This is How We Create

Ever wonder what a full week in the life of a professional photographer really looks like? I'm pulling back the curtain and taking you with me through a jam-packed week of creative hustle and real-life moments. From juggling four different photoshoots centered on Black Joy to managing client proposals and sneaking in family time, this episode is a raw, honest look at the daily dance of a working artist.

I'm sharing it all—the early morning meditations, the last-minute changes, the on-set surprises, and the quiet moments of reflection that keep everything grounded. This isn't about a picture-perfect schedule; it's about the messy, beautiful reality of building a creative career, one day at a time. Join me for a different kind of episode where you'll hear what it truly takes to get the work done while keeping your creative soul nourished.

00:00 - A Week in the Life of a Creative

03:55 - Monday Morning: Prepping for a Day of Shoots

06:17 - Monday Evening: A Full Day's Recap

08:59 - Tuesday Morning: Finding the Shot in a South Side Church

11:29 - Tuesday Evening: Unpacking an Inspirational Day

16:13 - Wednesday Morning: Best-Laid Plans

20:43 - Wednesday Evening: When the Day Goes Sideways

22:49 - Thursday Morning: An Easier Day

25:05 - Thursday Evening: Admin, Selects, and a Surprise Race

29:25 - Friday Morning: Getting It All Done

34:07 - Friday Evening: The Week's Wrap-Up

Check out the full video interview on our YouTube channel!

https://youtu.be/GrtjD7ZZ_AQ

Website: www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: 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 we find the courage to build a creative career on our own terms? I'm so excited to share my conversation with Ashley Buttercup, a Brooklyn-based painter whose work beautifully captures the quiet, unguarded moments of life. From a childhood nurtured by creative parents to finding her own way through the bustling worlds of fashion and advertising, Ashley's journey is a masterclass in resilience and self-discovery.

In this episode, Ashley shares how she navigated the corporate world while keeping her artistic flame alive, launching her own print art magazine, and eventually taking the leap to pursue painting full-time. We talk about the messy, beautiful reality of balancing motherhood with a demanding creative practice and how a single, high-stakes project of painting 30 portraits in a month became a transformative experience. This conversation is a testament to the power of community, the importance of planting seeds for the future, and the profound beauty found in everyday moments.

01:53 - A Creative Foundation: Growing Up with an Architect Father and Fashion-Focused Mother

04:27 - The Road to Temple University and Finding Her Own Path

07:45 - Life After College: From Fashion Internships to Ad Agencies

10:11 - Creating "Snacks Magazine" and Rekindling a Love for Fine Art

12:16 - The Leap of Faith: Quitting the Day Job and the Power of Community

16:08 - The Balancing Act: A Creative's Routine as a Mother and Artist

17:44 - The Harlem's Fashion Row Challenge: Painting 30 Portraits in a Month

28:01 - Evolving a Creative Voice: From Abstract to Documentary Figurative Art

30:25 - The Art of Observation: Capturing Tender Moments in Brooklyn

39:49 - The Traveling Shirt: A Project of History and Connection

Check out the full video interview on our YouTube channel! https://youtu.be/cue7WkqbMPo

Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashley_buttercup3000/?hl=en

Ashley's website: https://www.ashleybuttercup.com/

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

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

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

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Have you ever sat down to create, only to find yourself endlessly scrolling for inspiration and losing your voice in the noise?

In this episode, I introduce a concept for clearing out mental buildup to make space for your authentic ideas to emerge.

We'll explore the surprising science behind why our best ideas often emerge during moments of rest, and I'll offer you a few simple, actionable ways to incorporate creative thinking into your own life.

This conversation is an invitation to give your creative voice the room it needs to breathe and to discover the brilliant work that wants to emerge through you.

00:00 - A Lesson from the Dentist's Chair 02:20 - The Buildup of Creative Plaque 04:10 - The Science of Mental Rest and "Attention Residue" 05:32 - When Do You Need a Creative Floss? 06:18 - Three Ways to Practice Creative Floss 08:00 - Why Your Best Work Requires Space, Not More Input 09:23 - A Loving Call to Action

Find our Creative Floss Quiz on Instagram: @thisishowwecreate_

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: 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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Sometimes the job you've worked hard for breaks your spirit. In this episode, I chat with interior designer Courtney Robinson.

Courtney shares her winding journey from a childhood dream of acting to studying design at Howard University to navigating the harsh realities of the New York design world.

