On this podcast (recorded over three weeks), I share my highs and lows, break throughs and frustrations with a drawing class I’m taking at the Danforth Art Museum in Framingham, MA. Overall, this experience reminded me that the creative process often involves pushing beyond simple exercises. It’s about synthesis — connecting ideas — and allowing fo…

An Artwork Statement is a piece of writing that gives context to a specific artwork. It often explains the meaning, inspiration, techniques, and context behind a specific artwork or series. Your statement may address the materials used, the process, and the narrative or concept behind the piece. The purpose is to provide deeper insight into a parti…

This episode covers the Adventures in Arting podcast’s origin story, technical challenges, evolution, ups and downs, and the significance of surpassing 21 episodes, and most importantly: a bit about Mom’s upbringing and relationship to art. ​ And as always, you get to enjoy the dynamic between us — our banter, shared experiences, and future plans f…

From her home in northern British Columbia, Canada, through her video lessons on her website and YouTube, Angela Fehr has created a community of watercolor lovers that spans the globe. She wants every painter to know the freedom of fearless self expression and she has made it her mission to share this empowering message through lessons in heart-pri…

Today on the podcast we’re chatting about Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: Growth Mindset: Definition: A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and persistence. Characteristics: Embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, seeing effort as a path to mastery, learning from criticis…

Lydia Leonard left this comment on my YouTube channel: “I’ve been following you for years and always marvel at your genius! Moving walls? So smart! I sort of have the same thing but I have a hard time putting everything back where it belongs! I’ve been trying to reorganize but I get distracted by all the cool things I find. Do you have any focusing…

I like to think of the podcast as a conversation — between me and Mom — between me and Mom and a guest — between me and Mom and YOU! Thank you so much to all of you who leave comments and send emails. We read them all and appreciate them all. This Listener Mail episode is packed with so many thoughtful comments from you guys! Thanks! Links: Tip the…

As I mentioned in the previous podcast, Mom and I snuck in the night before the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston — The museum’s annual Art in Bloom event at the end of April. This is always one of my favorite events of the year. In case you don’t know what Art in Bloom is: It’s a weekend festival that transforms the MFA’s galleries into a f…

Mom and I snuck in the night before the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston — The museum’s annual Art in Bloom event at the end of April. This is always one of my favorite events of the year. In case you don’t know what Art in Bloom is: It’s a weekend festival that transforms the MFA’s galleries into a floral showcase, with floral designers an…

The title of this episode is a bit of a double entendre. We’re going to discuss my personal art practice and the parts I’ve devised for it, but in doing so, we’ll also be discussing the framework I’m using for the online community: My Art Practice. On the podcast I begin by talking about where the idea for My Art Practice came from and then I talk …

We have a very special guest for this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast: Carolyn Dube! Carolyn Dube is a mixed media art explorer and educator who found freedom through play. She explores the colors of the rainbow, avoids rules whenever possible, and lets the little kid inside her free as she shares her colorful journey. You can find her …

On today’s podcast, Mom and I are discussing self-care, the Worcester Art Museum, and a mixed media collage class I taught in Hartford. Links: Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership Take an online class: https://balzerdesigns.…

This one is a doozy. Mom and I definitely do not see eye-to-eye at all on this topic and it makes for a very lively conversation! Maria Popova at The Marginalian wrote a 2013 blog post called “Art as Therapy: Alain de Botton on the 7 Psychological Functions of Art” It’s an exploration of the book “Art as Therapy” by Alain de Botton and John Armstro…

I stumbled across a post from Dr Louise R Mayhew on Instagram: @louisermayhew that blew my mind. She shared a post with a cover slide that says: “Did you know that there’s more than one art world?” There are at least four she goes on to say: Experimental Traditional Retail Community On the podcast Mom and I discuss the details of the categories as …

You guys leave so many great and thoughtful comments. Mom and I wanted to discuss them and I hope to make this a regular feature of the podcast. Keep the great comments coming! Links: Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership Tak…

Talking about your artwork effectively can enhance how it’s perceived and understood. Talking about it ineffectively can make people less interested in your work. One of the big keys is to consider your audience. Generally speaking, you’re going to be speaking to: Fellow Artists, Art Folk (Curators, Gallerists, Collectors, Etc.), or the General Pub…

Mom came up with today’s topic. It’s a fair question. Do you think that the artistic life is solitary or based in community? Links: Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns Sign up for the Friday FREE newsletter: https://forms.feedblitz.com/bco Monthly Membership: https://bit.ly/JulieMembership Take an online class: https://balzerdesigns.com/Classro…

“Putting yourself out there” refers to various strategies artists use to gain exposure, connect with audiences, and advance their careers. During this podcast we’ll talk about some ways to make the process of putting yourself out there easier – especially if you’re an introvert or insecure. Remember that putting yourself out there is a gradual proc…

