The Creative Spark

In this episode, I sit down and connect with Natalia Torres del Valle. She is an artist who creates textural paintings in her studio in Hillsborough, NC. She is also a former educator and Expressive Arts Therapist. She is currently showing her Landform Meditations, a series she created through being inspired by meditating on the natural world with her daughter. Her paintings are multidimensional and communicate rare moments of witnessing life, growth, light, and form in nature. Her color choices communicate the extreme possibilities found within nature. When creating her paintings, her process is layered and imbued with deep meaning. Each choice she makes is intentional and communicates something important to her that she feels called to give voice to. In our conversation, she brings a lightness of spirit, humor, a deep belief in the power of creative self-expression for healing and nourishment on the journey of life. She is a warm and bright force of creative energy. In this episode, we explore… ☆ Her creative process as a sculptural painter and her current Landform Meditations series ☆ The way her materials help her create and explore textures ☆ How she hopes for her work to communicate the importance of honoring our natural world and prioritizing self care ☆ Her first experience with the 100 Day Project and how it helped her nurture her creative spark in early motherhood ☆ How she helps herself get unstuck creatively ☆ The powerful shift she has felt in her creative practice since joining the community at her current studio space ☆ Her three hats: expressive arts therapist, educator, and artist and how they inform one another and make up her creative life ☆ How community and committing to regular scheduled creative time has given her the support and structure needed to take risks ☆ The power of consistently modeling creative self care for our children ☆ Intermodal transfers in Expressive Arts Therapy ☆ The numerous ways in which creative self expression was embedded in her family life growing up Recommended resources: ★ Article about Landform Meditations: https://artsorange.org/artist-natalia-torres-del-valles-strikingly-sculptural-textured-paintings/ ★The 100 Day Project, Instagram: @dothe100dayproject ★Erin McCluskey Wheeler, artist: https://www.erinmwheeler.com/ ★”Fungarium” by Ester Gaya ★Artist/Mother Crit Groups: https://artistmotherpodcast.com/ ★Teen Art Collective for LGBTQIA+ teens: https://allevents.in/hillsborough/teen-art-collective-lgbtqia/200022358094005?ref=cano-rd-params ★Individual Art Therapy near Hillsborough, NC: http://www.trianglearttherapy.com/ Connect with Natalia: Are you interested in learning more about her and her work? ★ Instagram: @nataliatorresdelvalle ★ Website:  https://www.nataliatorresdelvalle.com/ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: _creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In episode 6, I connect with Janette Delgado-Macias. She is a bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor, Clinical Therapy Supervisor, Registered Art Therapist, and the owner of Counseling Creatively, her private practice. She is a mother of two and an expressive artist. She has walked a long and winding path to being the Art Therapist she is today, jumping through many academic hoops and overcoming creative blocks. As a busy mama, she finds simple and accessible ways to involve her toddler in her creative practice, which is a win-win for both of them. She offers a gift to us all, in reminding us to meet ourselves where we are at given the season of life we are in.  She urges us to cultivate flexiiblity, simple and attainable rituals and goals around our creativity, and to remember that a new season will come later, possibly with more time and space for our creative lives. She doesn't believe that lack of resources or level of skill should stop us from making time to keep our creative spark lit. In this episode, we explore… ☆ How her personal creative practice has evolved since being a mother and how she involves her children ☆ How she uses art kits in her house to support her creative life as a busy mom and professional ☆ How being flexible, putting off expectations, and meeting herself where she is at helps her break down mental blocks and nurture herself creatively ☆ The roles of structure, discipline, and ritual in her creative life ☆ The progression of her career path, starting with out with going to school for Mental Health Counseling and moving into her present work in Art Therapy ☆ Her process of seeing a need for Trans Teens in her community and creating groups to connect and support them on a larger scale ☆ How utilizing non-verbal creative interventions can help lower defenses and lead to more progress in therapy ☆ How being an only child led her to nurture her early creative spark ☆ The ways in which creativity has always found its way back into the forefront of her life, through moments and important people