What is creative freedom – and when do you feel it most? Shyama Golden is an artist and designer who has found a range of ways to express her artistry. As a daughter to scientist immigrants, her parents encouraged her to pursue something practical. But after ten years of taking that route, Shyama felt the time was right to let her artsy side shine.

Shyama shares when she has felt the most and least creative freedom on her journey to becoming a sustainable artist – from her work in graphic and interactive design, to her paintings of families living inside of dinosaurs and a giant Sasquatch made of cats. This episode will get you wondering what phase of creative freedom you're in, and whether it’s time for a change.

Show Notes:
-Shyama as a little girl: an introverted, only child who liked trying new and “weird” things. [2:56]
-On her immigrant parents, college years, and how the nature of her first job affected her creative freedom. [7:12]
-How rejection and getting laid off turned out to be a blessing in disguise. [13:18]
-From full-time work, to freelance work, to a sabbatical focused on making her own art. [17:28]
-How a chance opportunity to participate in an art exhibit helped quiet her inner critic and revealed the positive power of deadlines. [21:58]
-Deciding to move to SF for new challenges and opportunities, and the regret she felt initially. [27:09]
-Shyama’s insights on sustaining herself as well as having mentors and patrons. [35:14]
-The internal shifts Shyama has made to protect her creativity, plus her progress on Catsquatch. [40:38]

References:
Check out Shyama's work – http://shyamagolden.com/

Episode Sponsor:
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com