Art, Inspiration, and a Dash of Spaghetti: Kristan Swan's Creative Journey
Why do artists feel the urge to create? That's the big question we dive into with our guest, Kristan Swan, in this episode. We explore the motivations behind artistic expression and share our own journeys of creativity. With over 30 years of experience in the arts and education, I, Tim Kimo Brien, along with Kristen, discuss the challenges and triumphs that come with embracing our creative sides. From the importance of community to the healing power of art, we aim to inspire fellow creators to push past their inner critics and unleash their full potential. So grab your sketchbook, your pen, or even that half-finished novel and let’s get our creative juices flowing!
In this episode of The New Artist’s Compass, host Timothy Kimo Brien sits down with artist Kristan Swan to explore the deeply personal question every creator faces: Why do you create art? Together, they uncover the motivations, emotions, and stories that fuel the artistic journey.
Whether you’re a painter, poet, musician, or writer, this episode will inspire you to reflect on your own creative process and connect with the universal “why” behind making art. From personal healing and expression to building community and sparking change, we dive into the heart of artistic purpose.
✨ What you’ll learn in this episode:
- How artists discover their personal motivations for creating.
- The role of vulnerability and authenticity in sharing your art.
- Ways art connects us to ourselves, others, and the world around us.
- Why understanding your “why” helps sustain your creative practice long-term.
This episode is for new and emerging artists looking for inspiration and encouragement on their creative path.
Bio
Kristan Swan, M.Ed. excels in leadership training, group moderation, writing, design, interviewing, and research.
After a career in landscape design, Kristan focused on business coaching. Recognizing the challenges of 'founder's syndrome' and high burnout rates for professional service business owners, she developed the 4 S's of Success: Structure, Systems, Strategy, and Space. The 4 S's provides a framework for independent owners and entrepreneurs who struggle to stay in their zone of genius and build profitable businesses.
Spaghetti on the Wall, a journal with prompts to develop a habit of discernment, was written after noticing similar concerns among many coaching clients. My intent with SOTW is to provide a simple tool for gathering our multiple great ideas, noticing our communication challenges, and recognizing patterns of behavior. I wanted to help my clients and really any one of us, myself included, to notice our unique decision making processes. Most of the frustration and anger we feel can be traced back to disappointment or negative feeling we have about ourselves. Investing a bit of time to become aware of thoughts, feelings, and emotions yields big rewards.
Discovering your Spiritual Autobiography grew from an exercise I had taught in the past and the growing desire to do something about the increased polarization and hostility in the US and the world. The workshop is a nondenominational, in person, experience. The original version is an 8 week program, meeting once a week. 1 and 2 day retreats are available as well.
Other projects related to Discovering your Spiritual Autobiography is The Experience Collective, a place for participants to share their Spiritual Autobiographies online with others and an upcoming 'how-to' manual for others who are looking to build community and social engagement.
Links for Kristan Swam
Spaghetti Off The Wall Journal
Special Recipe
From Kristan A whole lotta panna cotta
From Tim Oh My God Mac and Cheese
1 box of macaroni
I jar of alfredo sauce
2 bag of mac and cheese shredded cheddar
1 can of fried onions
1 can of sun dried tomatoes
Special code
10 Free copies of Kristan's latest book Spaghetti On The Wall use coupon code 10free
https://kristanswan.com/spaghetti-on-the-wall/
Topics covered in this series
Sharing Your Work Online for the First Time
Dealing With Criticism and Rejection
Finding (or Building) an Artistic Community
Collaboration as a Creative Catalyst
Staying Motivated Long-Term
Art Challenges & Social Media Trends
Mental Health & Creativity
Art Challenges & Social Media Trends
Setting Up a Creative Workspace
Creative Constraints & Prompts
Measuring Growth as an Artist
Why Do You Create?
When to Call Yourself an Artist
Lessons From a Year of Creating
Setting Creative Goals Without Killing the Joy
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Reach Out To The Podcast
To reach out to me, email timothy@createartpodcast.com I would love to hear about your journey and what you are working on. If you would like to be on the show or have me discuss a topic that is giving you trouble write in and let's start that conversation.
- Email: timothy@createartpodcast.com
- YouTube Channel: Create Art Podcast YT Channel
- IG: @createartpodcast
- Twitter: @createartpod
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Special Message
If you have found value in this podcast, please share it with a friend as that is the best way to discover new podcasts. I want this to be a 5-star podcast in your eyes so let me know what you would like to see.
Speaking about sharing with a friend, check out my other podcast Find A Podcast About where I help you outsmart the algorithm and find your next binge-worthy podcast. You can find that podcast at findapodcastabout.xyz.
For all of my projects check out my portfolio website TKBPodcaststudio.com where I help my clients through quiet professionalism lead through the noise.
Special Ask
Let me know what you think about the podcast by taking a survey. 2024 Listener Survey yes it is 2025, but hey I am late to the game on this. Thank you ahead of time to help me make this more of what you are wanting to hear.
Takeaways:
- Artists often create art as a means of self-discovery, helping them understand their thoughts and emotions better.
- In this episode, we dive into the reasons behind artistic expression, exploring why it’s essential for personal growth.
- Kristen Swan shares her journey from landscaping to art, emphasizing the importance of creativity in all aspects of life.
- The conversation reveals that creativity is not exclusive to traditional art forms; it’s embedded in everyday activities like cooking and gardening.
- We discuss how artistic endeavors can serve as a unique lens through which we can understand ourselves and our experiences.
- Embracing creativity can be incredibly liberating, allowing us to express ourselves without worrying about the final product.