Your Creative Push

Latest Episodes:

267: The 60/40 Rule (w/ Matthew Mungle) Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

Academy Award winner Matthew W. Mungle is regarded as one of Hollywood's premier make-up special effects artists. With over 200 film and television projects to his credit, Matthew has earned accolades and recognition as one of the industry's top masters of makeup effects illusion.

He has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Makeup, winning in 1992 for Bram Stoker's Dracula. He has also received 26 Emmy nominations, winning 6. In addition to Dracula, he has also received Oscar nominations for his work on Schindler's List, Ghosts of Mississippi, and Albert Nobbs.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/matthewmungle

In this episode, Matthew discusses:

-How he initially became interested in makeup effects and some of his initial inspirations including movies and Richard Corson's Stage Makeup.

-The experience of moving to Los Angeles and his early work in film.

-A walk-through of many of his films including The Guardian, Edward Scissorhands, and What About Bob?

-His experience in working with Tim Burton and Frank Oz.

-His Academy Award win for Bram Stoker's Dracula, and his nominations for Ghosts of Mississippi, Schindler's List, and Albert Nobbs.

-His advice to young people who are considering getting into makeup effects.

-How he took on the "Oscar Curse."

-The change that occurred in his work and career after he stopped working from home.

-Learning to delegate.

-His advice to always find a way to learn from your mistakes.

-Maintaining a professional relationship with actors and actresses.

-What he's up to now, including helping James Glavan with the new edition of Richard Corson's Stage Makeup.

Matthew's Final Push will inspire you to follow your passion and enjoy what you do! Quotes:

"I never started my career out thinking 'I'm going to win an Academy Award.' I just did it because I love this profession."

"If you really love what you do, you're going to be successful. Because you point yourself in that direction and it's a positive thing in your life."

"60% is working with people, listening, being kind, and doing your job. And 40% is your talent."

"I had to learn to let go of some of my idiosyncrasies and demands of myself and put that onto others."

Links mentioned:

Richard Corson's Stage Makeup

Connect with Matthew:

Website / IMDb

On the next episode:

Freddy Negrete: Instagram / Book

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

266: GET REWARDED by going for your dreams (w/ Hannah Yata) Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

Hannah Faith Yata is half Japanese and was born and raised in a small town in Georgia. She grew up with a deep love of nature and animals passed down by the beautiful surroundings in the country and her mother.

In her paintings, Yata seeks to interweave the parallels of the unconscious with the struggle of the natural environment and how it relates to views regarding the body of the woman and that of nature.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/hannahyata

In this episode, Hannah discusses:

-Her early career as she worked other jobs while doing her own work in her free time.

-Doing work for B.o.B.

-The role that nature (and human interference) plays in her pieces.

-Her process and the amount of planning that goes into her pieces.

-Magic and synchronicity.

-How you often get rewarded for going after the thing you've always dreamed of going after.

-The difference between commissions and personal work and striking a balance between them.

-The importance of surrounding yourself with other likeminded creative individuals.

-Learning from her husband, Jean Pierre Arboleda's experiences.

-Some of the creative resistances that she faces.

-Not getting too caught up in what other people are doing, but keeping your head down and doing your own best work.

-How to bridge the gap between lack of skill and taste.

Hannah's Final Push will inspire you to stop thinking about money as a measure of success, but rather as a means of creative exchange! Quotes:

"You never want to put yourself in a place that you can't do your own work."

"I can't tell you how many people asked me, 'Why are you going to college for art? This is a waste of a degree."

"I feel like half the time you are making things, you're in a frustrated state."

"Do your best work. Don't look at anybody else. Keep doing what you feel is comfortable and right for yourself."

"I did a lot of work and I sucked at a lot of it, but I kept making it and learning from those mistakes."

"I really believe in creative people and I think that the world needs more of them."

Links mentioned:

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

Martin Wittfooth on Your Creative Push

Stuart Holland on Your Creative Push

Connect with Hannah:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

On the next episode:

Matthew Mungle : Website / IMDb

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

265: The world needs your story! (w/ Nikki Rae) Nov 13, 2017

Show notes

Nikki Rae is an independent author who lives in New Jersey. She explores human nature through fiction, concentrating on making the imaginary as real as possible. Her genres of choice are mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she'll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/nikkirae

In this episode, Nikki discusses:

-How she started writing when she was 14 and homebound after breaking her leg and having nothing else to do.

-The frustrating and fruitless experience of querying her first novel out to publishers for five years.

-The differences between indie publishing and traditional publishing.

-How independent publishing takes away the gatekeepers.

-Being able to interact with and get feedback from her audience as she is writing.

-Getting burnt out.

-Her strategy of writing for half of the year and promoting for the other half.

-How everyone struggles with imposter syndrome… even Neil Gaiman.

-How she battles her inner editor through word sprints.

