On today’s episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I are discussing making art in bursts. This is the concept that you don’t need two or three hours or a full day to get art done.  You can make a lot of art in short bursts of time — 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there. Be sure to listen to the end because we have a new segment: Listener Mail!  I hope you enjoy the conversation.  As always, you can listen to the podcast, subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or...

On today’s episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I are discussing Planning and Organizing.  They are two separate things, in case you’re wondering.  During the podcast Mom and I go into detail with our tips for planning and organizing as well as our own struggles in those areas.  I hope you enjoy the conversation.  As always, you can listen to the podcast on this page, subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the video version on YouTube. Here is the...

Mom and I sat down last week and recorded this podcast.  It’s a fun premise.  We each got to ask the other three year-end questions.  You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel, or you can listen above (or anywhere you get podcasts): And, I did find a discount code for the Bombas socks.  New customers can use this link (it’s an affiliate link) to get 25% off your purchase.  Please let me know what topics you’d like us to discuss on the podcast in 2023. We’d love to...

I love a good mash-up.  You know, a bit from column A and a bit from column B smushed together and suddenly you’ve got something brand new!  Historically speaking, mash-ups are how innovation works.  People rarely invent something from scratch.  It’s the brilliance of putting two things together (or twenty things together) to create something new and necessary.  Here’s the official definition from Merriam-Webster: On today’s podcast, Mom and I discuss mash-ups and why they matter...

Today’s episode of The Adventures in Arting podcast was fueled by an email I get almost every single day: “I can’t access my class.” It’s a statement that makes me crazy because there’s no way for me to help the emailer.  The questions I usually write back with are: * What’s the class?* What’s the specific issue with accessing the class?* Is there an error message you’re seeing? My frustration with this unspecific way of asking for help, led me to think about WHY...

When I told Mom that today’s podcast topic was “failure,” she said, “Again?!” Back on September 18, 2012 we published our very first podcast (almost exactly 10 years ago) and the topic was failure.  I figured a ten year gap was enough time to chat about it again.  I hope you feel the same way. During the podcast we share concrete tips for re-framing failure as an opportunity, along with strategies for defining your own ideas about success and failure. ...

Mom is under the weather today, so instead of chatting with her, I’m sharing portions of three interviews I did with artists who are a part of The Artful Holiday online class. I’m chatting with Barb Smucker… …about her daily art practice. This is a picture of the beautiful collage calendar she’s teaching you how to make in The Artful Holiday class: You can watch my full interview with Barb HERE. May Flaum… …and I chat about being...

We’re back and on schedule (amazingly) with another new podcast.  Yay! If you prefer, you can watch the video HERE.  We chat about a topic that has come up several times – particularly during Book Club: why having a broad range of inspiration matters.  In other words, why you should look to fashion or architecture or quilting if what you do is collage.  I share one of my favorite quotes during the podcast and I took some time to track down its origins.  It turns out that...

After a year-long hiatus, the podcast is back!  Hooray! I managed to traumatize my Mom by turning the video on. (You can watch the video HERE.)  The good news is that she has forgiven me and we had a great conversation. There are a few glitchy sound and video problems at the beginning of the recording. But, like I said, the conversation is a good one and I hope you’ll chime in with your own thoughts on the subject.  Today’s topic is “critique” and how it’s different from...

On today’s podcast Mom and I are chatting about sketchbooks!  We share lots of tips for starting your own sketchbook process along with some of the reasons (artistic by mostly personal) that you might be interested in adding a sketchbook to your repertoire.  You can either listen to the podcast recording, as normal, or you can watch the video: There are two major categories of sketchbooks in my experience — * Workbooks which are used as a place to explore ideas for...

This is a very special episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast.  We turned on the video cameras while we recorded the podcast and streamed a live video version to facebook and youtube.  Mom wasn’t sure about it, but she did a great job and we’re definitely going to do it again! You can either listen to the podcast recording, as normal, or you can watch the video! This episode focuses on my recently finished 100 Day Project: 100 Days of Art Botanical. The 100 Day Project is a...

