25 - Esté Macleod, Visual Artist & Designer - Finding Your Own Artistic Style

Have you been wondering how to find your own artistic style? Whether you are an established artist with a good sense of your own artistic voice ready to take the next step in licensing your work, or you’re just getting into creating art, this episode has so many wonderful things in store for you -  not least of which is the FREE art class today’s guest Este Macleod has given all the listeners of The Creative Genius Podcast. 

Este is a generous soul and inspired teacher. Her paintings ethereal and happy and her approach to art is a wonderful mix of thoughtful observation and working intuitively (which we talk about) Este has worked with some large brands licensing her artwork and she tells us about the ups and downs of that so if that's something you're considering you're going to want to listen to this episode. 

Things Este and I talk about 

• The ups and downs of working with large partnerships like Crate & Barrel with her artwork
• Why it is OH SO important to invest in good materials at the start
• Some provocative questions to prompt the voice of your inner artist
• The number one thing artists starting out should remind themselves every day (especially on days when they think they are not good enough, or think they will never sell anything) 
• What to do if you feel really stuck, can’t find your creative voice and don’t know what to do. 
• Why she thinks it can be ok to copy other artists work, but the number one absolute no-no when doing so
• What to do when you run out of inspiration 
• How to be inspired by other artists or themes and trends and adjust your work so it becomes yours/
• How she found her own voice as an artist the ups and downs of that journey
• The life changing dream that woke her up on a flight 
• Creativity’s critical role in innovation and problem solving. 
• Her recent project with Sketchbook Revival
• All the reasons she feels our lives depend on creativity

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Sketchbook Revival 
• Creative Question Mark Challenge 
• Her courses 
• 1-2-3 Let's paint cats
• Gift to all creative genius listeners free 123 lets paint course!
• Free Class 

ABOUT

Este MacLeod is a visual artist, designer and creator of online art and creativity courses

Her paintings are informed by the real and the imaginary. A background in textile and ceramic design is evident in the stylised, abundant and colourful forms used in still life, landscape and floral paintings. She is a colourist painter, she uses a variety of painting and mark making techniques to layer colour and shapes, resulting in ethereal paintings. 

She draws inspiration from travel, nature, dreams, seasons, sentiments and thoughts as well as everyday surroundings. Observation and drawing are important parts of the creative process. Working intuitively, she allows paintings to develop over time. Her artworks are presented to convey intrinsic beauty, a feeling or memory of a place or impression.

Born in South Africa, Este has lived in England since 1999, and been based in Berkshire since 2005

Este MacLeod website | facebook | instagram

Kate Shepherd: art | website | instagram

Morning Moon Nature Jewelry | website |  instagram

Creative Genius Podcast | website | instagram

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