New Year, New Tools: Embracing My Inner Beginner

We're diving deep into the world of creativity and transformation, reflecting on a year filled with unexpected changes rather than just a highlight reel of accomplishments. This episode isn’t just about the art I created; it’s about how I evolved while creating it. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t chasing mastery; I was all about following my curiosity, and boy, did I get my hands dirty with acrylics, music, and poetry along the way. I’m here to remind you that showing up is what really counts, way more than how polished your work is. So, grab your favorite beverage, kick back, and let’s chat about embracing the messy process of creation and finding joy in every little step!

Reflections: A Year of Creating is a closing chapter for The New Artist’s Compass — a solo episode about growth, curiosity, and what happens when you commit to showing up creatively over time.

In this episode of the Create Art Podcast, Timothy Kimo Brien reflects on a year spent exploring multiple creative disciplines, including acrylic painting (Special thanks to The Art Sherpa), poetry, music production, and sound design. From painting with acrylics with instruction for the first time, to writing tankas, to learning a new DAW (Reaper) and experimenting with an MPE synthesizer (ROLI), this episode explores how creative growth happens when curiosity leads and ego steps aside.

This conversation is for artists who are:

1. Measuring progress beyond likes and output
2. Learning new creative tools later in life
3. Exploring multiple art forms
4. Reconnecting with joy through beginner energy

1. Showing Up Counts More Than Mastery

1. You didn’t wait until you were “ready”
2. Acrylic painting for 2 months = permission to be new
3. Progress came from consistency, not confidence

2. Letting Curiosity Lead

1. Writing tankas: short form, intentional, imperfect
2. Switching mediums kept creativity alive
3. Curiosity replaced pressure

3. Learning New Tools Without Ego

1. Teaching yourself Reaper as a beginner again
2. Exploring sound through an MPE ROLI
3. Being bad at something reopened creative joy

4. Measuring Growth Differently

1. Not output, not numbers
2. Growth = comfort with discomfort
3. Growth = staying engaged when novelty fades

5. What This Year Taught You About Identity

1. You didn’t “become” an artist — you practiced being one
2. Artist as a verb, not a title
3. The compass worked because you kept walking

Takeaways:

1. Reflecting on a year of creativity reveals unexpected growth and changes we often overlook.
2. Showing up for your art is more important than striving for perfection or mastery.
3. Letting curiosity guide your creative journey can lead to surprising and fulfilling discoveries.
4. Learning new tools without ego allows for growth and exploration in your artistic practice.
5. Measuring artistic growth should focus on personal exploration, not external validation or numbers.
6. Being an artist is a practice of doing and being, not just a title or label.

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