Episode 19: How would YOU define it?
Rhiannon and a hawk friend; mural by Dennis McGregor; photo by Ben Leonard
What do you think?
Does assembling a craft-in-a-box kit count as “making art”?
Is following the teacher’s step-by-step painting instructions an act of creativity?
What about reproducing nature’s botanicals in detailed illustrations — is it art-making or note-taking?
In this month’s episode of The Accidental Muralist Podcast, I dive head-first into these super juicy (for me, anyway) topics with my friend and fellow artist, Rhiannon Leonard. We talk candidly—and laugh at ourselves—about issues like:
failure
perfectionism
the importance of finishing (or deciding to quit!)
motherhood + art-making
self-judgment
other kinds of judgey-ness (I swing the whole time between judgment and wild inclusivity 🤪)
what grade school kids can teach us
what mastery means
the continuum of creative development, and of course (drum roll, please 🥁…)
Bob Ross 🙌🏽
By the end, I am exhausted. And exhilarated! It feels like Rhiannon has unwittingly counseled me through my stickiest area of self-doubt and insecurity, i.e. the central question of my life, which is, “AM I CREATIVE?” Along the way she reveals some of her own triumphs and pitfalls as well. We all have them, no?
Welcome to Module 5 of heART❤️SCHOOL, and enjoy our conversation about CREATIVITY.
Episode Notes
Rhiannon Leonard is a teaching artist with the Right Brain Initiative and Young Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington. In that capacity she uses her drawing art form with students as a tool for integrating classroom curriculum.
As a practicing artist, Rhiannon focuses on botanical illustration and tree details. Look for cards with her botanical illustrations in plant shops around Portland in 2022. 🙌🏽
Rhiannon’s gorgeous website is here: www.RhiannonLeonard.art
Pam’s online shop offers craft kits (ironically, once you’ve heard the podcast), but they’re the open-ended kind where she delights you with interesting materials and you get to decide how to use them. Light instructions are sometimes included. 🤓
She’s teaching up-cycled art classes at ReBuilding Center. Look here for info.
You can also purchase an entire class led by Pam, and either bring your friends to her NE Portland studio, or meet up online. Peruse those (including “Rule Breaking for Beginners”) here.
For information about the remarkable Portland-based flamenco organization that brought Pam and Rhiannon together, check out Espacio Flamenco. You can also listen to my interview with one of the founders here.
Enjoy the holiday season with some relaxing, creative art-making time, no matter what form it comes in and how it ends up. We’re not gonna judge! 😘
With love and paint-stained fingers,
Pam
