Discover how Violeta Encarnación balances freelancing, illustration, and creative evolution. She reflects on her journey from growing up in Cuba to becoming a book illustrator, her experience at SVA, and her shift into tattooing. Violeta opens up about the realities of freelancing, managing carpal tunnel syndrome, and honing her distinctive color palette. She also shares how nature inspires her work, the significance of personal connections in art, and her upcoming projects. 

We talk with Violeta Encarnación, a freelance illustrator, about her creative journey and experiences in book illustration. She shares memories of growing up in Cuba, the impact of her artistic family, and her transition to life in the U.S. Violeta reflects on her time at SVA, her path into tattooing, and the lessons she has learned as a freelancer. She opens up about managing an unpredictable schedule, coping with carpal tunnel syndrome, and staying authentic in her work. Violeta also discusses her distinctive color palette, nature’s influence on her art, and the role of personal connections in creative careers.

• Childhood experiences and cultural background.

• Learning a new language and adapting to a new culture.

• Book illustration involves collaboration, patience, and the ability to convey complex emotions through images.

• Developing a unique color palette takes time and experimentation, and it can be influenced by nature and personal experiences.

• Finding one's voice in art and maintaining personal connections are essential for success.

00:00 - Introduction: A Collage of Moments Frozen in Time 

02:45 - A Journey of Belonging: From Cuba to the U.S. 

06:30 - The Language of Emotion: Finding Your Voice in a New Tongue 

10:15 - Reclaiming Art as a Safe Space 

13:05 - The Unexpected Path to Tattooing 

17:01 - Illustrating a New Chapter: Breaking into Picture Books 

22:30 - The Resilience of a First "No": Redrawing Her Way to a "Yes" 

28:15 - Juggling the Freelance Life: Cash Flow and Creative Burnout 

36:00 - A Journey with Color: From Fear to Harmony 

42:50 - What's Next: Ceramics and Storytelling

Follow Violeta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_violeta.encarnacion_

Violeta’s Website: https://www.violetaencarnacion.com/

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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What does it take to keep creating, even after dozens of false starts? In this deeply insightful encore episode, I’m sharing my conversation with the legendary author Edwidge Danticat. 

Edwidge shares how she found her own voice as a writer and offers a candid look into her artistic practice today. We talk about the "dance with fear", and the "20 notebooks of false starts" for her current novel, and the practical mindset it takes to push through creative blocks. 

This is a powerful and reassuring conversation for any creator who has ever felt stalled by perfectionism or self-doubt.

00:00 - Introduction to Edwidge Danticat

02:30 - The Oral Storytellers of a Haitian Childhood

04:30 - From Listening to Writing: Discovering the Power of Books

06:55 - Finding a Voice and First Publications

09:20 - Choosing Art Over a Prescribed Path

11:30 - The Dance with Fear: Navigating Self-Doubt and Perfectionism

14:50 - The 20 Notebooks: A Look into the Creative Process

18:10 - Learning to Trust Your Own Process

20:10 - A Message to Her Younger Self

Edwidge’s Website: https://edwidgedanticat.com/

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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Have you ever felt the pull to leave a secure, conventional career for a more exciting path of as an artist? 

In this encore episode, I’m revisiting my conversation with photographer Nolis Anderson, whose journey is a powerful lesson in following your creative intuition. 

Nolis shares the incredible story of how he pivoted from pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree to building a full-time photography career, not with a grand plan, but through organic growth and the power of community. 

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone wondering if their 'hobby' could be something more.

00:00 - Introduction to Nolis Anderson

01:06 - From Kenwood Academy to a Creative Path

02:40 - The Surprising Leap: From Pharmacy to Photography

06:30 - Finding a Voice: From Parties to Portraits

11:50 - The Art of Capturing Ephemeral Moments

14:10 - The "Clean" Aesthetic: Editing and Process

17:15 - The Power of Mentorship and Community

19:20 - Navigating the Business of Creativity

25:50 - Lessons Learned and Looking Ahead

Follow Nolis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolis

Nolis’s Website: https://www.nolisanderson.com/

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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When was the last time your creative energy faded away like mist? One season you’re overflowing with ideas, and the next, you feel like you’re trying to draw water from a dry well. 

In this personal solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own creative rhythms. Tune in to hear how to use your natural creative lulls to your advantage. This episode is a gentle reminder that your river of creativity is always flowing, even when it goes underground for a while.

