The Creatives

10/31/2024

Friends far and wide—I could use your ideas! Recently, on my weekly Jeff Around Town feature for KVNO, I asked listeners for ideas. Either in written form or in sketches. Bar napkin, scrap of paper, a scribble. Whatever. I've received some great ones but would like a few more.

ICYMI, you can listen back here: https://kvno.org/jeff-around-town/ Just go to the October 25th episode and then send me your concepts to: [email protected].

Can't wait to hear what you've come up with!

I truly love my hometown of Omaha. I grew up in South Omaha, and have lived north and south of Dodge Street, from Benson to Dundee, Downtown to West Omaha.

03/27/2024

Part II now up and running on Omapod. A huge thanks to the one and only, Tony Bock! Give a listen here: https://tinyurl.com/269pnu5x

12/01/2023

https://youtu.be/aNBnYUofbjM

New video just posted!

What's the best way to exchange money in Europe? This is a common question for first-time travelers looking to turn dollars into euros when traveling to Europe.

In this video, we'll cover 5 effective strategies for currency exchange in Europe.

Do you bring Euros with you? Use an airport ATM, visit a currency exchange window in the city, or use an ATM? And what about pre-paid travel cards?

The last thing in the world you want is to be ripped off, or worse — pickpocketed.

Having a solid strategy for exchanging money in Europe can ease your mind, allowing you to enjoy your vacation from the moment you arrive. With the right approach, you'll soon be sipping espresso like a local, fully prepared for your European adventures.

What's the best way to exchange money in Europe? This is a common question for first-time travelers looking to turn dollars into euros when traveling to Euro...

08/25/2023

https://youtu.be/BVUDXuPvPmw?si=AxLp3cGcuEyKWjVW
Searching for ways to make your travel experiences more meaningful? Discover how to broaden your perspectives, boost your creativity, and build deeper empathy by immersing yourself in diverse cultures, essential viewing for any artist, writer, or creative mind seeking fresh inspiration.

This video is a comprehensive guide to how exploring the world, whether it's Paris or the next town over, can catalyze your imagination and stimulate your artistic side.

Learn how famous creatives like Van Gogh, Chopin, and Hemingway used travel as fuel for their masterpieces. Dive into the science behind travel and creativity, and how the act of venturing into new territories broadens our cognitive horizons.

Discover tips and tricks for immersive travel: engage with locals, sample authentic cuisine, and explore off the beaten path. Realize why a quaint corner café in Paris can offer more creative inspiration than queuing up for museums.

Don't let travel expenses hold you back. This video offers creative budgeting tips for affordable adventures. Explore off-peak travel, local food joints, and lesser-known destinations to stretch your dollars further. Even if overseas trips aren't currently feasible, there's always inspiration waiting in the next town or state over.

Travel isn't just about tourist attractions or checking boxes; it's about life-enriching experiences, cultural immersion, and sparking creativity. Journey with us, keep traveling, keep creating, and let's explore the world and grow together.

Searching for ways to make your travel experiences more meaningful? Discover how to broaden your perspectives, boost your creativity, and build deeper empath...

05/16/2023

Anyone else struggle with this? 🙋🏻‍♂️

05/12/2023

Why aren’t you living your best creative life? You were born to create. What’s holding you back?

05/02/2023

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page? Writers block can be really challenging. Here are 7 ideas to help you break through creative blocks.

Take a break and recharge:
Sometimes the best thing you can do is take a break. It's important to give your mind a chance to rest, so you can come back refreshed and ready to tackle your work. Take a walk, read a book, or do something else that helps you reset.

Try something new:
We know it's scary to try new things, but it can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing. Whether it's a new hobby or activity, or exploring a new part of town, trying something new can help stimulate your mind and spark new ideas.

Change your surroundings:
If you're feeling stuck, it might be time to change your scenery. Taking your work to a new location, like a coffee shop or park. A change in location can give you a fresh perspective and often do wonders for your creativity.

Collaborate or brainstorm with others:
Two heads are better than one! Working with someone else can help generate new ideas and perspectives, and get your creativity flowing again. Reach out to a friend to create together.

Start with a small project to build momentum:
When you're feeling stuck, try starting small to build confidence. It can be as simple as writing a short blog post or sketching a quick doodle. The sense of accomplishment you feel can be a great motivator to keep going.

Eliminate distractions and focus:
By eliminating distractions like social media, emails, and phone notifications, you can focus solely on your work and improve your creativity. Set aside a specific time to create and eliminate distractions.

Seek inspiration from unique sources:
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Whether it's a beautiful piece of art, a song that moves you, or a walk in nature, seeking inspiration from different sources can help stimulate your creativity. It’s even better if it’s different from your normal inspiration.

Which tip will you try first? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below, and don't forget to stay tuned for more tips and strategies to help you overcome creative obstacles.

Keep creating, friends!

11/09/2020

Make art, not excuses.

What excuses are you hiding behind? My guess is they're just a proxy war for something else going on inside of you.

What's the REAL reason you're not creating? Just keep asking yourself why.

Then go create.

Join our group:
www.facebook.com/groups/allthecreatives

10/30/2020

Have you ever had so many ideas you don’t know where to start?

You don’t have to have it all figured out.

10/29/2020

What a thrill to recently hang out in Omaha for a socially-distant beverage with my friend and mentor, the brilliant cartoonist, Drew Litton of Drew Litton Cartoons.

When I was in my late 20s and still freelancing sports cartoons for the Kansas City Star (and bagging groceries at a local supermarket), it was Drew who helped me figure out a way to self-syndicate my sports cartoons.

He didn't know a thing about me, really, and yet, he spent time with me over the phone, helping me brainstorm a way to get my stuff into other newspapers.

My first client? The Los Angeles Times.

With LA on board, picking up other newspapers was a breeze. As my client list continued to grow, it was then that my local newspaper, after years of knocking on their door, finally brought me in and offered me a full-time gig drawing editorial cartoons.

As I told Drew the other day, if not for him, so many other wonderful opportunities would not have come my way. I'm grateful for my time at my local paper, and I'm grateful to good humans who are willing to help others with their dreams and goals. Especially they they are in the process of reinventing themselves. Which I'm certainly doing now.

Drew knows a bit about this. After 27 years drawing amazing sports cartoons for the Rocky Mountain News, a few years ago, the paper shut down. But Drew picked himself up and kept going, drawing for other publications as well as Denver-based TV stations.

Please check out his work. One of the things I really love about his cartoons, besides his clean and inviting drawing style, is that he draws with a sense of humanity—even when poking fun at someone, you can't help but sense that the artist behind the lines is one good soul.

10/28/2020

Creativity is about more than making art.

Most of the time when we hear the word creativity, we think of the artists, the dreamers, and the poets.

But really all creativity is, is making something. An original idea.

We're fortunate enough to live in a world we can interact with, change, and improve.

It doesn't matter whether you're a songwriter working on your next hit single, a teacher coming up with a unique way to teach our children, or an accountant doing a deep dive on spreadsheet architecture (I don't even know if that's a real thing).

That's still creativity. That's you making something. You having an original idea and improving the world around you.

The great part about it, is it doesn't matter you are. It doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter what your background is.

We all have the ability to have thoughts.

We all have the ability to make something.

At the end of the day, creativity is what makes life worth living.

So the next time you find yourself saying, "I'm not that creative" or "I'm not as creative as so and so", stop.

Ask yourself. What have I made recently? What have I had an original thought on?

My guess is that you're far more creative than you give yourself credit for.

So what are you waiting for? Go create.