The Create! Podcast

In this solo episode of the Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova explores why maintaining a personal art practice is essential not only for artistic growth, but for mental and nervous system regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. Whether you are a professional artist navigating deadlines or a creative seeking to reconnect with your practice, this episode breaks down the neuroscience behind why our brains need art. Kat shares research-backed insights, practical studio strategies, and mindset shifts to help you build a sustainable creative routine, even with a busy life. This episode is both grounding and actionable, offering permission to create imperfectly and consistently, without pressure or performance.

Join the 100 Day Painting Challenge: https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why art-making is a powerful tool for nervous system regulation.

• How creative flow quiets the inner critic and reduces anxiety.

• Why habit and process matter more than finished results.

• Simple ways to lower friction in your studio and make starting easier.

• How to separate the creator from the editor to protect your daily practice.

Key Takeaways:

• The Science of Art Research from Drexel University found that just 45 minutes of art-making led to a significant drop in cortisol levels for 75 percent of participants, regardless of skill or experience.

• Silencing the Inner Critic Entering a creative flow state—a concept popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi—quiets the Default Mode Network (DMN), the part of the brain linked to rumination and self-judgment.

• The "Bad Art" Rule Strong bodies of work are built by allowing yourself to make "bad art" and prioritizing consistency over perfection. The focus should be on habit formation rather than a final product.

• Mise en Place for the Studio Borrowing from the culinary world, preparing your materials and workspace in advance (even if just a simple setup) reduces friction and makes it easier to begin your next session.

• Creator vs. Editor When you are in the studio, you are the creator; judgment and editing come later. Separating these roles prevents the pressure to produce "portfolio-ready" work from paralyzing your practice.

Memorable Quotes:

• "When I say come home to your art, I mean physically altering your brain chemistry to reduce stress, silence your inner critic."

• "The nervous system does not give a crap... it cares about the process, it cares about the meditative act of art making."

• "The key isn't necessarily finding more time is protecting the time that you have and prioritizing your own work over everyone else's."

• "At its core, [art] is a survival mechanism for sensitive people. It's the way we process life."

• "Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." — Andy Warhol (referenced in episode)

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Your Brain on Art (Book)

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Drexel University Cortisol Study

Connect & Resources:

• Join the 100 Day Painting Challenge: https://www.paintwithkat.com/challenge

• Website: https://www.createmagazine.co

• Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Ekaterina Popova sits down with Anna Denning, a multimedia artist and the founder of the NeuroArts School, to decode the powerful science behind creativity and healing.

Anna shares her fascinating background—growing up with a psychotherapist mother who used drawing to analyze and soothe emotions—and how that evolved into her expertise in "Neuroesthetics," the study of how aesthetic experiences influence the brain. Together, they discuss her collaboration with Colette Baron-Reid on the "Art of Manifesting" book and how "intentional synchronicity" can help you co-create with the universe.

Whether you are an artist facing creative blocks or simply looking for a way to process the noise of the outside world, this episode offers accessible tools to regulate your nervous system and manifest your desires through art.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

• Defining NeuroArts: How art therapy and neuroscience combine to balance hormones and emotions.

• The Science of Manifestation: Using "intentional synchronicity" to switch on your brain's reticular activating system and spot opportunities.

• Practical Self-Care: Why you should "start small" with tiny paper to overcome overwhelm and perfectionism.

• The Witch's Wound: Anna's research into healing deep, unconscious wounds through the NeuroArts membership.

• Daily Rituals: How simple practices like doodling before bed or lighting a candle can shift your mindset.

