Your Creative Push

Yana Zorina, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist with a lifelong passion for the arts.  In her scientific career, Yana has always been attracted to microscopy as a means to take a closer look at the beautiful structures that compose the mammalian brain.  In her microscopy-inspired artwork, she uses her neuroscientist training to accurately recreate scientific images into 3D-beaded renderings of cellular structures to bring the beauty of scientific research to a wider audience.  In viewing beads as analogs of pixels observed on a screen, Yana turns microscopy on its head by transforming ultra-thin optical sections into 3D structures.  Beyond being passionate about the breathtaking beauty of microscopy images, Yana uses them to serve a greater purpose of communicating science to a wider audience and initiating conversations on difficult topics, such as neurological conditions. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/367 In this episode, Yana discusses: -How she got into both art and neuroscience. -Her realization that she needed to bring art back into her life after many years of pursuing neuroscience and raising a family. -Finding alone time both in art and science. -Some of the resistances she faced of turning her art into a business. -Having to be creative in terms of putting out content on social media when her projects take her several months to complete. -Letting go of the fear of not being 100% scientifically accurate in her art. -The Beholder’s Share. -How art can be a bridge to communicate what is going on within the scientific community to those outside of it. -Finding connection in the SciArt community. -How she schedules her day and how she chooses which idea to move forward with. Yana's Final Push will inspire you to go for your ideas no matter how “out there” they may seem!   Quotes: “I’d rather be dealing with test tubes than with people.” “I became a wife, a mother, a scientist, and I had the sense that the true me was somehow missing.” “I’m not ready to give up the pipette.” “I enjoy the process of making my art.  It is meditative and it is meticulous work that allows me to escape from daily life.” “No matter how crazy you think your idea is, no matter how crazy it may seem at first, just go for it.” Connect with Yana: Website / Etsy / Instagram / Patreon / Twitter Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Martha Beck is an American sociologist, life coach, best-selling author, and speaker who specializes in helping individuals and groups achieve personal and professional goals. Her books include Expecting Adam, Leaving the Saints, Finding Your own North Star, The Joy Diet, and Diana, Herself: An Allegory of Awakening.  She has also been a columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine since its inception in 2001. Her newest project is a revolutionary writing workshop called Write into Light. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/366 In this episode, Martha discusses: -The Pyramid and the Pool and how the change to the oppressive societal structure will begin at the bottom and absorb the top. -How the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement are catalysts for global change. -Looking at your own suffering as a starting point in your art. -Steering your life from nature rather than culture. -The way in which you are serving the monster when you “hustle.” -How we can trust our bodies to direct us towards our truth (not our minds). -What we can learn from baboons. -The power of relaxing. -How finding your path through life is exactly like tracking an animal. -How to get “The Secret” to actually work. -How Jurassic Park changed her life. Quotes: “Art is a power that spreads energy into the mass of the population.” “Artistic expression is the most powerful mover of society.” “The economy is the train track that society runs on.  But art is the switchman.  Art is the one that decides which track the train goes on.” “The only thing more intelligent than the culture in your life is your nature.” Links mentioned: The Pyramid and the Pool: Why things are better than they seem Bewildered – The Productivity Addict How to Plan Your Week [7 Scheduling Tips for Artists] Boyd Varty’s Track Your Life Podcast Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Gathering Room Connect with Martha: Website / Facebook / Vimeo / Twitter / Books Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Carla Grace is a self taught artist with a love for wildlife and beautiful, high quality art work. Born in South Africa, Carla has immigrated 5 times and currently lives in Australia. With a childhood that was dominantly based in Africa, she was able to experience wildlife in a way that has become the foundation of her vision: Where wildlife breathes through art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/365 In this episode, Carla discusses: -How she was drawn to wildlife art. -Her take on Tiger King and zoos in general. -How she attempts to make a communication between the animals she paints and the viewer. -Why she always starts with the eyes. -How she balances motherhood with creating art. -Why she doesn’t rely on “fixes” for energy or inspiration. -Why she decided to create a tutorial on how to paint fur. -Where she got the idea for her new series, The Uninvited. -Including written narrative as an addition to each piece of her art. -How she plans her next painting while working on her current one. -Her top business tips for artists. -The importance of being transparent with people. -How commissions were detrimental to the direction she wanted to go in her art career. Carla's Final Push will inspire you to take the reins and just do it!   Quotes: “People will give back to you when you give to them.” “Be transparent because in today’s social world, people can see a fake straight away.” “If people stop asking you for help, then you’ve got a problem.” “I was burning out a lot faster because I wasn’t doing something that was true to who I was.” “Just take a little step every day and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.” Links mentioned: Carla's Guide to Painting Realistic Fur Xero Connect with Carla: Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube On the next episode: Martha Beck : Website / Facebook Join the discussion in the Facebook group!

Jonny Bloozit is a post-apocalyptic landscape cartoonist who believes in the value of being a deliberate amateur so that you don’t lose the joy of making art. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/364 In this episode, Jonny discusses: -How he lost his joy for music. -What brought him back to drawing. -His opinion that you don’t have to be a professional to be an artist. -How society equates successful art to money. -Why you shouldn’t put too much emotion in gaining followers. -Why you should try getting up early in the morning to do your art (and some tips on how to do it). -What he does when he lacks motivation. -Identifying himself by what he does for fun rather than what he does for money. -How he honed in on his style of “post-apocalyptic landscape cartooning.” -The beauty that exists in things that are deteriorating or falling apart. -Being analytical about his learning process. -Watercoloring his ink drawings. -The value of critique groups. -The importance of learning the rules of art. Jonny’s Final Push will encourage you to never let anyone else steal your joy for making art!   Quotes: “I went back to drawing again and it was like seeing an old friend.” “Being a deliberate amateur is also a noble path, so don’t let anybody make you feel bad for doing that.” “You never really look at something the way you look at it when you have to draw it.” “If the breadth of what I was trying to do was too broad, I wouldn’t get enough depth.” “Your own style is going to come out whether you like it or not.  Just concentrate on the fundamentals and the style will take care of itself.” Links mentioned: Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter by James Gurney Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth by Andrew Loomis Perspective! for Comic Book Artists by David Chelsea Connect with Jonny: Website On the next episode: Carla Grace : Website / Instagram