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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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In this episode, I sit down with Jenni Stringleman and Frank Gordon to talk about painting, illness, and the practical realities that shape an artist’s work. Jenni shares how her ovarian cancer was discovered, and how it’s changed the pace and priorities of her studio life.

Jenni chatted about how that experience changed her priorities: she moved quickly to paint what she wanted to paint, reduced studio output at times because of physical limitations, and now chooses projects with more personal meaning.

We discussed some of the coping strategies, everyday rituals and practical support that helped Jenni through this time and the complicated path of finding her new normal.

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

You can find Frank Gordon here, and my previous episode with him 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 I speak with Kate Owen about the process of finding your market as an artist. Kate shares how trial and error has shaped her approach, from choosing the right galleries to refining the way she communicates with collectors. She talks about the importance of asking questions, and recognising when a particular avenue isn’t the right fit.

We also look at the practical tools that support this process, including cataloguing artwork, building a mailing list that rewards collectors with early access to new work. Kate reflects on experimenting with newsletters, giveaways, and social media, and how paring things back over time has helped her focus on what really works. We chat about how her experience has required some experimenting and trying different strategies, seeing what sticks, and honing in on the things that align with her practice and life.

Find Kate Owen website here and on instagram here

You can find the podcast here

Resources & Links

• Greenhouse Interiors
• Cory (Corey) Huff — author / The Abundant Artist — 
• Maggi / Maggie McDonald (artist / creative coach) —
• Louise King — Arlington Milne+1
• Bluethumb Art
• Art Lovers Australia 
• Artwork Archive 
• Artlogic 
• Bravery Co.
• Jumbled 
• Paper Pear

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 speak with Laura Brinin from Side Gallery in Brisbane, who also works at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Laura shares insights into what it really means to approach a gallery, from making contact in a thoughtful and personal way to understanding what galleries actually do for artists. She talks about the importance of fit, the role of community and the value of supporting your gallery as much as they support you.

We also dive into the realities of confidence and perfectionism and why action builds momentum. We dip into the logistics too- Laura and I chat about contracts and deadlines. What stood out for me is her reminder that there’s no single formula for building a career, and that the work itself should always remain at the centre

Find the Side Gallery website here and their 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

Mentioned in the show:

• Laura Brinin & Side Gallery
• Design Front 
• Last episode with Laura Brinin & Andrew Sleeman:
• Jessica Nothdurft, Kitty horton & Carolyn V Watson
• 'The Gap' quote from Ira Glass

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