Let's show our diversity

In today’s Willful episode, photographer Connie Tsang discusses:
• How her mother’s advice to “Mo-mah-fahn” (don’t bring attention to yourself) shaped her eye
• Taking spontaneous road trips to (in this case) Nashville to follow locals with her camera
• Freelance tips for staying focused

Connie Tsang (@ConnieMTsang) is a Toronto-based artist and documentary photographer whose alternately quirky and deeply nostalgic take on life that has landed her photos in galleries in Toronto, Vancouver and New York, as well as books like, Sweet & Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants and Neil Pasricha’s The Book of (Even More) Awesome. You can see her work at connietsangphotos.com.

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We used to interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day. Then we got realistic. Now we publish a new episode "every sometimes," to borrow Tim Urban's digital strategy for his wonderful blog, Wait But Why. 

Follow us here at WillfulProject.com or our Facebook Page for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Finally, thank you so much, Mr. Greg Garson, for hosting us at your house of deliciousness, The Merchant Taps & Tavern (181 University at Adelaide). Our viewers may not know this, but the Merchant Tavern is the only independent restaurant in its section of the Financial District, Toronto. The District is a sea of corporate concepts with menus and venues that feel pretty canned by comparison. You can be sure that someone in Calgary and Vancouver is having your entrée today, but no one else in Canada is having Greg's Egglplant Stack with their Old Tomorrow Beer or their Steam Whistle Pilsner. Stop by and Greg will pull out a chair for you and snap open your linen serviette.

#DocumentaryPhotography #photography #Toronto #The6ix #TIFF #Urban #Cityscapes #TorontoArt #TorontoArtists #TorontoEvents #TorontoEventsPhotographer #ConnieInvadesTheWorld #ExploreTheWorld #Diversity

Growing up artsy in an Asian household

This week on Willful, photographer Connie Tsang talks about:
• Growing up artsy in an Asian household
• The roots of her documenting, starting with her teen obsession with typing out Casey Kasem’s Top 40 countdown from the radio
• Creatives who make from scratch vs. those who document. Can they both be artists? 
Connie Tsang (@ConnieMTsang) is a Toronto-based artist and documentary photographer whose alternately quirky and deeply nostalgic take on life that has landed her photos in galleries in Toronto, Vancouver and New York, as well as books like, Sweet & Sour: Life in Chinese Family Restaurants and Neil Pasricha’s The Book of (Even More) Awesome. You can see her work at connietsangphotos.com.

Huge thanks to The Merchant Taps & Tavern and Mr. Greg Garson for hosting our series.

#DocumentaryPhotography #photography #Toronto #The6ix #TIFF #Urban#Cityscapes #TorontoArt #TorontoArtists #TorontoEvents#TorontoEventsPhotographer #ConnieInvadesTheWorld #ExploreTheWorld

Why artists should ditch their smart phones

Today on Willful, Toronto portrait artist Malinda Prud'homme shares:
• Her best advice for young artists
• Her thoughts on a beauty industry that profits from women’s low self-esteem
• Ditching her smart phone to increase her productivity

Prud’homme is a mixed media artist who believes in a broader definition of female beauty, regardless of age, size, ethnicity, or personal style. Check out her work at Malinda Prud'homme Art and malindaprudhomme.com

Jumpstart your day and get inspired by all of our Willful guests at WillfulProject.com. You'll make our day if you follow us here on Facebook. 

Our heartfelt thanks to Greg Garson for offering us our stage at The Merchant Taps & Tavern (181 University Ave. at Adelaide). If you drop by, Greg will hand-deliver to you his famous meat loaf. The guy does everything!

#Beauty #PortraitPainting #diversity #The6ix 
#WomenAndBeauty #RealBeauty #HyperRealism #SelfEsteem

Malinda Prud'homme's portrait art

Today on Willful, Toronto portrait artist Malinda Prud'homme on:
• how the flooded teaching market forced her to chase her real dream
• whether she believes “the staple of our generation: if you work really hard, get good grades and volunteer you can achieve whatever you want”
• Female beauty that goes against the “Disney princess ideal” (we have freckles, gap teeth, fros and more)

Prud’homme is a mixed media artist who believes in a broader definition of female beauty, regardless of age, size, ethnicity, or personal style. Check out her work at Malinda Prud'homme Art and malindaprudhomme.com

Jumpstart your day and get inspired by all of our Willful guests at WillfulProject.com.