Nikki's Final Push will make you realize that the world needs your story! Quotes:

"I feel like when I was querying the story, I was asking for permission for my story to be real to people. The more I did it, the more I hated the idea of other people being in charge of what I wanted to put into the world."

"It's like two-parts writing and a-million-parts promoting."

"Rejection isn't an excuse to not put a book out there anymore."

"Any creative person that's good at what they do hates half of what they do."

"Your world is in your head, and it's up to you to make it real."

Links mentioned:

Metamorphosis Editing Services

Kelly Killagain on Your Creative Push

Write or Die

The Art of Asking: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Let People Help by Amanda Palmer

Connect with Nikki:

Website / Books / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

On the next episode:

Hannah Yata : Website / Instagram

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

264: Wish upon your creative star (w/ Megan Carty) Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

Megan Carty is a New England-based artist who makes cheerful abstract floral paintings that are uplifting and color-drenched for people who have a flair for bold statements and tailored style.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/megancarty

In this episode, Megan discusses:

-How she always knew that she wanted to be an artist or an art teacher when she grew up.

-The seed that was planted in her at a young age to seek praise or to do what her teacher liked rather than what she wanted to create.

-The dangers of comparing yourself to others.

-Some of the trials and tribulations she went through after college, including sexism, 9/11, depression, layoffs, breakups, and struggling to find the right fit career-wise.

-Being appreciative of the negative experiences while you don't know what brings you joy, because they inform you of what does bring you joy.

-Getting involved with Etsy and the double-edged sword of being able to do anything, but also getting frozen by being able to do anything.

-The important decision to not wait until you reach Point B to be happy, but to attempt to experience happiness today and throughout your entire journey.

-How following your joy leads to finding more joy (and also spreading it to others).

-How she battles negative thoughts and even depression.

-How wishing on a star is a skill we have as children that we gradually lose.

-How artists need to take their creative "medicine" or else they start to feel ill.

-Donald Trump in relation to creativity.

Megan's Final Push will remind you to stop fretting and realize that people are looking for your creativity! Quotes:

"I just let all of the roadblocks overcome me."

"I was on the wrong path and I was doing all the wrong things. Everything had to blow up in order for me to get on the right path."

"I had lost the sense of joy of creating."

"What is it I want to make, and what is it that makes me the most happy while I'm making it?"

"If you have a creative passion that you're not pursuing, chances are you're feeling a little bit negative and sad about it."

"There's nothing that can stop me except for my own thoughts."

"If it's tickling your heart, then that's the right thing. Do more of that."

Links mentioned:

Matthew Miller on Your Creative Push

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires by Esther Hicks and Jerry Hicks

Paul Selig on The Duncan Trussell Family Hour Podcast

Connect with Megan:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

On the next episode:

Nikki Rae : Website / Twitter

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

263: FIND YOUR TRIBE or create your own! (w/ Justin Hopkins & Yoshino) Oct 30, 2017

Show notes

Justin Hopkins is a talented artist, originally from Mukilteo, Washington.

Yoshino is a photographer, director, and the creator and host of the Artist Decoded podcast.

Together, they created NOH / WAVE, a multidisciplinary creative group located in Los Angeles, Ca.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreatvepush.com/nohwave

In this episode, Justin & Yoshino discuss:

-How Yoshino got into photography and what inspired him to start Artist Decoded.

-How Justin and Yoshino met and how they were able to see how they both had similar creative mindsets.

-The importance of recognizing individuals and opportunities that come up for you that are in line with your own philosophies.

-Finding a tribe (or building your own).

-What NOH/WAVE means and what they are attempting to do with it.

-How they are balancing their own personal work while attempting to run this large project.

-Learning that everyone goes through insecurities and other creative blocks at all points in their career.

-Trying to find a way to maintain creative honesty.

-Being adaptable and not becoming a caricature of yourself by doing the same thing over and over again.

Justin & Yoshino's Final Push will inspire you to trust yourself and to continue to be a good person and help others on their journeys! Quotes:

"We just realized it's better together rather than competing against each other."

"There's something that happens when you push towards something that you feel you are meant to be doing with as much energy and passion as you can. Things will just start happening."

"By understanding other people's creativity, I can understand myself even further."

"Be honest with yourself and be able to adapt and evolve with the process."

Links mentioned:

NOH/WAVE

Artist Decoded

Justin Hopkins on Your Creative Push

Connect with Justin & Yoshino:

Justin's Website / Justin's Instagram / Yoshino's Website / Yoshino's Instagram

On the next episode:

Megan Carty : Website / Instagram

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

262: Dreaming beyond your dreams (w/ Carrie Waller) Oct 26, 2017

Show notes

Carrie Waller is a watercolor artist working in a realistic, detailed style. With a background in Interior Design and her studies in Graphic design as well as her time spent living in Europe and Asia have influenced her as an artist. Her unique works are bold, vibrant and dramatic.

