What do you do when you have all the skills to create art, but can't bring yourself to pick up a brush? When success in your creative career feels hollow because you've lost touch with your personal artistic voice?
In this episode of Clear Conversations, I sat down with
, a creative artist who spent two decades mastering technical skills in the fields of video games and motion graphics—only to discover she hadn't made personal art in 10 years. Her journey from creative paralysis to launching a thriving art business and coaching practice reveals profound truths about resistance, intuition, and the spiritual nature of creative blocks.Leeanne's story isn't just about returning to art. It's about discovering that our greatest creative obstacles often point us toward our most authentic expression. Through mindfulness, manifestation, and what she calls the "Awaken, Channel, and Create" method, she learned to release the pressure for perfect outcomes and trust the creative process itself.
Show Notes
[00:00] - The Identity Crisis Moment
How professional success masked a deeper creative disconnection
The playground conversation that changed everything: "What do you do?" "Nothing."
Why quitting her job to stay home didn't solve the underlying problem
The realization that depression was directly linked to missing personal creative practice
[05:00] - The Overwhelm of Big Dreams
Why having "all the ideas" can become paralyzing rather than inspiring
The crushing pressure of outcome-based thinking versus process-based creating
How perfectionism and comparison to family artists added extra weight
The difference between creating from the thinking mind versus channeling through spirit
[09:00] - Discovery Through Spiritual Practice
Finding manifestation and mindfulness through a women's circle
The pivotal realization: "This isn't about the art—I need to reconnect with myself"
How a year of inner work created the foundation for creative return
Learning to trust intuition over forcing predetermined outcomes
[15:00] - The Vegetable Paintings: Starting Small
Creating an "entry ramp" back into art with low-stakes daily practice
Using cheap materials and simple subjects to remove pressure
The power of treating creative practice like yoga—for the experience, not the result
How pregnancy timeline created healthy urgency without overwhelming pressure
[22:00] - Following the Thread of What Feels Right
The evolution from vegetables to crystal grids to manifestation drawings
Learning to recognize when content doesn't align with authentic voice
Why meaning and message became more important than technical mastery
The courage to pivot when something doesn't feel authentic
[28:00] - The 100-Day Practice Revolution
How becoming a mother actually simplified and focused the creative process
Switching from painting to digital drawing for practical reasons
The "AI approach" to idea generation: feeding your brain data all day
Creating a system for capturing ideas during everyday moments
[35:00] - Channeling vs. Forcing Creative Ideas
The practice of writing down intuitive flashes immediately
How ideas come through when you're not actively trying to create
Building trust that consistent small actions compound into big results
The paradox: stopping the rush actually speeds up meaningful progress
[40:00] - Embracing What Comes Naturally
Questioning cultural pressure to constantly "level up" and improve technique
Finding peace with drawing style that flows easily rather than struggling toward complexity
Focusing energy on exploring new topics rather than perfecting technical skills
Permission to stay with what brings joy instead of what "should" bring achievement
Key Quotes
"I was like, yo, what do I do? And I remember just looking at her and I was like, nothing. I said nothing. I was like, I'm just home with my daughter. And it was like, oh, it hit me like a ton of bricks." - Leeanne Brennan
"I knew if I made art I would be happy and I knew if I made art I would be able to reclaim that identity piece to say I am the artist... Because I make art every day." - Leeanne Brennan
"What if what comes easy to you is what you're supposed to do here on earth. Like what if what comes naturally out of your body is like what the universe is like, hi, hello. I was trying to tell you this is what you're supposed to do." - Leeanne Brennan
"Our ego is like, what's the point? Like, why would I start so small? That's like a waste of your time... And that's what I teach in my program is like there absolutely is a point and you cannot skip the steps." - Leeanne Brennan
"Once you stop rushing and forcing, that's when your results speed up." - Leeanne Brennan
Resources Mentioned
To Be Magnetic - Lacy Phillips' manifestation program and workshops
Procreate - iPad drawing software Leeanne uses for her artwork
Women's Circles - Community spiritual practice for connection and growth
Somatic Movement - Body-based practices for disconnecting from thinking mind
Epic Bones - Leeanne's affirmation card business and art platform
Where to Find Leeanne
Art & Products: Epic Bones - epicbones.com
Instagram: @epic_bones
Coaching: leannebrennan.com - Awaken, Channel, and Create programs for returning to creative practice
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us live for this conversation, your presence and engagement make these conversations possible. And to
for her extraordinary openness and wisdom.What's Next
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Each step forward is an act of creative rebellion.
Thanks for walking this path with me.
Josh
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