Why I'm Here
Introducing myself and sharing my why
My Why
I believe creativity sustains us as human beings. It is the lifeblood of society and the most powerful, renewable source from which all ideas, explorations, and solutions spring forth. Human creativity is precious and we should protect it at all costs.
Advocating for the profound value of human creative expression is my why. More on that later!
About Me
I’m a self-employed photographer, creative director, and writer. I’m also the wife of a music and media studies professor, the mother of two young children, and the personal assistant to our demanding bearded collie, Pearl.
At the 10-year mark of running my own business, I began to feel a deep sense of restlessness and realized I was stuck in a rut of sorts. It turned out what I needed most was not a departure but an arrival; I simply needed to return to my true nature—multidisciplinary creativity.
I spent the last year dipping my toes back into other art forms in addition to my ongoing photography work. I’ve also been diving deep into the relationship between creative work and self-care and what goes into enjoying a sustainable career as an artist. Most of my research continues to be at the intersection of creativity, business, mental health, and motherhood.
After recently being diagnosed as neurodivergent, I’ve been confronting my internalized ableism and painstakingly taking apart my business and piecing it back together in a way that works for my life and brain, rather than repeatedly trying (and failing) to implement a sad parade of “guaranteed” formulas for success created by (and for) idealistic productivity bros who do not have children in their care.
My god, it’s been so damn refreshing to begin to do things my way.
My Substack
I titled my Substack Inside Creative Life because I have bottomless curiosity about what goes on behind the curtain of peoples’ creative processes. I most enjoy talking about the messiest middle rather than the polished final product. What goes into making beautiful things and marvellous ideas? How do we get from the earliest embryonic kernel of an idea to its final iteration? Also, what snacks do people eat while they work? Let’s talk about it all here!
Creative CV
Here’s a glimpse at my background, to share a little of my journey to the present day.
My earliest memories are of creative moments. Snapping pictures of swans gliding across the surface of a pond with my red plastic camera, wrapping my legs in sparkly blue fabric and popping out of a folded lawn chair “seashell” in an impromptu performance of The Little Mermaid, or designing a crawl-through haunted maze of dozens of cardboard boxes for neighbourhood kids at Halloween.
Some highlights from my creative resume, in brief:
Musical Theatre performer
Teen talk show co-host
High School Yearbook Editor
Marilyn Monroe impersonator
Singer/songwriter in several different bands
Editor for Western University’s daily student newspaper, The Gazette
Theatre commissioner, producer and director at Western University
Managing editor and social media manager for a Food Network cooking show
Marketing & Design associate and copywriter at McGill University
Freelance writer and essayist
Full-time photographer since 2013
As a hobbyist, I also love to paint and draw, bake, and host events. As you might guess, my life has been shaped almost entirely by arts and letters. I can’t imagine living any other way.
What you can expect here
In general, Inside Creative Life will explore the notion of art sustaining life, and life sustaining art, and building a sustainable career as an artist in the age of AI (insert scream emoji). In all seriousness, I am deeply optimistic about the endurance of the creative spirit, especially in times of great upheaval or when the precarity of artistic careers looms large. We can do this, but let’s not do it alone, okay?
Here are some topics I plan to explore in the coming months:
Personal reflections on my greatest creative breakthroughs and failures
Building a creative community
Cultivating self-trust
Protecting yourself against threats to your creativity
Strategic thinking in times of change
Interviews with really smart and talented people
Finding your version of time management
Assembling systems that work for you
Project management for creative minds
You are welcome here
Inside Creative Lives is the beginning of a community I am hoping to build for us. Whether you are a veteran creative professional or an aspiring artist, you are welcome. Sometimes we can get isolated in our work, and often the road to “success” can feel endless and bumpy as hell. Let’s keep each other company along the way.
Please like, comment and share any post that resonates with you.
Thank you!
All photos by Jill Coursen Photography
This post was inspired by my friend Dr. Shazma Mithani, who is brand new to Substack and was organized enough to start hers with an introduction. Follow her. She is brilliant!