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Podcast cover with text 'Art, Parenthood, and Beyond with Miwa Gardner' and a microphone icon on a purple watercolor background.
Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

Creating Around Birth: A Conversation on Art, Naming, and Reflection | #artandbirth Ep. 040

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.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

Momentum and Intuition: Balancing Structure & Spontaneity in Creativity | #CreativeMomentum Ep. 038

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.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

Kelogsloops: On Art, Storytelling & Why Your Style Is Always Evolving| #Chasingdreams Ep. 035

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.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

From Burnout to Authentic Creation: Finding Your Artist Voice Again | #ArtistHealing Ep. 026

In this episode, I sit down with my artist friend Eli to unpack the challenges of 2024 and the creative struggles they revealed. I realize my fear of her stepping away from painting was shaping our conversation, while she simply needed space to heal and reconnect on her terms. We explore creative burnout, balancing spontaneity with intention, and using guiding words for 2025. Listen to Part 1 for more context on Eli’s break from art.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

When Art Hurts: Selling at Nontraditional Venues & Meta Ads Frustrations | #ArtistStruggle Ep. 025

In this vulnerable conversation with my artist friend Eli, we unpack our most challenging moments of 2024: her painful experience with an interior design store exhibition and my social media marketing roadblocks after moving to the US. We discuss how sometimes the art world can deeply wound us, yet these experiences shape our path forward. This episode is for every artist who has felt small in the face of rejection or lost in their creative journey.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

Listening In: Aine Divine on Art as Catharsis, Following Sparks, Surrendering to Creative Blocks, and Fully Occupying Your Body in the Creative Process| Ep.19

In this episode, Aine Divine shares her insights on the creative process, focusing on how art can be cathartic and transformative. She discusses how following sparks of inspiration, surrendering to creative blocks, and fully occupying your body with movement all play a crucial role in producing meaningful work. Aine also explores the importance of listening to your inner voice, grounding yourself, and embracing the natural flow of creativity. Tune in for a deeper understanding of connecting with your art and body during the creative journey.

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Miwa Gardner Miwa Gardner

Talking about Artistic Style: Insights with Artist & Dear Friend Eli #Arttalk Ep. 014

In Episode 14 of Art, Parenthood, and Beyond, I’m  joined by myfriend and fellow artist, Eli, who she met through an Agnes Cecil watercolor workshop. Together, we discuss concept of artistic style—how it evolves, how to define it, and why it's more about exploration and experimentation than finding a set formula. Eli shares her thoughts on style being a natural yet practiced outcome and why continual experimentation is key to discovering what resonates. We discuss the different styles of well-known artists and how they too went through their own processes of finding and evolving their style.

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