_the_”good at drawing”_friend
THIS WEEK ON THE CREATIVE PEOPLE PODCAST:
EM - HUSHPUPPY DESIGNS
I started my forth season of the podcast, and then I took a break. There was some stuff I had to finish, namely my new Zine BACKSLIDER. But I’m done that, and I’m back with a new episode of the Creative People Podcast this week.
On this week’s episode I’m chatting with a local favourite of mine, EM from Hushpuppy Designs.
Here are some things that stood out to me, and why you should listen…
“ART FOR THE UNDERDOGS”
Can I first say that, that EM is a total natural on the podcast. I’ll have to find a reason to bring her back sometime because our chat was such good vibes. I’d love to co-host something with her.
We start off our convo talking about underdogs, and even though I’m a bit of a “cat-guy”, I love an underdog and I’m glad that EM is making art for us.
I’ve always felt like a bit of an underdog, it’s what brings some of us to our interest. Underdogs can usually find a home in the arts, it’s where our disadvantage can become our strength. We learn to take our pain, and mix it with a bit of talent and start to make magic.
On the podcast I love to hear about the journey of the creatives I talk to, I want to hear what made them start… and often what made them stop. It’s a very common thing for me other Creatives to tell me that they were “creative kids” but walked away from it for awhile, before coming back to it later in life.
When we’re growing up, we’re fragile and sometimes it just takes the wrong comment from someone we trust to derail us… sometimes for years. We can also derail ourselves when we wrongly compare ourselves to someone we perceive as way better than us.
If we want to draw, it could be a friend who is really good at drawing. I had one, and so did EM.
But the cool thing about art, and creativity in general is that we eventually learn that, better is subjective. My “good at drawing” friend, can’t do what I can do. His drawings are great, but they aren’t the right fit for every project. If we’re smart, and can relax about our perceived “lack of skill” we can find or make a place where our drawing is the best fit.
EM found her way back to drawing, she found her voice and her style. I wonder if her “good at drawing” friend is even still drawing? Creativity is about what you do with it.
This is one of the reasons I talked about Creativity being my “new religion” when I was chatting with EM on the podcast this week. In creativity there is a home for everyone. The underdogs can make a place for themselves here, it just takes a little resilience, self-awareness and hard work.
Those are two of my takeaways from the podcast this week. I really had a great time chatting with EM this week on the Creative People Podcast - click here to listen.
Thanks for reading.
- Ryan Leacock
Ryan Leacock is a designer, writer and actor who's worked in a variety of creative fields and expressions. He's written short films, commercials, blogs and has just published his first collection of original writings. Ryan has designed apps. websites and hundreds of signs at his 9-5.
Recently, he was bit by the acting bug and is having the time of his life reigniting a passion for acting/comedy onstage. Having recently appeared in 2 plays with Innovative Productions.
Ryan has just started his 4th year hosting the Creative People Podcast, which he self-produces a few times a month.
He currently lives in Kitchener, Ontario with his wife, 4 kids, 1 dog and 2 cats.