On this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I chat with Tina Walker about her obsession with details, antiques, art challenges, and how she uses art-making to reset herself.  I really enjoyed our conversation and I think you will too!  Tina Walker is a creator, hobbyist photographer, and dog lover. ♥ She loves all things mixed media, including art journaling, assemblage, and book making. Her project selection and medium choice are always...

On this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I chat with Tania Ahmed about her life in the craft industry.  Tania is smart and insightful and totally down-to-earth.  I really enjoyed my conversation with her and related to so much that she said and I think you will too.  I didn’t want the conversation to end because there was so much to talk about.  Tania Ahmed is an art video maker and tutor based in the UK. As a lifelong crafter, she has blended...

On this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I chat with Edva Sims about her pottery business, finding your personal style, and the belief that things made by hand are important.  Here’s a little bit about our guest, Edva: Hi, I’m Edva! I’ve been drawing, painting, sewing and sculpting since I was a little girl.   Inspired by my mother – a Potter herself, I fell in love with clay and its ability to tell a story. I thoughtfully sculpt and...

Mom and I are talking about goals and hopes and plans for 2021 on today’s podcast.  Give it a listen. Some things we discuss on the podcast: * The 100 Day Project* A Year of Gelatin Printing* Rug Hooking* Sketchbookery* Project Life And here are our recommendations for this episode: * Julie: your local public library to “test” books before buying* Eileen: El Anatsui & Where are all the Women? If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend about the...

Is it too early to wrap up 2020?  On the podcast Mom and I are discussing the lessons learned in 2020 and what we hope for 2021. If you’re interested in getting on the list to be e-mailed when a new session of Design Boot Camp opens in 2021, drop me a line. And here are our recommendations for this episode: * Julie: Ballroom Dancing Video* Eileen: Saturday of Symposia If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend about the show.  This helps other...

Today on the podcast I’m sharing a list of five lessons from my Design Boot Camp class. I hope that you’ll find the lessons useful in your own practice. (And speaking of practice, I just started reading Seth Godin’s book, The Practice, and my brain is exploding with thoughts. Has anyone else read it?) If you’re interested in getting on the list to be e-mailed when a new session of Design Boot Camp opens in 2021, drop me a line. And here are our recommendations for...

Today’s guest is Ali Baecker of 3 Dotted Penguins.   Ali is one of the talented #CarveDecemberClass teachers.  We discussed how motherhood transformed her creative passion and how she got bitten by the block carving bug! Ali of 3dottedpenguins is printmaker, educator and pattern lover based in Zurich, Switzerland. Ever since she stumbled upon block printing and stamp carving in summer of 2018, printmaking has become her almost daily (or rather nightly) creative practice....

Welcome to our very first crowdsourced podcast!  A while ago I asked for people to send in a short recording about their experiences with learning during the pandemic.  We got eight thoughtful and interesting responses from Barbara Fox, Elizabeth Montano, Holly Thomsen Doherty, JoAnn Campisi, Joceyln Robinson, Lucia-Ann, Peggy Joyce, and Sue Carroll.  Listen to what they had to say. If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend about the show.  This helps other people find the show. ...

Mom and I had a wonderful long chat with Sarah Matthews.  I’ve seen Sarah’s colorful layered prints many times, but I didn’t know about her extensive work as a bookbinder.  On the podcast we talk about creating during quarantine, YouTube, artist books, and lots more.  Sarah has four girls and still manages to carve, print, or bind every single day.  If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend about the show.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much! Sarah...

Matthew Ya-Hsiung Balzer, my brother, is the guest on today’s podcast.  His film, THE CATCH, is going to be debuting at the Austin Film Festival next Thursday.  Tickets are just $10 and you can watch from the comfort of your living room!  We had a great chat about his creative journey, filmmaking, and what it takes to be in a creative career.  MATTHEW YA-HSIUNG BALZER (Writer/Director)… …grew up outside Boston and learned to fish in the waters around Vinalhaven, Maine....

Mom and I had the great pleasure of chatting with Marta Harvey.  Marta has participated in #CarveDecember for many years and her tessellations have gotten more and more impressive every single year.  On the podcast we discuss the tessellation lesson she has put together for the upcoming #CarveDecemberClass as well as her journey as an artist (hint: she had to raise her family before she could really get started).  Meet Marta Harvey: Originally from Portugal but now living in...