In this episode I chat to Penelope Boyd, a self-taught painter from Canberra. Penny discusses how she came to develop her unique style and the self-reliance and determination it took to get there. She talks about early exposure to blogs and online resources and a long history of trial and error and how this helped her to refine and discover what works for her. Penny talks about some of the challenges she faced, including physical injuries and she also reflects on the freedom of being self-taught, allowing her art to evolve without the influence of formal art education. We discuss some of the challenges artists face in developing their professional skills beyond making art, including writing artist statements, managing finances, and navigating the business side of the industry. This chat with Penny really highlights the value of long-term commitment and practice, in honing one's artistic voice. I really enjoyed this chat and I hope you do too!

Penny has an upcoming exhibition 'Lost and Found' at Grainger Gallery in Canberra from the 13-30th of March 2025

You can find Penny here on Instagram

And her website 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

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In this episode of 'The Creative Kind,' I’m joined by Rachael Mayne, a psychologist and painter based in Aotearoa, New Zealand, to discuss the intersection of anxiety and art. Rachael explains that anxiety is a normal, protective mechanism but can become problematic when it impacts daily functioning. We explore how anxiety manifests for artists, and how tools like journaling, mindfulness, and therapy can help. We touch on issues of imposter syndrome, the impact of social media on self-esteem, and the challenge of staying inspired. We also discuss our personal experiences of navigating the "ugly phase" in paintings, recognizing it as a natural part of the process rather than a sign of failure. Racheal offers practical strategies for managing creative anxiety, including having multiple projects at different stages and recognizing when energy levels allow for experimentation. 

You can find Rachael here on instagram:

And her website here

Mentioned in this episode:

The links to the books/resources that I mentioned are:

- The Centre for Clinical Interventions - Resources for looking after yourself:

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself

- The Happiness Trap - How to stop struggling and start living, By Russ Harris (book)

We discuss topics related to anxiety and mental health in this episode, including how these experiences can affect artists. While we approach this conversation with care, some parts may be sensitive for certain listeners. If you find this topic distressing, please take breaks or skip this episode if needed. If you’re struggling with your mental health, we encourage you to seek support from a mental health professional or reach out to someone you trust. 

📞 Additional Mental Health Resources:

• New Zealand: Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counselor anytime.
• Australia: Contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.
• International: Visit befrienders.org to find helplines in your country.

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 talk to Dr. Lou Cooper, psychologist, host of the Emotion Focused Podcast and head of training at the Australian Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy. We discuss the relationship between creativity and anxiety, exploring if artists really do experience more anxiety compared to others. Lou provides insights into recognising, managing, and normalising anxiety, balancing emotions in the creative process, differentiating between helpful and debilitating anxiety, and the role of community and social media in an artist's mental health. We also answer a few listener questions about anxiety spirals, using emotions as inspiration, and career uncertainties. Throughout the discussion Lou explains the importance of acknowledging anxiety and offers strategies for managing it, normalising it and possibly even using it when we think about or are in the process of creating art.  

Links to:

International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy

The Emotion Focused Podcast- Hosted by Dr Lou Cooper

• Listen on apple podcasts
• Listen on spotify
• The Emotion Focused Podcast on Instagram

We discuss topics related to anxiety and mental health in this episode, including how these experiences can affect artists. While we approach this conversation with care, some parts may be sensitive for certain listeners. If you find this topic distressing, please take breaks or skip this episode if needed. If you’re struggling with your mental health, we encourage you to seek support from a mental health professional or reach out to someone you trust. 

📞 Additional Mental Health Resources:

• New Zealand: Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counselor anytime.
• Australia: Contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.
• International: Visit befrienders.org to find helplines in your country.

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter 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 joined by Dublin-based artist Mark Conlan, known for his expressive and whimsical work across various mediums, including digital art, illustration, and hand-painted pieces. We discuss the evolution of Mark's career, from his days as a graphic designer to becoming an illustraton artist and how his style and techniques have adapted over time. We talk about the importance of personal projects in driving commercial success, and the value of continuous exploration and confidence in artistic growth. Mark shares insights on balancing commercial work with personal expression, dealing with creative blocks, and the significance of rest and nature in maintaining creativity. 

You can find Mark here:

Mark Conlan’s Website

Mark Conlan’s Instagram

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter 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 talk to Fleur Wickes, a New Zealand artist, writer, photographer, and master's student. Fleur discusses her evolution from a photographer to a multifaceted artist, sharing insights about her creative process, which focuses on emotional connections and human experiences. Fleur also talks about the significance of imperfection in her art, the transition away from photography, and the role of business in her creative journey. We discuss the importance experimenting has played within her practice, as well has things that have stayed constant such as her use of photographic paper and her love of words. This episode explores the many ways Fleur's work has evolved over the years, and how throughout those changes, she’s always sought to explore the emotional resonance of art.

