Episode 448 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — moving on from 15 years and a nod to another birthday
This episode follows on the heels of Episode 446 and Episode 447 (two CMP anniversary shows) to raise a mental flag as my birthday passes by again. The year leading to 50 was interwoven in episodes of the CMP and in a pair of illustrated journals that tracked my progress on my 50 Before 50 journal and the weekly self-portrait series.
The 50th happened during the pandemic, and although I planned to make a list for Year 50, it just never happened. I regretted it every single time I thought about the fact that I’d never made a list. In this episode, some talk about the power of the list and the unmoored feeling of not having a list. Some talk about making a list for Year 51 (before I am too far into it) and what that might look like or how it might work.
100 Things List
Plus, another kind of list…. a “100 Things about Me” list. This list is multi-headed and will unfold differently at different times, different times of day, different weeks, and so on. It’s a list that can be built over days, but the more you do all at once, the more you can appreciate the flow and the way the memories burst free to occupy a space on the list. These lists are fascinating to make. I encourage you to try it.
You’ll also find thrown in here some keyboad talk (loving the rainbow lights on my keyboard), some octopus and kaleidoscope talk, some crows, and more. Ultimately, it’s the CMP.
Show Flow/Timestamps
00:00 Intro talk and keyboards
09:00 Invitation
09:35 Station Eleven/Octopus
11:53: Words
13:21 Keyboard RGB
16:22 Key wasn’t designed for the door
16:40 CMP Anniversary aftermath
17:27 Birthday show and self-portraits
19:19 2 years since 50 Before 50 List started
21:21 A year passed without a list – unmoored
22:36 Mentality of a “year list” – a process of living with intention and intentionality
22:39 List for the new year
24:47 A flip-through video
26:04 Crows
27:15 Birthday list (earlier show about a list for the day)
32:32 100 Things List
Note: I wondered after I recorded this if I am wrong about the “octopus” in Station Eleven. I know her graphic novel had an underwater theme, and somehow in my head, there is an octopus. But I started thinking maybe that’s not quite right. I spent time searching online, and I see some mentions of her and her graphic novel, but I wasn’t able to confirm there is, in fact, an octopus. Eventually, I’ll read it yet again. But if you heard this and thought that doesn’t seem right, I wanted to mention that it might not be right. Sometimes things lodge in our head and grow of their own accord.
Support the CMP
If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you will consider showing support of the Creativity Matters Podcast, I encourage you to consider:
I will be moving the CMP site, hopefully in the next few weeks. I had hoped that the 15-year anniversary would help make clear to me that continuing is the right thing to do. That didn’t happen, but the simple fact is that I have to take the site down and relocate. It isn’t optional. I had thought things might come together to really put things in place properly, but given how the month went, I think the best bet is just to rehome the site and accept it for what it is – a pet project. The most cost-effective way to deal with it will require a 3-year setup though, and so I’m thinking it through. It will also, again, mean I will need to remove old shows. At any rate, this summer cleanup is part of my summer to-do list.
Thank you to those of you who have supported the CMP, just as you support other creators and sources of inspiration and guidance when you buy books, sign up for paid workshops and classes, and purchase small works of art from the artists you follow. Support from some of you through the years has made the show possible.
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Please consider following:
- OamyOamy (where I share my art)
- Creativity Matters Podcast (show information and #illustrateyourweek, #inktoportraits, and other challenges)
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Six Books that Played a Pivotal Role in the Last 15 Years
(Six of hundreds! It’s hard, but these five come to mind as important or much-loved.)
(Dear Data and Station Eleven should be there, too. But really, there are LOTS of books that should be there!)
Randoms
- The keyboard I mentioned is the Royal Kludge RK68. (It’s not as small as a 60%, but it’s much smaller than a TKL or full-size keyboard.)
- I tried a new sketchbook this week, and I’m beyond disappointed. I think now that I need to just stay with the one I was using forever, but I also wonder if this means the bigger version might be worth trying.
- I spent a lot of time looking at purple inks recently, and I have a few I am trying and a few others I want to pick up over the next year to round this out. I’m still not totally sure how purple will mix into my journal work. But, it’s a bee in my brain right now.
- I have been reading on a Kindle for the first time ever, and it’s such a strange transition for me after reading on my phone for years.
- I sometimes hold a drawing group on the weekends for an hour. It’s casual and relatively small. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out and let me know.
New to the CMP? Here are a few shows you might try:
- Summer Series (445)
- When You Want to Quit (440)
- Panning for Gold (290)
- Red Sun (257)
- Here (319)
- Find a Penny (298)
- Teapots in a Tree (383)
- Slice of Life Contour (356)
- Olive Jars (436)
- Love What You Do (244)
- Illustrated Journal (367)
- The Moments within the Moments (197)
- Scroll Your Feed (362)
- View all podcasts
Listen to Episode 448
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts
(This episode is available in many of your favorite podcast players.)
Tools
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook (what I’m using for regular drawing and my illustrated journal)
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook — the REALLY big one — A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″)
- Preppy Fountains Pen 02 – this is one of the best starter/inexpensive fountain pens you can buy!
- Preppy Fountain Pens 03 (multi set)
- Lamy Safari – always a good choice
- TWSBI Eco – my favorite fountain pen in the starter range (although I love my TWSBI Iris Vac even more)
- Dip Pen holder I’ve been using (with maru nibs)
- PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink (multiple color options)
- Diamine Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Noodler’s Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Monteverde Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Colorverse Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Platinum Carbon Black ink (what’s in my fountain pen)
- Sktchy app for inspiration photos
- Micron 08 (larger nib good for thicker lines or filling in small-medium spaces)
- Micron 01 (favorite for drawing)
- Micron Sampler
- Notes on large format sketchbooks
- ROYGBIV supplies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
- Uni-Gel Alpha Shaker pencil (mine is listed as “slightly firm” – but it’s super cushy; they do come in other softness/hardness ratings. I really do love this shaker!)
- Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Large, White (these things disappear like socks; you can never have too many white erasers lying around)
Show Information:
- Patreon page – support the CMP and get access to some special things
- Buy me a Coffee with Ko-Fi
- Start your shopping at Amazon here
- Amazon wishlist
- Start your shopping at Amazon with a CMP link
- Creativity Matters at YouTube (please follow!)
- Creativity Matters Group at Facebook
- oamyoamy at Instagram
- Creativity Matters Podcast at Instagram
- Try Creative Bug with the Living a More Creative Life: 30 Ways in 30 Days class
- Guitar music: Nicholai Heidlas on SoundCloud