00:00 - My Not-So-Secret Creative Cycle 02:21 - The Dry Spell: When the Well Runs Empty 04:49 - The Return of the River: Embracing the Flow 07:15 - Beyond Hustle: Challenging the Myth of Constant Creation 09:33 - What to Do When the Ideas Aren't Flowing 11:46 - Mapping Your Own Creative Seasons 14:10 - Your River is Always Flowing

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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Have you ever wondered how to turn a lifelong passion for art into a real, thriving career? In this episode, I'm delighted to sit down with Alex Craig, a self-taught artist, painter, and illustrator who embodies the spirit of creative determination. Alex shares her journey, from a childhood surrounded by artists to launching her first clothing line to eventually showcasing her work at prestigious events such as the Black Girl Art Show.

This conversation explores perseverance and authenticity that transform passion into purpose. We dig into:

• The practical steps of building an art business, 

• We talk about how to digest critique, 

• How to open an Etsy shop and 

• Tips to find the right printer and pricing for your work.  

Alex’s story is a reminder that with a strong support system and an unwavering belief in your own voice, you can build the creative life you've always envisioned.

00:00 Introduction to Alex Craig

01:21 Growing Up Creative: A Family of Artists

03:40 The College Hustle: From Custom Jackets to a Clothing Line

07:25 Taught by Experience: Lessons from a College Art Class

11:11 The Art of Critique: Learning to Let Go of Ego

19:23 Finding Your Voice with a Little Push from Family

22:05 The Practical Hustle: Starting and Growing an Etsy Shop

28:27 Bridging Worlds: How Digital Sketches Inform Physical Paintings

33:20 The Art of Pricing: On Accessibility and Value

36:54 The Signature Palette: A Love Story with the Color Blue

40:13 What Sets Her Heart Ablaze: The Drive to Keep Creating

Follow Alexandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artviaalex

Alexandra’s Website: https://artviaalex.etsy.com/

Website: http://www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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Think back to your younger self. What advice would you give to that version of yourself?

In today’s episode, I'm sharing a powerful compilation of advice from three artists who have learned to quiet their chatty minds to be their best selves. 

We'll hear from Murielle Banackissa, celebrated food photographer, stylist, and author of the cookbook Savoring. Nana Oduro, a visual artist. And from, Tiffany Brooks, a leading figure in the interior design world. 

This episode is an intimate collection of insights on trusting the process, embracing your voice, and finding the courage to create authentically.

00:00 Introduction: A Conversation with Our Younger Selves

02:23 Murielle Banackissa on Trusting the Process

05:28 Nana Oduro on Why Fear is the Mind-Killer

07:36 Tiffany Brooks on the Power of Following Your Gut

10:45 What Advice Would You Give? 

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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How do you move from showing your art in group exhibitions to building a loyal circle of collectors who not only buy your work but champion it? In this conversation, we dive deep into the lived experience of an artist who has done exactly that.

From humble beginnings in group shows to being invited into exhibitions in New York, Japan, and Europe, our guest shares how community, consistency, and serendipity shaped a career sustained not by social media clicks but by human connection.

We explore:

• Building Collectors: How early supporters became long-term champions who now buy new work before it’s public.

• Real-Life vs. Social Media: Why genuine conversations and showing up in person often outperform online likes.

• Printing Philosophy: Why Moab Luster paper brings photography to life like a “window into reality.”

• Archiving & Editing: A practical system in Lightroom to organize decades of work while leaving space for rediscovery.

• Film Revival: How DSLR scanning revolutionized archiving film—fast, precise, and surprisingly affordable.

• Creative Tools: From smart collections to Google Earth, the surprising ways digital tools fuel analog creativity.

00:00 Introduction: The Accidental Photographer

05:10 From Marine Biology to a High School Darkroom

07:29 Finding a Focus in Skate Photography

14:59 The Evolution of a Creative Eye

17:10 Photography as a Way to Preserve the Present

21:37 A Deep Dive into Landscape and Nature

27:28 The Process: Planning, Gear, and Google Earth

33:41 The Creative Dance of Fatherhood

39:28 Building a Collector Base for Your Art

43:33 The Art of the Archive: Lightroom, Keywords, and DSLR Scanning

52:39 Final Thoughts on a Winding Journey

Follow Darnell on Instagram:https://darnell-scott.com/

Darnell’s Website: https://www.instagram.com/_darnellscott_/?hl=en

Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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What's your relationship with money? Is it your friend, your enemy, or something much more complicated? In this episode, I discuss a topic we all think about but rarely talk about: money.  

We'll explore the science of how money stress affects our creative brains and unpack the family stories that shape our financial habits. We’ll guide you through actionable steps and a few mindset shifts, including the powerful "Honey Money" concept, that have helped me build a healthier, more abundant relationship with my finances.

 This episode is for any creative who's ready to rewrite their money story and build a life that feels not just creatively fulfilling, but financially safe and expansive.

