In this episode I’m talking with painter Alyssa Monks about how feedback, both internal and external, shapes an artist’s work and confidence.

We explore what kinds of critique have helped her over her career and how she learned to distinguish useful feedback from noise. Alyssa shares how critical comments that bother you can sometimes be the most revealing.

We also dive into the psychological side of creativity: transforming your inner critic from an adversary into a problem-solving partner, trusting your own vision while staying open to perspective, and why asking who you ask for feedback matters.

Alyssa reflects on navigating personal and professional critiques, choosing when to ask for input, and why hope and curiosity are essential ingredients in the studio.

You can find Alyssa here at her website:  alyssamonks.com,  Here on instagram

And here on Patreon

Video Available here:

If you'd like to watch this conversation, you can find selected episodes of The Creative Kind on YouTube and on Substack. Later this year I should be able to publish videos on Apple and Spotify and will update this feed then too.  

Just search The Creative Kind Podcast or follow the link in the show notes to watch the full interview with Alyssa.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by artist and writer Diana Weymar, whose practice involves textiles, language, and collective participation. Diana is best known for the Tiny Pricks Project, an ongoing body of embroidered text works responding to political language, poetry, and cultural moments.

We talk about what it means to make and share work when the world feels overwhelming, and how artists decide what deserves their attention. Diana speaks about translating words into thread, the difference between reacting and observing, and why slowness can be a powerful artistic tool in a fast-moving information landscape.

We also discuss criticism, community, and the tension between wanting to speak out and recognising you can’t respond to everything. Diana shares how the project evolved from a small personal experiment into a global participatory archive of over 5,000 pieces, and why she’s comfortable letting a project change shape over time.

This conversation explores political art, creative responsibility, and the quiet but profound impact of making something by hand. We talk about uncertainty, nuance, and the idea that art doesn’t always need to resolve issues, sometimes it simply holds space for them.

Find Diana Weymar  here on instagram and also over at @tinypricksproject

and her website here at www.tinypricksproject.com

You can find the podcast here on Instagram & here on substack

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by landscape painter Debbie Mackenzie, who lives and works on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Debbie shares how her paintings grow out of the places she spends time in, and how her ideas evolve naturally as she works toward a solo exhibition.

We talk about what it means to build a body of work rather than individual paintings, and how each piece can influence the next. Debbie explains her unusual process of photographing inspiration and then never looking at the images again, relying instead on memory and feeling to guide her compositions.

We also get into the realities behind the scenes; logistics, deadlines, long studio days, balancing family life, financial gaps between shows, and the emotional comedown that can happen after finishing a major series. Debbie also reflects on consistency, why she rarely changes her palette, and how small shifts like music or brushes can spark experimentation without disrupting cohesion.

You can find Debbie on instagram here, her website here: www.debbiemackenzieart.com

She is represented by

SYDNEY - Michael Reid Gallery - Southern Highlands & Michael Reid Northern Beaches

MELBOURNE - Kelli Lundberg Gallery

You can find the podcast here on Instagram & here on substack

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sydney based curator, writer, and artist mentor Amber Creswell Bell to talk about what it really means to be an artist right now, particularly in a slower market.

Amber brings a broad perspective from working closely with emerging artists, running a national art prize, curating exhibitions, and spending years inside the commercial gallery system. We discuss what artists can focus on when sales slow, how to think more strategically about your practice, and why relying on luck alone rarely leads to sustainable outcomes.

We talk about treating your art practice as a small business, understanding your audience, and using social media with intention rather than comparison. Amber shares her thoughts on what artists often spend too much energy on, how to research galleries and opportunities more effectively, and why being visible doesn’t have to mean chasing every trend. We also discuss the role of networking and community, the importance of finding a distinct visual language, and how art prizes can help artists build confidence, credibility, and new connections.

Find Amber  here on her website or here on instagram

You can find the booking link here

Upcoming Masterclasses:

• MELBOURNE 13th March
• SYDNEY 28th March
• POMONA (Sunshine Coast) 29th April
• BYRON BAY 30th April
• BRISBANE 20th June
• CANBERRA: to be announced soon

You can find the podcast here on Instagram & here on substack

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n this episode of The Creative Kind, I sit down with artists Fleur Woods and Hannah Jensen Fox to talk about the impact and significance of art workshops. Fleur, a fiber artist and paint carver Hannah, share their experiences teaching workshops and how these sessions have benefited their practices and personal growth.

We explore the dynamics of workshops, the invaluable connections and community that form, and the surprising ways teaching has strengthened their own skills and confidence.  We also touch on the logistical and financial challenges of running workshops, and the rewarding ripple effects of teaching. Our conversation highlights their shared belief in the transformative power of creativity and the joy of fostering a safe, encouraging, and collaborative environment for artists.