Courtney opens up about the pivotal moments that urged her to leave the corporate path and to create her studio. Today, Materials and Methods Design is an inclusive space built on mentorship and authentic collaboration.

Courtney's journey is a powerful story about resilience, redefining success, and about the courage it takes to build a creative life that truly aligns with your soul.

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Journey

02:57 From Acting to Interior Design: A Shift in Passion

06:05 The Role of Family in Creative Pursuits

08:54 Navigating the Early Career Landscape

11:44 Experiences of Racism and Gatekeeping in the Industry

23:29 Founding Materials and Methods Design

30:43 Defining Success: A Personal Evolution

Follow Courtney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/materialsmethodsdesign

Courtney's website: https://www.materialsmethodsdesign.com/

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

Subscribe to the Newsletter: 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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Hey friend, for today's mini episode, I'm sharing a poem I wrote in June called "Simple ain't easy." You know how it is when you're explaining your creative dreams to someone and they give you that look? That "well, why don't you just do it then?" look. As if picking up a brush or opening a laptop was the hard part.

I've been thinking a lot lately about this gap between what looks simple from the outside and what actually unfolds when you're living the creative life. Because yes, the act itself (of putting paint to canvas, fingers to keys, voice to microphone) that part really is simple. But everything that happens around that moment? The voices, the bills, the doubt, the way the world tries to convince you that your art doesn't matter? That's where it gets complicated.

This poem came to me after a particularly frustrating week where I kept catching myself making excuses for not creating. And I realized I was treating "simple" and "easy" like they were the same thing. They're not.

So here's "Simple ain't easy," a reminder for all of us who know exactly what we want to create but somehow keep finding ourselves standing still.

Take a breath. Do the simple things. Even if Simple Ain't Easy.

00:00 - A Vulnerable Share From My Journal

01:36 - The Simple Dream and The World's Noise

02:28 - Remembering Your Destination

03:10 - A Call to Tell Your Story

Website: www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: 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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• Leave a review

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A single moment changed everything for Ghanaian visual artist Nana Frimpong Oduro. It began with a quiet walk, a dying tree, and a gifted camera from a stranger. That moment led him away from architecture and toward a new life in photography.

In this episode, I sit down with Nana to explore how he built a career rooted in emotion, storytelling, and self-discovery. He shares how he creates powerful images without technical equipment. Instead, he relies on instinct, connection, and the people closest to him. His work is raw, painterly, and deeply human.

This conversation is for artists seeking clarity on their path. Nana's story offers insight, encouragement, and a reminder that your creative voice is worth following. Listen in and reconnect with the reason you started creating in the first place.

00:00 - Introduction to Nana Frimpong Oduro

02:15 - Early Creative Influences in Ghana

03:48 - The Path to Architecture

05:12 - The Dying Tree: A Journey into Photography Begins

07:34 - Finding a Subject: The Power of Self-Portraiture

08:45 - From Idea to Image: Inside the Creative Process

12:20 - A Sign from the Universe: The Adobe Rising Star Award

14:35 - Finding a Visual Style: Light, Tone, and Emotion

16:30 - Family, Support, and Blossoming as an Artist

18:40 - The Myth of Originality and Unexpected Lessons

20:00 - Describing the Indescribable: Emotions Brought to Life

22:00 - Redefining Success and What's Next

Follow Nana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frizzlemadeit/

Nana's Portfolio: http://bit.ly/3ZRZKYN

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

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

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

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How do we build a world that truly reflects who we are? In this profound conversation, I sit down with architect and design tastemaker Obiora Nwazota, a powerful voice reshaping our understanding of culture, identity, and design. Obi shares his journey from a childhood in Nigeria, dreaming beyond the prescribed path, to becoming a cultural force in Chicago.

We explore how he challenges the singular narrative of design by asking a simple yet powerful question: If someone walked into your home, would they know an Igbo person lives there? This question opens up a deep dialogue about the importance of ritual, the stories our spaces tell, and the critical mission of his venture, Okpara House, to reclaim and elevate Igbo cultural assets for contemporary life. This episode is a call to all creatives to look deeper into our own heritage and harness our gifts to build a richer, more inclusive world.

