This week on the podcast we continue our European convos with Isabel Carreńo, an illustrator from Spain.  Isabel&apos;s work captures the essence of the french cinema, rockstars, and icons like Audrey Hepburn with just a few perfect lines.  Her illustrations and pretty and classic, I love them.Isabel tells me how she was drawn to her type of illustrations from an early age, why she loves to draw women, and how she grew out of some of her snobbiness.  We connect over our love of pop-culture and how it can bring people together.   Great chat, do it up!See all of Isabel&apos;s work hereMusic by shamgang(*correction from episode credits)

Creative People Podcast

#85: Illustrator: Isabel Carreńo: "With a just few lines, you can see who the person is"

This week we are chatting with UK artist, Kim-A-Tron!  Kim Thompson is an artist out of Nottingham, England and it was my pleasure to be able to connect and talk about creativity with someone on the other side of the world.  Spoiler: Creatives in the UK deal with the same stuff that you and I do.  I love Kim&apos;s work, it&apos;s bold and colourful with reclaimed heroic themes.  She&apos;s paints moments that represent power reversals and that suggest a whole epic story.  Make sure you check out Kim-A-Tron&apos;s Instagram - it&apos;s a great episode.  Do it up.Music by Matt Large

#84: Artist: Kim-A-Tron: Quite Silly Dark Things

Back at it and in video with Marketer Elaine Decleir!  Elaine humanizes marketing and teaches me a few things along the way.  I really enjoyed Elaine&apos;s sincere intensity and it was great to hear about her creative and business partnership with previous podcast guest, Robin Lindner.  The duo makes up Robin and Elaine and it was nice to get a peek into how these two work through creative challenges.  Elaine is great!  It&apos;s a great time, do it up! Elaine on InstagramRobin and ElaineMusic by Sarah, The IllstrumentalistVideo Podcast on Youtube

#83: Marketer: Elaine Decleir: Honest and True Experiences

Ideas.  Aren’t they the best?  Is there a sentence as full of possibility as “I have an idea."?  They are the beginning of everything.  For us creative people, ideas are the name of the game.  It’s what we work in.  Creative living is having an idea, make an idea happen, over and over again.But things get messy.  It’s not as simple as that in reality. Because ideas are like badly labeled seeds.  You don’t always get what you’re expecting, or when you’re expecting it.  It’s part of the fun.  It’s also a massive pain in the ass.  Here’s a scenario:  2 Ideas arrive on the same morning.One that you’re not supposed to use for years The other, you’re going to use that afternoon.  Both good ideas, intended for very different timelines.  But how are we supposed to know?  Sometimes we do, it’s obvious.  That “idea seed” arrived with a good label.  But what about when they don’t?The first step is to figure out if they are good ideas.  That’s a whole other blog post.  But part of the “bad labeling” thing is that ideas can be a lot of things.Great.Great, but not for right now.Great, but not for you.Bad.Bad, that seems good.Ok.Ok, but the seed of something great could be in there.Good.Good, but seems boring or too much work.Lifechanging.A distraction.A distraction that you need.This whole blog post could be a list of ideas.  But that’s the job, sorting through ideas and then pulling them off.   The problem is that we can easily misidentify an idea, and start trying to use it in a place it doesn’t fit or at the wrong time.This will burn us out, or depress us.  It could lead us to question our intuition or talent.  But it might just be you put a “good idea” in the wrong place or you weren’t ready for that idea yet.Here are some of the signs the idea isn’t for right now:You are forcing it.Great ideas don’t need to be forced to work.  If you feel like you’re forcing it, stop and reflect.It’s distracting youIf it’s taking you away from work that you need to finish, that’s a distraction and it needs to wait.  Or, you need to re-evaluate the work.  Perhaps that previous idea has run its course.  You gotta figure that out.Honesty with yourself is essential here.  Because sometimes we SHOULDN’T finish the first project.  Sometimes we SHOULDN’T act on a good idea.  Only you are really going to know that, and it can take some time to train our intuition to know what to look for.  We only get so much time on this planet and you have to narrow down the ideas that you’re going to spend your time on.    The flip side is that we are Creative People, we are building a body of work and you don’t have to be perfect.  I think we should finish, or bring to an end point, most of our projects.  You will learn something by finishing, and if you can bring it to a finishing point, it will give you a sense of closure.  Abandoning an idea is the last resort, in my opinion.  I think a long list of abandoned ideas undercuts the confidence that you need to finish a great project.  Finish the project, even if that means massively cutting down the scope. Finish something.So, how do we know if an idea is for now? And how do we get better at identifying our ideas?  read more at creativepeople-blog.comMusic by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist

Blog+ Ideas don’t come with a Timestamp: How to identify good ideas, bad ideas, and ideas that you’re not sure what to do with... yet.