She is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, Louisiana Watercolor Society and the Mid-Southern Watercolorists. She teaches workshops and private classes.

Carrie is also a co-host and contributor for the Artists Helping Artists #1 blog radio art podcast.

In this episode, Carrie discusses:

-How she maintained a creative life with a husband in the Air Force.

-How the movie Julie & Juliet gave her the inspiration to start a blog in which she would do a painting a week.

-Listening to the Artists Helping Artists Podcast and how she eventually became involved as a cohost.

-Taking a watercolor workshop with Paul Jackson.

-The importance of having accountability partners or groups and her own personal group, WAM.

-How traveling has influenced her art.

-How she balances her time with being a wife, a mother, and an artist.

-Dealing with self-doubt.

-What Artists Helping Artists is all about and what people can get from it.

-Being brave and reaching out to other creatives that you want to connect with.

Carrie's Final Push will inspire you to reach even further than your wildest dreams! Quotes:

"It's this friendship and this professional group that has made all the difference in my life. They keep me focused."

"I move so often that I have to reinvent this community for myself."

"I have a clear goal and a clear idea of where I want to be so that keeps me motivated and moving."

Links mentioned:

Artists Helping Artists

Carol Carter on Your Creative Push

Justin Hopkins on Your Creative Push

Connect with Carrie:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

On the next episode:

NOH / WAVE : Justin Hopkins / Artist Decoded by Yoshino

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

261: Escape the golden handcuffs of a job you hate (w/ Joanna Penn) Oct 23, 2017

Show notes

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author who has written 23 books and sold over 500,000 books in 84 countries and 5 languages. She is an independent (indie) author who also runs a small press, Curl Up Press, with her husband.

She also writes non-fiction for authors and is the creator of The Creative Penn, which offers information and inspiration on writing, self-publishing, book marketing and how to make a living with your writing through articles, podcast episodes, videos, books and courses.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/joannapenn

In this episode, Joanna discusses:

-How she felt spiritually empty and creatively dead from her job, yet stuck in the "golden handcuffs" of a job that pays the bills.

-The importance of taking action after you have determined what you want out of life.

-Determining the things that you are going to give up in order to achieve your dreams.

-The experience of writing her first book.

-How she used to think that the only thing worth writing was something that would win an award.

-Doing NaNoWriMo for the first time and how it changed her life.

-Her take on getting ideas.

-Her advice for anyone who is considering doing NaNoWriMo.

-How something good can come out of a writing challenge, even if you fall short of your initial goal.

-Being able to meet other people who are doing NaNoWriMo.

-Some of the struggles she initially had with dictation and her advice for writers who want to try it.

-How your first draft is like producing a block of marble, and the later drafts allow you to chisel away at it to make a sculpture.

-Self-censorship and fear of judgment.

Joanna's Final Push will make you realize how much time you might have wasted and get moving in order to achieve your dreams! Quotes:

"If you set your mind to it and then take action, you can live the life of your dreams."

"There are lots of ways to get information and ideas. You just have to tune into the things that are most interesting to you."

"The temptation for creative people is to do those practical things. It's much easier to maintain your website or blog or do social media than it is to sit down and do something new."

"Take that creative push and go create! Make the time and do it because you can absolutely change your life."

Links mentioned:

On Writing My First Novel -- The Creative Penn

NaNoWriMo

Dragon Dictation

Writeordie.com

Connect with Joanna:

Website / The Creative Penn / Books / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

On the next episode:

Carrie Waller : Website / Instagram

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

260: Show your creative passion some DEVOTION (w/ Amarilys Henderson) Oct 19, 2017

Show notes

Amarilys Henderson is a watercolor illustrator who graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design. After mostly working in illustration and painting commissions, she started to paint for the sake of her own sanity. By letting go of the finished product, she began creating "Watercolor Devos" -- a way for her to combine her watercolors with her Christian Devotions.

Amarilys is also a successful and popular instructor on Skillshare.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/amarilys

In this episode, Amarilys discusses:

-Getting back to her art after having her first child and having no expectations from anyone as to what that art should be.

-How she combined her time with watercolor with her time with her Christian devotion to create Watercolor Devos.

-How she initially told herself that she wouldn't show her new creations to anyone.

-Starting her Etsy shop and her blog.

-Getting started on Skillshare and winning the teacher challenge.

-Her advice for anyone wanting to start their own courses on Skillshare.

-Her advice for anyone wanting to take Skillshare classes to be strategic with what classes they want to take and to also share their projects.

-Some of the resistances that hold her back, such as putting her face to her art/teaching.

-How she balances her time by noticing the rhythm of her week and having lunch with herself on Fridays to recap how things went.

