https://Art2Life.com - Rukmini Poddar is an artist, educator, and designer. Her creative passion lies at the intersection of emotional wellness and creative storytelling. She is an artist who draws feelings.  She admits that stumbled into art. It wasn’t a planned career path. When Rukmini graduated college, she was burnt out. As a graphic designer, she spent much of her time on the computer. She wanted to get her hands dirty, so she dove into the 100-Day Project. She started playing with...

https://Art2Life.com - Silvia Poloto emigrated to the United States in the 90s. It was here that she stumbled on a knack for art—and it changed the trajectory of her life. When Silvia was finishing her Master’s Degree, she started cutting out pieces from magazines and making collages. She started working with metal. Looking to learn more, she signed up for a class called “Metal Arts,” only to realize it was a jewelry-making class.  She spent her time in class creating small sculptures with...

https://Art2Life.com - The power dynamics at play in an organization can often make it difficult—if not impossible—to form connections with coworkers and superiors. It’s easy to let prejudices and insecurity get in the way. But an environment of collaboration and trust is key to successful organizations.  The truth is that as macho or hardened as someone seems, we’re all fragile. The human experience is challenging. Compassion and empathy are exceedingly important—yet exceedingly rare.  ...

https://Art2Life.com - I was walking into my studio the other day and met a woman who happened to be walking by. She’d recently taken my free workshop—while on a sailboat. It turns out that she’s an amazing photographer, artist, creator, and adventurer.  When Covid hit, she—along with her husband and twin boys—embarked on a grand adventure: Sailing the world. They bought a catamaran and started their journey in New Zealand. Taking action and diving in wholeheartedly led to some of the best...

https://Art2Life.com - Danielle LaPorte loves simplicity. The closer she gets to a heart-centered life, the more she craves it. It’s become a spiritual practice. She lets go of anything she hasn’t used for 6–12 months. She doesn’t buy mindlessly. Instead, everything in her home has a story, a reason behind buying it. Everything matters. Simplicity requires letting go. It requires loosening your attachment to things that don’t matter. Are you able to take this approach in your art and your...

https://Art2Life.com - Are you struggling to cast a vision for yourself, your art, or your business? Has imposter syndrome taken hold? Do you feel confident that you can make your dreams a reality?  Suzi Dafnis walked into a room with 30 other business owners about to start the art class I was offering our mastermind group, admittedly incredibly nervous. Though confident in any business environment, she felt like she shrunk into her feet when she walked into my class.  Yet she came out of...

https://Art2Life.com - Raquel Baldocchi is a mixed-media contemporary artist in the Bay Area. Raquel draws inspiration from her grandmother, who created textile art, made beautiful scrapbooks, and crafted ornaments every year for Christmas.  Raquel’s college boyfriend’s mother was a printmaker. She influenced Raquel so much that Raquel pursued a degree in printmaking. Now, every piece of art that Raquel creates is infused with a story.  In this episode, Raquel and I have a conversation in...

https://Art2Life.com - Louise Fletcher is an artist and teacher, gifted at helping her students connect with their emotions and unleash their artistic voice. But she wasn’t always aware of her gift. She genuinely thought she had no artistic talent because she couldn’t sit in front of a canvas and execute a vision. When she learned that she could play with paint, and find joy in the process, it changed everything. In this heartfelt conversation, we uncover the depths of finding one’s...

https://Art2Life.com - What does the journey of bringing your art to life look like? How does the process of creating inform who you are becoming? The truth is that you are a work of art. With every brushstroke, you’re becoming what you’re created to be. And that energy will show up in your art. In this episode of Art2Life, I’ll walk you through the three stages of creating powerful art.  ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… Stage #1: Intellectually...

https://Art2Life.com - In this special throwback episode of Art2Life, we revisit one of our most beloved conversations with award-winning art critic Jerry Saltz.  Making art is hard enough, but hearing from others whether it is good or not is especially so. Every artist I know already has, hard-wired within them, a pretty tough critic. I certainly do. So I never have been particularly drawn to listening to more of them. I know, of course, art criticism is essential in the art world. I get...

https://Art2Life.com - Artists are always asking questions. When you’re always questioning, it’s only natural that a lack of clarity arises. Your soul is always pulling you to the unknown. We’re living in a world where opportunities are boundless. The curiosity to see what’s possible is a driving force. When you’re in congruence with who you are and what you’re making, it’s the best feeling in the world. And when the expression doesn’t match the creature, you must change.  Clarity is found...

