Did you go to school for one thing only to end up doing something entirely different? Most often these types of career pivots happen to us once we discover that we need to create. If you yearn to create art full-time but are in a job you know isn’t meant for you, Gina’s story will resonate with you. Gina shares what moved her to create art, how she got published in magazines and how it all lead to a book deal.
Gina shares practical tips on how to keep inspired and how to work through obstacles.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How Gina used art therapy with her patients
- Why it’s important to allow yourself to be a sponge for inspiration
- When Gina does her best work
- Why Gina loves watercolor paint and the secret benefits of painting with watercolor paints
- What gave Gina the bravery to pursue her artwork submissions
- Why it is important to carve out creative time
- How clutter can effect your creativity
- How Gina curates her studio space so that she is ready to create
- How organizing your supplies can re-acquaint you their purpose
- Why there is power in series work
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App.
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Did you go to school for one thing only to end up doing something entirely different? Most often these types of career pivots happen to us once we discover that we need to create. If you yearn to create art full-time but are in a job you know isn’t meant for you, Gina’s story will resonate with you. Gina shares what moved her to create art, how she got published in magazines and how it all lead to a book deal.
Gina shares practical tips on how to keep inspired and how to work through obstacles.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Gina used art therapy with her patients
Why it’s important to allow yourself to be a sponge for inspiration
When Gina does her best work
Why Gina loves watercolor paint and the secret benefits of painting with watercolor paints
What gave Gina the bravery to pursue her artwork submissions
Why it is important to carve out creative time
How clutter can effect your creativity
How Gina curates her studio space so that she is ready to create
How organizing your supplies can re-acquaint you their purpose
Why there is power in series work
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Subscribe to Art Made Easy and receive new episodes directly on your phone via your podcast App.
Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.
LINKS:
Lisa Congdon & Kamala Chambers Thriving Launch podcast
Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine
Hidden Brain from NPR
Abby Glassenberg’s While She Naps podcast
How I Built This from NPR
Brains On! from NPR
Planet Money from NPR
How To Be Amazing with Michael Ann Black
Before Gina became a nurse, she took her first watercolor class at a local community college while working at a corporate job. She continued her watercolor obsession and taught children, youth and adult watercolor workshops as a volunteer for the Audubon Society. She continued to teach as a nursing student.
Gina is currently working on a watercolor and mixed-media book which will be out February 2018 (NorthLight Publishing).
Create with Gina!
Join us at the Deep Space Sparkle Workshop.
Connect with Gina
Gina’s website
Gina on Instagram
Gina’s Twitter Account
Note: If you have an iPhone, subscribe in iTunes. If you have an Android phone, subscribe in Stitcher.
LINKS:
Lisa Congdon & Kamala Chambers Thriving Launch podcast
Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine
Hidden Brain from NPR
Abby Glassenberg’s While She Naps podcast
How I Built This from NPR
Brains On! from NPR
Planet Money from NPR
How To Be Amazing with Michael Ann Black
Before Gina became a nurse, she took her first watercolor class at a local community college while working at a corporate job. She continued her watercolor obsession and taught children, youth and adult watercolor workshops as a volunteer for the Audubon Society. She continued to teach as a nursing student.
Gina is currently working on a watercolor and mixed-media book which will be out February 2018 (NorthLight Publishing).
Create with Gina!
Join us at the Deep Space Sparkle Workshop.
Connect with Gina
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Yes, the day has come!
After a long time deciding if, I finally said when.
Thank you SO much for your encouragement, show suggestions and help getting Art Made Easy off the ground.
Many of you were so pumped about this show but confessed that you had no idea what a podcast was. I love you guys for your unbridled enthusiasm.
Here’s a quick definition of a podcast & what to expect from Art Made Easy:
A podcast is a free radio show. The host (me!) interviews guests or talks about a favorite subject. You get to listen through your computer, laptop or smart phone. I like to listen to my favorite podcasts in my car during long travel days or on my walks via set of ear buds and my iPhone.
You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and Stitcher radio. The benefit is that your free podcast ap on your iPhone will automatically be updated with all the podcast episodes from any show you subscribe to.
Go ahead and give it a try!
To listen on your laptop or computer, just click the play button in the colored box below.
To listen via iTunes, click on the “play in iTunes” banner and click subscribe.
And now onto the show…
For my first show, I wanted to tell you my story of how I became an art teacher. We all have different paths and this one is mine. I’ll share advice to those who are just starting out as an art teacher and some of my best tips for teaching art to kids.
This episode is for anyone who thinks they may not have the qualifications to be an art teacher. Teaching art to kids doesn’t have to happen inside a classroom. You can teach art at home, at a summer camp and even as a volunteer (like I did).
If you are an art teacher just beginning your journey, I’m sharing my best advice to get you through that tough first year. Download my free handout and keep it in your teacher planner and refer to it when you have a tough day.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES:
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series)
National Art Convention
CreativeLive- free online classes
Art Teachers Facebook Group
Website: Painted Paper in the Art Room (Laura Lohmann)
Website: Art of Education
Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
PS – Please leave a review on iTunes!
Art Made Easy is now live on iTunes! Subscribing to the show and leaving an honest review really helps the show gain visibility and allows me to tailor the show to your needs.
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Very nice interview. Looking forward to meeting Gina! I had to laugh about your comments about her organized studio. : ) I purposely set up our interview in my kitchen so you wouldn’t be able to see my messy studio. Clutter doesn’t bother my creativity. I do, however, keep clean water and a clean palette at my table at all times. Good tip for those who don’t!
Gina, your podcast was so helpful. I was reminded to be careful of what I say yes to and what I say no to. I recently retired as an elementary Art Teacher and now have the time to work more on my own art. I built an Art Studio in my house where I can work whenever I want to. I also started a small side business to bring Art to many different types of people and to provide me with income for paints, classes and travel expenses until my own Art gets into galleries.
I work when I want to and I paint and draw as often as possible. I also do what you do, I set my studio up the night before already with a plan for what I will work on the next day. I have a back pack ready at all times for Plein Aire work, and a smaller travel bag and thumb box to paint from my car in cold weather.
I log my “Art Hours” each week on a large calendar posted in my studio. My goal is 29hrs/wk. I like the idea of working on a series. I believe like you do, “Just Show Up”.
Thank you, Patty, for your wonderful website. I’ve shared it many times with many Art Teachers.
Thank you, Gina Lee