Career advice from your 10-year-old self

In today’s episode of Willful, David Mackett, an actor and former biologist, talks about:
• the first time he held an audience spellbound
• Career direction: consult with your 10-year-old self
• That freeing feeling when your parents “get it”

David is the co-founder of Toronto’s Fly on the Wall Theatre. This fall, the company is mounting the Canadian premiere of Conor McPherson’s Dublin Carol. Go to FlyOnTheWallTheatre.ca for details and tickets.

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We used to interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day. Then we got realistic. Now we publish a new episode every sometimes, to borrow Tim Urban's digital strategy for his wonderful blog, Wait But Why. 

Follow us here or on our Facebook page  for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.
Finally, thank you so much, Mr. Greg Garson, for hosting us at The Merchant Taps & Tavern, and for introducing us to David. Garson, you know everybody worth knowing!

What happens when you apply late to theatre school

In today’s episode of Willful, David Mackett, an actor and former biologist, talks about:

• The moment theatre took hold of him

• Having fallback plans

• Applying late to theatre school in New York, then getting a call …

David is the co-founder of Toronto’s Fly On The Wall Theatre. This fall, the company is mounting the Canadian premiere of Conor McPherson’s Dublin Carol. Go to FlyOnTheWallTheatre.ca for details and tickets.

Jerry Leger and his favourite album cover

Jerry Leger loves his vinyl collection. In Ep. 2 of Willful, we talk about:

• The romance of having a music label

• His artistic heroes

• His favourite album cover of all time. Can you guess it from the thumbnail image?

Jerry Leger is a Toronto-based singer/songwriter with a melancholic folk rock sound, and a collaboration lineup that includes Serena Ryder, Ron Sexsmith, and The Cowboy Junkies. Jerry is currently on tour with his band, The Situation, to promote his second album, Nonsense and Heartache. Last night they performed in Kelowna, B.C.

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two five-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube.

Follow us here or our YouTube Channel or on our website WillfulProject.com for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Our thanks to Greg Garson at the Merchant Tavern for introducing us to Jerry and his bassist, @DanMock, and all their talented musical friends. And for giving us our stage!

Jerry Leger and The Situation

We’re back! In today’s episode of Willful, we spoke with Jerry Leger, a Toronto-based singer/songwriter with a melancholic folk rock sound, and a collaboration lineup that includes Serena Ryder, Ron Sexsmith and the Cowboy Junkies.

Right now Jerry is on tour with his band Jerry Leger & The Situation to promote their second album, Nonsense and Heartache. In our first conversation, we talk about:

• Toronto’s international rep as a singer/songwriter mecca

• Recording demos in high school on an old 1980s 4-track, and thinking, “I love music, I love writing, I love to play … maybe I could do this.”

• Pondering art college: do I want to pay to put myself in a box?

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two five-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube.

Follow us here or on our website or our Facebook Page for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Our thanks to Greg Garson of the The Merchant Taps & Tavern for introducing us to Jerry and his bassist, Dan Mock, and all their talented musical friends, and for hosting our interview series at your resto.

Album photography: Laura Proctor

How to be resilient

The response to our first video with Nicolette Linton was like a burst of confetti. In Ep. 2, Nikki talks about:

• Changing careers and thinking, What have I done?
• Her resilience after being “made redundant”
• Her approach to problem-solving on site

Nicolette Linton is a former book and magazine editor turned landscape designer. She famously traded in ridiculous amounts of swag for hauling 40-pound bags of topsoil and digging holes. Explore Nikki's gardens at www.green-bean.ca

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two 5-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube each week.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us SUCH a fantastic stage! Greg is already planning his patio garden for the restaurant.

Magazine editor turned landscape designer

In honour of #Spring, Willful presents Nicolette Linton. Nikki is a former book and magazine editor turned landscape designer who traded in ridiculous amounts of swag for hauling 40-pound bags of topsoil. In ep. 1, she talks about:
• Studying to be a landscape designer after years of poring over copy.
• Becoming a mother — “it’s a different way of being” — and looking for a career to match that new reality.
• Being an antisocial extrovert.

Explore Nikki's gardens at www.green-bean.ca

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two 5-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube each week.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us SUCH a fantastic stage!

