Episode 213: Eleanor O’Rourke  - Creative Flow

In this episode, Chris turns the microphone around and puts co-host Paul Fairweather in the guest seat to explore his creative journey as an artist.Paul shares how building a consistent daily painting practice has helped him overcome distractions, make starting easier and reconnect with his identity as an artist. They discuss the challenges of putting your work out into the world, embracing failure and finding creativity in the everyday.With his upcoming exhibition, Lifting the Fog, Paul reflects on how personal experiences, grief and a renewed commitment to painting have shaped both his work and his creative journey.Because sometimes creativity isn't about waiting for inspiration. It's about showing up, picking up the brush and getting started.LINKS:Paul Fairweather - Co-hosthttps://www.paulfairweather.comChris Meredith - Co-hosthttps://www.chrismeredith.com.au

What if creativity isn't something you have, but something you allow?Coach and creative Eleanor O’Rourke joins Chris and Paul to explore the idea of flow and how fear, perfectionism and the need for approval can get in the way of creativity.They discuss the importance of play, humour, boredom and embracing imperfection to reconnect with our natural creativity, along with why human emotion and lived experience matter in an age of AI.LINKS:Guest: Eleanor O’RourkeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eleanor.orourkeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleanororourkecoaching/Website: https://www.eleanororourke.com/Paul Fairweather - Co-hosthttps://www.paulfairweather.comChris Meredith - Co-hosthttps://www.chrismeredith.com.au

After a brief pause, Paul and Chris are back with fresh ideas for The Common Creative and reflections on what the break has taught them. Chris has been “pushing himself to slow down”, while Paul has rediscovered the joy of fixing things and embracing the process.There’s also a new creative brief for future episodes: focusing on “one thing” from each guest to uncover deeper insights, spark fresh ideas, and deliver even more value to listeners.LINKS:Paul Fairweather - Co-hosthttps://www.paulfairweather.comChris Meredith - Co-hosthttps://www.chrismeredith.com.au

After 210 episodes and six years of conversations, Chris Meredith and Paul Fairweather are pressing pause on The Common Creative. In this reflective episode, they look back on what the podcast has taught them from the power of creative conversations and storytelling to the chemistry that has shaped the show over the years.But this isn’t a farewell it’s a reset. Chris and Paul explore what might come next, including sharper questions, new seasons, fresh formats and potential partnerships.It’s a conversation about knowing when to pause, making space for new ideas, and allowing creativity to evolve.

Chris Meredith and Paul Fairweather spend this episode unpacking risk as a core part of the creative process. It is a conversational, unscripted exchange about why making art, sharing work, and moving beyond a safe formula all involve vulnerability, judgment, and the possibility of rejection.Chris and Paul discuss how risk shows up differently for artists and commercial creatives, using examples from painting, exhibitions, and the careers of artists like Ken Done, Rothko, and Van Gogh. LINKS: Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Chris and Paul are joined by Stacy Hall, founder of MAKE and Promosapien, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, creativity, and building businesses that people genuinely connect with.Stacey shares how an unexpected start at a struggling clothing manufacturer became her first real business education, eventually leading her to launch Vancouver’s first retail embroidery store and grow it into two successful brands. Along the way, she discovered the power of creating memorable customer experiences, collaborating with artists, and turning creativity into a practical business advantage.Whether you're an entrepreneur, retailer, creative professional, or simply curious about building brands people love, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, customer experience, and the many ways creativity can drive business success.LINKS:Stacy Hall - Special GuestLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-hall-445b524/ Websites : Promosapien Promo Inc. - www.promosapien.caMake - www.makevancouver.comOle Originals - www.oleoriginals.comPaul Fairweather - Co-hosthttps://www.paulfairweather.comChris Meredith - Co-hosthttps://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Paul and Chris challenge traditional command-and-control leadership and explore how clear direction, intentional boundaries and creative freedom can help teams do their best work. They unpack the concept of the “three scripts”  fully scripted, ad-lib and improv and how leaders can use each approach to balance structure with creativity. They also explore decision-making, the power of constraints, the “seed model” for developing ideas, and the role of leaders in turning chaos into clarity. Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur or creative professional, this episode offers a fresh perspective on leading with curiosity, confidence and the courage to make decisive choices in an ever-changing world. Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to stay creative for life?  At 93, retired architect Graham Bligh proves that curiosity, creativity, and connection don't have an expiry date. From designing iconic buildings to embracing art and lifelong learning in retirement, Graham reflects on a remarkable career spanning decades. He shares how staying open to new experiences, nurturing community, and continuing to create has kept his passion alive well into his 90s. Whether you're building a career, exploring a new hobby, or redefining retirement, this conversation is a powerful reminder that it's never too late to learn, create, and make a meaningful impact. Graham Bligh - Special Guest Documentation - https://youtu.be/WVtYdncKda4 Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Paul and Chris speak with architectural photographer Shantanu Starick about his remarkable Pixel Trade journey, where he travelled the world for over three years without spending money, exchanging photography for food, accommodation, and transport instead. Shantanu shares how trading creativity for human connection transformed his understanding of value, community, and success. Discover why relying solely on money can limit creative fulfilment, and how relationships, trust, and reciprocity can unlock entirely new ways of living and working. Shantanu Starick is an architectural photographer and creator of the internationally recognised Pixel Trade project. He works with architecture, design, hospitality, and wellness brands, and is also the creator of Therefore, a book series exploring architecture through photography and conversation. LINKS: Shantanu Starick- Special Guest Website: shantanustarick.com Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you stay creative within the structure of a large organisation? Karen Steenkamp shares her journey from designer to creative leader, revealing how constraints can inspire innovation, the balance between artistic expression and commercial outcomes, and how authentic creativity drives better business results. Karen is a marketing and creative leader with over 20 years of experience across advertising agencies, financial services, and in-house creative teams in Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Now leading an in-house agency at one of Australia's Big Four banks, she specialises in combining creativity, strategy, and customer-centred thinking to deliver meaningful business impact. ___________________________________________________________ LINKS: Karen Steenkamp- Special Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-steenkamp-361281171/ Béhance: https://share.google/j6wFcBwWpJcE8BieC  Paul Fairweather - Co-host https://www.paulfairweather.com Chris Meredith - Co-host https://www.chrismeredith.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.