This is How We Create

In part two of our grant preparation series, I reveal why artists face rejection and share the exact mindset shift that changes everything.

We tackle the unspoken rules of funding panels, how to strategically scale from local micro-grants to national fellowships, and why proving your project's momentum matters far more than pitching your talent.

Stop letting minor technicalities ruin your chances at securing real financial backing and learn the step-by-step framework to build a funding portfolio that turns your artistic ambitions into fully funded realities.

00:00 The Deadliest Grant Application Mistake

02:33 How to Make Your Project Feel Inevitable

04:57 Defining Your Scale and Securing Real Numbers

07:13 The Stepping Stone Strategy for Massive Grants

09:42 Follow the Rules or Face Instant Elimination

11:56 Navigating Brutal Arts Funding Rejection

14:09 Your Three-Year Strategic Action Plan

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

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What happens when the urge to break free finally overpowers the habit of people-pleasing? Sometimes the heaviest trauma acts as the catalyst you need to unlock your artistic language. I sit down with multidisciplinary visual artist and architect Tasanee Durrett to trace her incredible leap from an oppressive eight-year relationship to exhibiting at Expo Chicago. She reveals how she picked up a paintbrush for the very first time during lockdown to process her hidden pain and accidentally discovered a unique aesthetic. If you feel stuck in a routine that doesn't look like your own, this conversation will give you the tools to translate your unspoken struggles into a vibrant, unstoppable creative career.

This episode is a replay. You will also find it as episode 62.

00:00 Introduction

00:53 Finding Cultural Roots in Chicago Museums

03:54 The Transition From the Midwest to the Desert

05:35 Exploring the Black Experience in Architecture

08:32 How Communities and Spaces Shift Over Time

11:24 Navigating the Politics of Corporate Architecture

15:50 Escaping Abuse and Finding Freedom on Canvas

19:09 Evolving a Unique Artistic Language During Lockdown

26:36 Sketchbooks, Black Liturgies, and Unlocking Authenticity

31:09 Inside a Working Artist's Income Pie

Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBsYouTube:

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasaneeart/?hl=en

Website: https://www.tasaneeart.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

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We're pulling back the curtain on the mysterious world of artist grants to reveal exactly how this system operates and where the real money actually sits. Stop draining your own bank account to support your art and claim the financial backing your boldest vision deserves.

This episode is a replay. You will also find it as episode XXX.

00:00 The Mystery Behind Artist Grants

00:46 A Quick Message From iCode

01:03 Debunking the Elite Artist Myth

01:25 Defining the Modern Artist Grant

02:40 Navigating Local State and National Funding Amounts

04:30 Locating Hidden Funding Opportunities

05:30 The Local First Strategy for Winning Capital

06:33 Identifying Your True Artistic Needs

09:03 Tracking Annual Deadlines for Future Success

10:04 Your Strategic Grant Research Homework

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

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What happens when you stop fighting your creative identity? In our conversation, contemporary artist Cristina Martinez shares how to set fierce boundaries around your craft and convert your personal story into work that commands attention.

00:00 - Breaking a 200-Year Public Art Streak in Seattle

02:10 - Introducing Contemporary Artist Cristina Martinez

02:48 - How Butterfly Gardens Fueled Her Creative Identity

05:00 - Pivoting from Fashion Illustration to Fine Art

07:18 - Embracing Texture and Storytelling on Canvas

09:40 - Navigating Commissions and Saying No to Brand Partnerships

14:00 - Prioritizing Art as a Vital Necessity

17:35 - Nurturing Creativity in a Household of Three

20:18 - Quiet Wisdom for Her 18-Year-Old Self

Follow her on Instagram:

Website: https://www.juneandmars.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

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When you peek behind the curtain of a podcast, you see the hidden engine holding everything together long before the microphone turns on. In this episode, my lead producer Daniel Espinosa and I unpack the exact three-phase framework that transforms chaotic creative ideas into a seamless production machine. Master our framework so you can protect your artistic energy and elevate your craft without burning out.

Chapters

00:00 - Stepping Behind the Mic: Producer Daniel Espinosa

02:28 - Sponsor Spotlight: iCode

03:04 - Podcast Expectations vs. High-Level Audio Reality

06:08 - Building Authentic Relationships with Contemporary Artists

09:03 - The Three-Phase Framework: Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production

11:11 - Deconstructing the Master System Spreadsheet

14:15 - Why We Batch Record 50 Episodes a Year

15:41 - The Cold Pitching Math: Reaching 420 Guests to Book a Full Season

22:30 - Crafting the Story Arc and Thinking Like the Listener

24:41 - High-Volume Recording in Medellin and Energy Management

27:42 - Process Over Perfection: Never Compare Your Beginning to Someone's Middle

Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBsYouTube: https://youtu.be/1a9mw2hQl5Y

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elthorny/

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

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Could your biggest career breakthrough come from a time of isolation? Photographer Polly Irungu bought her first camera with money from working at McDonald's to cope with moving to a new place. She didn't know then that she was starting a global movement.

In this episode, I talk with Polly about how she started Black Women Photographers, worked with big brands like Nikon and Adobe, and learned that saying yes to every low-paying job was hurting her health.

You will learn how to find your own artistic style, build a community from scratch, and set strong boundaries to avoid burnout.

