The Laura Horn Art Podcast

In this season finale, Richie and I discuss the healing power of art and how creativity has helped us both process emotions, find mindfulness, and reconnect with our playful side. I share how painting helped me navigate grief and social anxiety in my twenties, while Richie talks about how he accidentally discovered the meditative benefits of photography and why, as humans, we need struggle and challenge in our lives. Plus, I’ve got a special announcement about my upcoming course, Modern Mixed Media. We'll be taking a short break and will return later this year with new episodes—see you then! Learn more about Modern Mixed Media Course Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart

Ever feel like you're constantly shifting between being an artist and wearing all the other hats that come with life and work? In this episode, Richie and I dive deep into the challenge of balancing creative flow with the demands of admin, routines, and the complexities of daily transitions—from work to home, from creating to planning. We share how we've been navigating a particularly rough couple of weeks, and how that experience opened up a conversation that just needed to happen. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to juggle it all, this one's for you. This is a heartfelt and honest discussion on how we work through these moments, and hopefully some reassurance that you're not alone. Check out the ⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠ for this episode for further information and links. ⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist⁠⁠⁠ for my Modern Mixed Media course. Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated. Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart

This week, Richie and I discuss how my sketchbooks came to the rescue, providing comfort after a challenging week of admin. This leads us to explore the many ways sketchbooks can benefit artists. Whether for observation, experimentation, therapy, inspiration gathering, or colour palette organisation, sketchbooks offer incredible versatility. We chat about approaches used by artists like Matisse and Frida Kahlo, and share some modern-day examples as well. Whether you’re seeking comfort or aiming to push your creative boundaries, this episode will inspire you to see your sketchbook in fresh and exciting ways. Mentioned Alice Sheridan Helen Wells Orla Stevens Check out the ⁠show notes⁠ for this episode for further information and links. ⁠Join the waitlist⁠ for my Modern Mixed Media course. Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Sign up for my ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to stay updated. Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart

Ever feel like you have too many tabs open in your brain? In this episode, I share my recent struggles with overwhelm and how simplifying my art business and practice helped me find balance. I chat with Richie about the clarity I gained from organising my thoughts on a whiteboard and the comfort of returning to simple watercolour techniques. This conversation also helped me refine my vision for the new online classes I’m working on and emphasised the importance of keeping things simple and accessible. I hope you enjoy the episode! Tune in for a fresh perspective on embracing simplicity in your creative process. Mentioned: Watercolour Sketchbook YouTube Video Watercolour Supplies YouTube Video Watercolour Explorations Online Course Episode 89: 5 Ways To Simplify Your Art Practice Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Sign up for my ⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠ to stay updated. Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

Have you ever embarked on a creative project only to find yourself questioning your choices midway through? In this episode, I talk with Richie about my recent attempt at re-branding my website and social media. What started as a fun day of choosing new colours, fonts, and design elements quickly escalated into website chaos, leaving me questioning my artistic identity. It wasn't what I had hoped for, but I learned some valuable lessons about planning, staying true to yourself, processing feedback, and allocating time for creative projects rather than acting on a whim. While this episode focuses on branding, it's also about being mindful of what you take on and when. I hope it's encouraging and maybe provides a few laughs along the way. You've gotta love a "what-not-to-do" episode! Mentioned: Building Your Brand As an Artist PDF Episode 34: Building Your Brand As an Artist Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated. Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

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) Note: Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase through a link. Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

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

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 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

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

Today, we re-explore the main theme of this podcast’s season: “relaxation” and how valuing more R&R has improved our art practice, creative business, and well-being. We also answer your questions relating to this season and set a realistic break and return date for the continuation of the podcast. As we head into this short break, we wanted to say thank you for tuning in and supporting the podcast. We look forward to returning on April 15th for more relaxed and inspiring conversations! Mentioned: ⁠⁠⁠Episode 149: Does the Perfect Art Studio Exist? Week in the Life of An Artist (Puppy Edition) YouTube Video Episode 157: 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Reels ⁠Clearspace App⁠ Adobe Premiere Rush Video Editing Software Davinci Resolve Video Editing Software Visit my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@laurahornart⁠

When it comes to your creative process, what feels hard? Is it getting started on a new project? Or perhaps it's that final 10%, like varnishing and finishing a painting. Or is sharing your art with the world a stumbling block? We all have different friction points that need attention. Talking it out can really help, so come join us as we put our heads together to explore the intricacies of our respective creative workflows. It’s time to transform friction into flow! Mentioned: ⁠⁠Episode 153: Making Time For Art ⁠Modern Mixed Media 6-Week Course⁠ Visit my ⁠⁠resources page⁠⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠@laurahornart

If there's one episode to tune into this season, it's this one. Today, we're tackling the challenge of finding time to paint when life gets hectic and competing demands, whether they be business admin, work commitments, or family responsibilities, leave you frustrated. Perhaps it feels like putting paint on paper is a distant dream. If that resonates with you, this episode is a must-listen, offering insights on reclaiming and protecting your creative time. Mentioned: ⁠Episode 150: Aim to Be Average! Modern Mixed Media 6-Week Course Visit my ⁠resources page⁠ for more details on my classes, YouTube videos, free guides, and more! Find me on Instagram: ⁠@laurahornart