You can find Fleur here:

Fleur Wickes Website

Fleur Wickes Newsletter

Fleur Wickes Instagram

Mentioned artists include Diane Arbus, Rose Wiley Joel Peter Witkin, Emily Hartley Scutter, Wolfgang Tillman, CJ Hendry, and Glenn Hayward.

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter 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 studio session of The Creative Kind, I catch up with previous guests Claire Te Au and Frank Gordon, both talented painters from Ōtepoti, Dunedin. We dive into a chat about finding some routine again after the holidays, current projects, the creative processes they follow, and the unique challenges and joys of balancing art with life. We discuss some thoughts around planning for upcoming shows, and how the art maths never seems to work around getting things done on time. We also explore gallery dynamics, the creation of murals, and the quirky mishaps that arise in artistic endeavours. 

Find my previous episode with Frank here:

Find my previous episode with Claire here

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter here

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

Sorry for the audio quality in this one- it's a work in progress and this was definitely a done is better then perfect scenario!

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In this episode of The Creative Kind, I chat with Brisbane-based artist and teacher Andrew Sleeman about how he juggles his full-time job teaching and his art practice. Andrew shares his strategies for setting a non-negotiable schedule,  what happens when this schedule is inevitably interrupted, setting goals, and maintaining consistency in his creative work alongside having a busy work and family life. We discuss the role of mindset, it’s role in making art a personal priority and the many ways in which that can be difficult. I really enjoyed this chat with Andrew and hearing not just the challenges, but ways in which he is embracing the flexibility and learning to move within and around the distractions, I hope you do too!  

You can find Andrew here on instagram and his website here

Other episodes and people mentioned in this chat:

• Sam Michelle
• Chilu
• Willy Russo

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter 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.

Today, I’m introducing a new style of episode that I’m calling Studio Sessions. These aren’t the usual interviews you’re used to hearing here. Instead, they’re more laid-back conversations with one or two other artists about art, creativity, life, and how these things combine and collide.

I’m not entirely sure how often these episodes will happen—it’s a bit of an experiment. They’re d a chance to dig into the raw, real side of the artistic process and chat to past and future guests from the podcast. I’m so excited to see where this new direction takes us!

Don’t worry—the interview episodes you know and love aren’t going anywhere. I’ve got a whole series planned, and I can’t wait to share what’s coming up this year. But every now and then, you’ll spot a Studio Session in your feed. These episodes will have a blue background and “Studio Session” in the title, so you’ll know when to expect something a little different.

For today’s Studio Session, I sat down with Amanda Billing—a photographer, actor, and artist—and Jenni Stringleman, a painter. Both are based in Auckland, New Zealand, and we had an honest and wide-ranging conversation about the ups and downs of the creative process. We talked about navigating those tricky in-between times, the moments of doubt, and the sparks of joy that keep us going.

It’s raw, it’s real, and maybe even a little unpredictable. I hope you enjoy it!

You can find Amanda here, her newsletter here and her earlier interview episode here:

You can find Jenni here and her newsletter here and her earlier interview episode here:

You can find the podcast here

And the podcast newsletter here

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

xJB

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Happy new year! Welcome back to The Creative Kind, Today’s episode is a little different — instead of interviewing someone else, I’m sharing an interview that I recently did for the wonderful Creative Matters podcast.

I’ll admit, it feels a bit strange to put myself in the spotlight here, but I think it’s a great opportunity to let you in on some of my personal journey, especially since I’m always asking my guests to do the same! A big thank you to Mandy Jakich interviewing me and allowing me to share it here with you all. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed chatting with her.

You can find Creative Matters here on Insta

Here on apple podcast

Here on spotify

You can find a blog post to go along with this episode here:

You can find the Creative Kind instagram page here:

& you can find a link to the The Creative Kind Substack here:

Ask a question or suggest a topic here

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In this episode we’re celebrating the end of the year with the first-ever Creative Kind Secret Santa! This episode is about the simple magic of exchange and talk within a creative community. Through a Secret Santa format, various guests from the past three seasons share questions and answers, covering topics such as the impact of large and small artworks, unique techniques like paint carving, the value of gallery relationships and email databases, the influence of music and other art forms on creative practices, and the significance of trusting your instincts and staying authentic.

Thank you so much to Claire Te Au, Emily Raubenheimer, Madeleine Simson, Hannah Jensen Fox, Jenni Stringleman, Lisa Doust, Willy Russo, Jordan Barnes, Peter Aitken, Frank Gordon, Chiu, Viv Wotton and Amanda Billing for your questions and your answers,

And thank you to everyone for your questions, for listening and for your support this year! 

Happy Festivus!

Find the podcast here on instagram: @thecreativekindpodcast

Or on Substack

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