Math Has One Answer; Art Has Yours

Creativity isn’t a side dish; it’s the main course for building sharper thinking and genuine confidence. We sit down with Madeline, a homeschooled teen who treats art as both a learning engine and a way to find her voice. Together we unpack why open-ended making exercises different mental muscles than subjects with single right answers, and how that challenge translates into autonomy, resilience, and better problem-solving.

Madeline shares how an unschooling mindset lets her master core subjects through formats that fit—listening, researching, reading, then making—while pursuing passions like public speaking and psychology. We talk about facing stage fright through community theater, turning nerves into fuel, and using performance to practice presence, recovery, and clarity. Along the way we link sketching and mindful doodling to focus and memory, and explore the growing movement to “prescribe art” as preventative care. Art for wellness isn’t fluff; it’s a practical tool for stress regulation, connection, and self-knowledge.

We also dig into originality in the age of AI and remix culture. Your voice is the differentiator, and the only way to find it is to make more—try new mediums, accept critique, and iterate. From micron pens to needle felting to movie-inspired projects and holiday ornaments, the studio becomes a sandbox for curiosity and courage. The result is a class culture where friendships form, ideas travel beyond the room, and students feel safe to speak up and stand out.

If you care about youth empowerment, homeschooling, arts education, mental health, or the craft of public speaking, this conversation delivers practical insights and plenty of heart. Listen, share it with someone who needs a nudge to create, and tell us: what’s the next small, brave thing you’ll make? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation so we can bring more voices to the mic.

Chapters

• 0:05 Welcome And Guest Introduction
• 0:34 Why Art Strengthens Thinking
• 1:43 Autonomy, Creativity, And Learning Styles
• 3:14 Homeschooling And Unschooling Explained
• 4:46 Aspirations: Speaking And Psychology
• 5:56 Art For Wellness And “Prescribing” Creativity
• 7:18 Facing Stage Fright Through Theater
• 8:36 Originality, AI, And Finding Your Voice
• 10:31 Try, Fail, Learn: Courage To Explore
• 12:20 Classroom Culture And Mindful Doodling

Transcript

SPEAKER_01: 0:05

Hey everyone, welcome back to Bruttifully Made. I am so excited. I have a special guest on with us today. This is Madeline. So Madeline is one of my wonderful homeschool students, and she does amazing work, and we wanted to talk a little bit about why it's important for everyone to remember to encourage our youth to express themselves with art. So Madeline, thanks for joining today.

SPEAKER_00: 0:32

Yeah, thank you for letting me come on. I think a big important reason to do art, whether you're homeschooled in public school, is because it makes your brain think harder than actually doing simple original subjects like your math, language, and science and history. When people say, you know, read this book and then write about it and to all of the students, they are all doing the same thing. But when you're doing art, you're interpreting it in your own way. Even if you say do this way, you're still doing it in your own way. So I think that's like the main important reason.

SPEAKER_01: 1:03

Yeah, I think it's really important to encourage someone to have autonomy over what they do and having their voice in it. Because yeah, you're right. You do a math problem and there's different ways that you do it, but everyone comes up with the same solution. Exactly. So when you think about it, it takes creativity to do some of those things. And so if you're encouraging that in some extracurriculars, I think it strengthened that logic portion of your brain. Exactly. And so we're gonna sketch and we're gonna doodle while we talk today. Uh, just just so we have, you know, something going on with our hands, and we'll share that at the end of the podcast. But, you know, Madeline, yeah, you bring up a great point about being now you were homeschooled, you've been in public school before. And so you chose to take the homeschool route. And they have been educating me on homeschooling. I had no idea. There were so many varieties.

SPEAKER_00: 1:52

There really is. Yeah. And I would definitely call myself more unschooled because I do what I love and I really take my time. Um, but I still do original subjects. I just do a little bit differently than others. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 2:03

Yeah. And I love how you explore what you love and how creative your parents have been, allowing you to find different ways from listening to things to researching things to reading things to strengthen the lessons that you're you're taking, that you're learning.

SPEAKER_00: 2:19

I think people um get it wrong a lot. I think they think, yeah, you're lazy or you're not gonna be smart in life. And I think you can be smart any way you do it in life. And it's just so important to just do what you love. That's I think the real, the real recipe for how to live. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 2:35

And it's really encouraging you to think about what you want to do after your education, isn't it? Exactly. Yeah. So kind of share some of the things that you've been talking to me about, like what you'd like to do outside of school once you're finished.