in her life that have encouraged her along the way ☆ How culture has impacted her choices on her creative path ☆ How her environment inspires her color choices ☆ The continuous choice of surrender in being a mother ☆ Tips for nurturing toddlers’ creative sparks Recommended resources: ★ Materials: Uni Posca Paint Markers, Watercolor Brush Pens, Do-a-dot markers for toddlers ★ Salad spin art video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXul6wNXxnQ ★ #100dayproject and @dothe100dayproject on Instagram Connect with Janette: Are you interested in learning more about her and her work? ★ Instagram: @counselingcreatively for Mental Health Counseling @artsymentor for Creativity Coaching ★ Website:  https://www.counselingcreativelypllc.com/ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: @_creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In this episode I interview the fourth guest on the show, Dan Moen. He is a musician, performer, photographer, graphic designer, and activist living in Detroit, Michigan. Dan also paints and draws primarily with acrylics with an impressionist style. With these skills, Dan utilizes them in many non-profits as well as his personal business, Dijuri Media. He is also the Brand and Content Coordinator for a non-profit called the Chaldean Community Foundation. Dan is a transcultural adoptee who was adopted from the Philippines at 8 months old. Growing up Dan had an internal struggle with the adoption and used this struggle in all his creations from music to art. Dan is deeply aware of and well-versed in discussing the intersectionality of the many aspects of identity, including being a transcultural adoptee, member of LBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. In this episode, we explore… ☆ His foundational creative roots of drawing and painting ☆ His passion and purpose to amplify the voices of adoptees ☆ His process of embracing and reclaiming his identity as a Filipino-American ☆ Shame in the adoptee experience ☆ How he utilizes music and visual art to process the complicated layers of his experience as a transcultural adoptee, as well as the other aspects of his identity ☆ How eras in history and styles of painting inspire him to share his memories through his creative expression ☆ The ways in which he processes the intersectionality of aspects of his identity ☆ His secret places in the woods that inspired him creatively during the pandemic ☆ The interactions between his visual art and music-making ☆ How he honors the ebbs and flows of his creative process ☆ The role of burnout and hustling as a creative professional, which led him into learning to set boundaries and limits ☆ His message around compensating and valuing creative professionals ☆ His journey to reuniting with his biological family and reconnecting with his birthmother, the emotions he navigated through, and special considerations he has to offer for other adoptees interested in reunion ☆ The wisdom he shares around learning to embrace all the parts of our identity, especially those that have been marginalized ☆ The power of continually asking “who am I?’ Recommended resources: ★ PBS documentary link ★ Claude Debussy, French Composer ★ On Spotify, search for “Dijuri” to hear his music ★ We are not minorities, we have been minoritized. We are not underrepresented, we have been historically excluded. Language matters. - @janelcabbage on Twitter Connect with Dan: Are you interested in learning more about Dan and his work? ★ Instagram: @dijurimedia ★ Website:  www.dijurimedia.com ★ Spotify: search Dijuri, to hear his music (also available on pandora and amazon) ★ View his art around being an adoptee: https://intercountryadopteevoices.com/tag/dan-r-moen/ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: _creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In this episode I interview the third guest on the show, Andre Hinds! He owns a Media business and lives in Charleston, South Carolina. He is passionate about self-expression in all sorts of forms.  He shares the story of his lifelong journey as a creative, what creativity means to him, how it fuels him in his life, and what it has taken to remain committed to his path as a creative. He also opens up and shares an important message to black creatives. In this episode, we explore… ☼ The many ways he expresses himself creatively ☼ His belief in the importance of sharing his comedy, acting, and illustrations just because he enjoyed it and it was authentic to him ☼ Embracing failure and the learning curve with creative projects ☼ Just starting and not focusing on having all the right stuff at first ☼ His media/social media marketing business, Hindsight Social ☼ His experience with Imposter Syndrome and perfectionism ☼ How he used his work in the service industry to help him start his business ☼ The importance of believing in himself and taking stock of the company you keep ☼ Confronting fears as a creative ☼ Cultivating a growth mindset ☼ His identity as a black male creative ☼ His message for all black creatives Recommended resources: Muddy Waters Coffee– @muddywaterscoffee Pearls, Gallery Show in Charleston, SC– https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pearls-premiere-screening-tickets-249063083387 “Then Again, Maybe I Won’t.” by Judy Blume Connect with Andre: Are you interested in learning more about Andre’s work? ★ Instagram: @andre_hinds ★ Website: www.Hindsightsocial.