Art, Parenthood, and Beyond

Art thrives on experimentation.

In this episode, I dive into the joy of playing with materials without expectations—a process that led to a surprising creative breakthrough. Inspired by Rick Rubin’s idea of “seeds” in creativity, I revisited Bombay inks, Ecoline inks, and Gelli plate printing to see what I could create when I let go of control.

Along the way, I mixed 45 new colors, tested unexpected textures, and experimented with layering techniques, all while reflecting on how play and curiosity fuel creativity. I also discuss how the animated film Flow sparked my inspiration, why keeping a “Secret Book of Colors” and reference photos helps store creative ideas for the right moment, and how the most rewarding part of the creative process is often the exploration itself.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uninspired, or afraid to make a mess, this episode is for you.

The Art Supplies I Bought (And Why I'm Conflicted): Not All Regrets: https://youtu.be/fKivNxBqL8k

*Links are affiliate links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you :) It helps me keep creating content, thank you;)

Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay India Ink: https://amzn.to/4gUY0ne

Ecoline Liquid Watercolour: https://amzn.to/3Da09O0

Gel Press Monoprinting Print Plate: https://amzn.to/4bjYzWs

Movie I got inspired: Flow

Midjourney, the AI tool I use to create images: https://www.midjourney.com/

The Episode on Ophelia Painting: Capturing the Feeling: The Urgency to Create

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

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.

I also have a Youtube video covering this here: https://youtu.be/ZWewFW3ZLWY
Blog here: https://www.miwagardner.com/blog/kelogsloops-workshop-2023

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

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.

I also have a Youtube video covering this here: https://youtu.be/SgfVoW6ARwo
Blog here: https://www.miwagardner.com/blog/agnescecilworkshop2023

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

Inspiration doesn’t always strike all at once—it arrives in fragments, waiting for us to notice. In this episode, I share how a quiet, sacred encounter with a deer in my garden transformed into a watercolor painting, a meditation on presence, and a lesson in creative flow.

I also have a Youtube video covering this here:

Where Inspiration Strikes: From Deer Encounter to Watercolor

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

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.

Questions we tackled!

In what ways did creativity help you during tough times?

What changes or realizations about yourself emerged in 2024, and how do you plan to carry them forward?

     5. Have you thought of what your “guiding word” this year will be?

Marketing Experiments & Lessons Learned

Success and challenges with free gift campaign

Managing unexpected subscriber growth

Balancing generosity with business sustainability

Depression, Art & Recovery (00:34:41 - 00:41:08)

Personal experiences with different types of depression

How creativity can be both healing and challenging

The importance of reconnecting with our artistic voice

Looking Forward: 2025 Plans Moving from quantity to quality in creative work

Finding purpose and intention in each painting

Balancing spontaneity with conscious creation

Setting Intentions & Guiding Words

Choosing authenticity as a guiding principle

Creating focused missions for the year ahead

• Supporting each other's creative recovery journey

Mentioned:

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

Wanting to choose your guiding word? This episode will help! Word of the Year: Emerge to Mission | #ArtGoals Ep. 020

I also have a Youtube video covering this here: https://youtu.be/9m04kkaKKaU

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_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.

Meeting Eli & Our Artistic Journeys

How Eli and I met through a shared love of watercolor

The bond we've built as artists navigating ups and downs

Looking Ahead: 2025 & Creative Uncertainty

Will Eli return to painting? (I really hope so!)

Reflecting on 2024’s struggles and setting creative intentions for the new year

The Exhibition That Broke Eli

Behind the scenes of an interior design store exhibition

The emotional toll, miscommunications, and lessons learned

Transitions & Social Media Burnout

My move to the U.S. and its impact on my art

Losing access to my Facebook and Instagram—what that meant for my work

• The bird metaphor: learning to let go what no longer serves us

Questions we tackled!

What was the most challenging moment for you in 2024, and how did you navigate through it?

How have your personal relationships shaped your year, and what lessons have you drawn from them?

Mentioned:
Eli’s Website: https://www.elimiklavcic.com/
Eli’s Moon Paintings mentioned during the podcast can be seen here: https://www.elimiklavcic.com/portfolio/moon

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

Wanting to choose your guiding word? This episode will help! Word of the Year: Emerge to Mission | #ArtGoals Ep. 020

I also have a Youtube video covering this here: https://youtu.be/9m04kkaKKaU

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

In this episode, I share my journey with Instagram art communities—the highs of creative collaborations and the challenges of navigating engagement. From joining Ali Cavani's Patreon group to painting Perchta for a winter-themed project, I explore how these communities can inspire, connect, and sometimes divert your energy. Discover if they might be the right fit for your creative path.

I also have a Youtube video covering this here: https://youtu.be/nqecznJ2d80?si=WUN9uq5GdC1OWPtR 

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art

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. 

 I also have a youtube video that I share the whole story while painting Obachan.

The final painting was placed in her coffin with 96 roses. 

In this episode #22, I dive into the importance of experimenting with different painting surfaces, sharing my personal journey with various watercolor papers and other surfaces like Yupo, canvas, watercolor ground primed canvas and aquabord. I talk about how each surface affects technique and style, and encourage you to find the one that best suits your creative process. 

Mentioned:
"Professional Watercolor Papers: A Performance Comparison I" by Jill Poyerd Fine Art on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DZhswCAM32Q?si=dCHNkrthbmFCuRJb

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.

Mentioned:

Ali Cavanaugh: Painting of Taylor Swift

A Frog Invitation: https://www.miwagardner.com/buyart/p/frog

My website: ⁠MiwaGardner.com

Find me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@miwagardner_art