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 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.

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.

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 happens when you finally get to learn from one of your biggest artistic inspirations, and it doesn’t go as planned? In this episode, I reflect on my experience attending Kelogsloops workshop in Munich, how our contrasting styles challenged me, and the unexpected lessons I took away. From redefining composition to blending styles, this journey was more about finding my artistic voice than perfecting techniques.

In this episode, I share the story of attending Agnes Cecil’s workshop in Munich and how it became a turning point in my art journey. From conquering my fear of sketching portraits to embracing the beauty of loose brushstrokes, this experience reshaped how I approach watercolor and creativity. Join me as I reflect on the lessons learned, connections made, and the freedom of trusting the process.

And then, one morning, driving my son again to daycare, I saw a stag sculpture looking up, howling into the pink morning sky. That’s it. That’s it, I said out loud. My son asked, What, Mama? And I told him—that’s exactly what I should be painting. It all seemed to just connect at that moment. The deer. The presence. The fear of losing him. So I started choosing the reference, the colors. Mixing them, setting up my easel. And then the challenges began….

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.

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.

In this heartfelt episode, I reflect on my emotional journey back to Japan to say my final farewell to my grand aunt. The decision to fly back to Japan or not was a struggle for me since it meant taking my 3 year old with me, having to pause everything and financially. But there was few key things that happened that made me make a decision. 

In this episode, I explore the moments when parents open up their worlds to their children, sharing not just spaces and tasks, but meaningful parts of their identities. Through three stories—an artist inviting her children to lay a single brushstroke on a magazine cover, a pilot who secretly brings his child into the cockpit, and my own experiences of being in my mother’s workspace and now with my son in mine—we’ll reflect on why so many parents naturally want their children to feel connected to their work. Is it just about showing them what we do, or is there a deeper purpose, a desire for belonging, pride, and shared legacy? Join me as I unravel these intimate moments and the universal drive to invite our children into our worlds.

In this reflective episode, I share my journey from the word Emerge in 2024 to Mission for 2025. From setting creative goals inspired by Laura Horn's podcast to building a podcast, YouTube channel, and a thriving art practice, I celebrate milestones and explore the power of a mission to guide my next steps as an artist and parent. What will your word for the year be?