Agnieszka Pilat is an award-winning, Polish-born artist who studied painting and illustration at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA.  Her works can be found in public and private collections in United States, Poland, Canada and China.  She currently lives and maintains a full time studio in San Francisco and is represented by numerous galleries throughout United States. Full shownotes: http://yourcreativepush.com/pilat In this episode, Agnieszka discusses: -How The Hills Have Eyes graphic novel played a role in inspiring her to become an artist. -One of her earliest creative moments in which she drew all over her childhood walls. -How she doesn’t believe in the words “inspiration” and “talent.” -Laziness and the difficulty she sometimes has to just start. -How athletes put their sneakers next to their bed so that they can get right into the flow, and how creative people should do the same. -The importance of habits and rituals. -Her fascination with time and how it plays a role in her art. -The differences between her series Disrupt and Time, Deconstructed. -How she has committed to painting her cousin as she ages for the rest of her life. -The metaphor of your day being like a human life – when you wake up you are a baby and when you go to bed you are elderly. -The importance of finding small amounts of time throughout your busy day and how all of that time adds up to something substantial. -What Agnieszka’s cousin thinks about being the subject of her long-term paintings. -Her “number signature” and what it represents. -A stumbling block that she has encountered when she works for too long on a particular piece, without walking away from it to “heal.” -The five stages of creativity. -One of her worst creative moments. -Her best moment, selling her first big painting. -Her advice for selling your first piece of art. -Her formula for balancing her time as an artist. Agnieszka's Final Push will make you understand that it’s not about thinking, it’s about DOING! Quotes: “I’m a very big believer in habits and rituals, so I very consciously designed habits and rituals that will push me towards things that will make me productive during the day.” “When I start painting, I come very, very prepared, so there is no waste of time.” “That’s something I need to work on – to be able to walk away and give myself time to heal from this and to be able to look at it with a fresh eye.” “Those small steps, those small, unordinary things will bring you to a good place.” “You have to get very comfortable learning how to tell people ‘No.’ --  ‘No, I don’t have time.  I’m working.  No, I can’t go out.’ Links mentioned: The Hills Have Eyes Graphic Novel Rocky Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Connect with Agnieszka: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Gold Gallery