Feeling overwhelmed in your creative business? In this solo episode, Ekaterina Popova (Kat) walks you through how to do a Creative Business Audit—a practical process to clarify what's working, where your time and energy are going, and how to boost your profit without burning out.

Whether you're an artist, coach, designer, or creative founder—this episode will help you reset your priorities and build a business that actually supports your life and art.

🎯 You'll Learn:

How to audit your finances, time, and energy

Why profit > revenue (and how to spot the difference)

Simple tools to track what's draining vs. energizing you

When to delegate, hire, or pause offers

How to shift from "doing it all" to working like a creative CEO

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned:

📘 Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

📘 Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield-Thomas

Optional: Use AI tools (like ChatGPT!) to analyze your bank statements and identify where income flows—and where you might be overspending

🔗 Featured Links:

👉 Build Your Art Career & Business at Create UTake instant-access micro-courses for artists and creative entrepreneurs. From press features to pricing and gallery strategy, get tools to grow your income, confidence, and visibility. 🎓 Start learning now at www.createu.co

👉 Submit to Create! Magazine's Fall 2025 IssueBe featured in print and digital, curated by art advisor Emily McElwreath. 🖼️ Apply now at www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

✨ Let's Connect:

🎁 Get free guides, templates, and artist tools to grow your creative career: createu.co/free

📸 Instagram: @createmagazine | @katerinaspopova 🌐 Website: www.createmagazine.co www.katpopova.com

🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review on iTunes, and share it with a creative friend. Your support helps keep this show ad-free and packed with value. 💛

In this uplifting and practical mindset episode, I'm joined by transformational coach and author Olga, whose new book It's Already Yours offers a refreshing and accessible approach to identity, mindset, and aligned creation.

We dive into:

• How your subconscious mind shapes your day-to-day reality

• The role of identity and nervous system regulation in reaching your goals

• Tools to gently shift out of doubt and into creative flow

• Why success comes from alignment—not from pushing harder

• How to move forward without needing everything to be "healed" first

If you've been feeling stuck or unsure of your next step, this episode is a reassuring reminder that you're not broken—and your next level might be closer (and simpler) than you think.

✨ Brought to you by CreateU.co – On-demand micro-courses designed to support creative entrepreneurs.

📖 Order Olga's book and explore her programs: It's Already Yours on Amazon www.itisalreadyyours.com

🎧 Subscribe to Art & Cocktails and follow @createmagazine + @katerinaspopova for more inspiration. 🖼️ Submit your work or read the magazine at: www.createmagazine.co

In this inspiring episode of Art & Cocktails, Kat Popova sits down with artist, curator, educator, and coach Sergio Gomez to talk about what it truly means to be a successful artist in 2025.

Sergio shares his incredible journey—from creating art while working a 9 to 5 job to launching a thriving gallery, curating international exhibitions, and mentoring artists through The Artist NXT Level.

We explore:

✨ The power of adopting an entrepreneurial mindset 🎯 Becoming an opportunity creator, not just a seeker 🖼 What curators actually look for in juried shows and proposals 🌀 How to balance a multi-passionate art career 💡 Real-world tips for building a sustainable and soulful creative business

Whether you're applying for open calls, refining your art career path, or seeking clarity in your next move—this episode is packed with grounded advice and encouragement.

🌿 Artist Opportunities Mentioned:

Lightness of Being — Now accepting submissions at createmagazine.co/call-for-art Presented by Create! Magazine and juried by Sergio Gomez. Selected artists will be featured in a curated virtual exhibition and beautifully designed print catalog. Deadline: May 30.

Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize — Global award for emerging and established artists across all mediums. Submit at beautifulbizarreartprize.art

🔗 Explore More: Sergio Gomez's art and projects: sergiogomezart.com theartistnextlevel.com

Kat's personal website & coaching: katpopova.com

Submit your work or read more at: createmagazine.co

In this honest chat, Kat shares an unfiltered look at what artists like you and me truly need in 2025 and beyond.

From navigating overwhelm and distraction to embracing deeper purpose and aligned visibility, this conversation is a reminder that you're not alone—and that your art, your voice, and your vision still matter. This episode offers grounded encouragement to help you reconnect with your mission, regulate your nervous system, and create from a place of clarity. If you've been feeling stuck, burned out, or unsure about your next step, this episode is for you.

You'll hear Kat's personal take on what's working right now (and what's not), including why being seen, building intentional income streams, and honoring your energy are some of the most important things you can do as an artist in this season. This isn't a marketing episode or a how-to—it's a permission slip to be human and to keep going.

Entries are now open for the 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize! Now in its 8th year, this annual non-acquisitive international art prize is administered by Beautiful Bizarre Magazine and celebrates diversity and excellence in the representational visual arts—including all static mediums: traditional, digital, and photographic. From realism and hyperrealism to pop surrealism and lowbrow, this prize honors it all.

With over $77,000 in cash and prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize, this is an incredible opportunity to gain funding and global exposure for your work. Finalists will also have a chance to exhibit in the 2025 Beautiful Bizarre Magazine exhibition at Haven Gallery in New York, alongside 70 of the world's top contemporary artists.

You don't need to submit a physical artwork—just upload an image of your favorite piece (even if it's already sold). This year's six award categories are:

• MPB Photography Award

• Digital Art Award

• The RAYMAR Painting Award

• Victoria Olt Gallery Drawing Award

• Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award

• Catherine K. Gyllerstrom Emerging Artist Award

There's also a People's Choice Award, offering a second chance to win with an additional $1,000 prize and a bespoke promotion package with Beautiful Bizarre Magazine.

The team looks at every single entry—and many are shared online and on social media before the deadline—making this a powerful way to get noticed.

🗓 Entries close July 17, 2025 👉 Learn more and enter at beautifulbizarreartprize.art

Kat is now accepting new 1:1 and small group mentorship clients—ideal for creative entrepreneurs, artists, and art world professionals building their own path. Learn more and apply at katpopova.com/mentorship

Create! Magazine's latest Call for Art is now open—submit your work for a chance to be featured in print, online, and in upcoming exhibitions. Full details at createmagazine.co/call-for-art

For tools and support to build a sustainable, aligned creative career, check out Create U—Kat's digital school for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Inside, you'll find micro-courses on selling your art, writing your bio, growing your audience, building income streams, and more.

Kat also shares updates on her evolving coaching practice and her commitment to supporting creative leaders who are ready to build their own platforms and spaces in the art world.

This is a raw, powerful episode that so many artists need to hear right now.

In this solo episode, host Kat — artist, certified coach, and founder of Create! Magazine — speaks directly to those navigating the in-between seasons of life and creativity: when the vision is clear, but momentum feels slow, and nothing seems to be moving fast enough.

From reframing your challenges to trusting the pruning seasons, this episode is a reminder that you're not going backwards — you're evolving.

You'll learn how to stop over-identifying with obstacles, use tools like anchoring and "living as if," and incorporate creative rituals like walking in nature to regulate your nervous system and reignite your vision. Kat also explores the concept of mental hygiene, reducing negativity, and cultivating a mindset that nurtures expansion instead of fear.

This conversation is here to help you zoom out, reconnect with your inner knowing, and take aligned, empowered action — especially when the path ahead feels unclear.

Limited time only: Grab the Art Career Bundle — a curated collection of 10 workshops designed to help artists step into visibility, sales, and strategic growth. It's 50% off through May 21 at createu.co.

This is your reminder: your dream is real. You are not shrinking — you're expanding.

Apply to work with Kat 1:1: https://www.katpopova.com/mentorship

Visit www.createmagazine.co for recources and artist opportunities

What makes a work of art resonate? Is it the colors, the subject, the symbolism—or something more elusive?

In this episode, curator, author, and coach Gita Joshi returns to talk about her new book Framing the Invisible: How We See and Understand Art. We explore how perception, personal experience, and context shape the way we engage with artwork—whether you're an artist, collector, or simply a curious viewer.

We also talk about why visual literacy matters, how to talk about your work with confidence, and why there's no wrong way to see art.

Order Gita's book: https://amzn.to/4j6AJ2V Start learning with our educational micro learning hub: https://www.createu.co Read the blog, submit your work, or check out the latest issue of Create! Magazine: https://www.createmagazine.co Follow Gita on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegitajoshi Follow Kat on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katerinaspopova

Thanks for listening to Art & Cocktails! Love the show? We appreciate your support, plese leave us a quick review on iTunes and share this with a friend.

If you've ever thought, "Why am I not getting featured?"—this episode is for you. Whether your pitches are met with silence, you're dropping "feature me" comments under open calls, or you're simply unsure how to approach editors, this is the (loving) tough-love conversation you didn't know you needed.

In this solo episode, Kat shares raw insight from her unique perspective as both a published artist and the editor of Create! Magazine. You'll learn why some pitches get ignored (even when the art is strong), what editors are actually looking for, and how to approach press and media outreach with clarity, professionalism, and confidence.

She also pulls back the curtain on behind-the-scenes stories and common mistakes that hold artists back—like relying solely on social media comments, sending vague DMs, or coming off too self-promotional. You'll leave with a grounded understanding of how to share your work in a way that actually resonates.

Kat also explores the energetic and mindset side of visibility—because getting featured isn't just about tactics. It's about believing you're worthy of being seen, celebrated, and supported.

Want to take it further?

Grab Kat's new mini course: How to Get Featured in Magazines and Press as an Artist at CreateU.co. It's just $39 and includes a 40-minute video training, pitch templates, a press kit checklist, and Kat's exact system that's helped hundreds of artists land meaningful features.

New to juried submissions? Make sure you're not skipping the basics—download our free guide: Essential Tips for Emerging Artists Before Submitting Their Work.

Your work deserves to be seen. Let's make sure the right people find it.

Listen now, share with a fellow artist, and start visualizing your next feature—because it's possible, and it's closer than you think.

In this solo episode of Art & Cocktails, I'm (Ekaterina Popova) celebrating my nine-year self-employment anniversary—marking the moment I walked out of my corporate job and committed to building a life as a full-time artist and creative entrepreneur.

This conversation blends personal storytelling with practical strategies for artists who are just starting out, those in the thick of building, and anyone dreaming of making their creative practice sustainable.

I share what worked for me when I had fewer than 300 followers, no gallery representation, and no real roadmap—just passion, urgency, and the willingness to figure it out. You'll hear what helped me sell my first artworks, grow beyond friends and family, and start showing up professionally long before I felt "ready."

Topics include:

How I made my first sales with a small audience What to post and how to talk about your work Why local shows and early wins deserve celebration How I began getting noticed by curators and galleries What I did to prepare for opportunities before they happened Why I built Create! Magazine to support other artists like me The shift from doing everything to scaling through systems Why you don't need to go viral to succeed How creative leadership changed my business and energy

I also talk about growing Create U, embracing structure as a form of freedom, and what I've learned about building a business that allows for rest, alignment, and long-term joy—not just hustle.

If you're navigating a season of growth or feel like you're on the edge of something new, I hope this episode encourages you to take your next brave step.

Explore resources mentioned in this episode:

Sell From the Studio course at Create U: www.createu.co/sell-from-the-studio Submit to Create! Magazine: www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art Read and subscribe to my Substack: artandcocktails.substack.com

Thank you so much for listening. I'm honored to be on this creative path with you.

In this powerful conversation, Kat sits down with artist Sarah Detweiler to explore the intersections of motherhood, identity, and creative evolution. Sarah opens up about her journey from commercial art to fine art, the deeply personal work in her Hidden Mother series, and her most recent solo show Unmasquerade—a vibrant, layered exploration of ADHD, selfhood, and unmasking in midlife.

Together, they unpack the beauty and the bravery of allowing yourself to evolve as an artist—even when it feels risky. This is a raw, affirming episode for anyone navigating transitions and seeking deeper authenticity in their work.

Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and Background 06:33 – Artistic Evolution and Personal Journey 13:33 – The Hidden Mother Series 17:21 – Unmasquerade: New Directions in Art 22:26 – Exploring Identity and ADHD 27:33 – Closing Thoughts and Future Directions 32:12 – Outro

✨ CALL FOR ART Submissions for Create! Magazine's Summer Issue #52 are now open. Be part of our print + online issue, curated by an international jury. Submit by April 30: www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art

🎓 CREATE U Looking to grow your art career without the overwhelm? Explore our micro-courses designed to help you gain clarity, build momentum, and grow on your terms: www.createu.co

Featured Guest: Sarah Detweiler is a Philadelphia-based artist known for her mixed media paintings that weave together hand embroidery, narrative, and figuration. Her work has been exhibited nationally, featured in Create!, Hi-Fructose, Colossal, and The Jealous Curator, and she has had multiple sold-out solo exhibitions at Paradigm Gallery. Follow Sarah on Instagram at @sdartifacts.

www.sarahdetweiler.com

Listen, take what resonates—and don't be afraid to grow beyond what you've always been.

What if joy, trust, and intention were the most powerful tools in your art practice?

In this illuminating episode of Art & Cocktails, Kat is joined by Ingrid V. Wells—an artist known for her vibrant, playful still lifes that explore deep themes like resilience, consciousness, and energetic alignment. Her work invites viewers to reconnect with joy as a revolutionary creative force.

Together, they explore how to cultivate a powerful internal state before creating, why joy is a radical act, and how to access your highest creative flow. Ingrid shares her approach to creating from consciousness, letting go of pressure, and trusting the energetic pull of your artistic vision.

This is a beautiful reminder to return to your own creative truth and show up with more self-trust, presence, and purpose.

About Ingrid: Ingrid V. Wells is a San Francisco–based painter whose work has been exhibited internationally and featured in Create! Magazine, W Magazine, Hyperallergic, and more. She is also the founder of TWIRL and serves as Fine Arts Assistant Director at California College of the Arts.

Collect Ingrid's artwork at pxpcontemporary.com Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ingridvwells/ Explore more: www.ingridvwells.com

Booklist for Creative Enlightenment

Work with Kat to Gain Momentum in The Studio: https://aqsociety.com/studio-momemtum

Submit your work to Create! Magazine: www.createmagazine.co/call-for-art