I Went Back to 1992: How Jazz, 12 Steno Pads, and Bad Coffee Restarted My Art
I'm moving the Rough Sketch show to once a month because life (clients, interviews, and general chaos) is loud, and I'm using that extra space to go back to poetry — the thing that actually hooked me on art. I'm Timothy Kimo Brien, your resident instigator, and this episode is me dusting off 12 steno pads, putting pen to paper, and reading a rough sketch called "Going Back" that leans on jazz, nostalgia, and the messy, beautiful return to simplicity. The poem walks through late-night weariness, a mausoleum of depression, and the small ritual of scratching thoughts down as both warning and salvation — basically me trying to send postcards to myself from places I shouldn't have left. I talk about why prompts didn't stick, how I decided no prompt was needed, and why editing in a new way helped the work breathe. Stick around for the pieces I read, give me your honest take, and take this as your friendly nudge to tame that inner critic: create more than you consume, write a poem about what you're going through, and maybe share it with me. I'll catch you next month — same chaos, more poems.Poem:Going Back6 Sept 2026The record spinsThe arm lifts up,over, gracefullyI am back to 1992Looking at the hard-fought bagsunder my bloodshot eyesAching bodyAching mindVision is blurryDaily meditation doneFrench lesson doneThe house encompasses us all,creaks and moansAs the weather changes from an unforgiving summerTo the wet and dreary fallAnd I am looking at boxespiled up for recyclingMaking a modern art sculptureUnfinished diamond paintingBrushes hardened by dry acrylic paintand empty canvasesTwelve steno pads waitto become memorialsto my thoughtsThat I dare not share with my loved onesI’ve isolated myselffrom the rest of my homeI have created a mausoleum of depressionThere are no tickets for saleRemarkably,there is no line a mile long to enterSo I feel the only wayto fill the gaping holein my soulIs to go back to the beginningJazz playing in the backgroundLiving vicariouslythrough the disciplesof hard bop and coolPen to paper,releasing inner strugglesScratching my thoughtsNot as a user manualBut as a warningA warning of what not to becomeLetting the subconsciousout of its self-imposed prisonTo feel the sunlightthat finds its way into my caveTimidly, trembling, cautiouslyI’m going backto when I thought simplicityWas the way to beTo find the decisions that led meTo a place where I wasOr should have beenContentAnd remake those choices to stay thereI’m going backSo I can send postcardsto myselfFrom where I should have never leftHow do I get such great guests?PodMatch I use Podmatch to get the best guests on the show. Check out PodMatch if you want to be a guest on other podcasts or if you have a podcast and need guests for your show. Guests from PodmatchWant to be a guest on Create Art Podcast? Send Timothy Brien a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/createartpodcastMake Sharing your podcast easierUse Podcast Beacon for the best NFS products to share your podcast while out and about or at conferences.Reach Out To The PodcastTo reach out to me, email [email protected] 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: [email protected] Channel: Create Art Podcast YT ChannelIG: @createartpodcastTwitter: @createartpodCreate Art Podcast Hotline (540) 300-1793SpeakPipeCreate Art Podcast Newslettertimothybrien.substack.comSpecial MessageIf 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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy