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In the previous episode, we met Sana Riyazali Merchant who discussed the ways in which history and culture influence her work, the interesting challenges associated with drawing on hands as canvases and how her medium (henna paste) is uniquely tricky to work with. She also discussed how she helps share stories through her art and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Alison Zou. Alison Zou is a tattoo artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her art career began with an apprenticeship at Chronic Ink Tattoos in 2012. While learning to become a tattoo artist she also began studies at the Ontario College of Art & Design, University, through the Drawing and Painting program (OCAD-U 2014-2018). Alison became a full-time tattoo artist and developed her fine-line tattooing style, focusing on anime and manga subject matter (2018-present). In July of 2021, Alison opened Duskwood Ink, a tattoo studio located in Markham, Ontario. Presently she continues to explore the possibilities of fine-line tattooing, undertaking even the most complex manga panels. In our conversation, Alison and I discuss how she entered into the tattoo industry, the technicalities of fine-line tattooing and what her own, personal tattoos mean to her. Key Ideas Discussed: Alison has always been artistic but she never knew if she could be a tattoo artist because of her strict parents/culture When she came to Canada, there were more open minded people here A friend of her Mom's owns a tattoo supply store and encouraged Alison's mom to let her get into it Manga and anime-style tattoo - line work, some shading, greyscale; the subject matter excites her Placement is a challenge - the physical canvas changes (ribs, knees) She works with thin, delicate lines Practicing on fruit skin (bananas, oranges, grapefruit, pomelos) - but it's not close to what real skin feels like; practicing the positioning of your hand/arm; then she tattooed people for free or practiced on herself Every part of tattooing excites her - talking to client, creating the piece, tattooing, pictures of finished piece She never feels tired going to work Clients will come to her knowing exactly what they want to do - they often want an exact copy of something from manga or screen shot from anime She does lots of research by watching lots of anime She used to get tattoos because they had meaning to her (or she'd try to force meaning) but now it's often just because she likes the artist's' style (she flew to Barcelona for an afternoon for one of her pieces); the importance of showing respect to the original artist She wants her work to continue as it is right now; she's happy Among many insights gained, Alison reminds us about the research that’s needed before she begins her artistic practice. In the next episode we meet Lillian, a filmmaker who shares Alison’s feelings about the role that research and planning play in her art. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Alison Zou is a tattoo artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her art career began with an apprenticeship at Chronic Ink Tattoos in 2012. While learning to become a tattoo artist she also began studies at the Ontario College of Art & Design, University, through the Drawing and Painting program (OCAD-U 2014-2018). Alison became a full-time tattoo artist and developed her fine-line tattooing style, focusing on anime and manga subject matter (2018-present). In July of 2021, Alison opened Duskwood Ink, a tattoo studio located in Markham, Ontario. Presently she continues to explore the possibilities of fine-line tattooing, undertaking even the most complex manga panels. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Keight MacLean who discussed the ways in which she fell into her work by accident and through lots of experimentation, the ways living abroad immersed in art for a year continues to impact her professional work, as well as how and why she never experiences creative block. She also discussed how she uses her artistic practice to interweave traditional and modern ideologies, techniques and stories and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Sana Riyazali Merchant. Sana Riyazali Merchant is a bridal henna artist. Henna has been her passion from a very young age. Sana’s love for henna grew even stronger after her family moved to Canada when she was a teenager and henna application became a tool for her to make friends and integrate herself socially. Sana’s henna journey led her to meet amazing people and create art that, in return, became part of the way she practiced self care. Today she cannot imagine life without henna. From the making of the henna paste to the application process and then receiving feedback from brides/clients/family, Sana is passionate about every step. She is continuously thinking of ways to take my henna to the next level. This ancient art form with its amazing healing powers has always filled Sana’s soul with love and positivity. In our conversation, Sana and I discuss the ways in which history and culture influence her work, the interesting challenges associated with drawing on hands as canvases and how her medium (henna paste) is uniquely tricky to work with. Key Ideas Discussed: Henna has medicinal properties It symbolizes health and prosperity Henna started as just dots, cultural and religious symbols added, hiding of the groom's name, to now more storytelling through the henna The process of the henna application is symbolic of marriage - bride needs patience + after care is important - when you take off the henna, you don't immediately see the results Majority of the brides give Sana full creative control In henna there's no going back; you can't erase it or redo it Bridal henna is different than planning bridal makeup; there is an element of letting go, giving over control that the bride has to be okay with Everyone's hands are different; canvas is different