Creative Church

The Inspired Collective

Creative Church is a podcast inside The Inspired Collective, where artists gather to talk honestly about the creative life. Each episode features a conversation with a member of the Collective about their creative practice, conversations explore the real experience of being an artist: doubt, devotion, creative breakthroughs and the strange and beautiful process of making something from nothing. Creative Church exists to remind artists that they are not alone and that creative community matters. Our Host is our very own, singer-songwriter, artist: Anne van Damme.

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Dare to be championed - with Jaimee Paul

    In this episode, we sit down with Jaimee Paul, a Sydney-based creative and art teacher. Jaimee shares her journey as a realistic watercolor artist who paints "art for purpose" to give animals a voice and connect people with nature and conservation. Together, Anne and Jaimee explore the contrast between having a silly personality and creating serious art, the challenges of managing creative work with ADHD, and the vulnerability of sharing your soul through your craft. Jaimee also opens up about a major turning point in her career: stepping out of her comfort zone, overcoming the guilt of success, and accepting help from friends to manage her business structure so she can focus on painting. In this episode we discuss: • Painting with a Purpose: Jaimee explains her unique practice of painting realistic animal watercolors on canvas to bring meaning and a voice to conservation efforts. • Overcoming the "Broken System": Jaimee discusses navigating her creative career with ADHD, and how she transitioned from being a tired lone wolf into a supported artist. • Stepping into a New Era: How Jaimee found a "unicorn" assistant (a fellow Inspired Collective member!), allowing her to hand over tasks to focus on her art. • The Importance of Art: A heartfelt discussion on why art and music are essential to humanity, helping people feel deeply and escape the heavy realities of the world.   Find Jaimee: Website: https://www.jaimeepaul.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimeepaul/•Find out more about our host Anne van Damme (⁠@annevandammesongwriter⁠) Listen to her music on ⁠Spotify⁠or ⁠anywhere else⁠•Learn everything about Amie McNee (⁠@inspiredtowrite⁠)And ⁠The Inspired Collective⁠

    1hr 5min
  2. 6 MAY

    Start small, go big – with Marni Killalea

    In this episode, host Anne van Damme sits down with Australian artist and educator Marni Killalea. Marni has spent over ten years mastering the art of massive, eight-foot pencil drawings. Recently, however, she has stepped away from the familiar grey tones of lead and into the vibrant world of painting women’s bodies. The conversation explores the delicate balance between professional teaching and personal practice. As a visual arts teacher, Marni works with a diverse range of students, from 17-year-olds to retirees. She candidly discusses the her work as a teacher and her own desire to branch out and discover other art forms. In this episode, we discuss: • The "Accidental" Art Business: How a single $50 dog portrait commission on Facebook snowballed into a ten-year career, and why it took Marni nearly a decade to realize she was actually an entrepreneur. • The Power of Scale: Why Marni gravitates toward six-to-eight-foot pieces and how she uses "timer-based productivity" (starting with just 10 or 20 minutes) to overcome the intimidation of a massive blank roll of paper. • The Artistic Split Personality: Why Marni feels like a different person when she paints versus when she draws. We dive into her current exploration of "powerful feminine poses" and her move toward color. • Methodical Creativity: A step-by-step breakdown of how Marni teaches—and uses—the ideation process: from brainstorming and sourcing reference images to technical exploration and finalized composition. • Resilience and Rejection: Marni shares her refreshing take on the "rejection letter," viewing the act of applying for opportunities as a way to breed more opportunity, regardless of the immediate outcome. • Protection of the Craft: Why Marni chooses to keep a steady teaching job rather than relying solely on art sales, allowing her the freedom to explore her "artistic voice" without the crushing financial pressure of commissions. • The In-Person Craving: A reflection on the "anti-connection" movement against social media algorithms, and why real-time, in-person creative spaces are vital for the modern artist. Marni concludes with a powerful piece of advice for anyone feeling stuck: start with ten minutes. By removing the requirement for meaning or "gallery-worthy" results, you allow the practice itself to become the meditation. Whether you are a painter, a songwriter, or a hobbyist, this episode is a deep dive into the discipline, patience, and joy required to live an authentic creative life. Find Marni: On facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marnikornelukartist/On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnikillalea_art/ •Find out more about our host Anne van Damme (⁠@annevandammesongwriter⁠)Listen to her music on ⁠Spotify⁠ or ⁠anywhere else⁠•Learn everything about Amie McNee and her book We Need Your Art (⁠@inspiredtowrite⁠)And ⁠The Inspired Collective⁠

    56 min
  3. 22 APR

    Trust in your purpose - with Clenda Sabrina Lahr

    What happens when you stop trying to cram your creativity into a single box? In this episode, Anne van Damme sits downwith multi-faceted artist and somatic coach Clenda Sabrina Lahr to discuss the messy, magical reality of living a creative life. From the ‘internal knock’ of a new poem to the pressure of turning a passion into a profession, Anne and Clenda explorethe thin line between ‘serious art’ and the ‘silly little paintings’ that keep us whole. They dive into: • The Power of Claiming the Title: How Clenda decided to simply "become" a writer by choice. • The Vessel Theory: Discussing Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic and the feeling of ideas flowing through us. • The "Unlearning" Process: How to find the spark of joy again after years of professional pressure and academic study. • Private vs. Public: How to decide which creations are for the world and which are just for the "offline" self. Whether you’re a songwriter, a painter, or someone who feels like a multi-faceted creative, this episode is a permission slip to call yourself an artist—regardless of the output. Find Clenda on: INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/velvet.sun.indigo  • VELVET SUN INDIGO @‌Substack: https://substack.com/@velvetsunindigo • RAW LIFE ARTIST Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1xMdzXumL7qHMzEf9idSua?si=856eb87d7c3f4fb7 • REBEL HEART’S MODERN LOVE @‌Substack https://substack.com/@rebelheartsmodernlove -------------------------------------- Find out more about our host Anne van Damme(⁠@annevandammesongwriter⁠)Listen to her music on ⁠Spotify⁠or ⁠anywhere else⁠Learn everything about Amie McNee (⁠@inspiredtowrite⁠)And ⁠The Inspired Collective⁠ ♥♥♥ The lyrics to the Creative Church theme song: Inspired minds feel the urge Devotion brings you to Creative ChurchArtist share your thoughts All you are is enough

    58 min

About

Creative Church is a podcast inside The Inspired Collective, where artists gather to talk honestly about the creative life. Each episode features a conversation with a member of the Collective about their creative practice, conversations explore the real experience of being an artist: doubt, devotion, creative breakthroughs and the strange and beautiful process of making something from nothing. Creative Church exists to remind artists that they are not alone and that creative community matters. Our Host is our very own, singer-songwriter, artist: Anne van Damme.

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