Cultivating Creativity — Anne Kearney Artist - Drawing Connections

Jello, Cement, and Mindsets

Like Jello and cement, once our minds are set they are hard to change. This has certainly been true of my “paint scarcity” mindset in the studio. One alternative to trying to think ourselves into a new mindset is to look to the environment for help. This is just what I did when I set out to shift my paint scarcity mindset by creating a micro-environment of abundance.

Growing Your Brain, Cultivating CreativityAnne R KearneyMarch 12, 2025Jello Cement and Mindsets, 2025Comment

Retrospecting My Future

When it comes to planning, why do we tend to overestimate our abilities and underestimate time and costs? This year, I’m coupling my annual art practice planning with a “premortem” technique. Read on to learn more about cognitive biases, premortems, and my own Christmas Carol inspired process.

Getting Things Done, Cultivating CreativityAnne R KearneyJanuary 23, 2025Retrospecting my Future, 2025Comment

Grief and Creativity - Finding My Way Back

I fell into a period of creative hibernation after my brother Jim passed away suddenly in November. I was not expecting grief to take such a toll on my creative drive and ability. One thing that has helped is studio time that is free from intention and instead focused on simply enjoying the suspended moment of the present.

Cultivating Creativity, Insights Into My Art, Caring For Your BrainAnne R KearneyApril 23, 2024Grief and Creativity, 2024 Comments

The Fear of What Other People Think - Reframing Fear, Part 4

Is it really fear we feel when we worry about what other people think about us or our work? Reframing “fear” in this context as “vulnerability” helps identify a range of useful strategies for thriving in an uncertain social environment.

Cultivating Creativity, Getting Things Done, Series: Fear and Art, Growing Your BrainAnne R KearneyNovember 9, 2023The Fear of What Other People Think, 2023 Comments

The Fear of Not Knowing What You're Doing - Reframing Fear, Part 3

Is it really fear we feel when we are in situations where we don’t know what we’re doing? Reframing “fear” in this context as “confusion” can help us identify a broad range of strategies for what to do when we feel out of our depth.

Cultivating Creativity, Getting Things Done, Series: Fear and Art, Growing Your BrainAnne R KearneyNovember 3, 2023The Fear of Not Knowing What You're Doing, 2023 Comments

The Fear of The Blank Canvas - Reframing Fear, Part 2

Is it fear that artists and writers feel when facing the blank canvas or page? Reframing fear in this context as uncertainty about how to make a start or keep going can help us identify concrete ways to become unstuck.

Cultivating Creativity, Getting Things Done, Series: Fear and Art, Growing Your BrainAnne R KearneyOctober 26, 2023The Fear of The Blank Canvas, 2023 Comments

Reframing Fear and Art (Part 1)

Sometimes what we label as fear is really uncertainty, confusion, or vulnerability. Read on to learn how reframing fear can lead to problem-solving solutions that are more useful than the vague encouragement to “be brave.”