every time A typical application process takes about 4.5 hours, front and back to elbow (which is fast!) The reason she can do it so quickly is because of the way she sets up the work Inspiration in traditional henna designs and structures and nature Henna design is symmetrical from one arm to the next Playing with different styles - she's trying more realistic representations of images (ex: roses) The consistency of the henna paste can make or break the design and the process - this is the most challenging part of the process Henna is made fresh - making of the material and trying to find consistency (it depends on the weather; humidity) - trying to achieve 'dream consistency'; the quality of the material is critical in the final art Precaution is better than cure - she takes her own set-up with her Creating a consistency process for applying the henna but also for creating the dream consistency henna paste No two designs are the same because no two hands are the same Marrying the traditional with the modern storytelling aspects; elevating the traditional aspect She'd love to create a program to help others find therapeutic relief doing henna; aromatherapy in henna paste; art therapy and aromatherapy Among many insights gained, Sana reminds us about the power of storytelling within her artistic practice. In the next episode we meet Allison, a tattoo artist who shares Sana’s feelings about how she helps share stories through her art. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Sana Riyazali Merchant is a bridal henna artist. Henna has been her passion from a very young age. Sana’s love for henna grew even stronger after her family moved to Canada when she was a teenager and henna application became a tool for her to make friends and integrate herself socially. Sana’s henna journey led her to meet amazing people and create art that, in return, became part of the way she practiced self care. Today she cannot imagine life without henna. From the making of the henna paste to the application process and then receiving feedback from brides/clients/family, Sana is passionate about every step. She is continuously thinking of ways to take my henna to the next level. This ancient art form with its amazing healing powers has always filled Sana’s soul with love and positivity. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Caroline Duffy who spoke with us about the textile design industry, how her involvement in an artistic community is life-giving and the joys and challenges of working for oneself. She also reminded us to get out into nature for a healthy dose of inspiration and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Shen Ramu. Shen Ramu, born and raised in Toronto, is an Illustrator and Designer working in the Canadian Animation Industry. Since graduating from the Animation Bachelor’s Degree program at Sheridan in 2012, she’s been designing characters, props, and locations for various animated kids’ television series. These include Paw Patrol, Justin Time, and Disney T.V. shows such as Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Star and the Forces of Evil. Shen has worked locally for studios in Toronto as well as in Ottawa and now works with clients all over the world from the UK to South Korea to Israel. Her artistic goal is to create bright, happy images for kids to enjoy. Children, animals, and nature are heavily featured in her personal work, each image telling a story through expressive visuals. Shen loves border collies, jazz music, and that her work in animation keeps her young at heart! In our conversation, Shen and I discuss how she continues to refine and redefine her style, how she keeps herself inspired and the tools she uses to create her work. Key Ideas Discussed: Works in animation She likes creating the scenes and the characters more than just making the characters move She likes working on preschool shows Cute characters, sweet and welcoming environments Bright, bold colour palettes Her style is 'cartoony', which she enjoys Style is always changing and always evolving Have to know how to adapt to other styles of shows She found her artistic style by doing a lot of drawing - children, animals, nature are some of her favourite subject matter Slowly over time you find what feels unique to you Stylus right on her monitor Off the computer she uses pencil and paper (even a lined paper pad) - get ideas out onto paper, that's never for the final piece (scan or take a picture and bring it into Photoshop to continue it digitally) If she's sitting at her desk working, she'll sketch directly onto her computer 40-60% of an average day is spent sitting and drawing (usually at the computer) Taking breaks is incredibly important Stretching is very important in her day She works mainly digitally Exploratory research - best shapes and angles to capture a more dynamic final product Finding reference images - Googling images is incredibly important She loves Photoshop because she can isolate and manipulate layers She adds in a texture that gives the digital image some fuzziness to make it look more organic She loves that her work makes kids happy She loves working on pitch projects the most - characters, locations, style guides; works with a writer; helps to sell the show concept Keeping up motivation can be very challenging; to remedy this she ensures she has downtime every day where she doesn't draw Disconnecting your brain and surrounding yourself with nature is so important Self-marketing and business knowledge comes with the territory of making a living as an artist; in a perfect world if she could just create she would love that Dreams of getting into children's book illustration, designing stop motion animation sets, animating music videos; working with kids in some capacity Among many insights gained, Shen reminds us about the need for boundaries. In the next episode we meet Keight, a portrait artist who shares Shen’s feelings about the importance of boundaries in creative work. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Shen Ramu, born and raised in Toronto, is an Illustrator and Designer working in the Canadian Animation Industry. Since graduating from the Animation Bachelor’s Degree program at Sheridan in 2012, she’s been designing characters, props, and locations for various animated kids’ television series. These include Paw Patrol, Justin Time, and Disney T.V. shows such as Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Star and the Forces of Evil. Shen has worked locally for studios in Toronto as well as in Ottawa and now works with clients all over the world from the UK to South Korea to Israel. Her artistic goal is to create bright, happy images for kids to enjoy. Children, animals, and nature are heavily featured in her personal work, each image telling a story through expressive visuals. Shen loves border collies, jazz music, and that her work in animation keeps her young at heart! https://www.shenramu.com/ https://www.instagram.com/shenramu Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Shen Ramu who spoke with us about how she continues to refine and redefine her style, how she keeps herself inspired and the tools she uses to create her work. She also reminded us about the need for boundaries and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Keight MacLean. Keight MacLean is a Toronto-based painter. Her paintings combine the old with the new, reproducing historical portraits by hand before applying contemporary and experimental methods. With a love for European History, MacLean's focus on women was born after years of reading male driven histories. Her work now seeks to celebrate the many women in historical portraits, giving a voice to the silenced. In our conversation, Keight and I discuss the ways in which she fell into her work by accident and through lots of experimentation, the ways living abroad immersed in art for a year continues to impact her professional work, as well as how and why she never experiences creative block. Key Ideas Discussed: Studied illustration at OCAD By happenstance she fell into painting and drawing as a minor She studied in Florence Italy for a year - impacted every part of her life She considers herself a history nerd All of her portraits are based on old master's paintings, with a focus on women and how they've been portrayed throughout history + introduce modern and contemporary elements Loves having fun with the work and marrying old and new She never starts a painting from a blank white canvas; instead she primes the canvases with black primer If you're working up from dark, it's different than working from down from light - approaching a painting in a different way; subtractive art, "carving away"; a black background is also easier to start with because it looks a lot more finished Time in Florence was transformative Spending time with masters paintings in the museums The masters paintings feel so familiar to her Copying the old masters as an exercise is really good practice There's one class that kickstarted her work now - playing with different materials/surface each week If you 'mess up' a small painting the cost and time commitment of failing is small; good way to experiment; less afraid of messing up; experimentation; have fun - as soon as she figured this out it was huge Smaller paintings are a jumping off point from an experimentation Everyone has room for a little 6x6 painting! Process is labour-intensive Very particular about her painting surfaces: wood panels, 20 thin layers of gesso - white and black to get a medium grey + so that the wood grain doesn't show through, sanding between layers, 2-3 layers of thinned out black gesso (she does them in batches of 20 at a time), paint marker sketch (compositions ahead of time on her computer), several layers of canvas (beige) coloured gesso, switch to acrylic paint, one final layer in slow drying acrylic (gives her time to blend), final finishes are different on each painting (spray paint, gold leaf, etc.) If she needs a break from painting she'll stand up and work on canvas prep She paints in bulk (orders 70 panels at the time) She has lots of 90% done paintings (portraiture is done) - hanging on the wall staring down at her and when she knows what the final process will be, Keight takes them down and finishes the painting Workflow and option in bouncing around to different tasks and processes; she feels its a good balance for her and she's never bored in her work It takes her approximately 1.5 months to complete a batch of 20 finished paintings She really likes boundaries and is always getting better at it Having a studio outside of a house is much easier for her - 9-5 Tues-Sat Painting as a profession has and hasn't changed her work - it's encouraged her to paint more, which she loves She doesn't get creative block - regimented process and having lots of the on at the same time helps with this Never falling out of practice because working on painting full time Spray paint, drippy paint markers, gold leaf are some of her favourite modern materials to use - she has accepted that she can't control them so she sees them as 'collaborators' in the process and even when she doesn't agree, but she likes the chaos that brings into her art (contemporary finishes); the switch off between super meticulous traditional paintings meets contemporary and chaotic finishes (letting go) Sells directly to clients most of the time - it takes away the preciousness (in a good way) - you have to let other people see beauty in your own flaws She loves having her own studio space now Among many insights gained, Keight reminds us about how to integrate the past with the present. In the next episode we meet Sana, a bridal henna artist who shares Keight’s feelings about how she uses her artistic practice to interweave traditional and modern ideologies, techniques and stories. