Art, Parenthood, and Beyond

This is my last podcast episode—at least for now.

In this goodbye, I reflect on what this podcast journey has taught me and share 5 creative lessons every artist should remember. These aren’t tips about algorithms or visibility—they’re the deeper truths that shape how we show up to create.

From trusting your intuition to choosing focus over noise, from crying in the car after a tough call with a hero, to realizing how hard it can be—especially as women—to say no and protect studio time… these stories are raw, honest, and full of the questions we all face as artists.

One of the biggest gifts of this podcast was the people it connected me to.

Aine Divine opened a door that helped me see myself more clearly.

Christian Hook may have closed a door, but in doing so, he anchored me to the one thing that truly matters. That clarity, even through rejection, helped me cut off distractions and devote more time to painting.
But if I hadn’t started this podcast, I wouldn’t have had the chance to even speak with him. For that alone, I’m so glad I began this path.

If you’re curious about Christian Hook’s work, you can explore it here: https://www.christianhook.com

Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or just dropped in recently, thank you. I hope this final episode gives you something to carry forward in your own creative life.

Mentioned:

Letting Go, Moving Forward: Lessons from a Bird on Starting Over| #NatureLessons Ep. 013

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

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

Artist Lessons from Agnes Cecil, Aine Divine, Kelogsloops, and More: On Rejection, Letting Go, and Growth  |  #ArtistLessons Ep. 042

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

Art fear doesn’t always scream — sometimes, it loops quietly in the background. In this episode, I share how my ENFP stress loop of ideas and over-action led me straight into burnout… and how my friend Eli, an INFP, shut down completely after a painful creative experience. We both had to find ways to come back. If you’ve ever felt stuck, resistant, numb, or unsure what step to take next — this episode is for you. I walk through how MBTI loops play out under stress and how simple, honest shifts can help bring you back to creative alignment.
Ask yourself: what’s your art fear? And what helps you find your way back?

MBTI Test: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Episode with Eli “When Art Hurts: Selling at Nontraditional Venues & Meta Ads Frustrations | #ArtistStruggle Ep. 025”

Episode with Eli “Finding Your Flow: Creative Routines, Rituals, and Making Space for Art | #CreativeFlow Ep. 037”

Eli’s website: https://www.elimiklavcic.com/

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I’m opening up about something deeply personal:
how I’m still figuring out my artistic voice —
and why that process is probably more about returning than discovering.

I share my own winding path,
from quitting art school for survival reasons,
to reigniting my practice thanks to my partner’s encouragement,
to hitting moments of “wait, where am I going?” even after setting clear goals.

You’ll hear how a conversation with Kelogsloops,
and reflections on my old IB Visual Arts training,
brought me back to the power of observation and reflection —
and why I believe your artistic voice is already inside you,
waiting to be noticed and nurtured.

If you’ve ever felt lost, scattered, or unsure of your style,
this episode is for you.

Blog on: How to Find Your Artistic Voice (And Keep Coming Back to It)

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I’m opening up about the deeper, less-talked-about side of goal setting for artists.
It’s not just about writing down what you want —
it’s about learning how to stay tuned in, adjust, and realign your goals as you grow.

I reflect on my own journey — from painting every day after an inspiring workshop,
to launching toddler portrait commissions even though my partner urged me to focus on refining my skills,
to facing the deeper realization that no goal ever feels truly “final.”

If you’ve ever struggled to balance ambition, craft, and self-compassion,
this episode is a gentle, honest look at how we can stay connected to the work that truly matters.

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I dive into the fears that all artists face — and the role fear plays in shaping our creative identity. From fears of failure to the struggle of imposter syndrome, I explore how these emotions don’t have to stop us. Instead, I share how I’ve learned to embrace them as part of the journey, using them to push through moments of doubt and continue evolving. If you've ever wondered if you're "good enough," or felt stuck by fear, this episode is for you.

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I open up about my first applications to art fairs here in Washington — and the rejections that came with them. I share what those moments brought up for me, how I reframed the experience, and why I’m still moving forward with more clarity. If you’ve ever felt discouraged by “no,” this is a reminder that rejection is part of the path — and sometimes, all it means is not yet.

Go The Episode to check images here

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I share how I learned to work with the time I have — not the time I wish I had. From carving out studio structure as a parent to using even small windows intentionally, this episode is for anyone who’s juggling life and still wants to show up for their art in a meaningful way. I’ll also walk through how I split my creative hours, why that changed everything, and how you can do the same without pressure or guilt.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly growing or just going through the motions, this episode is for you.

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I reflect on a shift I’ve been feeling — from just producing paintings to deeply focusing on improving my skills. Inspired by a quote from Christian Hook, I explore the difference between passive and deliberate practice, what counts as “study” versus “finished work,” and how redefining what a “good painting” means can reconnect you to your deeper artistic goals.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re truly growing or just going through the motions, this episode is for you.

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

This episode is extra special because it marks the anniversary of when my partner and I met. He’s a big podcast listener (and honestly way smarter than me), and I’ve been nudging him forever to come up with his own questions to interview me. Well — it finally happened!

I was pretty nervous right before we started because I had no idea what he was going to ask. I thought maybe it would be deep questions pulling out all my subconscious art fears (like a counselor or something), but nope — that’s not where it went, lol.

Instead, we ended up talking about the artists who’ve shaped me, like Agnes Cecil, Aine Divine, Kelogsloops, Gustav Klimt, and Van Gogh. We cover rejection, letting go, playing with color and materials, and how all of it has shaped how I paint today. I hope it gives you something to reflect on for your own art practice, wherever you are on your creative path.

Website: https://www.miwagardner.com/

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I’m sharing a quiet turning point in my creative path — the moment I realized I was burned out. Not just tired, but truly stretched thin from creating too much content and not enough art.

I talk about how I recognized the signs, what helped me shift, and how I’m now reshaping my creative life to focus less on output… and more on depth. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to keep producing or wondered how to protect your energy while still showing up for your art, this one’s for you.

Miwa’s website: Miwagardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art