Heirloom Artwork to Inspire Creativity: Brittany DeSantis on Grief, Calligraphy, and the Power of Journaling (Part 2)
Release Date: 06/26/2024
From Messy Studios to Magical Spaces: Exploring the Intersection of Art & Mental Health with Kayla Ackelson
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by versatile mixed-media artist and designer, Kayla Ackelson. Kayla holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with a focus on non-traditional photography from Millersville University. After completing her studies, she gained valuable experience as a Gallery Assistant and Art Instructor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She later worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, first in Visitor Services and then in the Development department. In 2021, Kayla fully committed to her artistic and interior design endeavors, turning them into her full-time career. Her passion for fostering creativity...
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Crafting Cinematic Worlds: Annie Atkins on Iconic Film Design, Creative Storytelling, and Letters From the North Pole
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Annie Atkins, a graphic designer and legendary prop maker for film and television. She is known for her work with Wes Anderson on The Grand Budapest Hotel, which won the Academy Award for Best Production Design at the 87th Academy Awards. Since then, she has worked again with Wes Anderson on Isle of Dogs and The French Dispatch as well as on Steven Speilberg's West Side Story and Bridge of Spies. Annie’s first book, Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps, was published in 2020 by Phaidon. In her first children's book, Letters From The North Pole, five...
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Creating Space for the Life You Want: Time-Saving Strategies, Monetizing Creative Talents, and Productivity with Chelsea Wessman
Windowsill Chats
In this previously aired episode, Margo is joined by (former) Productivity Coach & Online Business Consultant Chelsea Wessman. Chelsea is a popcorn obsessed, mom of 3, living next to the Utah mountains and is passionate about empowering ambitious mompreneurs to take back their time, make more money without putting in more hours, and create a life that aligns with their values. She helps ambitious women to optimize time, money, and mindset without sacrificing sanity through systems, financial freedom, and time management hacks. They discuss: The difference between productivity and...
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Travel by Design: Eva Jorgensen on Crafting Global Experiences and Creative Retreats
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by travel designer, leader of design trips & retreats, and the author of Paris by Design: An Inspired Guide to the City’s Creative Side, Eva Jorgensen. Eva is also a 17 year design industry veteran with an MFA degree who has taught art, ran an artisanal stationery company for a decade, curated an independent gift shop, and worked as a freelance creative director. Eva grew up in California and lived in France, Belgium, and Ohio for much of her 20s. She now lives in the Utah mountains with her husband, Kirk, and their 2 kids. Margo and Eva discuss: Eva's upbringing...
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From Law to Literary Magic: Amber Byers on Celebrating Creativity, Encouraging Authentic Voices, and Integrating Culture with Tadpole Press
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by dynamic artist, entrepreneur, and the visionary CEO, Amber Byers Amber is the CEO and founder of Tadpole Press. She leads with creativity and inclusivity, serving as the head judge of the Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest, an international competition that celebrates the power of words and fosters a vibrant community of writers. Her passion for writing extends beyond the contest; she regularly blogs at Living a Life Imagined, where she shares her commitment to positivity and authenticity as a creative force. Amber’s literary works reflect her imaginative spirit and...
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Creative Current Events: AI Copyright Battles, Instagram Mastery, and the Latest Summerween Trend
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined for another Creative Current Events catch up with the one and only Abby Campbell. They dive into a rich blend of creative insights and practical tips to boost productivity and brand presence - and of course, a little AI. Join them as they discuss their latest favorite articles from the interwebs including Jenna Kutcher's approach to mastering Instagram, complete with her valuable hacks for time management and content organization, a groundbreaking AI copyright infringement case featuring artist Jenga Zhang, and its potential impact on the art world, a creative cat named Momo...
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The Joy of Experimentation: How Kenzie Elston Balances Freelancing and Family Dynamics as a Born-and-Bred Creative
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Kenzie Elston, the whimsical artist behind Snippets of Whimsy. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program, Kenzie began her career designing for Procter & Gamble's Pampers and Always brands. Now freelancing, she licenses her joyful illustrations and playful hand lettering to gift, garden, stationery, and home decor companies. Known as a "positivity artist," Kenzie’s creative identity shines through her love for color, florals, and uplifting designs. Beyond art, she enjoys collecting sketchbooks, antique tchotchkes, and novels, and she lives for daily...
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Embracing Exploration and Aligning with Your Values: Artist Alex Cole on Inspiring Fearless Creativity in Art, Life, and Business
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Sonoma Valley-based artist Alex Cole, whose paintings are inspired by her travels and the Northern California landscapes. Her work has been featured in RUE magazine and published in “Wild Lands” and “Artist of the Bay Area” by Jen Tough. With over twenty years of experience, Alex’s art is characterized by her love of contrast in color, texture, and pattern, and her pieces can be found in collections across the US, Europe, and Canada. Born in Bronxville, New York, and raised in Paris and Ibiza, Alex was exposed to diverse cultures that greatly influenced her...
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Creative Current Events: Breaking Boundaries with Art, Bold Designs, and Inclusive Fashion
Windowsill Chats
It’s time for Creative Current Events! Margo and friend Abby Campbell are diving into the creative realm and catching up on the latest articles and happenings and giving you the footnotes so you don’t have to! They discuss the joys of creating art on walls vs traditional canvas, the importance of pushing creative boundaries, Canva’s report on creativity and AI, Apple’s new AI partnership, a controversial olympic ad, Anthropolgie’s new adaptive clothing line, and more. Have a topic or article you want to hear about in a creative current events episode? Send us a DM on...
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Exploring the World of Trends and the Ever-Changing Landscape of Color and Design With Ana Bianchi
Windowsill Chats
Margo is joined by Ana Bianchi, an artist, designer, illustrator, children's book author, and color enthusiast. Ana shares her journey from her early beginnings in art to her diverse range of creative projects. Originally from Mexico and having spent many years in New York, Ana now resides in the Bay Area, where she uses her garden as a natural color lab for her photography and color project, Color/Flora. Ana's work spans branding, illustrated graphic design, the PaperGirl Collection, surface design, and ceramics, with color as the unifying element throughout. She has exhibited her art...
info_outlineIn part 2 of 2, Margo is joined by calligrapher and author, Brittany DeSantis. Brittany is most well known for her focus on mindfulness and the sensory experience of writing and creating: the sound of the pen on the paper, the way the ink flows on the page, the concentration it takes to form each stroke and how to find a "flow" by doing something just beyond your comfort zone. Journaling has become Brittany’s main focus. She pairs art and writing to show others a barrier-free way of expressing themselves and feels the outcome is always less important than the act of creating itself.
Margo and Brittany discuss:
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Her path from rediscovering her love for art in a watercolor calligraphy class to founding Peak Paper Co
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Transitioning from an advertising job to full-time artistry
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How creating simple forms helped her in combating creative block
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Art as a tool for navigating grief
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Strategies that Brittany has found to be effective in balancing multiple roles and responsibilities like motherhood and entrepreneurship
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The value of reaching out for mutually beneficial relationships
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The importance of creating a supportive space for creativity
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Finding inspiration from neuroaesthetics and the science-backed benefits of art-making
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How she overcame imposter syndrome by focusing on teaching beginners
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Her groundbreaking grief journal proposal and what it’s led to
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What it’s been like to partner with a renowned brand like Montblanc
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The therapeutic benefits of art and journaling
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An upcoming retreat in Portugal that promises to be a haven for creative minds
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And so much more
Connect with Brittany:
https://www.amazon.com/Forget-You-Not-Keepsake-Navigating/dp/1958803375
Connect with Margo:
www.instagram.com/windowsillchats
www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill