In this deeply personal and evocative episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with internationally recognized botanical artist Irina Neascu for a soulful look into the delicate world where art and nature intertwine. Irina reflects on her creative evolution—from a lifelong fascination with plants to her refined practice of observing, documenting, and honoring the stories hidden within living forms. She shares how childhood memories, global gardens, and the quiet poetry of the natural world have shaped her artistic voice and guided her approach to botanical illustration and fine art. Together, Irina and Chris explore the emotional and meditative qualities of botanical art:

• The intimate practice of seeing nature with fresh eyes
• How patience, materiality, and mindfulness fuel her process
• The intersection of science, storytelling, and symbolism
• Finding resilience, purpose, and beauty through plants Whether you are an artist, gardener, nature lover, or simply curious about the inner life of creative minds, this conversation invites you to slow down and reconnect with the quiet magic growing all around us. Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.

 ✅ Keywords:
 botanical artist, botanical illustration, botanical painting, nature art, plant art, botanical creativity, Irina Neascu interview, AART podcast, artist interview, creative storytelling, art and nature, fine art podcast, watercolor botanical art, contemporary botanical artist, plant inspiration, artist process, creative journey, mindfulness and art, art documentary podcast, art conversation, Chris Stafford podcast

The Romanian Botanical Artist Irina Neascu began her career in architecture and now her journey transcends academia, science, art and illustration. Irina says: “I approached botanical art to continue investigating the cultural landscape from a natural perspective of the reciprocal influence and fragile intersections between culture and nature.” Irina was born in Bucharest in 1982, the only child of Daniela and Mihai who are both economists. She attended the Architecture University in Bucharest, Romania where she graduated with both a BA and MA. Irina then earned a postgraduate MA in Fine Arts at Rome University of Fine Arts. Following her graduation, she turned to interior design where her name became an international brand, with exhibitions at various fairs and events throughout Europe. The main collections focus on bespoke upholstery and chairs, crafted with textile collage techniques and digital printing. Irina has worked on both old and new furniture, restoring and customizing items according to the specific needs of her clients. Her interior design collections include home accessories and furniture, in unique series or limited series. In 2016, Irina moved north of Bucharest to the Transylvania area to be closer to nature; hiking is one of her favorite activities. Here, she opened the Irina Neacșu Studio then founded an art school, Cembra School of Botanical Art and Design, where she teaches courses and workshops in painting, drawing, textile art or design and encourages creative knowledge inspired by nature and heritage. Irina is currently  a PhD candidate at the Art University in Bucharest, and later this year she will be a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Yale Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, History of Art Department. Irina lives in Brasov with her Weimaraner, Scala.

Irina’s website: https://irinaneacsu.com/
Instagram: @irinaneascu https://www.instagram.com/irinaneacsu/
 
Some favorite feamle artists:
Georgia O’Keeffe
Rachel Ruysch
Giovanna Garzoni
Hillary Waters
Jackie Mulder
Christiane Fashek 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
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