Episode Details

If you love the show and you'd like to support it directly you can tip the host here https://imperfect-adulting.captivate.fm/support

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Michelle Dovey about confronting self-imposed limits and embracing creative freedom through a unique art project centered on drawing the nude male form. Based in Wales and originally from New Zealand, Michelle shares how a pivotal solo trip to Florence during a major life upheaval led her to uncover hidden shame, challenge societal expectations, and transform her approach to asking for what she truly wants. Listeners will glean insights on the links between art, self-permission, and courageously redefining personal boundaries.

About Michelle Dovey:

Michelle Dovey is an internationally exhibiting artist and bestselling author whose pioneering work lives at the intersection of art, embodiment, and radical liberation. With over two decades immersed in transformational practices—including dance, shamanism, and somatic creativity—Michelle is a seasoned guide in breaking taboos, dissolving shame, and reclaiming the body as a source of power, truth, and pleasure. Main Topics Covered:

• How major life changes—like divorce—can prompt new creative exploration and self-dialogue.
• The challenge and revelation of “self-editing” in art, especially around drawing the male nude.
• Unpacking the male gaze vs. female gaze, and what that means for artists and viewers.
• Using a bold 100-drawing project to disrupt internalized shame and social taboos.
• The empowering skill of asking directly for what you want (in art, life, or even just how you like your coffee).
• How public vulnerability and sharing reduce shame and fuel genuine personal growth.
• The ripple effect: learning to prioritize your own desires influences daily choices and relationships.
• Why confronting limits and old stories can convert distant dreams into real-life possibilities.

Quote from the Episode:

“It was less and less and less about making everyone around me happy, and it was more and more and more about, like, what would Michelle like, what would I like, what would I like to ask for?” — Michelle Dovey

Timestamps:00:00 – Amy Stone introduces Michelle Dovey; global upbringing and sense of home01:23 – What makes Wales special (dark sky country and secret wildness)02:30 – Michelle Dovey’s journey into art: early roots, art school, and international study04:08 – The end of a 20-year marriage catalyzes an artistic and personal turning point04:58 – Returning to Florence: reclaiming lost dreams and revising old stories09:28 – Using drawing as meditation and the shock of “self-editing” out the male nude11:07 – Growing up with subtle and overt shame around art and the human body14:03 – Introduction to the male gaze, female gaze, and how art history frames the nude17:01 – Drawing Michelangelo’s David in public: audience reactions and social discomfort18:27 – Turning embarrassment and self-limitation into a 100 nude men drawing project20:19 – External and internal barriers to public, boundary-pushing creative work24:16 – Practicing the muscle of asking for what you want, even amidst outside fear27:00 – Learning to lead, set boundaries, and navigate discomfort as a woman and artist28:25 – How artistic risk translated into greater self-permission in daily life31:01 – Using social media to process and share shame: “The medicine for shame is sharing about it.”34:23 – Real-world impact: from creative asks to everyday requests, and why clarity matters36:31 – Closing reflections: shifting from distant dreams to actively creating your path40:13 – Michelle Dovey shares about her coaching work around wealth mindset and desire42:19 – Final fun questions; travel dreams and the ongoing practi