00:00 - Introduction to Obiora 'Obi' Nwazota

02:50 - Growing Up Igbo: A Childhood of Daydreams

05:05 - The Surprising Link Between Igbo Culture and Haiti

09:12 - Finding Freedom Through Architecture in a New Land

14:42 - Redefining Architecture as the Architecture of Life

20:12 - The Genesis of Okpara House: Filling the Cultural Void

29:59 - The Power of Rituals in Defining Who We Are

34:16 - Reclaiming the African Image: The Story Behind the Book 'Nkemdiche'

44:53 - The Collaborative Process of Creating a Visual Narrative

48:00 - A Final Word on Being a Light for Culture

Follow Obi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obiora_nwazota/?hl=en

Obi's Website: https://www.okparahouse.com/about

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

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

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

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• Leave a review

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Have you ever considered a dramatic career change, a leap from a structured path into the wide-open world of creative expression? Our guest, Ronald Jackson, embodies this very journey. Growing up in the rural Arkansas Delta as the youngest of eleven children, Ronald's early life was steeped in a family legacy of challenging norms. After a distinguished 21-year career in the U.S. Army, a profound "aha moment" set him on an entirely new course.

Join us for an intimate conversation with Ronald as we explore his incredible transition from military life to a celebrated self-taught artist. Discover the story behind the spiritual epiphany that reshaped his path as an artist, how he "partnered with time" to develop his craft without formal training, and the deeply personal inspiration behind his striking mask paintings. If you're looking for inspiration and action steps to redefine your life's purpose, this episode is for you.

00:00 - Introduction to Ronald Jackson

03:15 - A Creative Childhood in the Rural South

05:00 - The Power of Play and Imagination

07:00 - An Unexpected Welcome to the Art World

10:30 - The Epiphany: A Spiritual Awakening

18:50 - The Decision to Partner with Time

24:40 - From Behind the Scenes to Best in Show

27:30 - The Story Behind the Masks

33:00 - Finding Your Artistic Voice Through Self-Discovery

36:15 - Redefining Success: From Being an Artist to Being Authentic

38:15 - Conclusion

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

Ronald's Website: https://www.ronaldjacksonartworks.com/

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

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

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

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• Leave a review

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Have you ever considered that the most profound creative education might not happen in a classroom? What if it unfolds in the buzz of a print shop or behind the lens at a world-changing cultural event?

In this episode, I sit down with legendary photographer Roy Lewis, whose journey is a powerful testament to learning by doing. Roy shares how his early days in a Mississippi print shop ignited his creative spark, leading to an unconventional path where Ebony and Jet magazines became his university. He offers a firsthand account of documenting FESTAC '77, the monumental gathering of Black artists and intellectuals in Lagos, Nigeria, and explains how these experiences shaped his iconic eye.

This conversation is an intimate look into a life spent capturing our stories, reminding us that the richest lessons often come from the journey itself, not a predetermined map.

00:00 Introduction to Roy Lewis and His Journey

02:53 Early Influences and First Steps in Photography

06:03 Building Relationships in the Photography World

08:59 Finding His Voice as a Photographer

11:37 The Significance of Festac 1977

14:46 Experiences and Memories from Festac

18:00 Reflections on Cultural Impact and Legacy

https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/roy-lewis-40

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

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

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

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Have you ever wondered how to turn a lifelong passion for food into a celebrated career? In this episode, I sit down with the wonderfully creative food photographer, stylist, and cookbook author, Murielle Banackissa. Murielle shares the story of her creative journey, from her childhood memories in the Republic of Congo to her family's move to Montreal.

Join us as we explore how Murielle masterfully blends her Congolese and Russian-Ukrainian heritage into mouth-watering vegan recipes that might just have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about vegan food. We'll dig into how she organically merged her love for cooking and photography, turning a social media trend into a thriving business and eventually, a beautiful cookbook. This conversation is a heartfelt exploration of identity, the courage to follow your own path, and the magic that happens when you slow down and savor the process.

00:00 - From Pointe Noire to Montreal: A Creative Childhood

02:49 - Early Food Memories and Creative Pursuits

06:02 - Merging Passion for Food and Photography

09:38 - The Comfort Foods of Home: A Taste of Heritage

11:30 - The Art and Science of Recipe Development

13:59 - A Cookbook Dream Come True

16:34 - Conceptualizing "Savoring": Memories on a Plate

19:19 - The Four-Year Journey to "Savoring"

21:15 - Finding Joy in Slowing Down the Cooking Process

25:06 - Cultivating an Authentic and Unfussy Style

27:24 - Trusting the Process: Advice to Her Younger Self

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

Murielle's Website: https://muriellebanackissa.com/

Buy Murielle's Cookbook: https://muriellebanackissa.com/savoring/

Website: www.martineseverin.com

Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_

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

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

• Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

• Leave a review

• Follow us on social media

• Share with fellow creatives