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Keight MacLean is a Toronto-based painter. Her paintings combine the old with the new, reproducing historical portraits by hand before applying contemporary and experimental methods. With a love for European History, MacLean's focus on women was born after years of reading male driven histories. Her work now seeks to celebrate the many women in historical portraits, giving a voice to the silenced. http://keightmacleanshop.ca/ https://www.keightmaclean.com/selected-paintings Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Sareka Unique who reminded us that inspiration is present all around her, the way her current mood dictates her final product, how she knows when a piece is complete and the special community she’s created for other artists online. She also reminded us of the wonder of colour in her work and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Caroline Duffy. Caroline Duffy is an artist and textile designer living in Dundalk, Ireland. While studying at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, she fell in love with textiles and patterns. After graduating from NCAD, she spent 10 years creating surface and textile design for Textile Houses in New York, Sydney and London. On her return she launched her own design and art business, back here in Ireland. With Caroline’s Art her signature colourful pieces are all inspired by nature – whether it’s a floral or abstract painting, printed silk scarf, notebooks or cards. “I create colourful art, textiles and patterns for people who want to connect with the joy of nature in their home and on the go!” Everything comes down to nature for her. Her mission is to make and design colourful pieces that create vitality, happiness and intrigue to her and those who see them. In our conversation, Caroline and I discuss the textile design industry, how her involvement in an artistic community is life-giving and the joys and challenges of working for oneself. Key Ideas Discussed: She's worked all over the world, settled back in Ireland about 10 years ago She fell into textile design by accident - a happy accident! Textile design touches on all the things she loves including painting, use of fabrics and seeing the design transform into a product She's travelled the world, working in different textile houses (USA, Australia, UK) She's had bosses who were hard on her and she takes everything to heart, which was a challenge (developing a tough skin was a necessary skill) There's no place like home! She's known for painting flowers Seeing her designs in the wild never ceases to be special Wearable art is her new passion in the last year Art is not just for your walls, you can surround yourself with it It's about the energy and good vibes it brings Multiple uses something can have (ex: scarf as art - hang or wear) There are lots of crafts people that go into a single product Everything can be art - the lines of art and design are blurred Caroline was always surrounded by blooms from the garden as a child, she spent her weekends in nature (beach or the mountains on the coast) Colour always makes her happy She loves green and pink Her art and creative practices crosses into her family life and her community She belongs to a local artist community (skill share, etc.) Art and creative work bonds families and communities Art and creative work can elevate and shift our energies, which translate to our home life and those around us She has to reminder herself to take the pressure off It takes constant work to be balanced Both an analog painting process; she uses Photoshop to tweak, change colour ways, etc. The final material affects the way Caroline approaches the design Testing always happens between the design stage and the final print Variations in textile mills and printers make this a constant work in process The most challenging part is fitting all there is to do in a week Planning and sticking to it - she suffers from the 'shiny object syndrome' - managing this is a constant challenge She turns off her wifi and puts music on to work She loves working for herself because of the flexibility One of the challenges working alone is not having someone to bounce ideas off of; doubt starts to creep in Even if it looks and feels like you've got it all figured out, there's value into diving deeper into discovering your purpose Satisfying herself creatively and bringing this passion for creativity and art to others - bring joy; bigger studio, program for courses or tutorials in art; immersed in art, colour and nature Among many insights gained, Caroline reminds us to get out into nature for a healthy dose of inspiration. In the next episode we meet Shen, an animator who shares Caroline’s feelings about the importance of the natural world in her work. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Caroline Duffy is an artist and textile designer living in Dundalk, Ireland. While studying at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, she fell in love with textiles and patterns. After graduating from NCAD, she spent 10 years creating surface and textile design for Textile Houses in New York, Sydney and London. On her return she launched her own design and art business, back here in Ireland. With Caroline’s Art her signature colourful pieces are all inspired by nature – whether it’s a floral or abstract painting, printed silk scarf, notebooks or cards. “I create colourful art, textiles and patterns for people who want to connect with the joy of nature in their home and on the go!” Everything comes down to nature for her. Her mission is to make and design colourful pieces that create vitality, happiness and intrigue to her and those who see them. https://carolineduffydesigns.com/ Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Billi-Rose Ledoux who reminded us of how she enhances natural beauty through her art, helps people feel empowered through her craft and the fact that inspiration can come from anywhere. She also reminded us that art can be used to create safe spaces and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Sareka Unique. Sareka Unique Is an Artist, Illustrator, Designer and Creator of bright, fun colorful things. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan and studied Visual Communication Technology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Later, after studying Graphic Design, Sareka fell in love with Illustration and Surface Pattern Design and then finally gave into the calling to paint in 2017. Since then, she has been using her love of color to transform products and create artwork that evokes a sense of vibrancy and joy. In our conversation, Sareka and I discuss the inspiration present all around her, the way her current mood dictates her final product, how she knows when a piece is complete and the special community she’s created for other artists online. Key Ideas Discussed: Sareka is a graphic designer and illustrator by trade and she just recently (in the last few years) got into painting Bright colours, joy, making people smile Inspiration all around her; inspired by colour everywhere She sometimes has a clear idea of composition, other times it's about layering colour without knowing where it will lead Mood dictates her final product; how she's feeling at the moment has a huge impact on her work She'll often start with the brightest, most translucent colours in palette (pinks, yellows, oranges) Finding balance in her composition and in her use of colour She knows a piece is done when her gut tells her so or when she's looked at a painting for a couple of days and hasn't wanted to change anything She works on multiple paintings at a time She did a residency this summer where she got to work on larger canvases Pink and teal are her favourite colours Created community @blackgirlsillustrate Her vision for the future is to have her own bricks and mortar studio space and a space for the community, art education Among many insights gained, Sareka reminds us that bright colours bring joy. In the next episode we meet Caroline, a textile designer who shares Sareka’s feelings about the wonder of colour. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Sareka Unique Is an Artist, Illustrator, Designer and Creator of bright, fun colorful things. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan and studied Visual Communication Technology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Later, after studying Graphic Design, Sareka fell in love with Illustration and Surface Pattern Design and then finally gave into the calling to paint in 2017. Since then, she has been using her love of color to transform products and create artwork that evokes a sense of vibrancy and joy. www.sarekaunique.com www.blackgirlsillustrate.com IG: @sarekaunique Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Inger Kristine Steinsland who reminded us of the power of spontaneity, visual simplicity and play. We chatted about removing the toxic culture of fear and the possibilities of problem solving through design. She also reminded us that the journey is the destination and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Amelia Hutchison. Amelia is an art therapist and podcast host. She holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and a graduate diploma in Art Therapy from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. She helps adults and teens use creativity to navigate experiences like grief, trauma, and life transitions. Amelia offers individual art psychotherapy, creative support groups and mental health workshops. Her podcast, Art Therapy IRL, explores art therapy in the digital age. In our conversation, Amelia and I (and special guest co-host, Nat Lumby) discuss using art and creativity to gain agency and feel empowered in the face of challenging emotions. We discuss enjoying the process of making, leaning into getting messy and removing the need for the word ‘talent’ from our artistic vocabularies. Key Ideas Discussed: Working with folks who want to use art and creativity as a way to feel more of a sense of agency, empowerment, etc. As a child, art was a secondary language to process trauma Art gave her breathing room to make sense of things that were fairly senseless Art was always the release for big feelings, big changes Art and design as a way to build community, connection and care; how to use art as a catalyst for change and for justice Art therapy is dynamic and flexible and different for every person Art and using materials to be expressive can help a diverse range of individuals with so many different challenges Art is for those who aren't "talented", too Kids are unapologetically artistic and we have a lot to learn from them; kids haven't been censored or afraid or learned that their art should look a certain way Art therapy is about getting to a place where you can just enjoy the process of making Art therapy is like play in that it's freeing and it's a different way to approach art than we normally do Art therapy is about noticing what's going on in your body in the process or act of making (reading between the lines; noticing subtleties and layers) Picking up on sensory information along the way, slowing down, thoughts coming through, sensitive to everything that happens along the way Art therapy is a place to make a safe mess and unlearn some of the cultural conditioning "In my own experience as a child and in adolescence, I knew that the process of painting felt good but I didn't love the pressure of trying to make something look good." - unlearning process in art therapy school Her art practice is now a lot 'craftier' (in a good way) Art therapy moving into a digital space has worked to a great extent; more accessible Art therapy is learning to think in metaphor and use different visual metaphors Among many insights gained, Amelia reminds us that the process of making art can be healing. In the next episode we meet Billi-Rose, a makeup artist who shares Amelia’s feelings about the therapeutic qualities of being present in one’s craft. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Amelia Hutchison (she/her) is an art therapist and podcast host. She holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore and a graduate diploma in Art Therapy from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. She helps adults and teens use creativity to navigate experiences like grief, trauma, and life transitions. Amelia offers individual art psychotherapy, creative support groups and mental health workshops. Her podcast, Art Therapy IRL, explores art therapy in the digital age. www.arttherapyinreallife.com Instagram: @art_therapy_irl About Our Co-Host: Natalia Lumby is an educator and researcher with a passion for packaging, design and sustainability. Currently she is the Associate Chair in Graphic Communications Management at The Creative School, where she has been teaching since 2008. Her research interests are largely in sustainable business models for the food and beverage industry, with a focus on packaging. When not working, her heart feels full when she can play creative dabbler, with her current focus being modern calligraphy. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, I primed you, dear listener, for what’s to come in the following 17 episodes. I introduced you to the series, explained how it evolved and shared my creative process to uncover others’ creative processes. I described my feelings on growth, which I believe is an exciting part of the process. I am reminded that nothing stands still for too long and that’s a good thing and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Brooke Cormier. Brooke Cormier, born 1994, is a Canadian artist with a full-time career as a professional painter. She combines her love of photography with her passion for painting by referencing photos she takes from moments in her life, and bringing them to life, once again, on canvas. She aims to evoke positive emotions and reflection with her work through the use of thoughtful and calculated compositions and vibrant pigments to create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in in a style that reflects a relatable reality. Being entirely self-taught and at the beginning of her art career, Brooke is working towards exploring self-expression in different styles using her advanced technical skill-set. In our conversation, Brooke and I discuss that there’s always more to learn, the importance of experimentation and the challenges of running a business as a creative. Key Ideas Discussed: Work constantly evolving Work is always changing with new interests There's always more to learn Brooke's trying new techniques and styles all the time but sometimes they don't work and that's okay (Plein Air painting) Experimentation (especially small paintings allow for this) Living and working abroad The importance of work/life balance; establishing personal boundaries Brooke feels that she owes it to herself and to other aspiring painters to take advantage of the opportunity of painting full time It was never shown to Brooke that being a painter was a viable career option (which is why she pursued something different in university) There's no room for doubting herself Feeling art all around her abroad It's challenging to run a business The challenges of art being in solitude; loneliness The positive impact of a shared studio space on her productivity, mental health, schedule, boundaries The power of artistic community; the benefits of seeing and learning from multi-disciplinary artists The blessings and curses that comes with a large social media following, including having a microscope on her work, as well as trying not to let social media statistics dictate her art Long term goals can change from month-to-month or even day-to-day (and that's okay!) Among many insights gained, Brooke reminds us that no matter how incredible an artist you are, failure is part of the process. In the next episode we meet Inger, an advertising professional and Photoshop whiz, who shares Brooke’s feelings about the importance of trying new things and failing. Stay tuned... About Our Guest: Brooke Cormier, born 1994, is a Canadian artist with a full-time career as a professional painter. She combines her love of photography with her passion for painting by referencing photos she takes from moments in her life, and bringing them to life, once again, on canvas. She aims to evoke positive emotions and reflection with her work through the use of thoughtful and calculated compositions and vibrant pigments to create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in in a style that reflects a relatable reality. Being entirely self-taught and at the beginning of her art career, Brooke is working towards exploring self-expression in different styles using her advanced technical skill-set. Website: www.brookecormier.com Instagram: @bcormier_art Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Alison Zou who shared how she entered into the tattoo industry, the technicalities of fine-line tattooing and what her own, personal tattoos mean to her. She also discussed the research that’s needed before she begins creating her art and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Lillian Chan. Lillian Chan is a Toronto-based animator and filmmaker. With a focus on children’s content and programming, she designs for clients like Disney, Kid Koala and Nelvana. Her short films have won several awards including the Public Prize at both the Ottawa International Film Festival and Anima Mundi in Brazil. Along with short films, she has worked on independent features, animated documentaries, and most recently, interactive VR. Lillian is a recent graduate of the Master of Digital Media program at X University. Her research focuses on the use of cozy games and character-driven storyworlds to create effective tools for paediatric voice therapy. In our conversation, Lillian and I discuss her creative work for children