SPEAKER_00: 2:49

Um, I had many ideas. One was a motivational speaker. Um, I love that. I know I love talking to people, and being on this podcast is really awesome to share ideas that I've been wanting to, you know, get out um in the public. I think I also think a psychologist was another one. I just want to help people and really understand um mental health and certain issues in the brain. And yeah, those are pretty much the big two.

SPEAKER_01: 3:14

Yeah. And I was just sharing with Madeline, I was able to attend a wellness discussion with Arts and Stark this week, and it really focused on how art can be a part of your wellness journey and how we need to encourage insurance companies and facilities to promote art as a way to heal and even be preventative medicine. And they've talked, they talked about prescribing art and for you to recognize that at your age. I don't want to, yeah, how old are you? 214. Thinking about that already, I mean, that's tremendous and how important that is to focus on. And I love the fact that you want to public speak. There are a lot of young adults that are terrified to talk in public. And I love that you want to share what you love through public speaking.

SPEAKER_00: 4:06

Yeah. That's one of my favorite things. I just love talking to people, and I do get nervous, but I I like that fear, it makes me continue. And just to know I'm sharing ideas really makes I think the situation better. Because if you know what you want to stand for, it you really want to get to it and you want to speak it out. I think when you get to that point.

SPEAKER_01: 4:24

Yeah, and I love how you explore different ways to practice your public speaking. You shared with me that you were doing um some acting in the community. Can you talk a little bit about what you were doing?

SPEAKER_00: 4:35

So, pretty much at Players Guild, um, I was doing a wicked program and a four-week program where we explore the songs, um, the dancing, and then we do a performance at the end. And I learned a lot about just like what not to do and what to do when you're on stage. And I think it really does help I think um just getting outside and just yeah, exploring how to stand up in front of people because that takes a lot of courage, especially for young kids, to get up and sing a part that's not, you know, your own. And yeah, yeah, I think it I think it's good.

SPEAKER_01: 5:09

Yeah. I think that that's wonderful because honestly, when you go into college, for example, you have to take a public speaking course. And to be creative and do it in that realm, that's another way that you can explore learning how to public speak and getting over those fears. Yes. And again, that has to be a creative outlet that we present as an option to people. And starting at your age and even younger, I think that that's so important. And oh yeah, in reiterating that you there's no reason for you to be afraid. You know, exactly. Get out there and say what you feel and express your opinion and do it in your own voice. It has to be done the way we need what you know how to do. That's what the world needs. It doesn't need someone being uh identical to someone else that's already out there.

SPEAKER_00: 5:57

I feel like desperate for that. I know people do that a lot, and especially kids figuring out who they want to be and they're you know trying to fit into you know, maybe certain outfits or how they talk and just being with the people. You know, it's you really question like, like, why are we doing that? Right. I don't think we ever question it. I think we just go with what society wants us to do, and we never stop and think, is this right? Or if we just followed something that needs to just expire. Right. That's I think a big thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 6:22

I mean, I know creativity, everyone will like kind of agree that there isn't anything unique anymore. It's always like regenerated from something that's a masterpiece or something that's been done before, but that's not really true. I mean, we're building AI based on what we're teaching it, but our own interpretation and our styles need to be strengthened through practice and um, you know, meditating on what you're learning and doing it in your own way because nobody else is going to do it like that. They're not gonna sound like you, they're not going to, you know, have your um voice in it. And that's so important to strengthen that and to do that and find out what that is. Yeah, you know, how will you know if you don't try?

SPEAKER_00: 7:09

I know, exactly. Yeah, yeah. I feel like um, you know, you just need to try. I know that it's scary because we're all scared of messing up and we're scared of making mistakes. Right. Believe me, I we all are, you know, I am too, but I think you just have to do it. You know, that's terrible, you know. I think a lot of people say you just have to do, and I think it lost its meaning, but I really do think you just have to go through it. And if you don't like it, then don't do it again. But then you'll know. Yeah, you'll know. And then you don't have to keep worrying about it in the future because you got it done. You got the you got checked off the list, and yeah. And there's so much to explore.

SPEAKER_01: 7:42

I know one of the things I'm always saying, okay, what would you guys like to learn today? Exactly. It's like, um, it's overwhelming.

SPEAKER_00: 7:48

There's so many things. I know. And I think I'm just starting realizing that. Like everywhere I'm looking, I'm like, I could do that, I could do that. And it's it's definitely, you know, it's just so many options.

SPEAKER_01: 7:59

Okay, today she handed it a beautiful scarf. First time she ever did it. And it was like she blew me away. It picked up on it so fast, it was phenomenal. And I just, you're welcome. And it's just, I love how open-minded that the students are here that they want to explore and try something rather than nope, this is all I know, and this is what I want to stick in my, you know, realm and my lane. And yeah, and I don't want anyone to feel like they can't do something, at least try. And I'm glad that you're very open-minded about that. It makes me really happy. Yeah. Oh gosh. So I I even asked her, I'm like, what would you like to explore? What would you like to learn? And so I know that we're gonna do some more sketching and some more drawing, and even from reference, which is great. Yeah. Um, there's just so much to learn and so many styles to try. Yeah. So I have her draw on with micron pens today. No, I was like, have you ever done that? And we're like, yeah, I said, well, let's doodle while we while we talk. That's part of why I have the video portion, um, just so we can share some mindful drawing while you talk. I I've always done that in meetings and stuff. I'm always like doodling while retain things more. Well, actually, a fact, a scientific fact. Yeah, yeah. Uh, that's another thing, man. This gal, she knows all kinds of details from so many things, and she's just so willing to share. And we have great discussions in our classes. I love it. Great philosophical about supernatural things. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, and why don't you watch it on TV? And you know, why are you drawn to this? And you know, things that we read, and it's just uh it's a great class, it's a great discussion. It really is, yeah. And I love the fact that the students have even hung out together outside of the classes because they're getting to know one another, and it's just it makes me so happy that they've met through this avenue. I mean, that was one of the things that I wasn't expecting to happen, and that the fact that it has makes me really happy. I know.

SPEAKER_00: 9:59

It makes me really happy too. I mean, like, you're just an awesome person, and I really look forward coming and just looking doing the art and just talking. Like you're really sweet.

SPEAKER_01: 10:08

Oh my gosh, it is just it's great. And I love the fact that um uh you share your opinion, like you know, what we're doing and what you want to learn. And so it makes me think outside the box too. Like, how can I make this more meaningful? And you know, I'm always like, I just don't want to give you something to draw and walk away. I want you to, you know, have success behind it.

SPEAKER_00: 10:30

Yeah, that's important. I'm really much so like willing to do anything and everything in art because I haven't explored, of course, it's you know, it's unlimited. I haven't explored uh, you know, everything. So when she brings up an idea, I'm like, let's just do it. You know, I don't want to like make my own idea, I'll just do what you say. Cause I I just love like having you know new things happen. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 10:49

I mean, and and if it's something she's not done, it's it turns into okay, I'm gonna try it in this style, this way. And that's that's what I want. That that's exactly what I want you to explore. So I love that you're open to doing that. That's awesome. Oh my goodness. So um, are there anything that you're looking forward to for the holidays coming up? Or is there anything that you're going to uh want to do as a class in here that has any like tradition that I need to like start focusing on? Like when my kids were little, we used to do advent calendars. Oh my gosh. And that's really popular with them. They're in their 30s now. So if you've never had one, is that something that you'd be interested in making? Or ornaments or anything that you know has the meaning behind it.

SPEAKER_00: 11:30

I mean, pretty much anything. I think um just like probably just doing anything that's like Christmas related. Yeah. Um, advent calendars, I love those. I think that'd be really cool. Ornaments too. I love doing ornaments. Um, we talk a lot about yeah, we talk a lot about movies.

SPEAKER_01: 11:45

So maybe there's some things we can spin on a movie. Yeah. That would be a lot of fun. That would be a lot. Yeah. I know that um when Lily's another student that we have, yeah. We were talking last week. Maybe we will do some needlefeld and characters, which you guys they did needlefeld and painting, they both have. So if we do some of the three-dimensional pieces, maybe we can do maybe a favorite character from the movie or something. So Madeline, you're great to have. How's your thing? How's your sketch coming along? Just it's a little something. Okay, okay. Oh, yeah. Like I said, just sitting here drawing a little cheeky little grandma bird. I love that. I love it. Well, I'm sure Madeline will be back on Instagram again. And so we just wanted to hop on and say hi and introduce her to um to everyone. And if you have a question about what drives our youth in art, please let me know, and that can be one of our discussion points. So take care. Have a great weekend. Thanks for joining us. Bye.