BLOG + is a companion to the creativepeople-blog.comEvery creative has been there, deep in the ruins of an idea we were once excited about. We’re might be embarrassed, we’re certainly confused and it could lead to us questioning ourselves as creatives.  It’s painful and one of the worst parts of creative life, but what if it’s supposed to be this way?I recently went out on my own, job-wise. I’m Full-Time Creative  It’s something I had been planning on, dreaming about, and on July 1st, I did it.  Then everything hit the wall.  What I had built and the direction I was going, wasn’t working.  The buffers I had in place broke, and I was stuck on where to go next.Oh shit, now what?Years ago, this would have crushed me.  My mind would say that clearly, I’m a failure and I don’t deserve love or cash for my efforts.  I had a black & white perspective on the world and held the dreaded FIXED MINDSET.  My mind would tell me that, “If I was any good, this would have been good.  And because it’s not, I’m not. “ Back then, I didn’t understand the GROWTH MINDSET and I didn’t have any idea how creativity worked.  It stopped me from getting shit done and I was miserable.  But now, I’m starting to know better… Here’s what I know now:I know that when I hit a wall, it means that my idea needs to grow.  The idea I had before got me this far, but in order to keep going, it needs to die or evolve.  It doesn&apos;t mean it was a bad idea… it just wasn’t THE BIG IDEA you thought it was.  That is ok.Ideas are kind of like the spinoff Pig Game from Angry Birds. Bad Piggies  I know, I know, but hear me out.Basically, the rules of Bad Piggies are that you build a crazy vehicle for your pig, then push him down the hill and see if anything survives.  That’s exactly what we do with ideas.Gather all the stuff we have around us; our skills, our taste, and the materials that we have access to.Then we build a crazy little IDEA Vehicle with all the parts that seem to work.  Next, we push it down the hill of life. Meaning, we put it out into the real world and we see what happens.  Now to see if it survives.  We observe it to see if it finds an audience or fails miserably.  Or worst of all… if it doesn’t do anything at all.Then we’re supposed to adjust.  If it doesn’t work the first time, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure or not creative or that you should give up.  It means you have to pivot and grow.The things we build with creativity are structures of ideas.  Creations we make in our minds and then we bring them into the real world and see if they work.  Ideas lead to other ideas and it’s all about growth. It’s this process happening again and again - that is creative living.  I had to learn to become ok with an idea not working.  I am still learning to let it go and grow because holding on to ideas that should have died will burn you out.  I have to be ok with people seeing me fail.  That can be embarrassing.  People are going to see you fail!   You’re going to have to get over it.So here I am today, taking my next idea, putting it together the best that I can… and running it down the hill.  If it survives and I’m happy with it.  Great!! On to the next one.   If it doesn’t, then it’s back to the top of the hill and trying again.     That’s what creative living is and how we grow.I hope you found this encouraging.  You got this, bud!Show up, and do the work.I’m in the trenches of creativity with you.- Ryan Leacock

Blog+ CRAZY LIL’ IDEA VEHICLES: Building & Rebuilding Idea Vehicles with green pigs and Creativity

This week, the wonderfully contagious Isabelle Poirier is on the podcast - Izzy is a creator and founder of the Ottawa Design Club - She sent me a copy of the beautiful semi-annual zine they produce, and... it is like a present from a friend with perfect taste!  The two of us talk about how cool it is that we get to create with other people, how her team made their zine through the pandemic, and of course - pantones/kerning.  Great one, do it up.  Episode links:IP DesignOttawa Design ClubMusic by _91novaCreative People Design Service

#82: Isabelle Poirier: "This is Why We Create"

What is the formula for creativity?  Is there one?  This week&apos;s guest, photographer Taylor Jones tells me about his formula for creativity and how it led him to create Dear Photograph.  He tells me about his grandfather&apos;s 10 Rules for Life and we take a left turn into the world of sports.  Back in the studio this week for my excellent chat with Taylor.  Do it up!Links:Taylor Jones on Instagram Dear PhotographMusic by Dylan SittsCreative People Design Services

#81: Photographer: Taylor Jones: "I Love Sports"

This week the podcast is #kwfamous with brand designer Robin Lindner.  Robin is one-half of Robin + Elaine (Elaine, you must be on the podcast sometime!), and she is the owner of the most adorable puppy you will ever see.  We have a great, giggly time talking Kitchener, what she learned early about failure and her ideal design community.  Great one!Find Robin on InstagramMusic by Smartface

#80: Brand Designer: Robin Lindner: "#kwfamous"

Sometimes I wonder if this entire podcast is just me getting people together to overthink creativity.  Because I love how today&apos;s creative person, Allison Poprocks, approaches her work, she doesn’t worry about it.  I really enjoy it when people like Allison are on the pod – balance all this overthinking out. Allison is a Kitchener Artist currently residing in her home away from home, Dawson City, Yukon.  I love Allison&apos;s artwork. For me, it captures the proverbial forest and the beauty of the proverbial trees. Allison tells me about her connection to places, mummified toes, and how she doesn&apos;t overthink her creativity.  Great one.Check out Allison&apos;s artworkMusic by Jobii

