Building an artist's life: Jolie Guillebeau at TEDxConcordiaUPortland

Jolie is an artist, a teacher, a storyteller. Daily rituals and frequent collaboration with others energize her and fuel her creativity. Back in 2010, she set a goal to paint 100 paintings in 100 days. Instead she kept the project going for three and a half years, sharing stories along with the paintings. In January 2014, Jolie created her 1000th painting, Soulwork, ending this project-but not the ritual of daily creativity. You'll find her these days with a daily photo on Instagram.
Jolie's book, Beauty Everywhere: A Portable Gallery, published in 2012, features 100
of her favorite paintings and their stories. In 2013, her good friend, fellow artist Jen Lee, featured her in the film, Indie Kindred, exploring the possibility and potential of creative collaboration.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@Purpleiris444]

I pulled out two quotes from Jolie - "The daily painting turn me into an artist" (11:48) and "Don't be afraid of making something bad; be afraid of making nothing at all" (12:15)

[@Ecosse57]

that second one really struck me.

[@cyndigonzalez1876]

"We let that judgement get in the way of what we are meant to do in the world." This applies to many aspects of life!

[@Crewchief227]

I am a degree holding artist as well, and I did kinda the same thing, but it was a promise to paint a minimum of 4 hours a day everyday. 5 years later I have still been going strong and I produce. I absolutely hate when I see an artist with talent go weeks or months without painting cause life got in the way. And yes I have canvas fright sometimes, where I will stare for an hour at a blank canvas completely clueless as to what to paint. At which point sometimes I just start laying color backgrounds and the rest just comes. Get off your ass and do it people, today is here and tomorrow never comes to those standing still.

[@thehedgerow]

I’m 52 single woman who went through a divorce after 28 years. I work a 9-5 job but I long to quit it all, no money and just paint. Is that crazy or what!?! I feel like I could make money doing it. I just wonder if I’m too old to start.

[@mamalovesthebeach437]

Artist: "A field that's defined by your actions not by your qualifications". I've never been told that anything I make is beautiful so I never saw myself as an "artist". I've always had a camera in my hand but never saw what I made as "art". I stopped waiting for validation and continued to shoot . . . I then slowed down and stopped shooting snapshots and began creating "art". Thank you for speaking to the nagging critical inner voice . . . "Don't be afraid of making something bad, be afraid of making nothing at all . . ."

[@mahjabeenmalik5306]

I am agreeing with you here

[@towelakams2227]

I can't explain how grateful I am for watching this as a struggling photographic artist. Thank you so much for sharing, Jolie.

[@createwithwatercolor]

Wow 👏👏👏 she and her speech is so inspiring and crystal clear. I want to show it to my daughters who are budding artists. I took rhe closing line as a mantra, "Don't be afraid to make bad art, fear about making nothing."

[@DoctorFeatherstone]

Great advice. Takeaway: "Don't be afraid of making something bad. Be afraid of making nothing at all." I can totally relate. Thank you.

[@shannasimmons35]

I bought one of the 100 paintings in 100 days in 2010, and I'm very happy to have played that small part in your success!

[@littlewomenchannel]

Reminds me of something my fine art teacher said to us. "It is all about taste". This is why it is difficult, perhaps impossible to say what art is good and what is bad. I have sold many of my paintings that were not always my personal favorites, and many of my personal favorites stay at my own wall, but the one who bought it sees something and the image speaks to them and that is just as valuable as my own experience.

[@lunatusuna7304]

This deserves way more likes. I think she covered some of the essential lessons for every artist, young and old.

[@On.Seeing]

"Many, many heartbeats make a life." Trust yourself. This is so inspiring Jolie Guillebeau. Thank You!

[@minkadior7217]

OMG I am so grateful for you having enough courage to give this talk!!!!! Thank You! " be afraid of making nothing at all '

[@danquisjohnson]

I love this speech. Its so inspiring. The best thing to do is to just keep painting and thats great. You never know which painting is going to advance your career and small victories equals bigger victories. Plus its more cost effective to paint small paintings on tiny objects that are cheap and the paint lasts longer.

[@BradBlackman]

I deal with these doubts all the time. It's been X number of days or months since I last painted. It sounds like the trick is to be easy on yourself and not judge yourself too harshly. "Don't be afraid of making something bad; be afraid of making nothing at all."

[@susanbeekman7909]

So real. How many small steps, small choices, does it take to create an artistic life? Each choice, each risk to create builds something that really matters.

