play.” -Mary Oliver “So you see, imagination needs moodling-long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.” -Brenda Ueland “I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else.” -Pablo Picasso “I shut my eyes in order to see.” -Paul Gauguin 

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠

    19 min
  • Exploring Art Making as a Meditation Practice

    In this episode, I share my reflections on my own discovery of art being a meditation practice, what shifts happened in my life to kick off that new practice, and what I have noticed that I need to enter that state of being at my art table. I make connections to Zen philosophy, spirituality and art making and share some of my favorite quotes about meditation that connect to art making and creativity including an excerpt from the book by John Daido Loori called, The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life and this quote by Thich Nhat Hanh that I love, “Meditation is not passive sitting in silence. It is sitting in awareness, free from distraction, and realizing the clear understanding that arises from concentration."

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠

    21 min
  • Exploring The Language of Texture in Art Making

    In this episode, I talk about how I explore texture in my mixed media art work, being a very tactile human, suggestions and ideas for expanding your experiences with texture and ways I gather texture inspiration and surround myself with those objects and images to nourish me creatively. 

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠

    27 min
  • For a New Beginning, a Poem by John O'Donohue

    In this episode, I read a beautiful poem by John O'Donohue called, "For a New Beginning" from his book, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. I also share why this poem is meaningful and healing for me in my art practice and my life. John O'Donohue was an Irish poet, philosopher and spiritual teacher. 


    For a New Beginning

    By John O'Donohue

    In out-of-the-way places of the heart,

    Where your thoughts never think to wander,
    This beginning has been quietly forming,
    Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

    For a long time it has watched your desire,

    Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
    Noticing how you willed yourself on,
    Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

    It watched you play with the seduction of safety

    And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
    Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
    Wondered would you always live like this.

    Then the delight, when your courage kindled,

    And out you stepped onto new ground,
    Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
    A path of plenitude opening before you.

    Though your destination is not yet clear

    You can trust the promise of this opening;
    Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
    That is at one with your life’s desire.

    Awaken your spirit to adventure;

    Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
    Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
    For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠


    5 min
  • The Creative Freedom of Mixed Media Art Making

    In this episode of the Deep Rooted Healing podcast, I share how I discovered the world of mixed media art making, what materials and tools I love using now in my mixed media work, and the incredible freedom I am discovering within the world of mixed media art making.  I share books, classes and artists who have helped me learn mixed media techniques. 

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠


    21 min
  • For the Artist at the Start of Day, a Poem by John O'Donohue

    In this episode of the Deep Rooted Healing podcast, I share a beautiful poem by the poet and writer, John O'Donohue. It is called, "For the Artist at the Start of Day" from his book, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. I discovered this poem recently and absolutely love it. It gives me encouragement and connection while I sit at my art table and reminds me that artists have a calling and deeper need to create. John O'Dononue was an Irish poet, writer, philosopher and spiritual teacher. 

    "For the Artist at the Start of Day"

    by John O'Donohue

    May morning be astir with

    the harvest of night;
    Your mind quickening to the
    eros of a new question,
    Your eyes seduced by some
    unintended glimpse
    That cut right through the
    surface to a source.

    May this be a morning of

    innocent beginning,
    When the gift within you
    slips clear
    Of the sticky web of the
    personal
    With its hurt and its
    hauntings,
    And fixed fortress corners,

    A morning when you become

    a pure vessel
    For what wants to ascend
    from silence,

    May your imagination know

    The grace of perfect danger,

    To reach beyond imitation,

    And the wheel of repetition,

    Deep into the call of all

    The unfinished and unsolved.

    Until the veil of the unknown

    yields
    And something original
    begins

    To stir toward your senses

    And grow stronger in your
    heart

    In order to come to birth

    In a clean line of form,
    That claims from time
    A rhythm not yet heard,
    That calls space to
    A different shape.

    May it be its own force field

    And dwell uniquely
    Between the heart and the
    light

    To surprise the hungry eye

    By how deftly it fits
    About its secret loss.

    I also talk about self-doubt as an artist and our need for connection and community to keep us going. 

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠


    5 min
  • Learning New Creative Languages as an Artist

    In this episode of the Deep Rooted Healing podcast, I talk about the artistic languages I communicate in, how I built and continue to build my creative toolbox through art classes, online art tutorials, and art and craft books.


    “The more colors you have on your palette, the more you can work with, and the more you can aspire to.” Donald McKayle, dancer and choreographer, first black man to direct and choreograph a Broadway musical.


    I think of each artistic medium as a different creative language. The way I communicate and express myself in one is different than another. Collage, drawing, inks, watercolor, acrylics, textiles, stitching, mixed media, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, dance, cooking, writing...these are all creative languages. Expanding and deepening our creative language abilities can offer us more resources to draw upon to express ourselves. I think of it as building my creative toolbox.


    In this episode, I talk about wonderful online classes I have taken including:

    -Basic Line Drawing with Lisa Congdon : https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/basic-line-drawing-with-lisa-congdon. 

    -Creative Boot Camp - Six Exercises to Spark Artistic Discovery with Lisa Congdon : https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/creative-boot-camp-6-exercises-to-spark-creative-discovery. 

    -More Sketchbook Explorations: Gel Pen Drawings on Colored Paper with Lisa Congdon: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/more-sketchbook-explorations-gel-pen-drawings-on-colored-paper.

    -Daily Drawing Challenge: 31 Things to Draw with Lisa Congdon: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/daily-drawing-challenge.

    -Daily Abstract Prompts: Working Collaboratively with Pam Garrison and Jennifer Mercede : https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/daily-abstract-painting-prompts-working-collaboratively. 

    -How to Brush Paint on Fabric with Anna Joyce: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/how-to-brush-paint-on-fabric.

    -Gelli Plate Printing with Courtney Cerutti: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/gelli-plate-printing.

    -Becoming a Working Artist with Lisa Congdon: https://www.creativelive.com/class/become-working-artist-lisa-congdon.

    -Intuitive Mark Making with Flora Bowley: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/intuitive-mark-making. 

    -Intuitive Painting with Flora Bowley: https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/intuitive-painting. 

    -Minimal Magic and Abstract Adventuring with Laura Horn : https://www.laurahornart.com/classes. 

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠


    11 min
  • My Journey to Becoming a Mixed Media Artist & Teaching Artist

    In this episode of the Deep Rooted Healing podcast, I share how I became a mixed media artist and a teaching artist. This episode was recorded in September of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when I started this podcast project as an experiment to connect with people while in isolation.


    I share one of my favorite quotes by John Updike, "What are offers is space, a certain breathing room for the spirit."

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    Emma Freeman is an artist, writer, poet, Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki Practitioner. She teaches online art and writing classes at www.deep-rooted-healing.com. She is a sober and a highly sensitive person. She lives in Wisconsin. 


    Online creative classes: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com/classes⁠⁠

    Website: ⁠⁠www.deep-rooted-healing.com⁠⁠

    Instagram: ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/deeprootedhealing⁠⁠

    Facebook: ⁠⁠www.facebook.com/deeprootedhealings⁠⁠

    YouTube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@deeprootedhealing⁠

    9 min

About The Exuberant Artist Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Exuberant Artist Podcast, hosted by mixed media artist, writer and teaching artist, Emma Freeman, is a show where I explore what it means to live a full, vibrant and fulfilling life as an artist…