“My calling is to help you answer yours.” – Chérie Healey Chérie believes that we all have a calling that we have to answer in this life. If we simplify it down to its essence, we are supposed to be ourselves, with all of our flaws, traumas, and wounds. Her purpose is to help people step into being all the way themselves.  Chérie is an Executive Coach and Brand Strategist for women leaders. She’s guided great Leaders for over 25 years at Google, YouTube, Paramount, Nike, Apple, Stanford...

https://Art2Life.com - Caroline Millar was creatively blocked for a long time. She loved art as a child but had a terrible experience with an art teacher when she was 16. Because of it, she stopped painting for 25 years. She went through a difficult time where everything creative disappeared from her life.  Five years ago, Caroline joined our Creative Visionary Program. She embarked on a journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration. Caroline experienced a profound shift in her...

https://Art2Life.com - Austyn has completed art residencies all over the world. She landed in a residency at the Mendocino Art Center right before Covid hit. Before Covid, the majority of her work was black and white and ornate. She’d sculpt solid and draw with an ebony pencil on the surface.  Her time in Mendocino allowed her to crystalize what she wanted her art to convey. She shifted toward bright dominant colors and hasn’t looked back. In this conversation, Austyn shares how her global...

https://Art2Life.com - Do you feel like every waking moment has to be dedicated to your art or thinking about your art? When you finally have the time to create, are you already exhausted? When I’m talking about balance, I’m talking about setting up your energy. You have to curate your life so that you’re energized when it’s time to create. In this episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I share 10 ways I strive to balance my life and my art.  ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE...

https://Art2Life.com - Jon Ritt is a close friend, artist, designer, and next-level storyteller who helps brands identify their core principles and brings them to life. Jon takes the fundamentals he learned as a painter and applies them to how he works as a designer. He helps brands sculpt their identity in visual form.  In this conversation, we dive into gaining clarity around your “why,” why knowing yourself is the most important first step in creative endeavors, and how branding is your...

https://Art2Life.com - As a brand strategist, Bonnie Wan’s job is to make meaning from messiness. A great brand can distill their purpose into 1–3 words to create a clear focal point from which they can create, innovate, and make decisions. Most of us don’t realize that we can do that in our own lives.  The Life Brief is the essential playbook to unlock what you want in life. It’s a three-step tool to help you realign your path with your dreams personally, professionally, culturally, and...

https://Art2Life.com - Have you ever chosen a single word to orient your entire year? I’ve made a practice of it, and on this episode, I’m going to show you just how beneficial this is! Join me as I dive into the importance of choosing a word, how to do so, and how it relates to the five essential human needs of the Art2Life matrix. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… How to find YOUR word using the five essential needs [2:10] Using connection and health to...

https://Art2Life.com - Promoting your work can feel like a terrifying task for many artists. But with the right mindset, promotion can feel like another extension of your creativity. Join me as I dive into the proper way to frame promotion as an artist, the difficult necessity of galleries, the problem with over-polishing your work, and critical steps for building an audience for your creations. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… The currency and payoff of...

https://Art2Life.com - As artists return to their studios after a winter holiday hiatus, many of us are experiencing the familiar struggle to drop back into our art after a break. Taking even the smallest pause can sometimes make us feel like a stranger in our studio. Join me as I tackle the three biggest challenges to reconnecting with your work after a break and how to overcome them to get the creative fires stoked again. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… ...

https://Art2Life.com - Are you looking to take your art to the next level in 2024? Do you know the steps needed to make that happen? On this episode, I'll unpack the three biggest obstacles to going big with your art. Join me as we examine why confidence is the key to scaling up, the problem with thinking too small, and the importance of knowing why we make art in the first place. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… Why confidence is the key to scaling up...

https://Art2Life.com - So much of annual planning has to do with all the things we want to accomplish in 365 days. But what if we started our planning process with the question: How do I want to feel in 2024? Join me as I discuss a few different approaches to planning and prioritizing your year to make it the best one yet. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… Allowing the seasons to complement your life and art practice [2:19] Becoming the curator of your life...

https://Art2Life.com - It’s amazing what we can create when we do so from a place of pure authenticity. Art-making is a journey to discover yourself, and our work is the artifacts we collect along the way. But what if your art isn’t a canvas, but a place? Meet Sajeela de la Borbolla, founder and healing instructor at the Haramara Retreat located in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico. Her personal journey has led her to create, in conjunction with her team, a beautiful haven for guests to connect with...

https://Art2Life.com - In what may be the final installment of making a painting for my daughter’s birthday, we’re going to be talking about finishing. Or at least, what the beginning stages of that process look like. Join me as I talk about the delicate balance of refinement and letting go, knowing when we need perspective, and holding an idea for a painting while remaining authentic to ourselves and the process. ================================ LISTEN IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN… Crafting...