This week we are continuing our discussion about our abstract art likes and dislikes. Here is some of the artwork we discuss on the podcast: Click on any image to view it larger. On the podcast I also share a list of 15 questions you can ask yourself when viewing abstract art in order to better understand and appreciate it. Links: Tip the Artist: P…

In this episode of The Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I are discussing our likes and dislikes when it comes to abstract art. Here’s a peek at some of the art we are looking at in part one: Click on any of the images for a larger view. Tune in next week for part 2! Links: Tip the Artist: PayPal.Me/balzerdesigns Sign up for the Friday FREE new…

I recently asked my newsletter subscribers what was the biggest obstacle to their creativity and many people said: time. Nobody has “free time.” But we all can make time for art. Even though my job is art-related, it doesn’t mean that I get to make art all day. I try to set aside at least 10 minutes a day to do some personal work just for me. Let m…

You know how they say that you are what you eat? Well, I think you are what you consume on social media. Just like a diet you eat, what you visually and mentally consume can affect your mood, energy, and general health. And just like a regular diet, it’s personal. On the podcast, Mom and I discuss WHY you might want to change your social media diet…

Everybody always talks about finding their personal style. The single biggest key to that style is you. So your knowledge of yourself and understanding of how to put yourself into your art is key to having a style. So who are you? I think there are five key pillars. During the podcast I give you an activity — a series of 5 questions to answer – to …

Embracing the Unknown: The Power of Starting Before You’re Ready Starting before you’re ready is a mindset. It’s about the courage to dive into creative projects without the safety net of full preparation. During this podcast we will explore this concept and delve into its pros and cons. So grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about mindset. Links: …

The idea for this podcast came from a simple email I received: “Review your personal creative ‘why’. Take some time to reflect and journal on why you create art and why you are committed to your creative journey. Display your why so you can see it every day.” I had no idea why. So I went on a journey and I finally figured out that I think it’s a Ve…

On this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Mom and I chat with Design Boot Camp grads, Ellen Goodloe and Karen Hall. Ellen GoodloeKaren Hall Ellen Goodloe is a painter. Not only does she use paints, but sometimes she incorporates textiles, threads, and papers into her creations, and uses a variety of techniques to include printmaking and …

If you’ve ever wondered how an art exhibit comes together…this podcast details all of the things that went into planning mine. You can visit the exhibit webpage HERE to see all of the art in the exhibit and read a bit about each piece. Some thoughts I have on what makes a “good” exhibit: It’s good for you and good for the venue – meaning: you both …

Defining the skill levels of artists, whether they are beginners, intermediate, or advanced, is somewhat subjective. But here are the divisions as I see them (it’s important to note that you can be an expert in one area and a beginner in another): Technical Skills: Beginner: Limited Technical Skills Intermediate: Solid Technical Skills Advanced: Hi…

In this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Julie and Eileen delve into the intricacies of developing an artistic practice, emphasizing its dynamic and personal nature. The discussion unfolds in four parts, covering various aspects of an art practice. Part 1: Introduction to Artistic Practice Julie introduces the concept of an artistic pra…

Be sure to check out Julie’s new class: Practical Color for Painters. In episode 134 of the Adventures in Arting Podcast, Julie and Eileen explore the importance of creative reinvention, adapting to change, and connecting with new audiences. You can listen to the podcast or watch the video version: Take Aways for You: People Change: As people evolv…

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: Listene…

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 lis…

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 lin…

Mom and I recorded this podcast back at the beginning of September. But life has been so crazy that I only just managed to edit it this week! You can watch the video version on my YouTube channel, or you can listen above (or anywhere you get podcasts). The focus of our conversation is on why keeping a sketchbook matters. We do wander into chatting …

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 n…

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 er…

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 …

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:…

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…

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…

Komposisi Melankoli untuk Jehan (Rua Aksara, 2021) adalah buku puisi karya perdana Amal Bayu Ramdhana. Ada dua puisi yang saya bacakan di sini: "Pada Sebuah Meja" dan "Batu".

Sebuah cerpen karya Fadjriah Nurdiarsih, yang termuat dalam antologi cerpen Rumah Ini Punya Siapa? (Pustaka Kaji, 2020). Lewat cerpen ini, penulis yang orang Betawi ini sukses mengantarkan kita pada gambaran masalah budaya orang-orang Betawi dan Jakarta.

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 …

Episode hadiah ulang tahun untuk Anggun Prameswari. Cerpen bernuansa misteri karya Anggun ini masuk dalam Cerpen Pilihan Kompas 2015.

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…

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, i…

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 t…

Cerpen karya Feby Indirani yang jenaka sekaligus mengharukan. Kumpulan cerpen Memburu Muhammad adalah buku kedua dari trilogi Islamisme Magis, setelah Bukan Perawan Maria.

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…

It has been several months since we’ve released a new podcast. There’s a good reason and I’ll bet that you can relate: the COVID blahs. But all hope is not lost, Mom and I have four solutions for you — ways to bust those blahs and get back to being creative. If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend about the show. This helps other people find…