#79: Artist: Allison Poprocks: Get Out to Nature

When Mel Milton talks about his love for art, he means the love you have for your family.  They can piss you off, but you love them, and you&apos;re in this thing together.  This week&apos;s creative person is illustrator Mel Milton - He is an illustrator from Utah who has worked for Disney and Marvel and 2 volumes of his own "dooks" (listen to find out what that means... haha)  Mel and I had a fantastic evening chatting about his long journey to liking himself and how that was the key to finding his artistic voice.  He tells me about being homeless and how money and some fame are essential if you want to help other people.  Great one. Do it up.Go check out Mel&apos;s workMusic by Iso Indies

#78: Illustrator: Mel Milton: Buckle Up, here goes Mel

This week&apos;s creative people, Dharma & Mikayla come from the world of theatre.  An industry that has been on pause longer than almost every other.  So where did these two turn for creative expression?  To the strange comforts of smutty books and podcasting.Not Your Mother&apos;s Bookclub is a sexy book podcast made by Dharma &  Mikayla, and these two are a blast together.  Their podcast is like overhearing a hilarious and oddly insightful, inappropriate conversation. Delightful.We had the best time.  They tell me how their podcast began, what their parents think, and what they miss about being on stage.  Great one!Listen to Not Your Mother’s BookclubNot Your Mother’s Bookclub on InstagramMusic by Yomoti

#77: Podcasters: Dharma & Mikayla: "Sexy Books"

I had an idea a couple of months ago, I was listening to the book “The Practice” by Seth Godin, and I thought - talking about this book with a fellow creative would make for some fantastic conversation.  About that same time, today’s creative person, Krista Kankula was on my radar.  She is an artist and creativity coach.  The exact kind of person that you’d want to get into a deep conversation about creativity with.  I pitched the idea to Krista and we set it up.Today on the podcast Krista and I are sharing our 5 main takeaways from The Practice.  How we used them in our creative practice and we get to know Krista a little bit.  I love what Krista is up to, creativity coaching is a great idea especially if you want to fastrack your creative output.  I have included a link to her website below.Have a good week creative people.Revel in the Mess - Creative Coaching with KristaMusic by Snake City

#76: Creativity Coach: Krista Kankula: BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Seth Godin's The Practice

We&apos;re 75 episodes into this exploration of creativity and there is no better guest for this little milestone than OBGM&apos;s frontman, Densil McFarlane.   The OBGM&apos;s are a genre-defying punk band out of Toronto, and I&apos;m so glad I got the chance to chat with Dens.  This guy knows what&apos;s up.  We chat about his approach to rock music, branching from his refreshing take on being respectful but not projecting too much of what you love.  He tells me how he completely changed his creative approach 2 years ago, and how he&apos;s creatively strong now.  I love it.  great chat.Listen to The Endshttps://theobgms.com/Music for this episode by Bonker Beat Club

#75: Musician: Densil McFarlane: "Different things coming out of my body"

This week on the pod I&apos;m talking creativity, leaving Christianity, and marketing with Joshua Harris.  Josh has a very interesting story, regardless of your views of Christianity.  He was 21 when he published "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", a book that exploded and became a literal "Tipping Point" in Christian culture.    Fast forward 20+ years - Josh has self unpublished all of his books, left Pastoring and Christianity, and now runs a marketing agency and coaches.    What happened in those 20 years and what was it like for him to wrestle his own creations?Josh&apos;s books filtered down to me and had a pretty major effect on me then, in ways that I&apos;m still sorting out now.  We get into that a bit in our convo, at least in the ways that it overlaps with creativity.I really admire Josh&apos;s commitment to authenticity and being true to his convictions.  The ways that his journey has affected his creativity and I love how he has dissected not only "his why", but how the culture he grew up in influenced his work.https://joshharris.com/Music by Iso Indie

#74: Marketer & Coach: Joshua Harris: "The Full Spectrum of Color"

Today I am chatting with brand and wedding photographer Arana Del Mundo.  I love Ariana&apos;s photos, her vibe and passion are contagious and I think you&apos;re going to love this chat.  She had some excellent insights on rest - and how it makes the work better.  How she creates an emotional creative space for the clients that she works with and why she doesn&apos;t want to do just 1 thing.  Great one.Check out her Instagram https://arianadelmundo.com/linksMusic for this episode by _91novie

#73: Photographer: Ariana del Mundo: "You have these talents, you might as well use them"

Each week Ryan Leacock interviews a creative person about their work & life. People working in all fields and backgrounds, connecting over the challenges and triumphs of a creative existence. creativepeople-podcast.com

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