The ebb and flow of creativity is inevitable. There will be times when we are itching to paint and know exactly what we want to do, and there will be times when turning up feels hard. In this episode, I answer your questions on this topic and share the ways I stay inspired, build compassion for quieter periods, honour my own rhythms, and continue seeking self-discovery and self-expression, even in small acts. From finding colour palettes to compiling sketchbook prompts, tidying up the studio, and more, there are myriad ways to respect and support our creativity, no matter the season.

Richie and I hope you enjoy this short and sweet season finale. We'll be taking a little break and returning in late July with a new season filled with fresh insights and inspiration.

Mentioned:

Episode 167: Is It Okay to Have Multiple Art Styles?

1,500 Color Mixing Recipes Book by William F Powell

Collecting Colour Palette Ideas (YT Video)

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

Recently, I made a delightful discovery: artists are still blogging! I am not sure why I thought the blogging scene was all but forgotten, but it's not. It's a little different now, especially with so many social media platforms to contend with. However, many artists are still blogging in various ways—on their own websites, on Substack, via email newsletters, and more. In this episode, I share my own experience and discuss things to consider when choosing your approach, from SEO to community building, personal satisfaction, and fitting it all in. If you have a blog or are thinking of starting one, this episode is a must!

Mentioned:

IG Post about Blogging

Substack

Squarespace

Flodesk

Pinterest

Laura's Blog

Laura's Vlog

Laura's Podcast

Laura's Newsletter Sign-Up

There is a lot of pressure on artists to develop one strong style, but is this the only way? This week, Richie and I discuss my personal experience with having multiple art styles and share some of the benefits of embracing variety in your work. We explore how casting a wider creative net can be advantageous and talk about how, over time, your creative voice becomes stronger, making your work identifiable even as you move through different subjects and mediums. We hope this episode provides encouragement to find the balance between consistency and experimentation that works for you and your art goals.

Mentioned:

Signature Style Blog Post

⁠⁠The Creative Act by Rick Rubin⁠⁠

Peter McKinnon

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

This week, we're answering a listener question about how to transition from your sketchbook to a canvas or alternative substrate. This topic is perfectly timed, as I've been in a sketchbook phase myself and am beginning to take the leap out. Join Richie and me as we discuss signs that you're ready, practical strategies to make the transition easier, ideas for setting up your space, and the importance of respecting cycles and revisiting sketchbooks as needed. It's an informative conversation about how to grow and develop your work.

Mentioned:

⁠The Creative Act by Rick Rubin⁠

Episode 163: Embracing Artistic Exploration Without Needing To Know “The Why”

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

Do you miss the days of looking at gorgeous photographs of art on Instagram and zooming in on all the details? We sure do. That's why we've been bucking the trends and sharing more photos again, despite the platform's push towards reels. Is it the best thing for account growth? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good decision. Tune in to hear more about our social media switch up and the benefits we’ve been experiencing. We also talk about breaking up with ChatGPT and gaining clarity with YouTube.

Mentioned:

Episode 157: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Reels and What To Do Instead

Peter McKinnon: Photography is Dead

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

There are many ways to improve a creative space and make it feel like home. This week, Richie and I reflect back on the past year in our beloved art cottage and share the favorite updates and tweaks we've made to the space. We talk about everything from furniture, lighting, and decorating to our most recent trip to IKEA. Plus, there's plenty of laughs along the way. I'll admit I do need to stop sticking my nose into Richie's decorating! It's a fun one, but also a special conversation that goes beyond having an Instagram-worthy studio space, and instead focuses on finding space wherever you can that allows you to express your uniqueness. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Mentioned:

Art Table Video

Studio Tour Video Playlist

Mabef Easel

Home Decoration Idea FB Page

Ikea FLÖNSA Cork Board

Ikea SKÅDIS Peg Board

Ikea FÖRHÖJA Kitchen Trolley

Ikea HOVSTA Frames

Ikea Torared Lamp Shade

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠⁠

Feeling the pressure to figure out and define your art? This conversation might get you thinking differently. What if you allowed yourself to play a little longer, to explore without constraints, and to gather inspiration from far and wide? That's exactly what I've been doing.

Inspired by Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act," I've discovered a fresh enthusiasm, confidence, and sense of wonder in my creative practice.

It's made me realize that if we're always in a rush to reach the finish line, there's a good chance we'll miss something even more interesting and beautiful along the way. With this in mind, I've been retreating into my sketchbooks and exploring many tangents. This week, I chatted all about it with Richie. I hope the conversation leaves you as excited and inspired as it left me!

Mentioned:

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

How long should you persist with a creative pursuit, art style, or medium if you are not enjoying it? This episode could also have been titled: I really want to love acrylics, but I am not sure if I do?

Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 137: Angela Terris - It's Never Too Late To Piviot and Change Your Path

Alex Ferguson (football manager) "bouncebackability"

Marie Forleo (entrepreneur) "everything is figureoutable"

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

This week, Richie and I chat about why it can be helpful to revisit previous art styles or processes in your art practice or business. This idea emerged as I've rediscovered and fallen back in love with the playful style of art from my very first online class, The Melting Pot.

We also discuss the challenges we've faced in defining a style and approach for our YouTube channel and why we're returning to simple, short videos like we used to share when we first got started.

We hope you enjoy the episode! Remember, the creative path is anything but linear—it's okay to shed things that aren't serving you well and return to something that you loved or something that was working well and maybe didn't need to be changed in the first place!

Find me on Instagram ⁠@laurahornart

Breaks are wonderful and necessary, but they can also make it hard to get back into your artistic groove. This week, Richie and I discuss this challenge and offer practical guidance and encouragement to help you turn your creative drought into a fresh, exciting chapter. Discover the importance of taking that first step, embracing risk-taking, optimising your workspace, and selecting a project that challenges but doesn't overwhelm. If you've been struggling to find your creative flow, you won't want to miss this one!

Mentioned:

⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 153: Making Time for Art and Protecting Your Creative Energy!

Episode: 154: Old Art: Should You Keep, Transform, or Set Free?

Sandi Hester YouTube Channel

Helen Wells YouTube Channel

Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more!

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