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: _creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In this episode I interview the second guest on the show, Christina Watka! She is a professional Installation Artist and Mother who lives in Maine. Her work is site-specific and large-scale. She is passionate about staying in flow in her everyday life and letting all of the aspects of her identity weave together and inform her life as an artist. She inspires others to notice light, be true to themselves, and lean into each moment of their lives with fullness and wonder. Notes: In this episode, we explore… ☼ The inspiration for her Light Totems and their message ☼ Her hashtag #noticinglight and how she uses it to help herself and others connect with their daily experience ☼ Her understanding of her growing impact as an artist ☼ How she owns and recognizes her gift of effortless joy ☼ How the nuances of experiencing light inspire her and keep her deeply connected with nature ☼ How the metaphor of light and shadow can be used to help us integrate our parts and experience our lives more fully ☼ How the immediacy and intensity of being a mother fuels her sense of flow ☼ Leaning into your true self ☼ Why she urges others to just create and do it again & again ☼ The importance of her support system in her development as a creative throughout her life ☼ What's next for her in her career Recommended Resources: "The Voice" by Shel Silverstein Connect with Christina: Are you inspired by Christina and her message? Do you want to follow her life as a creator and learn more about her work? ★ Instagram: @christinawatka #noticinglight ★ Website: www.christinawatka.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: _creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In this episode I interview the first guest on the show, Kendal Hansen! She is one of the most enthusiastic, open, and passionately creative people I know, so she had to go first! She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) from Lakeland, Florida who currently works with clients in the Tampa Bay area. Her goal as an Art Therapist is to help others to explore, evaluate, and process life events with a non-traditional twist. She is a graduate of Lesley University’s Masters of Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy program. Notes: In this episode, we explore… ☼ Her new work at The Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa ☼ Cultivating creative/material resourcefulness as an Art Therapist ☼ Her new work as a Clinical Art Therapist in at Begin Again Counseling in Tampa, a private practice ☼ Burn out as an Art Therapist ☼ Why she loves and recommends Art Journaling to everyone ☼ Her tips for letting your creative practice shift and evolve based on your life stage ☼ How she keeps her creativity flowing ☼ How she creates an environment to boost mental health ☼ How her grandmother and mother raised her to nurture her creative spark ☼ How to nurture your child’s creative spark ☼ Why she urges you to create just for you Recommended resources: Shaun McNiff Marie Kondo DJ Khaled Connect with Kendal: Do you live in Florida and want to learn more about working with Kendal? ★ Instagram: @beginagaincounseling ★ Website: www.beginagaincounseling.com Subscribe: Apple Podcasts ★ Anchor ★ Spotify Support The Creative Spark Podcast: Venmo: creativespark Connect with Jessica: Instagram: _creativespark Email: [email protected] This podcast is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements expressed in the podcast by the host or the guest are our own and do not represent that of our places of work, unless stated otherwise. Please seek out professionals in the mental health field if you need those services. This podcast also should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony.

In this episode, I will give you a short introduction to this brand new podcast and let you know the mission of this space. Stay tuned for: Episode 1, airing 2/22/22, in which I'll be offering a guided creative wellness exercise.  Episode 2, airing 3/1/22, in which I will be interviewing our first guest! Details to come about our guest on Instagram. Are you a creative who has an important message about the role creativity plays in your mental health and well-being? Do you want to connect more personally? Email me at [email protected] or come join the new community I am building over on instagram @_creativespark Intro music- Ketsa "Play Thing"