Find Fleur Woods here on her website or  here on instagram

You can find more information about Fleur’s courses here

Find Hannah Jensen Fox here on her website or here on instagram

You can find more information about Hannah’s courses here

You can find the podcast here on Instagram & here on substack

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Recommendations from this episode:

Fleur Recommended:

Song Sung Blue - The Movie

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Hannah Recommended:

Trent Dalton Audiobooks; Lola in the mirror and Love Stories

Julie Recommended:

The Get Seen Artist Workbook by Carrie Scott

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To mark the end of the year, I asked past guests of The Creative Kind to share one artwork that stayed with them in 2025. Something that made them pause, something that lingered. What came back were personal reflections on paintings, sculptures, installations, exhibitions, and moments of seeing art that surprised, unsettled, comforted, or quietly shifted something. Some guests spoke about a single work they couldn’t stop thinking about. Others reflected on whole exhibitions, artists they keep returning to, or practices that have reshaped how they work in their own studios.

Across the episode, guests talk about scale and intimacy, about seeing work in person versus online, and about how materials, process, and repetition can carry meaning. Several guests speak about light and shadow, hope and heaviness, and the way an artwork can articulate something you didn’t yet have words for. There are also stories about risk, artists trying something unfamiliar, pushing their own boundaries, or committing to daily practice. A number of guests reflect on how these encounters with art have filtered back into their own practices, changing how they paint, build, repeat, simplify, or let go. Being moved by art doesn’t follow a single pattern, and sometimes the works that stay with us do so because they meet us differently each time we return to them.

This episode lands in a heavy moment following the events in Bondi. My sincerest sympathies to the victims, their families, and community.

• All of the artists mentioned in this episode, along with recommendations from our guests, are linked in the Substack here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the theme of experimenting and how it shows up across different art practices and life stages. Featuring returning guests Laura Brinin, Robyn Rich, Jenni Stringleman, Kate Owen, Ashley Longshore, and Salma Price-Nell, we look at the many ways artists approach play, curiosity, and taking creative risks.

Across these conversations, we discuss what experimentation looks like in practical terms, from changing mediums and revisiting older works, to navigating the tension between intuition, commercial pressures, and personal capacity. The artists share how factors such as parenting, time limitations, and energy levels affect their willingness to take risks, and how small acts of play can keep a long or complex project moving.

We also cover the importance of staying connected to a sense of discovery, even in established practices. Whether it’s exploring film, returning to ceramics, testing new colour palettes, or seeking moments of flow, each guest offers insight into how experimentation supports growth, confidence, and momentum.

Find Laura Brinin at Side Gallery, website here and their instagram here:

Find Robyn Rich's website here and on instagram here

Find Jenni Stringleman's website here and her newsletter here 

Find Kate Owen's website here and on instagram here

Find Ashley Lonshore's website here and on instagram here

Find Salma Price-Nell's website here and on instagram here

You can find the podcast on instagram here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

If you've got a question you'd like me to explore- you can ask it here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, the mind behind Jerry Gogosian, about the current state of the art market and the realities artists are facing right now. We discuss the recent market correction, how quickly prices can rise and fall, and what that means for artists whose work becomes tied to hype cycles. Hilde talks openly about dramatic price fluctuations, pricing as an emerging artist and why artists should build lives that support their practice, not the other way around.

We also cover Hilde's thoughts on the unexpected careers people can discover when they step outside the art world, and the false pressure to measure success solely through big-name galleries or institutions. Hilde shares what she would do if she were an emerging artist starting out in 2026, from keeping living costs low to prioritising making the work itself.

Resources & Links

You can find Hilde’s substack here, website here and on instagram as Jerry Gogosian here

You can find the podcast instagram here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Mentioned in the show:

Magnus Resch

David Sedaris

If you've got a question you'd like me to explore- you can ask it here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Creative Kind, I’m joined by New York-based mixed media artist Ashley Longshore. Known for her larger-than-life personality and equally bold pop-infused paintings, Ashley’s work collides Hollywood glamour, consumerism, and cultural icons.

Ashley discusses her defiance of the traditional art world by building her own company to avoid the standard 50% gallery cut, stating that this move was driven by her business-minded approach rather than confidence. The conversation delves into her journey of marketing and selling her art independently, using creative strategies that bypass conventional gallery systems. Ashley emphasizes the importance of grit, resilience, and a strong inner monologue, sharing her experiences of starting out with minimal resources and networking creatively to sell her work. She highlights the role of self-love, authenticity, and the necessity of learning to discuss money openly as an artist. Additionally, Longshore touches upon her charitable efforts, such as the Ashley Longshore Charitable Trust, which supports young artists.

Find Ashley here on her website or  here on instagram

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I’m talking to Melbourne based miniatures artist Robyn Rich, whose work captures intimate, tiny worlds in reused and recycled objects. We talk about what it’s like to create art while living with chronic illness, and how limitations have shaped both her practice and her perspective.

Robyn shares how art became a way to find her voice, to connect with others, and to make sense of her own experiences. We discuss the emotional power of small objects, the beauty of creating in a contained space, and the ways she’s built community through projects, Instagram, and her own miniature gallery.

We also explore resilience, the lessons that come from rejection and illness, and how she navigates the tension between pushing herself creatively and taking care of her health. Robyn talks candidly about the challenges of sharing her work, asking for help, and finding ways to stay connected while honouring her own limits.

You can Robyn’s website here and on instagram here

You can find the podcast here

Thanks so much for listening! Feel free to rate, review & share if you enjoyed it, this helps other people find the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.