This Spring, I had the pleasure of joining fellow artist, business owner, creative mentor, and podcaster, Shirlee Fisher, on The Tillage Podcast to chat all things art. Whether you're a creative or simply curious, this candid conversation might be exactly what you need.
Give the episode a listen, or enjoy Shirlee's key takeaways below!
For the full episode notes, please visit The Tillage Podcast website.
Meg Indy is an abstract artist based in New York City. Her artistic journey started in college when her mom gave her a watercolor set. Creating small paintings in her dorm room, Meg found solace and began receiving commissions. After graduation, she left her corporate job to pursue art full time. Meg's style evolved into large abstract pieces, collaborating with interior designers and rediscovering her childlike wonder. Now, she paints in New York City, sharing her unique perspective and making a meaningful impact through her art.
Reconnecting With Your Inner-Child Meg emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with your inner child as a source of inspiration and fulfillment. She believes that as adults, we carry the essence of our younger selves, and tapping into that childlike wonderment can unlock our true passions. Meg shares stories of others who have traced their current careers back to childhood interests, highlighting how our earliest fascinations can shape our creative paths. Creative entrepreneurs can reclaim that childlike spirit by identifying the activities that bring them pure joy and a sense of timelessness. Whether it's collaging, baking, or exploring matchbox cars, Meg urges listeners to find what lights them up and let their curiosity guide them. Artist Date Meg shares the transformative power of setting aside time for an "artist's date" inspired by Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way." An artist's date is a dedicated period where you are completely alone, free from distractions and external obligations. During this time, you engage in activities that pique your interest, allowing your inner child to explore and play. This is not limited to traditional artistic pursuits but extends to any experience that sparks joy. By embracing a wide range of interests, you can truly understand the breadth of your creativity and uncover unexpected offshoots that can enhance your personal work. Permission to Embrace the Process Inviting your inner child into your creative experience can start with giving yourself permission to make an absolute mess. Meg embraces the idea that artists need the freedom to create ugly art, allowing her to break free from rigidity and focus on the present joy rather than the end result or monetization. People can sense the energy and process infused in artwork, and it's not just about the final product. To overcome the fear of scrutiny and ensure her work reflects a sense of fun and self-exploration, Meg introduces what she calls "the willies" into her routine. This involves creating messes, using extra paper or canvases, and fully immersing herself in the process without worrying about the outcome. She encourages others to do the same, giving themselves the space to explore colors, have fun, and gradually ease into their creative flow. Make with Abandon Creating the right environment is crucial for unleashing creativity. Meg suggests that eliminating distractions is key to creating a safe space for creativity. She advises removing phones and social media from the studio, focusing on aesthetics and uplifting music that align with the desired artistic vibe. She also emphasizes the importance of making small decisions that support creativity, even if they seem insignificant. Sometimes people make small obstacles into larger ones due to fear of a clear path. However, failure doesn't truly exist in creativity; it's all part of the exploration and fun. Taking risks and embracing the possibility of success is crucial. Meg encourages aspiring creators to let go of the fear of seeing their true selves reflected in their work and to embrace the adventure of making with abandon.
She believes that failure is often used as a shield to avoid the risk of success. Instead, she urges people to spread their wings and fly, not taking themselves too seriously along the way. Meg finds humor in her own mistakes and sees them as just “another chapter in her memoir.” She emphasizes that a straight and clean path is not as interesting as a story filled with twists and turns. Embrace the false starts, get rid of the pebbles, and make with abandon, all while having fun with the process. KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Our childhood has a way of shining light on our natural interests, and sometimes we need to revisit the past to remind ourselves of what those things were.
To come into what Julie Cameron’s book, “The Artist’s Way” describes as an “artist date” write a list of things that remotely catch your interest, set aside a chunk of time throughout your week that is completely protected, and go explore these things and play. Let these experiences then help influence your creativity.
You have permission to make ugly art and to make a mess.
When they look at artwork, they glean the process. As artists, we need to be cautious of only thinking about the end result and turn our attention to the process, how we enter into our creativity, and be mindful of our emotional energy.
What does your inner child love? What activities lights up your inner child? What decisions are you making to embrace your inner freedom to do and enjoy what you want to without worrying about others opinions of you? How are you protecting your very essence?
A vision board can be a great tool for goal setting. Creating something that you physically see of what your life to look like can be helpful to align your decisions to it. Your life's work depends on on those very tiny little decisions you make every day.
Sometimes we can make pebbles into boulders because we are actually afraid of a clear path. What would your life look like if you started making with abandon? How are you currently feeling comfortable in having your conceived boulders in your life? And lastly ask yourself this question….what if those barriers don’t actually exist?
Meg Indy is a New York City abstract artist with an innate propensity for design that sparks joy. Her unbridled form of self expression was nurtured from an early age and continues to encourage her to create with abandon. Her artistic practice mirrors the duality of daily simplicities she happens upon and the profound effect it imprints on one's spirit. Each and every piece holds a synesthetic story narrated through color and movement. The breathlessness of Meg's work coupled with the humanity beating within has garnered a beautiful community of worldwide collectors throughout her career. Today, you can find Meg strolling through the neighborhoods of Manhattan, soaking in the hum of activity, noting the color ways, and returning to her studio to recount the joy of it all. Follow along: Instagram: @meg_indy TikTok: @meg.indy Pinterest: @meg_indy