The Ugly Middle

Hello Creative Friends! This episode is especially for ME this month. In fact, almost all of these episodes are for me... and by proxy YOU, because we're all doing this shit in the same sauce. Whether we know it directly or not, what we're contending with in our lives at this very moment is 100% relevant to what every other person on this blue and green planet is contending with... more or less. This episode is about a stage of every creative work, whether it's in life or art. THE UGLY MIDDLE. There's no way to avoid this stage, but our current predatory capitalist structure shouts the opposite at us daily. If what you're making is ugly, you have no business making that thing. The truth is however, the ugly middle happens to literally everyone. Including "master artists" (or whatever that means.) In this episode I unpack the ways this looks for one of my truly skilled painter friends, for myself, my students, and how it shows up in life. Are you making ugly stuff? You my friend, are doing it right.  From the episode: Paula Nelson: http://www.whoanelson.com/ LINKS: Website: http://beccajborrelli.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretsaucepodcast/ Email: [email protected]   ABOUT BECCA Becca is an illustrator-educator and part founder of Austin-based female maker collective: Lemon House. She spends most of her time designing adult coloring books, interactive murals, and speaking to organizations about mindfulness, meditation and the benefits of art-making. Clients include Visa, Dell Children’s Hospital, Austin Independent School District, University Hospital- Cleveland, the Austin Downtown Alliance and the Anti-Defamation League.    Becca is most inspired by the invisible connections between all things. Her work aims to be a playful, bright, and hopeful interpretation of the world's whimsical and magical sides. She has fallen in love with her hometown in Austin, where she spends free time exploring nature and hunting for breakfast tacos with her husband, son, and their super-pups Layla and Rose.