Amarilys' Final Push will inspire you to spread yourself thin and try multiple things to determine what direction you want to go! Quotes:

"It makes sense to take what you're really passionate about and simmer in it with whatever your creative with."

"I just start painting where I'm at, and then I'm able to think deeper and receive anything else that is going to take me further."

"You don't know what you're good at until you try it."

"The greatest question you can ask yourself is what makes my heart jump up and what is connecting me to what I really am and what I was made for?"

Links mentioned:

Amarilys on Skillshare

Racheal Cook's podcast

James Wedmore's podcast

Cloze App

Connect with Amarilys:

Website / Skillshare / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn

On the next episode:

Joanna Penn : Website / Facebook / Twitter

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

259: The quickest way to get quicker is to SLOW DOWN (w/ Even Mehl Amundsen) Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

Even Mehl Amundsen is an illustrator and artist out of Copenhagen. He is originally from Norway, where he was able to specialize in visual art before living and working in England, Prague, and California, where he worked for such companies as Blizzard Entertainment, Games Workshop, and Volta.

Even is currently a full-time freelancer and is soon releasing his TEGN Book 1, the first of three in the series.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/even

In this episode, Even discusses:

-Going to school in Norway and being able to specialize in visual art.

-Traveling and working in England, Prague, California, and Copenhagen.

-His advice to be aware that your mindset might be incorrect.

-Working a little bit, always.

-How he eased into a drawing-a-day challenge and what it did for his art and his creative production.

-How he purposely sacrificed some of his social life during that year-long challenge in order to find the time each day.

-Why it is important to sometimes be self-centered when it comes to your creative life.

-Letting ideas percolate until they are ready to be put onto paper.

-Allowing ideas to come to you from your life experiences.

-Getting offered a job at Blizzard Entertainment, working there, and what made him want to leave.

-Dealing with the pressures of other people wanting you to do something that you know isn't the right fit for you.

-His upcoming TEGN Book 1.

-How he lacks a ruthlessness when it comes to working with clients.

-His advice for young artists.

Even's Final Push will inspire you to work a little bit, always! Quotes:

"I never sit down with the express intent of Alright, it's drawing time, let's come up with something to do."

"The drawing process doesn't start when the pencil meets paper. It starts when I have an idea that I want to put down on paper."

"Whenever you see something that appeals to you aesthetically, make a note of it, try to figure out why you like it, try to figure out what aspect of it pleases you, and then figure out how you can use that for the creation of your own ideas."

"The quickest way to get quicker is to slow down. To make choices deliberately and with forethought and intent."

Resources mentioned:

TEGN Kickstarter

Connect with Even:

Artstation / Facebook / Instagram

On the next episode:

Amarilys Henderson : Website / Instagram

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

258: Your art is at your mercy (w/ Bill Logan) Oct 12, 2017

Show notes

Bill Logan is an artist who left his career as a commercial illustrator to devote himself to fine art, with a particular focus on drawing, bronze casting, woodwork, and the creation of very intricate sculpture. He has participated in over 2 dozen group and juried shows, 4 solo exhibitions, and has enjoyed a very well received New York debut.

He is also a passionate writer, writing articles about fly fishing and fly tying in the United States, Japan, and Great Britain.

Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/billlogan

In this episode, Bill discusses:

-Switching back and forth between multiple creative disciplines.

-How he has enough ideas and things that he wants to create to last him for 500 years.

-Trying to go in one creative direction, but also trying to take all of the interesting side trips at the same time.

-Looking back on work that isn't even that old and having the feeling that it is, in fact, old.

-Those rare moments of creative "genius" that seem to come from somewhere else and trusting that they will continue to come through dedication and determination.

-The difficult task of not judging what you are doing.

-Saving your old work.

-The importance of the encouragement of the people that he loves, like his wife and his sister.

-How he balances his time.

-The beauty of "stop days."

-Some of his experimentation with drawing blind or drawing with his left hand.

-The importance of realizing that your art is at your mercy, you are not at your art's.

Bill's Final Push will remind you to have as much fun as you can with your creative passion and to stay out of your own way! Quotes:

"Sometimes the best work happens when you've been so damn stubborn that you haven't walked away."

"It's just dedication. It's just stubborn determination."

"There was a period in my life where I tried very hard not to be an artist, but I couldn't do it. To feel right and whole and as much like me as I needed to be, I couldn't walk away from art making."

"If you're not making judgments or decisions, then what is directing you? How do you move?"

"Do what feels right in the moment, and then allow yourself a whole lot of time after that moment before you decide whether what you did was right."

"How do you be what you want to be, and also be what you have to be?"

Links mentioned:

Bird by Bird: some Instructions on Writing and Life by Annie Lamott

Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies by Ross King

Connect with Bill:

Website

On the next episode:

Even Mehl Amundsen : Artstation / Instagram

Join the discussion in the Facebook group!