What does it mean to call yourself an artist - and who gets to decide? In this episode, I sit down with multidisciplinary artist, educator, and author Lisa Solomon for a wide-ranging conversation about the blurry line between art and craft, creative experimentation, and the practical realities of building a sustainable creative life.

Lisa's work spans embroidery, fiber, painting, and installation, and her new book is an absolute feast for the eyes - organized by color, featuring 20 artists working in 20 different mediums, with projects for all skill levels.

We talk about:

When you can (and should) start calling yourself an artist
The art vs. craft debate - why it's still happening and whether it even matters
How Lisa's grandmother's knitting and crocheting shaped her artistic identity
The pioneers who were excluded from art history because of their mediums - and why that's finally changing
Creative ADHD: how to balance experimentation with actually completing a body of work
What to do when you have a vision but not yet the skills to execute it (hint: lean in and trust your gut)
The Thousand Doily Project - a massive community collaboration
How parameters and limitations can actually unlock more creative freedom
Funding your creative projects, budgeting for big ideas, and why having a day job isn't a compromise - it can be a gift
Why color is hard (especially purple) and what a Joni Mitchell retrospective taught Lisa about unexpected palettes

Lisa's new book is available at bookstores everywhere - or request it at your local library! You can also find her on Instagram at @lisasolomon and at lisasolomon.com. She's also running a watercolor retreat in California through City College Extension in late May.

Grab Lisa's new book: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-us/books/art-craft-color-by-lisa-solomon/9781964786049

Links mentioned:

Submit to a Create! Magazine Call for Art: createmagazine.co/call-for-art
Join Create! Collective: createmagazine.co/collective