Persistent Bloom

Mel Mitchell-Jackson
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Arts
  • Updated Monthly

Is a podcast hosted by Mel Mitchell-Jackson, an adventure artist, writer, musician, and slow hiker about how artists and creative humans can re-wild their practice to persist in making as a wellness practice and as an act of resistance. In this show we’ll question how status-quo systems, strategies, and ways of being an artist need to be re-molded to fit our real lives. We'll also discuss adaptation, chronic illness, and normalizing the rest or fallow period our bloom phases need

  1. 2d ago

    why so many artists quit art challenges

    It's October, so let's chat about art challenges and why SO MANY of us rarely finish them. Want to read the original post that inspired this episode? Do that -- and maybe subscribe to the newsletter -- here Join the Persistent Bloom Discord here Explore the Patreon for bonus episodes and Emergent Classroom here! The only challenge I ever finished... plein air April and what I learned from it Here is my essay on getting to know your creative ancestors and strike up a conversation. How creative practice is shaped like a switchback Demo on Emergent Classroom on how to study another artists' work, step by step. Ready to sign up for a tutoring session? Your first session is just $19 Other Writers Work I mentioned: Death of the Follower by Jack Conte (the CEO of Patreon, who is also an artist sand musician) Enshittification by Cory Doctorow

  2. Oct 4

    art as embodiment and essential service to ourselves and others

    this episode is all about making art while taking care of my mom after she had a major surgery. If you are an artist who feels like so much gets in the way of your practice, this episode and the gentle prompts in it will support you in persistence this fall. Join the Persistent Bloom Discord via Patreon here. One time and monthly options : ) See the original article and sign up for the newsletter here Get direct support with your art through Craft Tutoring. Want a low-risk way to try it out? Your first session is only $19! See the original painting I made in the hospital waiting room here. My friend Emily H. Cox's incredible article on studio spaces vanishing in Kansas City back in 2019. Cheap rent and studio spaces are rapidly vanishing from Kansas City’s arts landscape. What now? Want to support the show? Share it with a friend. Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts, or a comment if you listen on Spotify.

  3. Sep 23

    how to review your summer and set the right intentions for fall

    In this episode, I’m sharing some exercises and human creative prompts to build a centered and compassionate season ahead in your studio. Want to read the original post? Do that here Join the Persistent Bloom Discord & become a sustaining member to this podcast!  Sign up for my Intro to Painting with Watercolor and Gouache from Intuition & Photo Reference and find out more about the class here  Let me know what you think of the show, email me at hello@melmitchelljackson.com Curious about the Week of the Archivist? Snag the self-guided version of the class here Sign up for the Persistent Bloom Newsletter Resources from Labor Notes on unionizing your workplace

  4. Sep 4

    how to adjust your creative practice to fit your capacity

    This week I’m feeling a little off from being sick, which means it’s time to check in around capacity. I’ll share a bit about how I use gentle energy level accommodations in my art practice, how the advice of our culture makes us push harder than we need to, and my advice for artists with day jobs. Sign up for the Persistent Bloom newsletter Support the Pod on Patreon Why I write intentions in my sketchbook to make it a teacher for my art Read my essays on creative cycles here Want to learn the practice of writing a Did List? Creative practice is a group sport, join us in the Persistent Bloom Discord Read my post about accommodations and my music practice My Doing the Hikers Way blog where I tracked my energy levels last fall Experience The Hikers Way pod-class Ready to unionize your workplace? Check out the incredible resources from Labor Notes

  5. Aug 20 ·  Bonus

    the importance of finding our creative home as an artist

    Wes and I went on a hike to discuss an idea that comes up all the time for our artist friends -- being stuck. We eventually landed on the importance of returning to a sense of creative home, and that's the portion you'll get to listen to here today. I've been feeling into this frustration and analysis paralysis myself when it comes to music so we get into it, and the emotions behind it. The deep fear that can come up and the expectations we put between ourselves and the act of making. When we know our creative homes, we can find a place to make that reflects back our ideal version of our artistic selves. Listening to this will help you sense into how it feels to be there in your creative home. Want to get to know Wes' music? Listen to Wes' solo project Lentil Famine here or his band Farlowella here! This is an episode preview. Want to hear the full episode? Become a paid member and support our podcast on Patreon. You can do that here! If you choose to join as a member on Patreon, you'll get access to the Persistent Bloom discord server and more awesome exclusives like: - demos & mini class recordings from Mel - group tutoring sessions and feedback on your creative work from Mel & Wes - a book club exploring the works that have supported our persistence - & more see what people are saying about the community and see some of their awesome work, here

    the importance of finding our creative home as an artist

  6. Aug 12

    the cycle of creative practice that art school got right

    Let’s get into the final episode of the Creative Cycles series, this one is all about the Learning and Research cycle. This was honestly the best thing I got out of art school and a really rich process to keep you moving towards long term, creative persistence. Read the original essay here & sign up for my weekly-ish newsletter  Explore The Hikers Way pod-class and use promo code BLOOM-POD for $10 off before midnight PST on September 5th  Persistent Bloom Patreon - support the show and get access to bonus episodes, patron exclusive videos, the Discord channel and more! Kristen Drozdowski article I quoted Finding Fulfillment in Research  The book I mentioned, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (affiliate link) Explore tutoring with Mel, and get your first 20 min session for just $19 Liked what you heard? Share the show with a friend.  Audio recorded and edited by Mel Mitchell-Jackson with audio doctoring by Wesley Jackson

  7. Jul 26

    goodbye for now, YouTube

    Farewell fickle algo, and what's next for my work! Today I'll be digging into my choice to take a massive and potentially indefinite break from YouTube. Why did I do it? What has changed? Let's discuss. Read the original post, goodbye for now YouTube Sign up for my newsletter! Listen to the episode of Soil & Stars with Emily Hall — Earth Intelligence and AI Sobriety Book a Tutoring Session with me! Use the discount code “AUG-POD” for 15% off before August 15th The book I mentioned in the episode, The Score by C. Thi Nguyen (affiliate link for my bookshop.org store) Read my essay on defeating the inner critic  The videos Wes and I are most proud of and the inspiration for the films we will make next.

  8. Jul 20

    creative prompts to trust your steps and let your practice be more wild

    This episode is an audio version of the July 2026 Creative Prompts I wrote in this article here. This is also where you can read the transcript of this podcast episode, or upgrade and access the exercise of an anti-artist statement for paid supporters :)  Wanna try out Oblique Strategies? That’s the purpose of this cool website, and you can also buy a physical deck from Brian Eno (not sponsored) If you’re really resonating with this, consider joining the Persistent Bloom Discord or signing up for Emergent Classroom

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5
out of 5
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About

Is a podcast hosted by Mel Mitchell-Jackson, an adventure artist, writer, musician, and slow hiker about how artists and creative humans can re-wild their practice to persist in making as a wellness practice and as an act of resistance. In this show we’ll question how status-quo systems, strategies, and ways of being an artist need to be re-molded to fit our real lives. We'll also discuss adaptation, chronic illness, and normalizing the rest or fallow period our bloom phases need

Information

  • Creator
    Mel Mitchell-Jackson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Mel Mitchell-Jackson
  • Show Website
    Persistent Bloom

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