Your Studio Isn’t a Courtroom—Make Yours the Safest Place to Create

Ever notice how one “wrong” brushstroke can send you into a spiral? You’re standing in your studio, brush in hand, and suddenly the inner courtroom opens up. The judge, jury, and executioner? All you. This episode is about what I call self-aggression . Those tiny but brutal ways we attack ourselves for daring to experiment, for not being perfect, for being… human. And here’s the thing: it’s costing you way more than you realize. I’ll walk you through why we confuse self-criticism with professionalism, how it’s secretly strangling your creativity, and what happens when you trade all that punishment for curiosity instead. (Hint: your studio becomes the safest, most exciting place to create.) You’ll hear real stories from Growth Studio: Leslie catching herself in an “auction spiral,” Megan reframing her supply list, Scott protecting his energy, and Cece navigating the push-pull of play vs. control. Plus, I’ll share a micro-meltdown of my own and how I turned it around. If you’ve ever started an apology tour before showing your work, or if you’ve ever thought “I’m such an idiot” mid-painting—this one’s for you. Your Episode Map 0:23 – The brushstroke that ruins everything (or does it?) 1:59 – How “I’m such an idiot” sneaks into your studio 5:49 – Why being hard on yourself isn’t “professional” (it’s poison) 7:39 – Curiosity vs. criticism: the C in CREATE that changes everything 8:32 – What self-aggression is secretly costing you (spoiler: it’s huge) 13:12 – Real Growth Studio stories: auctions, supply lists, and saying no 25:00 – My own meltdown over a 2-inch drawing 36:01 – The truth bomb: self-trust is the ultimate creative flex For Your Studio Wall Words worth pinning next to your easel: “Curiosity opens possibilities. Criticism shuts them down.” “Failure isn’t evidence against you—it’s information for you.” “Your studio is not a courtroom. Make it a laboratory.” “Treat yourself like your favorite student.” “The way you talk to yourself shows up on the canvas.” What to Bring Into the Studio With You A daily rep: catch one micro-aggression and reframe it with curiosity. Neutral share rule: present your work without the apology preface. Constraints as safety: same size, same tools, familiar setups = freedom to explore. A pre-painting intention: I’m here to explore, not to be perfect. Support the show And hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcast I’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️