and adults alike, her non-linear creative process and the deep appreciation she feels when she experiences moments of solitude to create. Key Ideas Discussed: Illustrator, animator, filmmaker, educator at Seneca at York in animation program National Film Board - created a film with Bruce Mau She recently finished her Master's degree Creating tools with voice therapists, game design - game box (prototype) Her kids help her with her work - helped her come up with the names for her characters for her master's degree; helped her draw evolutionary tree Simple, child-like quality to her work Her artistic style is "cute", nuanced, subtle, soft and gentle quality to her work Non-linear creative process - the projects are all different in their nature, a lot of moving parts (problem solving aspect) Visual thinker - needing to see things written down on a large sheet of paper; filtering brain onto visual page Takes a week or two weeks for the idea to begin to form Go to sleep and ideas will come! Creating ideas and artwork - the possibility of creating something She feels she has time now that her kids are in school to have freedom to create She sometimes forgets how much she loves her work She appreciates this time so much more now than she before she had kids The hardest thing about her work is doing it while also being present with her family She feels the pull of family and professional life; you have to let your own ego go a little bit to make this balance work She's always had a home studio that's in the middle of her home life In an ideal world she would make things that get her excited; time to make these things She savours designing things that are useful Among many insights gained, Lillian reminds us about how great it feels to have complete creative control over a project. In the next episode we meet Sarah Wright, a photographer who shares Lillian’s feelings about the joy of creative control and the power of trust. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Lillian Chan is a Toronto-based animator and filmmaker. With a focus on children’s content and programming, she designs for clients like Disney, Kid Koala and Nelvana. Her short films have won several awards including the Public Prize at both the Ottawa International Film Festival and Anima Mundi in Brazil. Along with short films, she has worked on independent features, animated documentaries, and most recently, interactive VR. Lillian is a recent graduate of the Master of Digital Media program at X University. Her research focuses on the use of cozy games and character-driven storyworlds to create effective tools for paediatric voice therapy. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Brooke Cormier who reminded us that there’s always more to learn, the importance of experimentation and the challenges of running a business as a creative. She also reminded us that failure is part of the process and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Inger Kristine Steinsland. You know that really annoying person who always seems to see the glass half full? Hi, yes, that's her. Inger Kristine Steinsland, born and bred in Norway, educated and trained in Britain. With a BA in Illustration and a Masters in Creative Advertising from Falmouth University, she has since been working for an Employer Branding and Recruitment Advertising agency in London. Here she started as an intern before she was hired as a Junior Art Director and she has worked her way up to become Head of Art. She now leads a team of Art Directors, Designers and UX/UI designers. In our conversation, Inger and I discuss the magic of happy accidents, visual simplicity and having fun in your work. We chat about removing the toxic culture of fear and the possibilities of problem solving through design. Key Ideas Discussed: Lots of happy accidents have happened to her Spontaneity! The importance of wordplay in her artwork Inspiration comes through listening to conversations on podcasts, etc. Visual simplicity Finding a way to communicate through visuals only and not relying on copy Conversation, dialogue, language - always listening to find ways to create visual outputs from auditory inputs Play! She doesn't put a lot of pressure on herself which is one of the reasons why her work comes across as joyful, light 3 step process: idea in her mind, paper on pen (make it, break it, play), bringing it into a digital space She likes Photoshop - clipping mask, masking tools, pen tool, smart objects ("the brilliant basics") Have fun with it! The journey is the destination She has a love for all creative work, no matter who made it Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work; learn lessons for the next time to become greater "You're only as good as your last idea/design" - this phrase creates a toxic culture of fear Playing, failing, exploring allows you to be free; how can you unlock yourself? (This is where the magic happens!) It's a shame we don't celebrate failures more often We've normalized success so deeply that people are terrified of taking chances The road to success is never linear Fun, joy, play! Pencil is go-to tool Creativity is more than just colour and typography; it's about innovation and problem solving; creative people are everywhere The visual style is less important than what she's saying/communicating Visual communicators of all sorts have the ability to communicate difficult things in a respectful way It's a journey of discovery Among many insights gained, Inger reminds us that all the good bits happen on the way to the destination. In the next episode we meet Amelia, an art therapist, who shares Inger’s feelings about what it means to enjoy the process of making art. Stay tuned... About Our Guest: You know that really annoying person who always seems to see the glass half full? Hi, yes, that's me. Inger Kristine Steinsland, born and bred in Norway, educated and trained in Britain. With a BA in Illustration and a Masters in Creative Advertising from Falmouth University, I have since finishing Uni been working for an Employer Branding and Recruitment Advertising agency in London. Here I started as an intern before I was hired as a Junior Art Director and has worked my way up to become Head of Art. I now lead a team of Art Directors, Designers and UX/UI designers. W: https://www.ingercreative.com IG: IngerCreative Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

