Are you craving fresh inspiration for your digital art practice—or just love discovering new Procreate tools?

🎉 Surprise! A brand-new bonus episode of Creative Juggle Joy just dropped, and it’s all about Free + Create—a one-of-a-kind digital event that’s totally free and packed with creative goodness.

In this exclusive interview, I chat with artist, educator, and event organizer Kelly Burke, the spark behind Free + Create, to dive into how this generous initiative came to life and what you can expect when it goes live.

✨  What Is Free + Create?

Imagine a week-long digital treasure hunt for Procreate artists.

From October 28 to November 3, you’ll be able to download exclusive Procreate freebies—custom brushes, textures, palettes, and stamps—from a curated collection of artists who want to spark your creativity (without charging you a thing).

✔️ 100% Free
✔️ No catch✔️ Just beautiful, downloadable inspiration

🎧 In This Podcast Episode, You'll Hear:

• What inspired Kelly to create Free + Create—and how it grew faster than expected

• Why collaboration is so essential to thriving as a creative entrepreneur

• Sneak peeks at the talented contributors (prepare to fangirl a little!)

• Exactly how Free + Create works—and why it’s beautifully simple

• How to get involved in the next round as a contributor or participant

🎧 Listen to the full episode here → [Insert podcast link]

📅 Key Dates for Free + Create

Opens: October 28

Closes: November 3 at midnight CST

Once it’s live, you’ll receive a link to browse and download any (or all!) of the resources offered by the participating artists. It’s like shopping—but free and for your creative soul.

👉  Sign up here to get early access

💬 What Makes It So Special?

This isn’t just about freebies. It’s about community, inspiration, and creative exploration.

Whether you’re brand new to Procreate or you’ve been creating digitally for years, Free + Create is your chance to:

• Grow your digital art library

• Try new brushes, palettes, and techniques

• Connect with generous artists from around the world

• Find new mentors, teachers, and tools that speak to YOU

Find Kelley on Skillshare or her site here: https://kelleybrenburke.com

Here's some of her amazing work:

Transcript:

Creative Juggle Joy Podcast: Special Episode Featuring Kelly Bren Burke, Founder of Free + Create

Welcome back to the Creative Juggle Joy podcast, where we talk about the beautiful chaos of building a creative life and a business that actually feels like you. I'm your host, Delores Naskrent, and today I’m joined by Kelly Bren Burke—a fellow teacher, Skillshare instructor, and the visionary behind Free + Create.

Kelly wears many creative hats: she’s a collage artist, educator, and now a creative event organizer. In this episode, we chat about what sparked the idea for Free + Create, the impact of creative summits, and how Free + Create is different in its simplicity, accessibility, and generosity.

The Spark Behind Free + Create

Kelly was inspired after participating in several digital art and creative summits, including events hosted by Drew Steinbrecher and Peggy Dean. Through these experiences, she discovered how powerful creative collaboration could be. She was particularly moved by the generosity of other artists who shared freebies and educational resources.

Kelly wanted to pay it forward and make those kinds of resources available in one easy-to-access place. Thus, Free + Create was born—a one-week digital event offering curated Procreate freebies from talented artists across the creative community.

When the Magic Happened

A highlight in the early days of Free + Create was when contributor Dawn Nicole shared the event with her large audience. Kelly saw the waitlist grow by 100 people per day, reaching 700 in a week. That’s when she realized: this was really happening.

What to Expect from Free + Create

The event opens on October 28 and runs until November 3. Participants can sign up, access the live landing page, and download any or all of the nine free offerings by giving their email to each contributor. It’s like a creative free-for-all, with no strings attached.

From brushes and stamps to color palettes and textures, there’s something for every Procreate user to explore and enjoy. Kelly hopes people feel joyful, inspired, and deeply connected during this week.

From Learner to Leader

Kelly shares her journey from being a Skillshare student experimenting with hand lettering, to falling in love with collage, to now teaching her own classes and organizing this generous event. It’s proof that creative evolution is often nonlinear—and that trying new things can unlock new paths.

The Power of Collaboration

Collaboration is at the heart of Free + Create. Kelly, once a self-proclaimed "lone ranger," emphasizes how crucial community has become to her creative and business growth. She credits the digital art community with being more generous and supportive than she ever expected.

What’s Next for Free + Create?

Kelly already has plans for another round of Free + Create in February 2026, and possibly three or four editions per year. She’s even collecting names for a contributor waitlist. (If you’re interested, head to her website to join!)

Lightning Round Fun

We ended the episode with a few light-hearted questions:

• One word that captures Free + Create? "Win-win."

• Favorite creative tools? Procreate, Canva, and ChatGPT (especially for business tasks!)

• Recharge method? Reality TV, reading, and diving into the next creative project.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're an experienced digital artist or just getting started, Free + Create is a joyful celebration of creative community and artistic generosity. It’s a win for contributors and participants alike.

Don’t miss out—sign up, explore new tools, and discover artists who just might become your new favorite teachers.

Thanks for tuning in to this special episode of Creative Juggle Joy. Keep creating, keep juggling, and most importantly, keep finding joy in the process!