QUOTES FROM THE SHOW:

"Art is not just create something beautiful, a beautiful picture. It's also a very powerful tool to work with your mind, to calm down, to balance your emotions." — Anna Denning

"When you're concentrating on something and trying to bring something positive into your life, you're also switching on the reticular activating system in your brain that helps you to look for opportunities." — Anna Denning

"I always advise my students or people who start drawing, start really small, just take a tiny little paper... and just start drawing." — Anna Denning

CONNECT WITH ANNA DENNING:

YouTube: Anna Denning Arts (Weekly mini-classes and candle drawings)

Instagram: @AnnaDenningArts

NeuroArts School and A.M. Method Teacher Training

www.annadenning.com

CONNECT WITH CREATE! MAGAZINE:

Website: https://createmagazine.co

Substack: https://createmagazine.substack.com

Instagram: @createmagazine

Love the episode? If you enjoyed this conversation, please leave a review and share it with a friend! Don't forget to subscribe to https://createmagazine.substack.com for more resources, interviews, and opportunities for artists.

In this insightful conversation, Kat sits down with celebrated realist painter, author and educator Todd M. Casey. Known for his bestselling books The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook, Todd opens up about the winding road that shaped his artistic life, from studying at MassArt to discovering the atelier system and developing a deep appreciation for classical training. He shares refreshing honesty about navigating art school, finding mentors, resisting social media pressure, and staying connected to the curiosity that fuels meaningful work.

Whether you're a painter refining your technique, a creative searching for direction, or an artist feeling overwhelmed in a content-driven world, this episode offers clarity and grounded wisdom for your path ahead.

• Todd's early years discovering art alongside his brother and studying at MassArt • How returning to foundational training transformed his approach to painting • What traditional art education gets wrong, and what artists actually need to grow • Why guidance and consistent mentorship are essential for developing strong technique • The double-edged sword of social media for artists: visibility, burnout, and boundaries • How curiosity, awareness and everyday life become the fuel for new ideas • Navigating commercial expectations, artistic identity and pivoting when your work evolves • The importance of resisting fear-driven creativity and choosing work that feels true • Todd's upcoming books and teaching philosophy

Todd M. Casey is an artist, author and teacher whose work blends classical realism with a contemporary, introspective approach. Born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, he studied at MassArt, the Academy of Art University, and eventually trained under Jacob Collins at the Water Street Atelier. His paintings and teachings emphasize discipline, observation and a deep respect for the craft of oil painting. He is the author of bestselling books The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook, with two new books forthcoming in 2026 and 2027. Todd teaches at the Lyme Academy of Fine Art and through online programs offered worldwide.

• Follow Todd M. Casey: Website / Instagram / Patreon • The Art of Still Life and The Oil Painters' Color Handbook • Learn with Todd: Online workshops and mentorship • Explore Create! Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.com • Support independent art publishing on our Substack: createmagazine.substack.com

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with a fellow artist who needs a dose of real-world wisdom and encouragement.

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with painter and creative mentor Felicia Forte for a deep and refreshing conversation on creative flow, intuition, burnout, and finding your true pace as an artist.

Felicia shares how she moved through a major creative block, rebuilt her relationship with painting, and allowed a slower, more intuitive rhythm to guide her back to the work. She speaks openly about dropping the hustle, choosing resonance over pressure, and trusting the quiet seasons where ideas grow underground.

This conversation is full of warmth, honesty, and wisdom for anyone navigating their own creative path.

• How Felicia rebuilt her painting practice after burnout

• The difference between hustle driven output and intuitive flow

• Using intuition, resonance, and curiosity as your compass

• Why creative blocks often have internal roots

• The power of slowing down and listening to yourself

• Reframing mistakes as discovery

• Balancing ambition with compassion for your present season

• Allowing a body of work to unfold without forcing it

• Supporting artists through creative coaching and technique programs

Website: https://www.feliciaforte.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/feliciaforte

Website: https://www.createmagazine.co Substack: createmagazine.substack.com Instagram: @createmagazine

Create! Magazine is thrilled to announce the open call for our 2026 Women's International Edition. This annual print and digital issue highlights exceptional artists whose work contributes meaningfully to today's creative landscape.

This year's edition is curated by Sonia Borrell, an internationally respected art collector, curator, and advisor known for her thoughtful global perspective and dedication to supporting artists. This special issue celebrates artistic excellence, clarity of vision, and the dynamic practices shaping contemporary art today.

Submit your work: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

In this episode of The Create! Podcast, host Kat (Ekaterina Popova) sits down with creative visionary Amy Griffith. Best known for founding the iconic pink Eaton House Studio in the UK, Amy shares the journey behind her latest, soul-stirring project: The Star Seed House in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Amy opens up about the massive transition from creating a playful, celebrity-favorite party house in Essex to renovating an ancient, spiritual sanctuary in the heart of the Medina—a project requiring patience, donkeys for transport, and deep trust in the process.

This conversation is a masterclass in letting faith be stronger than fear. Amy and Kat discuss the practicalities of funding long-term creative visions, the importance of diversifying income to protect your artistic joy, and how to design spaces that engage all the senses. Whether you are an artist planning a massive installation or an entrepreneur looking to pivot, Amy's intuitive approach to life and business will inspire you to take the leap.

In this episode, we cover:

• From UK to Marrakesh: The serendipitous story of how Amy fell in love with Morocco and decided to build her second immersive art installation there.

• The Star Seed House: Renovating a centuries-old property without cars, learning local craftsmanship, and honoring the "soul" of a building.

• Faith vs. Fear: How to navigate the anxiety of big, expensive creative projects and why Amy painted "Let your faith be stronger than your fear" on her walls.

• Creative Process & Neuroscience: Amy discusses her photographic memory, sensory filing system, and how she visualizes spaces before they exist.

• Financial Sustainability for Artists: The importance of having non-creative income streams to relieve pressure on your art practice.

• Slowing Down: What living in the Medina has taught Amy about patience, devotion, and the spiritual side of creativity.

Guest Bio:

Amy Griffith is an artist, creative director, and the founder of Eaton House Studio, a world-renowned, pink-hued art installation and location hire in the UK. Most recently, she founded the Star Seed House in Marrakesh, Morocco, a spiritual sanctuary and immersive design project. Amy is known for her intuitive design process, creating spaces that are not just visually stunning but emotionally resonant. She is currently launching a curated shop in Marrakesh featuring vintage caftans and natural perfumes.

Connect with Amy Griffith:

• Website: Eaton House Studio

• Instagram: @eatonhousestudio

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Create! Magazine on Substack: Subscribe for fresh articles, art tips, and insights at createmagazine.substack.com

• Call for Art: Apply to our latest open calls, exhibitions, and publishing opportunities at createmagazine.co/call-for-art

• Create! U: Explore our online learning platform for artists at createu.co

Support the Podcast:

If this episode lit you up, please share it with a friend! We would also be so grateful if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts to help more artists find the show.

• Website: createmagazine.co

• Instagram: @createmagazine

In this episode of the Create Podcast, Ekaterina Popova speaks with artist and creator Tammy Dinh, known online as Uncomfy. Tammy is a sculptor, storyteller, and YouTuber whose gentle clay characters and narrative films have reached millions of viewers. She shares how returning to polymer clay during college helped her reconnect with creativity and build an online art practice that blends play, comfort, and storytelling.

Tammy discusses growing up during the 2008 recession, navigating scarcity, and learning to trust that a creative life can also be a stable one. She and Kat explore the role of routine, rest, and community, as well as the challenges of burnout and how Tammy rebuilt her practice with new boundaries and a more sustainable mindset.

This conversation offers honest insight into starting from scratch, finding your creative voice, and building a long-term career that supports both your art and your well-being.

Topics Discussed • Rediscovering polymer clay and reconnecting with childhood creativity • Building an online art career through storytelling and character design • Growing up with financial uncertainty and navigating scarcity • Burnout, recovery, and creating a sustainable art practice • Using small, consistent habits to rebuild creative momentum • The value of community, friendship, and in-person creative connection • Writing, Substack, and expanding creative identity • Returning to handmade work with new boundaries and care

About Our Guest Tammy Dinh is an artist, sculptor, and storyteller creating imaginative clay characters and narrative videos under the name Uncomfy. She shares her process and creative practice through YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and her online shop.

Find Tammy Online Website: https://www.uncomfy.store YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tammydinh Instagram: @uncomfyco TikTok: @uncomfyco

Follow Create Magazine and Ekaterina Create Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.com Kat Popova: https://www.katerinapopova.com Instagram: @katerinaspopova

Welcome back to the show! We are thrilled to host the incredible Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax to talk about her new book, Taxes for Humans: A Simple Guide to the Taxes That Rule Your Life. This episode is must listen material for artists, curators, freelancers, and gallery professionals who want a kinder, clearer way to deal with money and taxes.

Hannah is an exhibiting artist turned tax professional. She shares the personal story of being dismissed by an accountant and how that experience inspired her to build a more humane, accessible approach to taxes for creatives. If you have ever felt judged, confused, or "bad with money," this conversation will feel like a deep exhale.

You will hear Hannah reframe money as a tool for good, with examples like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and offer encouragement for anyone who has avoided looking at their numbers out of shame or fear.

✨ Current Open Call at Create! Magazine Share your work with us for upcoming issues and opportunities here: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

✍️ The inspiration behind Taxes for Humans and why Hannah put everything she teaches in her programs into one affordable, comprehensive book (just 27 dollars).

🚫 How being dismissed by an accountant pushed her to create Sunlight Tax and become an advocate for creative people who are tired of feeling talked down to.

🤯 Why the fear of "not having it together" is the number one thing creative entrepreneurs have in common and how it fuels imposter syndrome.

🎨 The artist and accountant divide, and how Hannah bridges two very different worlds so artists can step into their power as entrepreneurs.

✨ How to get good at taxes and money management while keeping your soul, your vision, and your unique creative spark.

💰 A simple mindset shift to see money as a powerful tool for impact instead of something scary or shameful.

📈 Hobby versus business, what the IRS actually looks for, and why the bar for being considered a business is much lower than most artists think.

🧾 The single most important first technical step you can take today to get organized and compliant, even if you feel behind.

Hannah's approach is a beautiful balance of order and creative chaos. She shows you that you can be a serious artist and also be excellent at money and taxes. Do not let fear keep you out of the studio or away from the career you really want.

📚 Get the Book Taxes for Humans: A Simple Guide to the Taxes That Rule Your Life https://www.sunlighttax.com/book

🌈 Free Tax Deduction Guide Download Hannah's rainbow colored visual guide to tax deductions to print and pin above your desk: https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

🌐 Website https://www.sunlighttax.com

📸 Instagram @sunlighttax

We're celebrating one million downloads! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for tuning in, sharing the show, and leaving us love on iTunes. I'm so grateful to be able to share this program with you and our creative community.

In this episode of Create! Podcast, host Ekaterina Popova sits down with Colombian artist and designer Leslie Braginsky to talk about gratitude, harmony, and the beauty of bringing art into communities.

Leslie shares her inspiring journey from Colombia to the U.S., how gratitude shaped her perspective as an artist and mother, and how she began creating inclusive, meditative coloring books that celebrate women of all backgrounds and body types.

Together, Kat and Leslie discuss how to reconnect with creativity for joy—not just productivity—and how to create harmony between art, business, and life. Leslie also shares how she's using art to build connection in her local community through collaborative coloring gatherings.

Before the interview, Kat reflects on balance and alignment and invites artists to submit their work to Create! Magazine's Winter Solstice 2026 Print Issue, curated by Sarah Potter, celebrating transformation, renewal, and light through the dark.

• How gratitude can transform your creative practice

• Finding beauty and self-acceptance through art

• The importance of making art for joy, not just results

• How to bring art into your community and create meaningful connections

• Leslie's story of healing, motherhood, and creative flow

✨ Submit to the Winter Solstice 2026 Issue: https://www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

🎨 Explore Create! Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.co

💖 Learn More About Leslie Braginsky: Website: https://www.the-pistils.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie.braginsky/ Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/lesliebraginsky

🖌️ Connect with Kat: Website: https://www.katerinapopova.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katerinaspopova

Inspiring episode of The Create Podcast, host Ekaterina (Kat) Popova sits down with artist, author, and creativity coach Carrie Schmitt to explore what it means to fall in love with your creativity again — to trust it, surrender to it, and let it lead you toward healing and joy.

Carrie shares her powerful story of transformation, from facing a life-threatening illness to rediscovering painting as a divine and loving force that carried her through darkness and back into light. Together, Kat and Carrie discuss creativity as a sacred relationship — one rooted in devotion, acceptance, and self-compassion rather than perfection or control.

You'll hear insights on:

• Reconnecting with your creative spirit through trust and love

• Letting go of judgment, pressure, and self-criticism

• Finding inspiration and meaning in difficult seasons

• Healing creative wounds and learning to create for joy, not approval

• Viewing creativity as a living, supportive presence in your life

Carrie's book, Awakening Creativity: A Sacred Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Artist, is an invitation to remember the beauty and wisdom that flow through you every time you create.

• Awakening Creativity: A Sacred Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Artist by Carrie Schmitt

• Create Magazine's Winter Solstice 2026 Print Issue, curated by Sarah Potter → Submit your work: https://createmagazine.co/call-for-art

• Explore micro-courses and creative business resources at https://createu.co

• Follow Kat on Instagram: @katerinaspopova

• Follow Create! Magazine: @createmagazine

• Discover Carrie's art, retreats, and programs: https://www.carrieschmittdesign.com

Sometimes the most meaningful parts of our creative journey are the detours — the moments when we think we've failed or lost our way, only to realize we've discovered something new. Like a labyrinth, life guides us toward the next best thing, often better than we could have imagined.

In this episode, host Ekaterina (Kat) Popova sits down with Nishant Jain, also known as The Sneaky Artist, to talk about curiosity, permission, and finding beauty in the everyday. Nishant shares how writer's block led him to a thriving art practice, how he built a loyal global community through Substack, and why keeping secrets and creating privately can reignite your passion.

If you've ever questioned your creative direction or struggled to share your art meaningfully in the digital age, this conversation will remind you that detours are destiny — and that creativity doesn't have to be loud to be powerful.

Nishant Jain is an artist, writer, and podcaster known as The Sneaky Artist. He sketches people and places in public spaces, capturing the quiet poetry of daily life. A former engineer and scientist, Nishant left academia to pursue storytelling full-time. His new book, Make Sneaky Art, invites readers to build a joyful sketchbook habit rooted in curiosity and play.

• Book Tour → The (Sneaky) Book Tour

• Buy the Book → Make Sneaky Art

• Follow Nishant → SneakyArt Substack

• How creative detours become the path to purpose

• Reframing failure through curiosity and exploration

• Balancing art-making with building a creative business

• Why keeping a "secret sketchbook" protects your voice

• Building authentic connection through storytelling

Welcome to the Jungle — Josh Brown's immersive exhibition — opens in New York City this November.

For two days only, canvases pulse with color, hidden gazes peek from the leaves, and the city transforms into something wild, alive, and untamed.

📍 147 Broome St, NYC 🗓️ November 14–16

Join Josh Brown's studio list at joshbrownart.com for RSVP access, collector previews, and behind-the-scenes as the jungle comes to life.

Interested in sponsoring The Create! Podcast or advertising with Create! Magazine? Contact [email protected] for information and options.

Ekaterina Popova is an artist, certified master coach, and founder of Create! Magazine and Create U. Through her podcast and platforms, she helps artists and visionaries build joyful, sustainable careers on their own terms.

• Explore: createmagazine.co

• Learn: www.createu.co

• Read: Create! Substack https://createmagazine.substack.com

• Follow: @katerinaspopova @createmagazine