Nick Babatsikos hits the Canadian stage

After making a splash in his first episode of Willful, actor Nick Babatsikos is back to talk about:
• The Second City Toronto Conservatory Program (“the best year of my life”)
• His first equity show after paying his dues as “coffee guy #2.”  
• Writing characters from real life and getting them on stage
• Who he is is all he has to offer ("Here I am, soup to nuts")

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two 5-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube each week.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us SUCH a fantastic stage!

#PerformingArts #Acting #Singing #Theatre #Musicals #Writing#BodyImage #BodyDysmorphia #SelfAcceptance #Greece#CenterStage #SecondCity #CanadianTheatre #Actor #Freelancer#MooseOnTheLoose
(cc. Ashley Botting)

Finding self-acceptance

This week on Willful, we welcome Nick Babatsikos to the stage. Nick is an actor, singer and all-round force of nature. In episode 1, Nick talks about:
• Coming from a long line of singers and actors in Greece
• His former fixation with body image and how it overwhelmed his talent and sharp instincts
• Staring big opportunities in the eye without blowing it

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post two 5-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube each week.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and Facebook page for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us a fantastic stage.

#PerformingArts #Acting #Singing #Theatre #Musicals #Writing#BodyImage #BodyDysmorphia #SelfAcceptance #Greece#CenterStage

Writing A Rewording Life

In today’s episode of Willful, author Sheryl Gordon talks about:

• Asking novelist Jane Urquhart to contribute to A Rewording Life, and getting a yes! Followed by 999 more yeses
• Writing one book and considering the next
• Her evolving definition of success

Sheryl Gordon is the author of A Rewording Life - ARL, for which she wrote eight heartfelt essays on dementia before asking 1000 Canadian contributors to pen sentences using a bemusing and obscure word she provided them. Through her curatorial work, Sheryl hopes to harness the power of words to help eradicate dementia.

*50% of the profits for Sheryl’s book sales will go to the Alzheimer Society (alzheimer.ca)

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us a fantastic stage.

#Language #Words #CreativeEntrepreneur #Philanthropist #ARewordingLife #Dementia #The6ix #DemENDtia #Alzheimers #Meaning #Alz #DementiaStories #Parkinsons # LewyBodyDementia ‪#demENDtia‪

When dementia hits home

In today’s episode of Willful, guest Sheryl Gordon talks about:

• The germination of her book on words

• Watching her mother lose her words

• The mixed terminology around dementia, and the angst it can cause

Sheryl Gordon is the author of A Rewording Life - ARL for which she wrote eight heartfelt essays on dementia, and then asked 1000 Canadian contributors to pen sentences using a bemusing and obscure word she provided them. Through her curatorial work, Sheryl hopes to harness the power of words to help eradicate dementia

*50% of the profits for Sheryl’s book sales will go to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (alzheimer.ca)

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us such a fantastic stage.

#Language #Words #CreativeEntrepreneur #Philanthropist #ARewordingLife #Dementia #The6ix #DemENDtia #Alzheimers #Meaning #Alz #DementiaStories #Japanese

Choosing your words carefully

In today’s episode of Willful, author and adult educator, Sheryl Gordon, talks about:

• How studying Japanese altered her understanding of the English language

• Facing her shortcomings

• Finding greater meaning in life through a different choice of words

Sheryl Gordon is the author of A Rewording Life - ARL for which she wrote eight heartfelt essays on dementia before asking 1000 Canadian contributors to pen sentences using a bemusing and obscure word she provided them. Through her curatorial work, Sheryl hopes to harness the power of words to help eradicate dementia.

*50% of the profits for Sheryl’s book sales will go to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (alzheimer.ca)

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us such a fantastic stage.

#Language #Words #linguistics #CreativeEntrepreneur #Philanthropist #ARewordingLife #Dementia #The6ix #DemENDtia #Alzheimers #Meaning #Alz #DementiaStories #Japanese

The path to adult education

In today’s episode of Willful, word curator and adult educator, Sheryl Gordon, talks about:

• Waiting out the Canadian recession in Asia

• Learning Japanese to make herself more marketable

• Testing her chops as a translator

Sheryl Gordon is the author of A Rewording Life - ARL for which she wrote eight heartfelt essays on dementia, before inviting 1000 Canadian contributors to pen sentences using a bemusing and obscure word she provided them. Through her curatorial work, Sheryl hopes to harness the power of words to help eradicate dementia.

50% of the profits for Sheryl’s book sales will go to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (alzheimer.ca)

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us a fantastic stage.

#Language #Words #CreativeEntrepreneur #Philanthropist #ARewordingLife #Dementia #The6ix #DemENDtia #Alzheimers #Meaning #Alz #DementiaStories #Japanese #Japan #Linguistics #AdultEducation

Sheryl Gordon and the power of words

In today’s episode of Willful, we spoke with Sheryl Gordon, author of the book, A Rewording Life - ARL. Sheryl wrote eight heartfelt essays on dementia for her book, then asked 1000 Canadian contributors to pen sentences using a bemusing and obscure word she provided them. Through her curatorial work, Sheryl hopes to harness the power of words to help eradicate dementia. In Ep. 1, she talks about:
• Not being a word nerd growing up
• Studying at The Sorbonne, living in the Marais and working as an au pair
• Basking in the culture of Paris while she considered her life’s options

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and website, WillfulProject.com, for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern, a popular downtown stage for words like #Beer, #Yum and #Satiated

* 50% of the profits for Sheryl’s book sales will go to the Alzheimer Society (alzheimer.ca)

#Language #Words #CreativeEntrepreneur #Philanthropist#ARewordingLife #Dementia #The6ix #DemENDtia #Alzheimers#Meaning #Alz #DementiaStories

Managing self-doubt

In Ep. 5, our last day with Mark Challen (*sniff*), Mark talks about:
• Rejecting academia and the fashion and design worlds in favour of work with more meaning and context
• Free time, the highs and lows of creative thinking, and managing self-doubt
• Restricting consumption of negative media (to protect your creativity)

Mark Challen is an illustrator, art and culture historian, and the creator and host of The Stylecooler Podcast on iTunes. Also look for his soon-to-be-launched website, StyleCooler.com.

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and Facebook page for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern. We see you buzzing around in the background!

#Drawing #Prismacolor #Art #Culture #History #Style #PopCulture #DesignHistory#StyleCooler#ArtistProject #Nostalgia #MustSeeTV #HouseAndHome #BarbraStreisand @amyrrosen @Rosensbuns #SelfDoubt #Negativity #Freelancer #Startup

Career Pivot: from VP to Illustrator

If you are enjoying Mark Challen’s energy and pizzaz this week, watch today’s episode where he talks frankly about:
• Saving up his pennies for a career pivot
• Planning his start-up costs
• Becoming an illustrator for hire — first assignment: Barbra Streisand (no presh)

Mark is an illustrator, art and culture historian, and the creator and host of The Stylecooler Podcast on iTunes. Also look for his soon-to-be-launched website, StyleCooler.com.

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and Facebook page our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson and The Merchant Taps & Tavern for offering us a fantastic stage. The tavern also has the best #Meatloaf in town. Better than your mother's.

#Drawing #Prismacolor #Art #Culture #History #Style #PopCulture#DesignHistory  #StyleCooler  #ArtistProject #Nostalgia #MustSeeTV#HouseAndHome  #CareerPivot #StartUp #Financing#BarbraStreisand (cc. @amyrrosen,  Rosen's Cinnamon Buns)

The art of surprise

Up your Willfulness this week with Mark Challen. Mark is an illustrator, art and culture historian, and the creator and host of The Stylecooler Podcast on iTunes.. Also look for his soon-to-be-launched website, StyleCooler.com. In Ep. 3, Mark talks about:

• Surprising people and using their reaction as fuel

• His influences: The New Yorker, The New York Times, Jeopardy and Sesame Street

• Launching the Style Cooler Podcast (with Suzanne Dimma), and using his background as a spinning instructor to shape the episodes

Willful is the web series that tracks how artists and creative entrepreneurs work, thrive and survive. We interview one artist a week, then post five three-minute snack films from that interview on YouTube every day.

Follow us here or on our YouTube Channel and Facebook Page for our entire archive of inspiring interviews.

Thank you, Greg Garson, for your hospitality at The Merchant Taps & Tavern.

#Drawing #Prismacolor #Art #Culture #History #Style #PopCulture #DesignHistory #StyleCooler #ArtistProject #Nostalgia #MustSeeTV #HouseAndHome #Podcasting #Wikipedia