This episode is my last—for now. I’m sharing the five creative lessons this podcast has given me, the ones I think every artist should carry with them. It’s about letting go, protecting what matters, and learning to tune back in.

Many of my artist friends — even the ones who seem the most grounded — keep circling back to the same emotional loop. The same art fear.

For me, it shows up after big projects — a moment of emotional discomfort that makes me question everything. For my friend Eli, it looks like creative paralysis after a betrayal of her values.

In this episode, I unpack how our MBTI stress loops can quietly trap us — and how noticing them is often the first step back to creative joy. Whether your fear pushes you to overdo or freeze, this episode invites you to pause and ask:

What’s your art fear — and what helps you come back?

I still don’t feel like I’ve fully arrived at my artistic voice.
And maybe I never will —
but maybe that’s part of what keeps me painting.
What I know is this:
the journey isn’t about locking into a perfect identity.
It’s about noticing, reflecting,
and returning again and again to what you love.

Even with clear goals in place, I kept hitting this wall:
wait… is this really what I want to do?
And that’s when I realized —
it’s not about locking into a perfect goal forever.
It’s about constantly tuning in, adjusting,
and staying awake inside the process

I used to think fear meant I wasn’t good enough. But I’ve realized that fear is just part of the process — a signal that I’m stretching, growing, and pushing beyond what’s comfortable. And that’s where the magic happens.

I was so sure I’d be accepted — I even offered to do live toddler portraits at the event. But when I got the waitlist email, I sat in that disappointment for a few hours. Then I thought, okay — I’ll go anyway. I’ll walk the fair. I’ll learn.

I used to think I needed long, uninterrupted days to make real progress. But what actually worked? Protecting small windows. Giving myself permission to paint in bursts — and honoring that time like it mattered. Because it does.

It hit me when I heard Christian Hook say he painted every day for eight years before even thinking about selling. I realized I’d been focusing on the wrong things — and it was time to come back to the craft itself.

I realized that even when no one wanted the paintings I made of my son, I couldn’t stop painting him — because sometimes what matters most is making the work you care about first. This interview reminded me how much I still want to explore: experimenting with gold leaf again, standing back from the painting, trying larger work, and deepening my study of composition. I’m also learning to quiet the selling mindset and focus more on refining my skills — and to be more empathetic toward the artists I interview, because now I know how vulnerable it feels.

I didn’t realize I was burned out until I stopped painting altogether. I was creating so much content, chasing visibility, and it hit me — I wasn’t actually making art that fed me anymore. That’s when I knew I needed to shift everything.

In this episode, I talk with my artist friend Alexandra — a doula and fine art craftsperson whose work centers around the theme of birth.
We explore what it means to create slowly, name pieces intentionally, and hold space for transformation through art.
As someone who paints toddlers and babies, I found surprising common ground in Alexandra’s birth-inspired practice.
Even though we work differently — she protects her process, I tend to share as I go — we both reflect deeply on why we create.
This episode is for artists walking an intuitive path, or anyone who finds meaning in quiet, thoughtful creation.

That expression on his face—that puzzled, dreamy look—was the same one I saw in the photo, the same one I saw when the other child fell. In that moment, I knew: this painting had to be about him. About us. Because we’re not just growing side by side. We’re growing together.

I feel momentum matters in creativity. I was reminded of this when I counted my son’s daycare paintings—50% of them were really good. Meanwhile, when I looked at my own 158 paintings last year, I only truly loved about 10%. And now, as I study Van Gogh for my ‘Masters Reimagined’ series, I see it even more—he created so much, yet only a few of his works stand out as iconic. But that’s the point: you have to keep creating to get there.

Some of us need structure before we can create—others just need to start. So what actually makes a creative routine work? Today, Eli and I dive into the habits and rituals that help us stay creative, overcome resistance, and make space for art in our lives. If you’ve ever felt stuck or wondered why some routines work better than others, this episode is for you.

It’s frustrating—putting so much effort into sharing your art, only to see someone with just a couple of posts skyrocket past you. But does that mean we’re doing it wrong? Or is there another way? Today, I’m breaking down the tension between chasing numbers and chasing art, and how to build a creative path that actually feels right.

What does it mean to “find your style” — and is it even the goal? In this intimate conversation, watercolor artist Kelogsloops (Hieu) shares how his journey began with Sailor Moon sketches, why he’s still evolving as an artist, and how he balances precision with spontaneity. We talk about chasing dreams, hiding mistakes with gold leaf, creative burnout, and the story behind his most treasured painting by Agnes Cecile. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering his work, this episode offers a rare look behind the dreamy visuals into the very real artist behind them.

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 crucial tips for artists just starting with commissions. From pricing to contracts and communication, I’ll walk you through the steps to handle commissions like a pro and avoid common mistakes. Whether you’re new to the process or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with advice to help you navigate your art business with confidence.

“Who wants my signature?" That was my first thought when a client asked if my paintings came signed. I had always admired the signatures of artists like Klimt and Van Gogh but never felt my work deserved that kind of mark. But then I stopped and asked myself—why? Why wasn’t I worthy of a signature? That question sparked a journey, one that had me filling entire sheets of watercolor paper, refining my letters, and finally, stepping into my identity as an artist.

For me, that shift happened in 2023 when I committed to painting my son every day for 31 days, leading up to his third birthday. By the time the month ended, painting had become a daily ritual. Now, if I don’t paint—even just a little—it feels off, like something is missing. That’s the habit you want to build. Painting as a natural part of your life.

What if the key to better art isn’t technique, but play?

This week, I embraced full experimentation—mixing inks, layering textures, and letting curiosity lead. Inspired by Rick Rubin’s seeds concept, I discovered 45 new colors, unexpected textures, and a painting sparked by the film Flow.

This episode is a reminder: creativity thrives in exploration, not perfection. If you’re feeling stuck, maybe it’s time to stop planning and start playing.