In this season finale, Richie and I discuss the healing power of art and how creativity has helped us both process emotions, find mindfulness, and reconnect with our playful side. I share how painting helped me navigate grief and social anxiety in my twenties, while Richie talks about how he accidentally discovered the meditative benefits of photography and why, as humans, we need struggle and challenge in our lives. Plus, I’ve got a special announcement about my upcoming course, Modern...

This week, Richie and I dive deep into my mixed media layering process. From the initial burst of excitement, through the problem-solving middle, to knowing when to stop, we share tips and personal insights on every stage of a painting. We chat about why planning isn’t always the best approach, and the surprising value of keeping a bit of mess (or, should I say, mystery) in our work. We also reflect on last week’s discussion about balancing art and admin, and I share a few ideas I'm taking...

Ever feel like you're constantly shifting between being an artist and wearing all the other hats that come with life and work? In this episode, Richie and I dive deep into the challenge of balancing creative flow with the demands of admin, routines, and the complexities of daily transitions—from work to home, from creating to planning. We share how we've been navigating a particularly rough couple of weeks, and how that experience opened up a conversation that just needed to happen. If you've...

Not all decisions can be made with logic or business in mind. Today, Richie and I chat about the importance of "what the heck moments"—those times when we follow a creative instinct, even though it may not make sense on paper. We share examples from our own creative journey, discussing how embracing these impulses can bring deeper fulfillment, growth, and unexpected opportunities. From taking your own approach to social media, choosing promotional opportunities that align with your values, to...

This week, Richie and I discuss how my sketchbooks came to the rescue, providing comfort after a challenging week of admin. This leads us to explore the many ways sketchbooks can benefit artists. Whether for observation, experimentation, therapy, inspiration gathering, or colour palette organisation, sketchbooks offer incredible versatility. We chat about approaches used by artists like Matisse and Frida Kahlo, and share some modern-day examples as well. Whether you’re seeking comfort or...

With social media becoming increasingly fast-paced and fewer photographs of artwork showing up, my appreciation for a good old book filled with art and creativity has grown! In this episode, I talk about a new series I’m sharing on YouTube where I explore my favorite creative books across different categories. Richie and I chat about how these books inspire my art practice, and I also open up about recent challenges with my online class platform. These struggles have deepened my appreciation...

Ever feel like you have too many tabs open in your brain? In this episode, I share my recent struggles with overwhelm and how simplifying my art business and practice helped me find balance. I chat with Richie about the clarity I gained from organising my thoughts on a whiteboard and the comfort of returning to simple watercolour techniques. This conversation also helped me refine my vision for the new online classes I’m working on and emphasised the importance of keeping things simple and...

In today's episode, Richie and I explore the evolution of my art sales strategy. I reflect on my early days exhibiting at cafes and art markets, where community connections and personal interactions were key (the butterfly approach). We then look at my more recent experience utilising online sales, e-course teaching, and art licensing (the hermit approach). We chat about the pros and cons of each method and consider whether there's a better option somewhere in between! Whether you're a social...

Have you ever embarked on a creative project only to find yourself questioning your choices midway through? In this episode, I talk with Richie about my recent attempt at re-branding my website and social media. What started as a fun day of choosing new colours, fonts, and design elements quickly escalated into website chaos, leaving me questioning my artistic identity. It wasn't what I had hoped for, but I learned some valuable lessons about planning, staying true to yourself, processing...

This week, I chatted with Richie about how I had a bit of a wobble. Maybe we'll call it mid-year panic. Suddenly, I could feel the year slipping away with goals unmet. Specifically, I've been feeling blocked when it comes to making online classes. How much prep does one need to do and is a rebrand of my website colours really what I should be doing right now? Yep, it's an honest one. But it's not all doom and gloom, as my procrastination led me to watch a YouTube video, which helped me figure...

The ebb and flow of creativity is inevitable. There will be times when we are itching to paint and know exactly what we want to do, and there will be times when turning up feels hard. In this episode, I answer your questions on this topic and share the ways I stay inspired, build compassion for quieter periods, honour my own rhythms, and continue seeking self-discovery and self-expression, even in small acts. From finding colour palettes to compiling sketchbook prompts, tidying up the studio,...

Recently, I made a delightful discovery: artists are still blogging! I am not sure why I thought the blogging scene was all but forgotten, but it's not. It's a little different now, especially with so many social media platforms to contend with. However, many artists are still blogging in various ways—on their own websites, on Substack, via email newsletters, and more. In this episode, I share my own experience and discuss things to consider when choosing your approach, from SEO to community...

There is a lot of pressure on artists to develop one strong style, but is this the only way? This week, Richie and I discuss my personal experience with having multiple art styles and share some of the benefits of embracing variety in your work. We explore how casting a wider creative net can be advantageous and talk about how, over time, your creative voice becomes stronger, making your work identifiable even as you move through different subjects and mediums. We hope this episode provides...

This week, we're answering a listener question about how to transition from your sketchbook to a canvas or alternative substrate. This topic is perfectly timed, as I've been in a sketchbook phase myself and am beginning to take the leap out. Join Richie and me as we discuss signs that you're ready, practical strategies to make the transition easier, ideas for setting up your space, and the importance of respecting cycles and revisiting sketchbooks as needed. It's an informative conversation...

Do you miss the days of looking at gorgeous photographs of art on Instagram and zooming in on all the details? We sure do. That's why we've been bucking the trends and sharing more photos again, despite the platform's push towards reels. Is it the best thing for account growth? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good decision. Tune in to hear more about our social media switch up and the benefits we’ve been experiencing. We also talk about breaking up with ChatGPT and gaining...

There are many ways to improve a creative space and make it feel like home. This week, Richie and I reflect back on the past year in our beloved art cottage and share the favorite updates and tweaks we've made to the space. We talk about everything from furniture, lighting, and decorating to our most recent trip to IKEA. Plus, there's plenty of laughs along the way. I'll admit I do need to stop sticking my nose into Richie's decorating! It's a fun one, but also a special conversation that...

Feeling the pressure to figure out and define your art? This conversation might get you thinking differently. What if you allowed yourself to play a little longer, to explore without constraints, and to gather inspiration from far and wide? That's exactly what I've been doing. Inspired by Rick Rubin's book "The Creative Act," I've discovered a fresh enthusiasm, confidence, and sense of wonder in my creative practice. It's made me realize that if we're always in a rush to reach the...

How long should you persist with a creative pursuit, art style, or medium if you are not enjoying it? This episode could also have been titled: I really want to love acrylics, but I am not sure if I do? It's a personal conversation about the confusion I sometimes experience when choosing materials and processes as a mixed-media artist, but of course, it goes beyond this! If you've ever found yourself questioning whether you're on the right path creatively, or if you simply seek some...

This week, Richie and I chat about why it can be helpful to revisit previous art styles or processes in your art practice or business. This idea emerged as I've rediscovered and fallen back in love with the playful style of art from my very first online class, The Melting Pot. We also discuss the challenges we've faced in defining a style and approach for our YouTube channel and why we're returning to simple, short videos like we used to share when we first got started. We hope you enjoy...

Breaks are wonderful and necessary, but they can also make it hard to get back into your artistic groove. This week, Richie and I discuss this challenge and offer practical guidance and encouragement to help you turn your creative drought into a fresh, exciting chapter. Discover the importance of taking that first step, embracing risk-taking, optimising your workspace, and selecting a project that challenges but doesn't overwhelm. If you've been struggling to find your creative flow, you...

Is it nostalgia? Maybe I've got those rose-tinted glasses on again. Do you ever get the feeling that being an artist was more enjoyable before? Is all this pressure to do more and be on multiple social media platforms accumulating, taking away the joy of making art? Join me and Richie as we delve into these questions and explore how I am combating these feelings by immersing myself in my studio and 'painting it out.' If you've been feeling weary lately, we hope this episode gives you a little...

Today, we re-explore the main theme of this podcast’s season: “relaxation” and how valuing more R&R has improved our art practice, creative business, and well-being. We also answer your questions relating to this season and set a realistic break and return date for the continuation of the podcast. As we head into this short break, we wanted to say thank you for tuning in and supporting the podcast. We look forward to returning on April 15th for more relaxed and inspiring...

What's your relationship with reels at the moment? Many artists feel the frustration of spending endless hours on editing apps, searching for the perfect audio, and condensing messages into mere seconds. Both Richie and I have struggled with this, but we've had some breakthroughs recently and learned a lot about what not to do! Curious about our take on things? Tune in to episode 157 for tips and insights from our own experience. With persistence and a shift in mindset, reels can be a...

Are you missing out on the benefits of Pinterest? In the art world, Pinterest often flies under the radar compared to Instagram, yet it's a powerhouse for art-related content. Over half of my social media website traffic comes from Pinterest, where people discover my art, podcasts, classes, YouTube channel, and blog posts. And yet, I spend as little as a few days a year on my Pinterest strategy. What's my secret? Tune in to find out. Plus, you'll gain tips on leveraging Pinterest to curate...