Today: I’m noticing the relationship between the impossible and freedom – and reminiscing about the journey with our rescue kittens.
I love this so deeply that I simultaneously can almost not watch it and cannot stop watching it.
Here’s the entire Nowness Garden playlist.
Lately I’ve been wondering whether there’s value in dreaming impossible dreams, and that’s where the conversation starts this week. It seems an appropriate question since my guest, Courtney Cerruti, is one of those creatives who seems to do six impossible things before breakfast! She and I talk about creative productivity, finding your own artistic voice and why it’s worthwhile to do things that are scary!
Maker extraordinaire, Courtney is an artist, author, collaborator and shop owner. Her books, Playing with Image Transfers, Washi Tape 101 and Playing With Surface Design been translated into Italian, French, German, Spanish and Chinese. Courtney teaches workshops all over the country and online at Creativebug.com. Her work has been featured on Oh Happy Day, Design Sponge, the SF Chronicle, Instagram, The Jealous Curator and BuzzFeed among others. She makes something everyday
Website: courtneycerruti.com
Instagram: @ccerruti
Shop: Long Weekend Store
Playing with Image Transfers
Washi Tape 101
Playing With Surface Design
Click here to sign up for your introductory month free with the Creative Living with Jamie discount code CREATE.
Whether this is the first episode that you’ve listened to or we’ve been hanging out for years, I am so glad that you’re
here. I love knowing that we’re hanging out in your studio, folding your laundry or that we’re hanging out while you’re walking your dog or going to work. Wherever you are and however you listen, I want you to know, I cherish you. And if you cherish this show, if it has been a blessing to your creative life, please spread the magic! Take a moment to leave a positive rating or review on iTunes. Share the podcast with your friends! You really can make a difference by shining a light on the show so that it can be found by other creative hearts just like you.
Today: I’m thinking about Creative Projects and how we can get them done – our way. Plus, tomorrow’s our free Studio Forum on Our Art Stories – I hope you’ll join me!
Today: I’m thinking about how our art can help us practice and empower ourselves to make choices and express opinions in our life.
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I’ve been wearing my practical pants and sensible shoes. I’ve been working with what’s working and getting into a habit of maintaining – all of which is good. But without impossible dreams, I’ve found myself a little bit empty, a little dull around the edges. Without impossible dreams to draw me out into the adventure of the great beyond, I find my borders getting a little smaller and my spirit getting a little sleepier.
Because sometimes they hurt. Deeply.
You look at that brochure for art school, you peruse your friend’s travel-filled Instagram feed, you see that creative blogger joyfully leap from their full-time job to online entrepreneurship and you cry or growl or simply turn it off. You turn off not only the stimulus but your feeling about it.
But that desire is your true north and when you turn it off, you lose a part of who you are.
Whatever you are in your heart, be that an artist, a world-traveller, a chef, a dancer, an author, whatever, you must find a way to express that part of your soul. An impossible dream can serve as a focal point, a light to guide the way.
As you journey to what you believe to be an unreachable destination many things can happen. Yes, you can get discouraged. Yes, you can get lost and you can get hurt. But you can also get stronger and grow your courage and I can guarantee you that you will have experiences that you never would have had otherwise. Sure, you might not become a full-time artist but you will create art. You will study and hone your skills. You will build a body of work and an artistic voice. On the road to that dream, you may build a C.V. and enter exhibits. You may have one, two, three solo shows. Your friends and family will come to know you as “the artist” and you will have spent hours, in fact, days, months, years of your life doing something that your soul loves to do.
Imagine that.
I’ve decided that it is.
And so, I have invited some old and familiar dreams into my heart again, dreams I had stopped thinking about, dreams I had relegated to the world of “impossible”. Now, when this dream comes up, I no longer respond with a dull ache and deep sadness. Instead, there is a fresh and mischievous twinkle in my eye as I begin again to wonder, “What if?”