In the previous episode, we met Amelia Hutchison who reminded us of using art and creativity to gain agency and feel empowered in the face of challenging emotions, enjoying the process of making, leaning into getting messy and removing the need for the word ‘talent’ in our artistic vocabularies. She also reminded us that the process of making art can be healing and today’s guest agrees. Allow me to officially introduce you to today’s guest: Billi-Rose Ledoux. Billi-Rose is a freelance makeup artist and hair stylist. She has been in the beauty industry for 7 years and currently, she is focusing on her freelance makeup artistry, having decided to start her small business just over a year ago. Her passion has always been makeup. She enjoys enhancing the beauty of women, while being a part of their milestones or events happening in their lives. She’s so grateful for all the women that cross her path. On her days off she spends quality time with her 3 year old son, beading, and creating tutorials for her clients. In our conversation, Billi-Rose and I discuss enhancing natural beauty through her art, helping people feel empowered through her craft and the fact that inspiration can come from anywhere. Key Insights Discussed: She enjoys doing makeup on clients and herself - bridal, dramatic and cosplay She wants to be able to do it all and therefore she doesn't have a signature look - she can do multiple styles It's about enhancing natural beauty There are very few indigenous artists and makeup artists Makeup artistry helps people feel empowered and beautiful Inspiration can come from anywhere - a song, etc. She sees herself having her own makeup line in the future Among many insights gained, Billi-Rose reminds us that through her artistic practice she can create a safe space for others. In the next episode we meet Sareka, an abstract painter who shares Billi-Rose’s feelings about safe community spaces through art. Stay tuned… About Our Guest: Billi-Rose is a freelance makeup artist and hair stylist. She has been in the beauty industry for 7 years and currently, she is focusing on her freelance makeup artistry, having decided to start her small business just over a year ago. Her passion has always been makeup. She enjoys enhancing the beauty of women, while being a part of their milestones or events happening in their lives. She’s so grateful for all the women that cross her path. On her days off she spends quality time with her 3 year old son, beading, and creating tutorials for her clients. IG: @beauty_by_billirose + @beauty_by_rosee__ Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Chad Crouch - Rainbow Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo byAlex onUnsplash

I recently sat down with a very special individual to talk about nostalgic and noteworthy pursuits in the world of graphic design and of printing, specifically something called ‘Letraset’. I’ll let our guest tell us all about the who, what, where, when, why and how of Letraset, but first... allow me to introduce our guest. I met Jonathan Valelly at the beginning of 2021 in the typography course I was teaching in our continuing education certificate. He has intrigued and inspired me since our first encounter and I want to read his exact bio for you, because he’s a gifted writer (and I think it’s pretty magical): Jonathan Valelly is a queer writer, zinester and organizer based in Toronto. He is the editor of Broken Pencil Magazine. Valelly has, of course, written for other magazines. Between you and me, though, he’s much better in person than on the page. He is frequently seen fretting, schmoozing and scheming at self-publishing festivals in surprising places: a clocktower in the Lakes District, a huge park in Bogotá, a creaky squat in Amsterdam, and the exquisite library basements that dot the Canadian prairies, to name a few. JV obsesses promiscuously, sometimes over old things, like Letraset and mimeographs; sometimes over new things, like fast trains; and often over important things, like knowing the neighbours and abolishing prisons. He is not hard to find, but good luck getting him to sit still. In this conversation, Letraset becomes a jumping-off point for broaching deeper questions about the relationship between design and technology, including the opportunities for and importance of changing the digital lens through which most modern design is filtered through, as well as the ways in which technologies produce ways of thinking, rather than simply containing or constraining them. Notable figures mentioned in the episode: Emory Douglas and Dan Rhatigan Actual footage of my Dollar Store detour... I found some knock-off Letraset! About Our Guest: Jonathan Valelly is a queer writer, editor, and organizer based in Toronto. He is the editor of Broken Pencil Magazine, and has written for Now, Xtra!, Vice, Quill and Quire, Noisey and Canadian Notes & Queries. He likes to do many things at once with many different people and projects. These include The 519, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Entreviñetas, the GMSH, and Making Room. His own projects include Fagdemic, Gay 4 Pay Press, the House of Constantine and Queers Crash the Beat. Jonathan Valelly is 10 things, at least: writer, magazine editor, harm reductionista, zinester, community artist, vandal, vintage porn collector, festival boss, ballroom house father, prison abolitionist, and occasional mimeographer. Music (public domain via Free Music Archive): Serge Quadradio - Coffee Land Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash