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In this episode you’ll learn:
- What happened when Anne-Laure ran away to sea
- What it feels like to follow an unknown career path
- How travel inspires art
- The reality of organising your own exhibition
- Why being labelled by society is a frustration
Anne-Laure Carruth has just quit her job.
She’s terrified.
This isn’t the first time she’s quit to become a full-time artist either…
Following her calling to become a creative practitioner, Anne-Laure shares how 5 minute sketches in Morocco became 8 hour drawings by the time she arrived in Turkey.
Travelling anti-clockwise around the Mediterranean in a 1971 Land-Rover with her companion, Lucy, hear how Anne-Laure gave herself permission to be an artist to create a different picture of the Middle East.
In the first instalment of this two-part interview, Anne-Laure shares a moving story, having trained as an architect at the Royal College of Art, of how she overcame a breakdown around the time she was retaking her exams at college (whilst everybody else was celebrating an exhibition in Hyde Park.)
Having lived in eight different countries, creating visual reflections of the people and places she has met on her travels, hear what happened when Anne-Laure became the resident artist on a ship called Tenacious.
“I always did things slightly differently…” – Anne-Laure Carruth
Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):
Taking the leap
[0:00:41] Introducing Anne-Laure Carruth.
[0:01:30] Anne-Laure’s challenge for this year as a creative explorer.
[0:01:55] Taking the leap: quitting her job to pursue her creativity.
[0:02:39] Anne-Laure describes her previous role at a design agency.
[0:03:17] Anne-Laure’s reason for changing.
[0:04:07] The moment Anne-Laure decided to make the leap.
The Artist’s Way
[0:05:16] Focussing on what she wanted to do with her life.
[0:06:25] Being a creative practitioner.
[0:06:47] Giving yourself permission.
[0:07:30] Being a ship’s artist. Running away to sea.
[0:09:13] How Anne-Laure’s art was received by the passengers and crew.
“In every single degree or course…there’s never been that sense of freedom” – Anne-Laure Carruth
Drawing
[0:09:44] Drawing at school. Losing the habit.
[0:10:20] How Anne-Laure feels when she doesn’t draw.
[0:11:25] Finding meditation difficult.
[0:11:44] Mindfulness. Focussing on the present through doodling.
[0:12:11] How The Artist’s Way has help Anne-Laure with her creative practice.
“It really does help with centring myself” – Anne-Laure Carruth
The Exhibition Collective
[0:13:08] Struggling with being pigeon-holed.
[0:13:41] Academic opportunities not offering a sense of freedom.
[0:14:37] The Exhibition Collective.
[0:15:45] Anne-Laure describes the reality of organising an exhibition.
[0:16:20] Why the second year was easier. The opening night.
[0:17:20] How long the exhibitions run for.
Shifting Sands Expedition
[0:18:20] Lucy Engleheart. Travelling overland across the Middle East in a Land Rover.
[0:19:00] Anne-Laure describes circumnavigating the Mediterranean anti-clockwise.
[0:20:10] How 5-minute sketches in Morocco became 6-8 hour drawings in Turkey.
[0:22:10] Anne-Laure describes the intensity of her trip.
Finding confidence, quitting architecture
[0:22:41] Overcoming fear and finding confidence in her drawing.
[0:23:35] Why Anne-Laure believes we become too scared to show up.
[0:24:00] Writing a series of Snoopy books as a child.
[0:24:37] How Anne-Laure became a student of architecture.
[0:25:28] What studying was like for Anne-Laure.
[0:26:44] How architecture has helped Anne-Laure to see the world.
Losing confidence
[0:28:15] Anne-Laure shares a moving story from her time at college.
[0:29:37] Failing her year. Having a breakdown and 3 weeks to re-sit an exam.
[0:30:46] Part two preview.
Links and resources mentioned in this episode:
Events mentioned in this episode:
Books mentioned in this episode:
If you enjoyed this podcast, you’ll also like:
- Taking The Leap (Anne-Laure Carruth – Interview – Part 2)
- The Artists Way: How To Find Your Confidence and Overcome The Fear Of Turning Pro (with Anne-Laure Carruth)
- Sacrifice, Sailing Into The Sunset And Living On The Edge With Emily Penn
- Janey Moffatt On Facing Death And Finding Creative Freedom
- Dave Cornthwaite on Creating A Living You Could Not Learn At School
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