00:19 The McDonald's Paychecks and the First Camera

01:18 Surviving Culture Shock in Oregon

04:52 Turning Isolation Into Human Connection

07:33 Gravitating Toward Black Joy

10:10 Photograph Everything to Find Your Niche

14:08 Building Partnerships with Major Brands

18:01 The Unexpected Allyship Behind Black Women Photographers

23:41 Setting Boundaries and Protecting Your Peace

24:57 The Danger of Saying Yes to Everything

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pollyirungu Website: https://blackwomenphotographers.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

• Share with fellow creatives

You spend countless hours perfecting your work, yet your posts keep tumbling into a sea of silent scrollers and soul-crushing algorithms.

In this episode, our podcast marketing specialist, Lina, joins me to unlock the exact digital strategy we used to transform a modest following into a devoted community of over eleven thousand supporters.

Hit play right now to steal our exact marketing blueprint and turn passive scrollers into lifelong champions of your creative journey.

00:00 Best Platforms for Different Types of Creatives

01:45 How Artists Should Engage Online

03:08 Spotting AI vs. True Authenticity

03:46 Building an Audience: Instagram to Substack Strategy

05:50 Essential Tips for Standing Out Online

08:24 Sponsor Message: iCode

08:52 YouTube and Multi-Platform Distribution

09:46 Must-Have Tools for Social Media Growth

11:44 Major Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

13:35 Building Genuine Relationships with Your Audience

16:43 Wrapping Up with Lina

Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBs

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

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What's the missing key to your biggest artistic breakthrough? You might feel trapped in a demanding day job or paralyzed by fear of rejection, yet your tightest constraints can become your ultimate creative advantage.

Screenwriter Octavia Clahar, reveals how she directed her debut TV pilot inside a video game when traditional funding fell through.

Tune in to discover how you can stop waiting for outside permission, transform your daily routine into creative leverage, and build the resilient support system your dreams demand.

00:00 - Introduction and Directing TV Pilots in The Sims 4

01:03 - Brooklyn Roots and Caribbean Storytelling Traditions

04:06 - Pitching Yourself: Treating Your Identity as the Brand

05:43 - Overcoming Rejection and Refining Your Artistic Voice

08:34 - Reframing Loss: From Corporate Grind to Creative Commitment

11:29 - Mentorship and Ava DuVernay's Core Collaboration Rule

15:46 - Building Story Co-op Across Brooklyn and Paris

21:10 - Navigating Production Constraints and Budget Realities

27:35 - Lessons from Studio Pitch Meetings and Script Revisions

33:50 - Strategies for Sustaining Creativity Through Burnout

39:15 - Creating Sustainable Support Networks for Independent Artists

44:00 - Final Reflections and Closing Remarks

Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform!

Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBsYouTube:

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octavia.nicole.clahar/

Website: https://bio.site/oclahar

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

• Share with fellow creatives

We accidentally unlocked a strategy that skyrocketed our own community from three hundred quiet listeners to over 11,000 fiercely loyal fans in less than six months. I sit down with our brilliant social media specialist, Lina Monterey, to expose the mistakes that are stopping you from reaching your audience. Lina shares the exact methods she uses to carve irresistible hooks out of everyday conversations. This is the episode you didn't know you needed.

00:00 The terrifying reality of rapid community growth

04:16 Why building a massive platform matters for creatives of color

08:20 Hitting 10,000 followers in under six months

10:57 Overcoming the creative block of self promotion

12:13 Crafting emotional hooks that stop the scroll

14:12 The brutal mistake ruining your audience connection

16:18 Aligning your aesthetic cues with your true target market

18:36 Mapping the customer journey for sustainable growth

Listen to the show on your favorite streaming platform!

Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/4fcopgQSpotify: http://bit.ly/4fdkiBsYouTube: https://youtu.be/vZdiy5DfKx8

Follow her on Instagram:

Lina's website:

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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

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Feeling stuck in a safe job while your creative dreams take a backseat? Sometimes an unexpected plot twist is just what you need to leap.

In this episode, I'm chatting with artist Hadiya Williams about how getting laid off helped her build a thriving studio on her own terms. Hear how a 100-day challenge sparked her signature style, how she got into art school without a traditional portfolio, and how she blends AI with handcrafted ceramics.

Hit play and get ready to turn life's scariest curveballs into your next big creative breakthrough!

00:18 - Meet Hadiah Williams: Craft as Living Archive

01:39 - DC Roots, Elizabeth Catlett, and Cultural Memory

04:11 - Accidental Tech Career: Computer Science by Default

05:35 - The Mass Layoff and the Pivot to Graphic Design

07:18 - Applying to Art School with Maxwell Fan Art

11:23 - The Wedding Invitations That Sparked Black Pepper Papery Co.

15:24 - Harnessing Corporate Stress for Entrepreneurial Freedom

20:21 - Finding a Signature Voice Through the 100-Day Challenge

24:34 - Scaling an Art Practice Without Losing Your Soul

28:25 - Blending Generative AI, Clay, and 1970s Analog Nostalgia

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hadiyawilliams/?hl=en

Hadiya website: https://www.hadiyawilliams.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. Podcast show art is designed by Violetta Encarnación. Music by Timothy Infinite.

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

• Share with fellow creatives