[@derektrudelle4182]

I'm an untrained artist who started with an iPad Pro and the Procreate app in 2017. I draw nearly every day on both the iPad Pro and on paper with charcoal. I train myself and I watch youtube videos and I do it because I love it. I need no other reason. The reason why this comment is relevant is that I held back from being the artist that I am today for many of the reasons mentioned in this talk. It took all those years of nonsense to realize the love of doing anything is the only reason one needs to do it.

[@VeryPrivateGallery]

I talked to many artists who have a voice inside of their head: “real artists don’t talk about money!” And it made them extremely hard to work with, and made their financial situations very difficult.

[@angelicasquare]

Omg am crying! I can't beleive that there is someone that has passed through everydetail am passing through in my life😭

[@preetiraviprakash]

Love this. So simply put and so very deep. Thanks you've inspired me to publish my substack newsletter that I've been meaning to do and scared of going live with. ❤️

[@FaceConscious]

Preaching to my heart, in 2016 I began creating daily doodles, still going, partly to combat perfectionism and self judgement - totally works! ^_^

[@lisengel2498]

Great talk - and I really agree that you learn a lot by showing your paintings and accept that when finished it get a life of its own -

[@joydrane6647]

I love this. Thank You for sharing , Jolie Guillebeau.

[@cindyfort]

Well done, Jolie! So encouraging to the rest of the artists out here...

[@illuna5751]

Thank you Jolie, very inspiring! 🙏😊🌠☯️🌈🌞🌿

[@yaughtagirl]

awesome talk. so much clarity and unification. I'm looking forward to my own kicks. Thanks Jolie.

[@iestynovich]

So love this...she's brilliant.

[@mahjabeenmalik5306]

she is right judgement gets in our way to the work we are meant to do.

[@sayanskywolf13]

i really needed this right now, thank you

[@jane20794]

Love this!!!

[@muhamadsobirin4704]

i love her beat up hallenge voice from her mind, turn into big thing ever

[@lolaapelt8616]

Very, very encouraging. You never know who needs your art....and I like how it turns out that the art she loved wasn't necessarily what others were drawn to. Just go make the art! :)

[@bernadettetibazi7893]

Thank you!! That was wonderful and truly inspiring!

[@NikiJacksonArt]

That was such an inspiring talk, thank you Jolie x

[@richardbarksdale3810]

You are right I thought this was going to be boring but I watched the whole wonderful program and learned a lot

[@MindyZielfelderArt]

Love this message - thank you!

[@LikFenix]

This talk keeps inspiring me over and over again. Today, I remembered Jolie's words about the choice to be an artist over having a good night's sleep :)

[@LightmasterChampion]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Lik!

[@deelot1]

Lik Fenix That was the only part of her talk I disagreed with lol. Sleep and rest are paramount for good health and then from that making art.

[@deniserouse6965]

love it!

[@MundoMiyabi]

Loved this. Exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for this. :)

[@2225ram]

This helps me as an artist! Thank you! ❤️

[@willireisdorf8470]

Thank you!

[@XaniaMore]

Thanks! I can relate...

[@bedardpelchat]

Excellent advice.

[@kmeunier123]

Thank you.

[@PhoebesWorldProductions]

Awesome talk, I wasn't bored at all. 😃

[@tishsmiddy71]

Thank you 😊

[@TimGreig]

Great talk. Well done +Jolie Guillebeau. I'm off to order 52 panels for next year... (it's a start!)

[@MsCordially]

Her glass pieces look nice hanging together, but if each one is one of her 1 paintings a day goal - then i just see little squares with 2 minutes of la la color added to them , not Paintings

[@jolieguillebeau]

+MsCordially The plexiglass pieces were just a representation of the other 1000 pieces. I spent about 4 months creating the 1000 quick paintings used in this installation, since most of the original 1000 pieces had already sold throughout the five years of that project. And you're right, those pieces were much more complex and time intensive. I'm glad you liked the installation!

[@iasminrios2377]

It looks beautiful! keep up the good work

[@gypsythapoetrygod3655]

Love it

[@lisengel2498]

Many heart beats build into a life - every act you do will define what you become -

[@zkane9788]

Thanks for sharing. A drawing a day is something I would like to do

[@vzchichu23]

Great talk

[@mkorpal1]

Very inspiring

[@bchinmay27]

That was powerful

[@sgarrisphotos]

I completely identify with Jollie. I’m an elementary art teacher and I still find it weird to call myself an artist, but my students often tell me that I’m a famous artist. I always tell them that maybe to them I am, but to the world I’m very far from being a famous artist.

