Creativity Found: finding creativity later in life Claire Waite Brown

How to ease the symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome and start drawing again, without spilling ink all over the carpet!
Guest  Fish Lee tells me about how his local TV weatherman played a key part in his getting to the bottom of a mystery illness that had plagued him physically, emotionally and behaviourally since he was a child, and how that diagnosis helped him to start drawing again, without spilling the ink.
Fish's Tourette’s Syndrome was not diagnosed until he was in his thirties, after many years of being told he had been faking symptoms for attention. His diagnosis did not, of course, mean he was cured, and his next challenge involved working out which medications and in which doses worked best for him, as well as learning to ‘ride the waves’ of Tourette’s, rather than trying to fight against the symptoms, which would always make things worse.
Fish also learned how to manage his stress, get enough exercise and sleep, and eat regularly and well. 
With his life achieving more balance, he was able to start drawing again, and found digital tools helped him access his creativity and start earning money from his art after a long hiatus.
Drawing and storytelling in return helped him to manage his symptoms and feel useful again – for many years Fish had been frustrated with his inability to physically help his family when his illness left him unable to move for long periods of time.
Find out why it took so long for Fish to get a diagnosis and how he rebuilt his life and artistic practice once things started falling into place.

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Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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Facing fears and taking risks
Robert and Linda are classical pianists who have found a unique way to combine their music with comedy, stories, and improvisations.
But the shows they devised had never been done before, and were very different to what was expected of concert pianists. So, as classical musicians, Linda and Robert were unsure of how their ideas would be received. The first time they tried out a new idea in front of an audience – including their mentor – they were nervous and afraid. It was not easy for either of them to bite the bullet and risk being ridiculed.
They found, thankfully, that their creative approach was welcomed and appreciated.
They both went out of their comfort zones, and discovered new musical identities.
Did I mention, that Robert and Linda are a married couple?
After a lengthy divorce process – 11 years – Robert found that the women he was meeting in his everyday life were much younger than he was, and was introduced to Internet dating. He was not confident on using a computer, but – in 2007 – he managed to get his profile up and it was there that he met his now wife and piano duet partner Linda.
We talk a lot on the Creativity Found podcast about the fears that surround starting or re-starting a creative endeavour, but what about looking for love later in life?
This episode explores not only how Linda and Robert lost and re-found their love of music and performing, but also how previous relationships affected their whole lives and how they worked through those troubles and concerns to find and move on with each other.

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Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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Playing piano together (one piano, four hands) was an experimental idea for married couple Linda and Robert, one that taught them a lot about themselves and each other, which you can find out all about in the next, more usual episode of the podcast.
In the meantime, enjoy their beautiful playing in this extract from their show called From Mistresses to Manhattan, whether you are listening while throwing pots in your studio in Canada, as Deborah Hughes Gahr likes to do, enjoying some alone time in the kitchen or forest, as Oxfordshire interior decorator Claire of Appleby Interiors does, or in the car, having creative thoughts while stuck in traffic, just like Chloe of Peaches and Tea.

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Twitter: @creativityfoun
Clubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect club
Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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Maybe it's not the right time, but never say never.
Natalie Smart loved working with textiles as a youngster, from hand knitting to making her own clothes. Unfortunately, Textiles as an A-Level subject was discontinued at her school just as she was about to join the sixth form.
Natalie was quite academic, so she had other choices.
Faced with the decision of whether or not to take out a loan to go to university, Natalie decided against it, and instead found a job in pensions. Knitting and making clothes were now hobbies enjoyed whenever she could find time to fit them in.
When she was 23, Natalie’s brother tragically passed away in a car crash. It was, understandably, a difficult time for Natalie, and she threw herself into her job. However, she also started to think that perhaps she should be doing more of what she loved – hand knitting. She studied on a City and Guilds course in hand knitting and knitwear design, which she was able to fit in around her office job.
The course gave her the confidence to consider working in the industry and creating her own patterns.
Knitwear designing for magazines became profitable for Natalie, but she was scared of being in the public eye. This fear held her back from utilizing the opportunities she had created for herself, and she returned to office work.
Now Natalie has re-found the confidence to start making patterns again, but not for knitwear.
What is Natalie’s new creative love?

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Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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The science teacher who chose to break free from practicality, utility and patterns in textiles and paint.
This week’s podcast guest, Claude Larson, has been sewing for years, while also teaching science classes to middle-school age teenagers in the US.
A few years ago, Claude decided to throw out the patterns and instructions in favour of a new era of experimentation. 
She stopped making practical, utilitarian items for the home and family, and began making art quilts.
She studied value, taking fabrics from light to dark and playing with them to see what they could do together. She also experimented with collaging fabrics and covering them with used tea bags.
This experimentation led to unexpected success, and Claude’s experimentation continues to this day, as acrylic paints come into the picture.
Claude’s story is a reminder that experimentation and letting go can lead to great things.
Don’t be afraid to explore your creativity and try something new. You never know where it may lead!

CreativityFound.co.uk
Instagram: @creativityfoundpodcast
Facebook: @creativityfoundpodcast
Pinterest: @creativityfound
Twitter: @creativityfoun
Clubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect club
Researched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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Overcoming concerns about your singing voice post-menopause.
Suzanne Noble had concerns about the tone of her voice after not having used it for many years. However, as you’ll hear in the show, she needn’t have worried, and with the help of coaching, encouragement and an inquisitive personality, Suzanne now has an ever-evolving musical repertoire.
Suzanne Noble began her university studies – in the US – majoring in Musical Theatre. However, as she considered what her future performing life might involve she realized she would always be cast as:
 ‘. . . the quirky girlfriend’
 and that she was
 ‘not talented enough’
 so she switched her major to Communications.
On her return to the UK she thought that film making sounded exotic, so she pursued that path and successfully climbed the production-company ladder, as well as becoming a PR manager and starting a few other ventures over the years.
In her fifties Suzanne wanted to sing again, but was concerned about the changes her voice had been through, partly due to the menopause and by not keeping it up in the intervening years.
With the help of her vocal teacher – herself in her 50s – she learned to use and love her new voice, and has been performing dirty blues sets in London clubs ever since.
She has also branched out into a different style of performing, which you can find out more about in the latest episode of the Creativity Found podcast.

CreativityFound.co.uk
Instagram: @creativityfoundpodcast
Facebook: @creativityfoundpodcast
Pinterest: @creativityfound
Twitter: @creativityfoun
Clubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect club
Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day Trips
Artworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk
Photo: Ella Pallet
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