Meet Mickey Roberts

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mickey Roberts. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mickey, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

For me, the best way to overcome creative blocks has always been to be honest about my relationship with creativity. I am not the source of my creativity. I am simply tuning into creative impulses and not allowing myself to inhibit them. A lot of the time people get in their own way creatively because of external forces– comparison, the inner-critic, the effort, too much focus on results, deadlines, etc. But your creative output doesn’t always need to be funneled through the one medium through which you define yourself as an artist.
I think the creative impulses that cause me to paint, or write, or act, or direct are exactly the same ones that propel me to be present with my friends or my partner, to engage fully in a conversation with a stranger, to nurture my relationships, take care of my home space, cook a good meal, etc.
Creativity isn’t closed to only “the arts.” being a creative person means embracing the unstructured nature of any given moment and allowing yourself to relinquish control and ride the wave. If you can do that on a hike with your buddy, then you can do it in front of a blank canvas.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am an Artist and Life Coach living in NYC. The artwork I create currently is centered around vulnerability and being honest with our own insecurities. I am a firm believer that by being open about the “ugly” parts of ourselves we allow more space for connection with others. The deprecating thoughts that we endure in our own heads hold much less power over us when we shine a light on them instead of tucking them away and pretending they don’t exist.

As for life coaching, I work with clients who are creative-minded, highly motivated, and emotionally intelligent, but are struggling to find a sense of fulfillment or meaning in their personal and professional lives. I think my work as a life coach is simply another manifestation of the work I do as an artist.

Current and upcoming projects? I just launched a podcast, “Art Is Not Sacred,” whereon I talk with other artists about how art plays a role in their lives, their philosophy on creating, and the contributions they’re making to the broader art conversation.
I am working on a collection right now that will explore the ways different people express love.
I also have some artwork up at a café on 110th st. called Purple Waves for the months of august and September.

You can follow my artwork on my Instagram at @mickeyrobertsart
And you can book a free connection call for life coaching on my site at mickeyrobertscoaching.com

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think there are a few crucial skills that have helped me to keep on chugging in this industry.

1. Investing in good people: regardless of how you see success in your professional life, it means nothing if you don’t feel fulfilled in your personal life. People are the most incredible medium of art. Each human being I meet is a walking expression of a lifetime of successes, failures, lessons learned, obstacles overcome, wounds healed, and growth in progress. When you find someone in your life who you truly can be vulnerable with and who will reciprocate your love, you create a bond that is more valuable than any career success you can imagine.

2. Learning to be comfortable with imperfection. Nothing you make is ever going to be perfect, or feel “finished” to you. But it’s not meant to be. Others will view it was a finished work of art while you see all the ideas you didn’t execute, or the mistakes you made, or the intentions not met. But that’s the beauty of being an artist– you can’t capture the idea in full, all you can do is your best to communicate the little that you have captured in a way that inspires others to lean in and discover more on their own.

3. Indulgence in Play: As we get older we exchange games for work, and play for productivity. But play is the greatest gift of life. It’s stakes-free and without judgement or criticism. If you can turn your work into play and really enjoy the thing you do, then you will sidestep burnout and be able to grow as a creative in any medium you like.

4. Curiosity: Don’t define yourself by one medium or by one title as an artist. When I was young I thought I couldn’t be a writer because I was an actor. I couldn’t be a sculptor because I was a painter. But these words don’t mean anything in the creation process, they only describe a thing after it’s created. Be curious enough to let your creativity run wild and try things you’ll definitely be bad at at first. It’s the best way I’ve found to discover new ways to love life.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

As a life coach, my ideal client is someone who desires big things for themselves. They are creative, motivated, willing to put in the work, are in touch with their emotional selves, and aren’t afraid to be honest about their shortcomings. I like to work with clients who aren’t afraid to be challenged in order to overcome their blocks and move the needle on their goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: mickeyrobertsart.com, mickeyrobertscoaching.com
• Instagram: @mickeyrobertsart
• Linkedin: Mickey Roberts