00:00 - My Money Story: From Haiti to a Scarcity Mindset

03:05 - The Science of Money Stress: How Scarcity Affects Your Brain

05:15 - Unpacking Your Family's Money History

07:00 - The Five-Step Journey to a New Mindset

11:10 - Books That Will Change Your Relationship with Money

15:30 - Meet 'Honey Money': A Simple Practice for Abundance

18:18 - A Gentle Warning and Where to Find Help

Here is the list of books and resources to help you reframe your relationship with money:

• Lower Ed by Tressie McMillan Cottom https://www.amazon.com/Lower-Ed-For-Profit-Education-Ruin-of-the-American-Dream/dp/1620974497

• The Color of Money by Mehrsa Baradaran ttps://www.amazon.com/Color-Money-Banking-Racial-Wealth/dp/0674237477

• Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond https://www.amazon.com/Poverty-America-Matthew-Desmond/dp/0593239912

• Get Rich, Lucky Bitch! by Denise Duffield-Thomas https://www.amazon.com/Get-Rich-Lucky-Bitch-Manifesting/dp/1788172101

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Money-Timeless-lessons-happiness/dp/0857197681

• Overcoming Underearning by Barbara Stanny https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Underearning-Five-Steps-Richer/dp/0062842455

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

• Happy Money by Ken Honda https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Money-Japanese-Making-Peace/dp/1501188372

Please remember, your well-being matters more than any amount of money. If you are struggling, please reach out to these resources for support.

• Crisis Text Line: For immediate support, text HOME to 741741.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: You can call or text 988 to connect with the prevention line.

• Psychology Today: A resource to help you find a therapist in your area.

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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How do you find your creative voice when the world tries to quiet it? In this powerful episode, I sit down with artist Diana Hendrix, who shares her journey from Chicago's foster care system to carving a vibrant creative career. Diana reveals how to use your work to reshape a challenging world into something beautiful.

We explore her path through a detour into law and how an unexpected health diagnosis ultimately forced a profound return to her artistic roots. This is an intimate story about resourcefulness, the power of encouragement, and how the most challenging course corrections can lead us directly to who we were always meant to be.

00:00 - Introduction to Diana’s Journey 

01:51 - Art as a First Language in the Foster Care System

04:49 - A Mother’s Encouragement and How it Shaped an Artist

06:51 - Discovering Basquiat, Alma Thomas, and an Artistic Lineage

11:21 - The Pressure to "Course Correct" to a Traditional Career

13:43 - The Unapologetic Joy of the "Don't Care Bears"

18:19 - Fueling the Next Generation of Artists

Follow Diana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bumbblebeedesigns/

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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Have you ever found yourself frustrated with a client who wants top-tier, champagne-level results on a beer budget? We've all been there. But what happens when you realize you do the exact same thing in your own life?  

We are digging into the messy, human psychology of why we all want more than we can sometimes afford. I explore the powerful "first impression effect" that sets our expectations and the tricky mental shortcuts we use that equate price with quality. I will share actionable steps for managing expectations, setting your "non-resentment rate," and protecting your creative energy, especially when you really need the money.

00:00 - The Contractor Story: Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget

02:18 - The Psychology of Why We Want Expensive Things for Cheap

04:45 - More Than a Budget: The Human Need for Quality and Joy

07:04 - For Service Providers: 4 Ways to Manage Client Expectations

10:11 - For Clients: How to Get Better Results on Any Budget

11:54 - The Hardest Part: How to Set Boundaries When Money is Tight

15:37 - Your "Non-Resentment Rate" and Why It’s a Game-Changer

19:06 - Breaking the Race to the Bottom & Final Recap

Check out the full Video Podcast on our YouTube Channel!

https://youtu.be/YR449TnmbrI

Website: https://www.martineseverin.com/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/ | https://www.instagram.com/thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.martineseverin.substack.com/

This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

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Here are a few resources that dig deeper into the concepts discussed in the episode:

• "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman: This book is a masterclass in understanding the cognitive biases that shape our decisions, including the "anchoring effect" or "first impression effect" I discussed. It’s a fantastic read for anyone who wants to understand the "why" behind our choices.

• "Pricing Design" by Dan Mall: While focused on design, the principles in this book are invaluable for any creative professional. Dan breaks down how to price your work based on value, not just time, helping you build a more sustainable and profitable business.

• "Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself" by Nedra Glover Tawwab: Setting boundaries is crucial for protecting your creative energy, especially when dealing with pricing and client expectations. This book offers practical advice on how to establish healthy boundaries in your professional and personal life, which is essential for long-term creative health.