68. The Courage to Create with Jill Luton
What if the most creative thing you ever did had nothing to do with a paintbrush? Creativity isn't reserved for the artists with the fancy titles — it's a way of moving through the world, and it might be the most powerful form of self-trust you have. I sat down with Wichita-based multidisciplinary artist Jill Nicole Luten to talk about what happens when you stop performing creativity and start practicing it honestly. We covered everything from how she stumbled into photography through a food blog, to why play is non-negotiable for a creative life, to the one-word-a-month self-portrait practice that changed how she sees herself.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Jill shares how she didn't recognize her own creativity until her late twenties — and why that's more common than we think
- The food blog that accidentally launched a photography career (and what her mom's unused camera had to do with it)
- Why other people's belief in you can unlock what you can't yet see in yourself
- How motherhood and therapy led Jill to claim the identity of "artist" for the first time
- The difference between seeing your own creativity and noticing creativity in the world around you — and why both matter
- Creativity isn't just for visual artists: Jill's definition — "something didn't exist, and now it does" — changes everything
- Why play is scientifically backed to improve self-confidence, intuition, and problem-solving — and why our culture makes it a battle to prioritize
- The pressure vs. play distinction: you can create under both, but only one fills you up
- How Jill gives herself big, bold projects (like a solo art show or a year of self-portraits) to force herself to share her work
- The one-word-a-month self-portrait practice — and how non-photographers can adapt it
- The biggest creative advice for anyone stepping into a second act: go after it loosely, boldly, and with low expectations
CHAPTERS
1:03 — Creativity as Self-Trust
1:54 — Meet Jill Nicole Luten
2:57 — Early Signs of Creativity
4:39 — Food Blog to Photography
6:46 — Others Reflect Your Gifts
9:39 — Motherhood, Therapy, and Core Self
11:26 — Seeing Creativity Everywhere
14:50 — Redefining What Counts
16:48 — Why Play Fuels Creativity
19:01 — Play as an Adult and Mom
20:14 — Books That Spark Play
21:34 — Pressure vs. Play
24:05 — Making Creativity Sustainable
26:39 — Trust Yourself and Share
29:36 — Going Big to Be Seen
30:16 — Year of Self-Portraits
30:54 — One Word a Month Method
32:30 — Non-Photographer Options
35:16 — Small Creative Practice
37:04 — Where to Find Jill
RESOURCES MENTIONED
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert — https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/big-magic/
- Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee — https://aestheticsofjoy.com/the-book/
- The War of Art by Steven Pressfield — https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/
- Jill Nicole Luten on Instagram: @sincerelyjill and @jillnicoleluton
- Jill Nicole Luten's website: jillnicoleluton.com
Want to learn more?
Be sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedIn
This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.
Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.