[@niazhannan9624]

Very inspiring..I got a lesson :)

[@shanwij970]

You are very brave.

[@mahjabeenmalik5306]

I need to start writing one page a day

[@pw6titanium]

well said.

[@jolieguillebeau]

+Alba Whiteman Thank you!

[@margarethoward9339]

excellent, be afraid of making nothing at all...

[@mahadebroy1283]

I want my passion i.e. painting into my profession....i want to go abroad for my paintings...plz bless me

[@jasonbutz5165]

JASON BUTZ 51 ARTWORK

[@sygb.550]

Is that chris's wife ?! If so what wonderful couple or should i say the " inspiring couple"

[@jolieguillebeau]

+shim H. Thank you! And yes--Chris is my husband. He's pretty awesome.

[@rrdd8457]

i, me, me, i me, me, thank you. (ted talk in a nut shell)

[@sharongillesp]

The emperor wears no clothes!

[@TheBookburners]

Who isnt an artist?

[@RollingCompany]

I don't get why people think that they can only call themselves "artist", if they find an audience for their work. Totally lame mindset. Make art for arts sake, not to be an artist.

[@lukasprochazkaprod]

you are still not artist, I call somebody artist because the art he is making is important for his suroundings, society for other people, 5 years old can paint what he likes and makes him happy. Gosh I hate artist like these and she is so big heady about it and egoistic. The one and only thing about art is that it's unique it's original art=artist, you shouldn't find any two artist alike yet she tottaly went by idea of her beeing an artist, she didnt focus at all of her individual traits, point of views, thinking and opinions. And I would better watch one piece of paining that was made at the same time as those 1000 paintings, 1000 paintigs are just booring, too much. Art washes away the dust from everyday life. That's what Piccaso said, and isn't that just opposite way. Everyday I see 1000 cars, 1000 people, 1000 always the samething nothing special but when I see a art that it is not just another piece, it is thought over, that kind of art makes me move, make some real emotional impact on me. Making 1000 paintings was good for you but nor for any audience and art is never for you, it's for others, always. I need to express this because so many people who watched this were influenced and misrepresented what art is. And one last thing that don't mispresent value of art by it's price. If somebody buys your art that means they just like it, it doesnt mean it's valuable, if I would draw naked women all sexist would buy it, yet doesnt mean my drawings are good or valueble.

[@melanieelaine5353]

+Lukas Prochazka - I do believe you may have missed the entire point, Lukas. But then again, "art" is always open to interpretation, right? And your interpretation counts. True art invokes emotion and sparks an exchange of ideas ~ thank you for expressing yours and starting this one.

[@lukasprochazkaprod]

+Melanie Elaine I accually don't prefere that either. That means anybody could do anything and it would have still value, yet that is fortunately not true, we as a society would not grow. Human kind in only one that can learn exponecialy, people before us captured what was imporatnt for them so we can leanr from it, cats, dogs can't...so artist have and always have the responsibility to look at what was before them...she paints apples with smile on them, how is that contribution to involve society? How anybody can take anything from smiling apple than pleasing emotion that can be found also in eating that apple. The artist status loosing these days the intelectual responsibilities, they can paint but they can't paint any vision. And I got it, her point was to do small steps that lead to big goal and create, to do something but I tell you what a true artist is in no need to strugle from it, it's his everything he thinks in art, he moves in art, he breath art...artist makes art that's what they do...she does that because "she always wanted to be artist", artist don't want to be artist, they are, they have no choice....

[@KACZMARCZYK4369]

+Melanie Elaine she don't what she is talking about.... she i like the many people who fall in love with the idea of this profession, but looks like this will never be more than a hobby... how is she reflecting the time in which she is living....? gr8 point Lukas...not one to judge but she looks like she could be working in a corpo,..

[@kmeunier123]

+Matt K You guys are highly critical and missed the point of her talk and possibly, art. These type of comments crush people. I found this talk discussing things that can help people beyond just artists. Please provide links to your art and show us how you have changed the world and which idea would earn you a place to discuss something in front of an audience.

[@mikenoface]

Oh Dear Lukas. You are speaking from a position of authority that you clearly do not possess. Art is for everyone. Both to create and appreciate. You missed her point as well.